[quote][size=5][b]Anderson an hour away [/b][/size]
By GEOFF HOBSON
January 14, 2009

If all goes as he hopes, the Super Bowl is going to be the 199th game of Ravens right tackle Willie Anderson's career.

It also could be his last. But these are things he is putting off. Until at least after what he calls another "fistfight" with the Steelers on Sunday. After 24 scuffles with Pittsburgh, his 25th meeting turns out to be the AFC title game.

After 13 years that once included 116 straight starts and a wrenching playoff loss to the Steelers in his only postseason appearance with the Bengals three years ago, Anderson isn't thinking that the Super Bowl is so close.

A mere 60 minutes away after 197 games and his decision not to accept the Bengals offer before this season to cut his salary because of concerns he couldn't practice every day with an assortment of injuries.

"I'm not looking at it like that," Anderson said Tuesday night from Baltimore. "I'm taking it a quarter at a time. I'm going to look up after each quarter and see where we are. That's the way I have to approach it."

Anderson left Sunday's win over Tennessee twice with stingers, an injury that causes momentary numbness to the arms and hands, and no one doubts he'll be back in there. Especially in a season that began with doubts about his health.

As he got treatment Tuesday night, he talked to Ravens fullback Le'Ron McClain about the man on the other sideline entrusted with stopping McClain, Anderson and the Ravens' power running game.

Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau also happened to be Anderson's head coach in Cincinnati for 45 of those games from 2000-2002.

"I was just telling the guys here how good of a man he was," Anderson said. "I really wish he'd get the second chance to be a head coach. He had the wrong group of guys in Cincinnati. He didn't put that team together. But everybody respected him. In Pittsburgh they were built up with his philosophy, just like the defense here in Baltimore was built up with a philosophy."

Anderson remembers how LeBeau finally got his Super Bowl ring in 2005 after 47 NFL seasons. The Steelers journey began at Paul Brown Stadium in the supercharged Wild Card win over the Bengals. Quarterback Carson Palmer took only two snaps before being done for the day with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee on former Bengal Kimo von Oelhoffen's hit following a 66-yard completion.

"I think for Coach LeBeau and the Steelers, that was their destiny that year," Anderson said. "I think that's how we are now. I hope the next great thing that happens for Coach LeBeau is that he gets in the Hall of Fame."

Anderson does see some similarities to the '05 playoff matchup against the Steelers. The Bengals had split their games with Pittsburgh that season while the Ravens have lost two tight ones this year to the Steelers, 23-20 in overtime and 13-9.

"We're kind of coming in the same way they did," Anderson said. "I remember (the Steelers) didn't believe we could beat them a second time. This is an interesting game. It's a fistfight and we've got to keep fighting. I think there are going to be more points than that (a 13-10 game). They were two fistfights and two times they made plays."

When Bengals president Mike Brown talked about the decision to reduce Anderson's $3 million salary earlier this season, he said the coaches felt Stacy Andrews had become a more effective right tackle and that Anderson couldn't practice enough because of his health. Now that he's a linchpin on one of the NFL's top rushing teams, Anderson won't talk about the future. He turns 34 next July and won't rule out retirement or coming back.

The subject is like everything else: 60 minutes away.

"Quarter to quarter," he said. "Then we'll see."[/quote]



[url="http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=7452"]http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=7452[/url]

[quote][size=5][b]Party on hold for Ravens OL Anderson[/b][/size]
By Jason Cole, Yahoo! Sports
Jan 13, 1:18 pm EST


Which would you rather have at this time of the year: three “stingers” or a plate of hot wings and a cold beer?

For most football players, it’s not really much of a debate, even if stingers aren’t anything you’ll find on an appetizer menu. A stinger, which is also known as a “burner,” is a shooting pain that runs from the top of your shoulder through your arm and down to the fingers. Coupled with temporary numbness in the rest of the arm, a stinger makes you feel as if the only thing holding your arm to your body is a series of electrical wires so hot that they have burst into flames.

Yeah, the wings and beer sound like a much better choice. But when you’re an NFL player and you’ve spent the first 12 seasons of a 13-year career ordering platters for the playoff parties at your house, three stingers are a welcome alternative.

“Do you know what it’s like to be in this position finally?” Baltimore Ravens right tackle Willie Anderson asked following the 13-10 AFC divisional-round win over Tennessee Saturday.

Anderson, who twice left the game with his arm hanging limp to his side, was the last Raven to leave the locker room after receiving post-game treatment. However, that didn’t stop him from savoring the moment.

“Do you know what it’s like to finally be in a locker room where guys talk about winning a championship? I prayed for a chance to be on a team like this, where guys are talking about football, day in and day out,” said Anderson, whose Ravens take on the Steelers in the AFC championship game in Pittsburgh on Sunday. “They talk about winning a championship.”

For 12 years as one of the premier right tackles in the game in Cincinnati, the closest Anderson got to the AFC title game was high def. He and former teammates, such as linebacker Takeo Spikes, would sit comfortably watching their friends play for something meaningful.

In those dozen seasons, Anderson and the Bengals had one winning season and one playoff appearance. In 2005, they were bounced in the opening round of the playoffs by Pittsburgh. Overall, the Bengals were 76-116 during Anderson’s time there. He played in more Pro Bowls (four) than playoffs.

In other words, the party planning usually started just after Thanksgiving if you were a Bengal. You want a keg or individual bottles this year? Heck, Martha Stewart doesn’t have anything on Anderson when it comes to a good soiree.

“I’ve always been the guy hosting the party,” said Anderson, who resides in Atlanta in the offseason. “Me and guys like Takeo would sit there and listen to the guys on TV talk about how the team that can just come up with the two or three key plays in the game will be the one that wins. Now to be one of those teams, man, you have no idea how different it is from all those years in Cincinnati … I wouldn’t change my career for anything, but to have this chance, man, this is something so sweet.”

What Anderson, who was released by the Bengals in late August after declining to take a pay cut and rejected offers from San Diego and Tampa Bay, has provided the Ravens is stability on a line that was supposedly more fragile than an ego at the Golden Globes.

The Ravens had left tackle Jared Gaither, who was taking over from retired star Jonathan Ogden, sitting out during training camp with an ankle injury. Ben Grubbs was in and out of the lineup during camp with minor issues. Swing tackle Adam Terry was playing the left side during camp, then was switched to right tackle for the first four games until Anderson – who didn’t sign with the team until Sept. 5 – was ready. Right guard Marshal Yanda, considered the toughest lineman on the team, was gone after five games because of a knee injury.

All of that came on top of the fact that the line was young. Gaither and Grubbs are both in their second year. Center Jason Brown, who started at guard in 2007, is in his fourth season. Chris Chester, who replaced Yanda, was originally set to play tight end at the beginning of the season.

“There were a lot of question marks up front and Willie was one of the answers for us,” Baltimore offensive coordinator Cam Cameron said.

“Willie is like another [Ogden]. He’s that veteran guy you look at who’s never surprised by anything,” Gaither said. “We’re coming to the line and he’s talking about what to expect from the defense and he’s almost always right. It can be something we’ve never seen on film or in practice and he’ll talk us through it like it’s no big deal.”

Likewise, the stingers were no biggie to Anderson, even if they should have been. While doctors have never been able to isolate the exact cause of a stinger, the belief is that it’s from damage done to nerves that attach directly to the spinal cord at the top of the back.

In the course of playing football, one stinger in a game is acceptable. Two is a problem. Players should never get to three. But when you’ve never gotten this deep in the playoffs, just exactly who is going to stop you, particularly when you’re 6-foot-5, 340 pounds.

“When I was deciding where I should play, I just had a good feeling about this team,” Anderson said. “Everybody was telling me, ‘Oh man, go play in San Diego’ or ‘Go play in Tampa.’ I was talking with [Bengals quarterback] Carson Palmer and he was like, ‘You’re crazy not to play in San Diego.’ Part of it’s the team they had and the other is that he’s a California guy so he can’t understand why anybody wouldn’t play in California. [Bengals wide receiver] T.J. [Houshmandzadeh] was the same way.

“But when I was talking with [Baltimore assistant coach and former Bengals assistant] Hue Jackson and [linebacker] Ray Lewis, they told me that they had a plan. With the defense they have and the running game they said they were going to have, I felt like this was the place.”

For now, the party can wait.[/quote]



[url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=Amn4w9VHtDVucNYnX52IK3Q5nYcB?slug=jc-andersonstillplaying011309&prov=yhoo&type=lgns"]http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=Amn4...o&type=lgns[/url]

fuck him.

[quote name='GoBengals' post='740062' date='Jan 15 2009, 12:51 PM']fuck him.[/quote]
+1.

Just imagine how good the Pussy would have been if he would have been willing to practice. Fuck him. Hope he makes the Super Bowl and crys when rolle takes one back to the house in a tied game on the last paly of the game. Arizona 26 Baltimore 20. FUCK WILLIE AND HIS BIG GAPPING CUNT!

You people are hilarious. The dude didn't give 100% in practices this offseason - does that warrant this level of disrespect from you fucks? Willie gave the Bengals 12 years of great play and always showed up on game day. Sour grapes if you ask me.

[quote name='StrengthOfFates' post='740138' date='Jan 15 2009, 02:01 AM']You people are hilarious. The dude didn't give 100% in practices this offseason - does that warrant this level of disrespect from you fucks? Willie gave the Bengals 12 years of great play and always showed up on game day. Sour grapes if you ask me.[/quote]

No fucking kidding.

I'll be rooting for Willie and the Ravens. I actually like the Ravens tbh. They play the way I wish we would.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't he take the same deal we were offering here to go to a division rival instead? That's kinda low.

I'm rooting for Big Willie all the way! Gooooooo Ratbirds!

I don't get the hate?

The obvious difference being that he had a contract in place here, not there. They weren't demoting him. I'm not gonna argue this, because I know I'm not going to convince the "Burn Willie at the stake" crowd, but I don't have a problem with it. I hope he gets his Super Bowl, he deserves it.

[quote name='CTBengalsFan' post='740143' date='Jan 15 2009, 03:37 AM']The obvious difference being that he had a contract in place here, not there. They weren't demoting him. I'm not gonna argue this, because I know I'm not going to convince the "Burn Willie at the stake" crowd, but I don't have a problem with it. I hope he gets his Super Bowl, he deserves it.[/quote]

Nahhh not really, good luck to him.

[size=3][color="#FF0000"]"I'm more of a well-wisher, in that I don't wish you any [i]specific[/i] harm."[/color][/size]

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/sr/thumb/8/80/Moe_Szyslak.png/220px-Moe_Szyslak.png[/img]

Willie put a lot into this team and now he is getting his, while the Bengals got their's for being a piss poor franchise.

I hope he gets his ring.

[quote name='StrengthOfFates' post='740138' date='Jan 15 2009, 02:01 AM']You people are hilarious. The dude didn't give 100% in practices this offseason - does that warrant this level of disrespect from you fucks? Willie gave the Bengals 12 years of great play and always showed up on game day. Sour grapes if you ask me.[/quote]


x2

Good luck Willie. I-71 is open.

[quote name='StrengthOfFates' post='740138' date='Jan 15 2009, 01:01 AM']You people are hilarious. The dude didn't give 100% in practices this offseason - does that warrant this level of disrespect from you fucks? Willie gave the Bengals 12 years of great play and always showed up on game day. Sour grapes if you ask me.[/quote]


I can't speak for everyone, but I am a fan of the Bengals.
I really couldn`t care less about former Bengals. Sure, I will
hate on them if they leave on bad terms. And I will surely
hate on them if they go to a division rival.

And I sure as hell wouldn't root for a division rival
because a former Bengal plays for them.

Now you can insult me and others for not sharing your view.
But really, I think it is people that do root for division rivals
because a former Bengal plays for them, that should be insulted
and ridiculed.

Would you have rooted for the Stealers if Willie had went to them?
Would you have wished him to get a ring? To me, there is no difference.
Sure I hate the Stealers more than any other team. But I hate division
rivals more than all other teams.

Fact is, Willie has no one to blame for him being cut other than Willie.
And the same person is to blame for him signing with a division rival.
Now you want to act like people that aren't cheering him on are just
having a bunch of sour grapes. I say bullshit. The only reason I rooted
for the motherfucker is because he played for the Bengals. He doesn't
now. He playes for a hated rival. So fuck him.


Get it?

Boo-Who, I don't like Willie Anderson, my pussy hurts, cry, cry, cry, he didn't take a pay cut, sob, sob, sob, he told the Ravens our secret plays that everyone knows anyway, someone pass me a tissue.

[quote name='scharm' post='740178' date='Jan 15 2009, 08:10 AM']Boo-Who, I don't like Willie Anderson, my pussy hurts, cry, cry, cry, he didn't take a pay cut, sob, sob, sob, he told the Ravens our secret plays that everyone knows anyone, someone pass me a tissue.[/quote]


Are you always an asshole or just when Willie's name is mentioned?


No one is crying. I still would say fuck him, even if I didn`t know what I know.
The dude plays for a division rival. Like I said, is your love and respect for him
so great that you would root for him and wish him to get a ring if he played for
the Stealers?

To me, there is no love and respect. Even if there were, there surely wouldn't
be enough for me to want to see a division rival win, for his sake.

You don't agree? That's OK. No need to take offense and be an asshole though.

[quote name='oldschooler' post='740172' date='Jan 15 2009, 08:59 AM']All anyone said in this thread was "fuck him".[/quote]

Haha, c'mon, I do believe someone wrote "FUCK HIM IN HIS BIG GAPING CUNT!"..........yeah.......

[quote]I can't speak for everyone, but I am a fan of the Bengals.[/quote]

Look, if I weren't a Bengals fan it wouldn't piss me off so much when they do stupid shit like let Willie Anderson go the way they let him go. In my opinion it hurt the team. It's not just about Willie.

[quote]And I sure as hell wouldn't root for a division rival
because a former Bengal plays for them.

Now you can insult me and others for not sharing your view.
But really, I think it is people that do root for division rivals
because a former Bengal plays for them, that should be insulted
and ridiculed.[/quote]

[shame]Well, I don't have your iron will. I think whoever wins on Sunday's game between PIT/BALT will be the SB champs. I hope to hell the Steelers lose that game, and guess what, I'll be happy for Willie if he gets his ring. I'm such a huge Ravens fan now.[/shame]

Don't nail yourself up on the cross just yet, bub - I have never insulted you. I don't even recall insulting your point of view except for a comment that most people, if they are honest with themselves, would consider illogical.

[quote]Fact is, Willie has no one to blame for him being cut other than Willie.
And the same person is to blame for him signing with a division rival.
Now you want to act like people that aren't cheering him on are just
having a bunch of sour grapes. I say bullshit. The only reason I rooted
for the motherfucker is because he played for the Bengals. He doesn't
now. He playes for a hated rival. So fuck him.[/quote]

Look, I'm getting pretty sick of you putting words into my mouth. I never said that anyone had to be cheering Willie on I said the LEVEL of disrespect suggested sour grapes, but if you want to continue to sensationalize my argument to bolster yours, fine, I'm done.

[quote]Get it?[/quote]

TAKE ME TO SCHOOL, SUPERFAN!1

He will be a criple some day if that makes you feel better.

[quote name='StrengthOfFates' post='740208' date='Jan 15 2009, 09:37 AM']Haha, c'mon, I do believe someone wrote "FUCK HIM IN HIS BIG GAPING CUNT!"..........yeah.......[/quote]


I edited my post to take that out.
But still, why call people names because they don't
respect Willie enough in your eyes?



[quote]Look, if I weren't a Bengals fan it wouldn't piss me off so much when they do stupid shit like let Willie Anderson go the way they let him go. In my opinion it hurt the team. It's not just about Willie.[/quote]


That is great that you have access to the results now.
But way back when. Willie wasn't practicing, he was getting
beaten like a drum, and he was being a whiny bitch to the coaches.
Now you want to act like because he turned his shit around, the
Bengals made a mistake? OK. Whatever.

Oh, and you can believe me or not, about the things I heard.
That's on you. Not me.


[quote]Well, I don't have your iron will. I think whoever wins on Sunday's game between PIT/BALT will be the SB champs. I hope to hell the Steelers lose that game, and guess what, I'll be happy for Willie if he gets his ring. I'm such a huge Ravens fan now.[/quote]


Iron will? Why does it take an iron will to not root for a division rival?
Because Willie plays for them?

[quote]Don't nail yourself up on the cross just yet, bub - I have never insulted you. I don't even recall insulting your point of view except for a comment that most people, if they are honest with themselves, would consider illogical.[/quote]

You are insulting me now, bub.
You said what I was relaying to others, was stupid shit.
So yeah, you are insulting me and others because we
don't love and respect (with good reason) Willie anymore.

And how am I nailing myself to a cross?





[quote]Look, I'm getting pretty sick of you putting words into my mouth. I never said that anyone had be cheering Willie on I said the LEVEL of disrespect suggested sour grapes, but if you want to continue to sensationalize my argument to bolster yours, fine, I'm done.[/quote]

No, you look.

I am not putting anything in your mouth. You sick bastard.
You are the one that attacked others for not "respecting Willie enough".

What is there to respect? The fact that he USED to play for the Bengals?
And while he did, they made him one of the highest paid players at his
position? And when he gave up, they asked him to take a pay cut?
And when he refused, he signed with a division rival?

Seriously, why should I respect him now? And why should it piss you
off if others don't?

So get sick for me pointing out your bullshit.



[quote]TAKE ME TO SCHOOL, SUPERFAN!1[/quote]


It has nothing to do with being a Super Fan.

You felt the need to insult others because they aren`t showing
Willie the respect you think he deserves. You called others names
that called Willie names. And you think you are justified.

[quote name='oldschooler' post='740210' date='Jan 15 2009, 10:56 AM']I edited my post to take that out.
But still, people should be allowed to think what they want,
without being "fucks, that are eating sour grapes".[/quote]

And I shouldn't be allowed to have the opinion that you are munching on those sour grapes? Aw did me calling them "fucks" (In jest, mind you) hurt your feelings, superfan? Pull yourself together, Mary.

See? I can be just as juvenile as you.

[quote]That is great that you have access to the results now.
But way back when. Willie wasn't practicing, he was getting
beaten like a drum, and he was being a whiny bitch to the coaches.
Now you want to act like because he turned his shit around, the
Bengals made a mistake? OK. Whatever.[/quote]

Yeah, just like you want to disregard 12 years of HOF caliber play from Anderson because of a couple of preseason games when our whole fucking line was in shambles with Palmer showing no pocket presence what-so-ever. OH! I forgot, you have your secret Bengals decoder ring to provide you with inside information. OK. Whatever.

[quote]Oh, and you can believe me or not, about the things I heard.
That's on you. Not me.[/quote]

I await the dire consequences of not taking your word as law, superfan.

[quote]Iron will? Why does it take an iron will to not root for a division rival?
Because Willie plays for them?[/quote]

You deem it as "rooting for", but then again, you have to, to maintain any semblance of a reasonable argument. I see that you aren't too good with words or critical thinking. Should I be dumbing these posts down for you?

[quote]You are insulting me now, bub.
You said what I was relaying to others, was stupid shit.
So yeah, you are insulting me and others because we
don't love and respect (with good reason) Willie anymore.[/quote]

I can't put it any other way. What you took the time to type out in that thread.....wait for it......was fucking stupid! You expected people to ignore 12 (fuck, lets just say 2 years...'cause that's when Willie "went bad") years of public comments from players and coaches alike, professing their respect and admiration for Willie. Why? Because some guy on an internet message board says he has super secret inside sources. Dumb shit.

That is a criticism of what you wrote. It is not a personal insult. If you wanna get all butt-hurt about it, that's your problem.

[quote]I am not putting anything in your mouth. You sick bastard.[/quote]

Awww. I really do need to dumb these posts down for you, don't I? How old are you? Fucking 12? Here's one for you....Your momma'.

[quote]You are the one that attacked others for not "respecting Willie enough".[/quote]

Fuck, I didn't want to believe it at first...but you really are that fucking dense aren't you? I really don't care if people do not respect Willie. I said that the LEVEL of disrespect suggested sour grapes. Do I have to draw pictures in order for you to grasp this concept?

[quote]What is there to respect?[/quote]

12 years of being a standup guy and giving his all when it had to be hard to do so. He could have easily went the way of Carl Pickens & Corey Dillon but didn't. True, he was doing his job..but honestly, how often do you see that in the NFL these days. That speaks to his character.

[quote]And while he did, they made him one of the highest paid players at his
position?[/quote]

In my opinion he earned it. I think they are all overpaid, but based on the going rate - he earned it.


[i][b]"And when he gave up, they asked him to take a pay cut?"[/b][/i]

You can't just make shit up as you go and call it a valid argument. He gave up? When you say that it seems as if he gave up altogether. He said he didn't think he could compete (physically) day in day out in training camp for the starters role - he never said he wouldn't do his job as a backup.

They gave the guy an hour to decide whether to take a pay cut and sit the bench for the rest of his career. He had just declared that he would be a starter come opening day just four weeks prior to the Bengals "negotiating" with him. An hour to make a decision like that. Yeah.


[b][i]"Seriously, why should I respect him now?"[/i][/b]


You shouldn't. Quite frankly, I'm glad that someone so irrational isn't on the same side of an argument as me.


[b][i]"So get sick for me pointing out your bullshit."[/i][/b]

Boy, you are a legend in your own mind, aren't you?

If that is what you call it. Twisting and sensationalizing other peoples arguments because you are incapable of having an honest debate.

[quote name='oldschooler' post='740172' date='Jan 15 2009, 08:59 AM']I can't speak for everyone, but I am a fan of the Bengals.
I really couldn`t care less about former Bengals. Sure, I will
hate on them if they leave on bad terms. And I will surely
hate on them if they go to a division rival.

And I sure as hell wouldn't root for a division rival
because a former Bengal plays for them.

Now you can insult me and others for not sharing your view.
But really, I think it is people that do root for division rivals
because a former Bengal plays for them, that should be insulted
and ridiculed.

Would you have rooted for the Stealers if Willie had went to them?
Would you have wished him to get a ring? To me, there is no difference.
Sure I hate the Stealers more than any other team. But I hate division
rivals more than all other teams.

Fact is, Willie has no one to blame for him being cut other than Willie.
And the same person is to blame for him signing with a division rival.
Now you want to act like people that aren't cheering him on are just
having a bunch of sour grapes. I say bullshit. The only reason I rooted
for the motherfucker is because he played for the Bengals. He doesn't
now. He playes for a hated rival. So fuck him.


Get it?[/quote]


I will be rooting for the Ravens because I detest the stealers, not because of Willie.

Then, I will root for whomever the winner plays.

If it turns out to be the stealers, I will also be rooting for their team plane to crash en route to the game. :notevenahintofaninja:

The Bengals oughta be ashamed of themselves...

Name one other star player to stick with the Bengals for their entire career never to even sniff the Super Bowl, only to get cut. The guy gave everything he could. If the Ravens cut Willie next year, the Bengals should re-sign him purely out of respect. I don't care if he never plays a down.

Another case of Bengals bad PR management.

[quote name='StrengthOfFates' post='740138' date='Jan 15 2009, 02:01 AM']You people are hilarious. The dude didn't give 100% in practices this offseason - does that warrant this level of disrespect from you fucks? Willie gave the Bengals 12 years of great play and always showed up on game day. Sour grapes if you ask me.[/quote]


no doubt. the REAL problem has shown it's ugly, bald head time and again, yet they steadfastly line up behind him and bash the (insert name) player. groundhog day.