News

For the first time since his 12-year Bengals career ended just before the 2008 season, four-time Pro Bowl right tackle Willie Anderson visited the locker room Wednesday and while he’s not returning as a player he is helping his old offensive line in other ways.

Dressed in a black T-shirt and black shorts, Anderson walked out to the practice field with Bengals president Mike Brown and chatted while the team stretched. Then when they broke, offensive line coach Paul Alexander took the rest of the line while dispatching right tackles Dennis Roland, Andre Smith and Anthony Collins to Anderson's care. 

During lunch before practice Alexander grabbed Roland for a meeting and with Anderson already exiting the locker, speculation was rampant that the guy with the biggest shoe in Bengals history (19E) was sitting down the tallest Bengal ever as the 6-9 Roland comes off a tough game against the Panthers.

Head coach Marvin Lewis, who met with Anderson on Tuesday night after Anderson arrived in Cincinnati on business from his Atlanta home, said Lewis has a lot to offer to his young players. Anderson wants to start an "Offensive Line University," and develop a student-athlete handbook for youngsters. But right now his main interest is coaching his son's seventh-grade team.

“He was a very smart player who helped guys,” said Lewis, who thinks Anderson has some interesting takes now that he’s been out of the game since the end of the ’08 season.

Anderson, who played at 6-6, 350 pounds and upwards, looks thinner than his playing days and quarterback Carson Palmer asked, “Are you playing tight end?” as he hugged him.

"I'm rushing the passer," he said.

Alexander said he expects Roland to bounce back, but he also talked encouragingly after practice about Smith.

Smith

Michael Johnson

Alexander says Smith and the Bengals strength staff spearheaded by head man Chip Morton did a great job overcoming his weight gain and lack of conditioning. Although, Morton said during Smith’s three-a-days at Georgetown College he was always impressed with Smith’s fitness.

“Andre’s season is not over. Before the season is over, Andre has to have a good season. That does not mean him being on the bench,” Alexander said. “In my experience, if you miss training camp and you’re an offensive lineman, it is hard. Because you never practice full speed again. Everything out here (in regular-season practice) is timing and he’s getting it back.

“Based on where he came in and where he is now, (his conditioning) is night and day. And that’s to his credit and Chip’s credit.”

Alexander also said he needs his line to improve, but he thinks they’re doing admirably for the first three games of the year.

“We’ve got seven goals and so far we’re hitting five of them,” he said.

He also swears by center Kyle Cook with the line just having three mental errors  in the first three games.

“I’m a Cook guy,” Alexander said. “That’s why.”

Anderson was either 2-1 or 3-0 just three times here, so he has an idea why these Bengals are getting heat at 2-1.

"Back in the day day? Back in the Coslet/Shula days? That would have been great back then," Anderson said. "That tells you how great the team is doing right now and how well the organization is turned around that people can still complain about 2-1. That tells you expectations are higher for them now and that’s because they’re a better team. Once you can be good and you can be a better team people expect the world. Look at Tom Brady. Tom Brady said that after they’d won Super Bowls that the fans still weren’t satisfied. That comes from being a good team and a good organization. That’s a good thing, as Marvin would say."

» Cornerback Adam Jones (shoulder) returned to practice Wednesday after missing all last week and the Carolina game. While the club worked in shoulder pads and helmets, defensive lineman Jon Fanene (hamstring) rode the exercise bike on the field...Tom Nelson (knee), on PUP, was working on the side in pads.

Running back Cedric Benson (knee) and Fanene didn’t work. Jones was listed as limited. So was wide receiver Jordan Shipley, who briefly left Sunday’s game with a shoulder injury, and right end Antwan Odom, who didn’t play with a sprained wrist. WILL linebacker Keith Rivers, who missed the Sept. 19 Baltimore win with a foot injury, was also was limited as well as linebacker/fullback Dan Skuta.

The Browns had a host of players not practicing, led by quarterback Jake Delhomme (ankle) and nose tackle Shaun Rogers (hip and ankle). Also, running back Jerome Harrison (ankle), who missed last week, and all-world return man Josh Cribbs (thigh) were limited.

» Wide receiver Chad Ochocinco says blame him for the Bengals passing game woes, not Palmer.

“Carson is fine. Blame me. I’m not being myself,” The Ocho said. “Not enough trash-talking.”

When someone brought up the old Pepto-Bismol gag from six years ago (The Ocho sending the Cleveland secondary each a bottle of Pepto), Terrell Owens from the next locker had a suggestion.

“You should send them some Imodium,” said Owens, indicating that the Browns were “running at the mouth.”

The Ocho laughed and said he’s unaware of any trash-talking from up north and he says he hasn’t started any yet.

» Left tackle Andrew Whitworth, the club's NFL Players Association rep, expects the club to vote to decertify as a union if there is a work stoppage. The vote comes Thursday during NFLPA chief DeMaurice Smith's visit to the facility.

» Browns big back Peyton Hills (6-2, 250) is coming off a huge game (the first Cleveland back to rush for 140 yards in the 21st century) and Bengals safety Chris Crocker says the Bengals can't let him get his shoulders square at the line of scrimmage. When the Bengals were looking for backup running backs in the spring of 2009, they talked to the Broncos about Hillis before trading for the Rams' Brian Leonard.

» Benson hasn't been shy talking about the frustrations of the offense. Whether it is to Jim Rome on Tuesday or to local types on Wedneday. He sounded pretty upbeat.

"We know our potential. We’re just eager to get there. I feel real good about this week," Benson said. "The atmosphere is really good and I think guys this week are going to really hone on their jobs to achieve our maximum potential as an offense."