Clark Harris is cleared from concussion protocol for Sunday's game (1 p.m.-Cincinnati's Channel 19, click here for tickets) against Tampa Bay at Paul Brown Stadium and that's a huge sigh of relief for the Bengals because now they don't have to go get a long snapper for one game and cut someone else make room.
Harris, the 10-year Bengal who has been as reliable as gold, reported the good news to the press before Friday morning's walk-through in a development fraught with irony. He said he got dinged on Sunday night's last punt in Kansas City, ending an eventful game that didn't claim his streak of no unplayable snaps that dates back to his Bengals debut of Oct. 18, 2009. When he gets on the field Sunday against the Bucs it will be his 144th Bengals game, tying him on the club's games play listed with his predecessor. Brad St. Louis, a seventh-round pick in 2000, suddenly struggled on place-kick snaps in that tenth season before the change.
Harris isn't struggling just off the Bengals' first long-snapping Pro Bowl berth in history, but he did take blame Friday for the gaffe Sunday night in which he snapped the ball to punter Kevin Huber on what was supposed to be a short snap on a fake punt to personal punt protector Clayton Fejedelem early in the second quarter. The play resulted in a fumble when Fejedelem tried to intercept it and the Chiefs recovered at the Bengals 32. They scored a touchdown three plays later to take a 14-0 lead on the way to a 45-10 victory.
"I've got to hear stuff. I put it on myself," Harris said of the miscommunication. "Other guys will put it on themselves. I put it on myself. I've got to hear and know what the hell is going on. It's as combination. Noise. My head is down. I'm yelling stuff. Miscommunication. They happen. I should have been able to see the tipoffs. I just missed it."
Because Fejedelem got a hand on it, the streak lives at 1,353 straight no unplayable snaps, according to Bengals public relations mega manager Pete Schramm
Earlier Friday Harris wasn't sure the no unplayable streak was over. Two years ago his streak of 123 straight games ended with a groin issue: "If it's over, it's over. My games streak ended and I'm still here."
Harris said he had a headache Monday morning and reported it, but he said "It was a very minor … I had no memory loss."
SLANTS AND SCREENS: Head coach Marvin Lewis said Friday rookie center Billy Price could play Sunday, but he's on target to return for the Nov. 11 PBS game against the Saints. Price, upgraded to doubtful, injured his foot on the 19th snap of his second NFL game. So with six players ruled out Friday, here is Sunday's inactive list pending any surprises: Price (foot), running back Giovani Bernard (knee), WILL backer Vontaze Burfict (hip), cornerback Darqueze Dennard (shoulder), SAM backer Nick Vigil (knee), tight end Tyler Kroft (foot) and wide receiver John Ross (groin) …
Before the Bengals traded the 12th pick back in April, remember how massive Washington nose tackle Vita Vea looked so appealing? Well, he went No. 12 to the Bucs and Bengals center Trey Hopkins says he's as advertised: "Very good and very big. And he's really strong." … The Bengals may get a break since Gerald McCoy, the Bucs' estimable defensive tackle, didn't practice Wednesday and Thursday …
Sunday's weather forecast from the phone of Bengals equipment manager Adam Knollman: Kick-off temperature 53 degrees, 60 percent chance of rain, wind eight miles per hour. Rain gear and sweats on the sidelines …
Something to keep an eye on. Cornerback Will Jackson told Channel 12's Richard Skinner he'll be following Bucs deep threat DeSean Jackson, one of the NFL's top receivers over the past decade. Under Lewis the Bengals traditionally haven't "traveled," their corners. On Friday, Lewis said they won't. Stay tuned …
