Cedric Peerman checked into the Pro Bowl better late than never.
KAHUKU, HI - Cedric Peerman found out Monday night he had become the first Bengals special teams cover player to make the Pro Bowl. Wednesday morning he stood in the lobby of the Turtle Bay resort looking at a Hollywood set of cartoon-vivid waves crashing against a sand-stretched beach framed by palm trees.
"I don't know what day it is," said Peerman, finally looking up. "Wow, look at those waves out there."
Wow, look how far he's come. A sixth-round pick of the Ravens in 2009 cut three times before becoming a Bengals special teams staple in 2010, Peerman headed to Wednesday's draft to see where he'd line up in Sunday's (7 p.m.-ESPN) Pro Bowl.
"It's a dream come true," Peerman said. "Hawaii. Look at it out there. And just being around these great players."
They wanted him to catch a flight at 7 a.m. Tuesday. But with wife Hagar due with their first child Feb. 6, there was too much to be done. In fact, he wondered if he should go at all.
"She couldn't go. The long flight. Having a baby on a plane would have been terrible," Peerman said. "She would have none of (him not going). She said she'd been fine and a first pregnancy usually is on time."
He also got a no from Bengals special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons. As is usually tradition, Peerman invited his position coach to Hawaii, but Simmons was already tied up scouting the Senior Bowl and couldn't break away.
"He was very appreciative and I really wanted him to make it," Peerman said.
But he won't be alone. Just before leaving for the draft at the Wheeler Army Base, Peerman confirmed plane reservations for his parents and in-laws.
"It's been a whirlwind," said Peerman, still looking at the waves. "But it's been fun."
