Thursday, September 25, 1997

NOTEBOOK
Bieniemy to return kicks
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Eric Bieniemy, the epitome of a good football soldier, will march to a new spot on the kickoff-return unit Sunday: The goal line.

Bieniemy, who usually blocks on returns, will try running kicks back along with David Dunn when the Bengals face the Jets. It's not entirely new for Bieniemy, who returned 22 kickoffs for San Diego in 1992-93 and eight for the Bengals in 1995.

With Corey Dillon becoming the starting running back in Ki-Jana Carter's absence, the Bengals chose to remove Dillon from return duties and needed a new deep back to complement Dunn. Rookie Tremain Mack and virtual rookie James Hundon also might receive chances, but special teams coach Al Roberts said he wanted "maturity" at the return spots.

Bieniemy averaged only 17.8 yards a return in his limited experience in that role, but the third-down running back led Cincinnati with a 4.8-yard rushing average last year.

"I told him to run like it's third down if the ball comes to him," Roberts said Wednesday.

Tuna on Dillon

Jets coach Bill Parcells knows all about Dillon.

"We had him as a first-round player in the draft," Parcells said. "He's a little bit more powerful than Carter would have been. At least that's the way I would have looked at him."

Parcells did temper his thoughts with the fact he has yet to see Dillon play in person.

Sellout unlikely

With Cinergy Field reverting to its full 60,389-seat football capacity now that the Reds' season has ended, Sunday's game against the Jets almost surely will not be declared a sellout by 1 p.m. today, which is the deadline for lifting the local television blackout. The Bengals also failed to sell out their Aug. 31 season opener against Arizona. They are assured of home sellouts against Pittsburgh (Oct. 19) and Dallas (Dec. 14).

Word to Wilson

Responding to a question about linebacker Reinard Wilson's frustration over his dwindling playing time, coach Bruce Coslet said, "I guess I can take this opportunity to give him a piece of advice, can't I? Don't make mistakes. Study a little more."

Coslet added that "nobody's blaming Reinard for anything" and reiterated that the decision to replace the first-round draft choice in the starting lineup with Gerald Dixon is meant to help Wilson in the long run.

"Sometimes you have to back them off to let them go forward," Coslet said. "The better he looks in practice, the more playing time (he'll receive). The harder he prepares and pays attention in meetings, the more playing time. It's a fact of life."

Injury report

Though Tom Tumulty's bruised right thigh has improved, the starting left inside linebacker remained listed as doubtful for the Jets game.

"If it were up to me, I'd be practicing today," Tumulty said. "That's the way I'm always going to be. This is a tough, rough game for tough, rough people."

Trainer Paul Sparling said that Tumulty is probable for the Oct. 5 game at Jacksonville but called the second-year veteran's hopes of facing New York "overly optimistic."

Defensive lineman Brentson Buckner (sprained right knee) sat out Wednesday's practice and remained questionable for Sunday, though Sparling said his condition is improving daily.

Jets starting right tackle David Williams (sprained left foot) did not practice Wednesday and is questionable for the game. Siupeli Malamala would likely replace Williams.

Jets defensive tackle Ronnie Dixon (ankle) is probable.

Must win

Quarterback Jeff Blake said Sunday's game is a must-win for the Bengals. He figures at the least, the 1-2 Bengals must win two games a month.

"That way," Blake said, "you go at least 8-8. We want to do better than that. But that's the least. And if you win three a month, you win 12 games and get to the playoffs."

Hailing Hess

Despite being fired as the Jets' coach after the 1993 season, Coslet still reveres Leon Hess, the team's owner.

Hess reportedly told Jets players that as long as he owned the team, Coslet would remain coach. But the late Dick Steinberg, who ran New York's football operations, didn't see things that way. "I talked to Leon after (the firing), and he felt sick about it," said Coslet, who accumulated a 26-38 record and one playoff berth with the Jets from 1990-93. "He didn't want to do it, but he decided to go along with the guys he had hired to run the team. I always appreciated Leon telling me that."

Etc.

Tumulty's absence probably would enable Steve Tovar to start for the first time since he tore ligaments in his left knee last Dec. 1 at Jacksonville. Tovar had nine tackles (eight solo) last Sunday. With several players nursing minor aches and pains, the Bengals practiced without pads Wednesday.

Carter to try to play
Dillon takes big step
Blake says he passed sobriety test
Auditor blasts city on stadium
Parcells' way works
More stories...
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