BENGALS NOTEBOOK Milne ready to play Friday, September 18, 1998
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Despite not having played since the Bengals' Aug. 8 preseason opener, fullback Brian Milne believes he can last four quarters Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.
Milne, recovering from a strained lower back, pointed out that he usually plays only on first and second downs. Cincinnati's top blocking back, who was upgraded from questionable to probable after practicing Thursday, estimated that he felt "97 to 98 percent" healed.
Milne had begun other weeks hoping to play but discarded the notion when his back couldn't withstand contact. He thought that the careful, painstaking approach he and the team's medical staff took to his rehabilitation was the right one.
"I'd rather miss two games and play 14 than come back too early and miss game 10, game 13, game 14, that type of thing," he said. Asked if he might be rusty after missing so much game action, Milne said, "There is a technique to it, but I know the technique enough where I'll be prepared to do my job."
Milne praised tight end Steve Bush for filling in as Cincinnati's fullback in blocking situations. Though the Bengals are tied for 18th in rushing yards among NFL teams, Corey Dillon has averaged a respectable 4.7 yards per carry. "I want to commend Steve for giving his best and stepping up to the front," Milne said.
Other injuries
Like Milne, inside linebacker Brian Simmons practiced Thursday without a setback, exactly three weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a torn left meniscus in his left knee. This cleared Simmons, a first-round pick and the 17th overall selection in this year's draft, to make his NFL debut Sunday, though Tom Tumulty probably will retain his starting role.
Defensive lineman Glen Steele (back) returned to practice and was upgraded from questionable to probable. Linebacker Reinard Wilson (left shoulder) also resumed practicing and remained probable for the game.
Cool with Carl
Coach Bruce Coslet didn't mind wide receiver Carl Pickens' brash published declaration that the Bengals would defeat Green Bay. Noting that Pickens also said the Bengals would have to play hard, Coslet said, "If you read the article and then read the headline ("Pickens predicts Bengals will win'), it's two different stories. That wasn't what he said. We need to get our confidence, too. We wouldn't play the game unless we wanted to try to win."
Coslet wasn't worried that the Packers would use Pickens' remarks to goad themselves emotionally.
"I think the three-time world champions really need some bulletin-board stuff," Coslet said sarcastically. "That's not even worth talking about. If it was Joe Namath guaranteeing the Super bowl, now that would be a story."
More Pickens
With 405 career catches, Pickens is one big day away from becoming the franchise's all-time leading receiver.
The seven-year veteran is 12 catches behind leader Cris Collinsworth and 11 behind second-place Isaac Curtis. Lest you think 12 receptions in a game is out of Pickens' reach, he did it on Nov. 10, 1996 against Pittsburgh, tying James Brooks' club mark.
Pickens also has 53 lifetime touchdowns, tying him with Curtis for third place behind Pete Johnson (70) and James Brooks (64).
Coming home
As a Taft High School graduate, playing at Cinergy Field might not feel like a road game to Green Bay defensive end Vaughn Booker.
Booker, acquired in an offseason trade from Kansas City for defensive lineman Darius Holland, frequently substitutes for perennial Pro Bowler Reggie White. Booker was a two-time all-city pick at Taft as a defensive tackle, tight end and kicker.
O'Donnell passing with flying colors