Wednesday, September 08, 1999
BENGALS NOTEBOOK
Secondary young and restless
BY TOM GROESCHEN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The cornerback section of the Bengals' Spinney Field clubhouse was buzzing Tuesday.
Newly signed Ty Howard and Rico Clark, formerly of Arizona and Indianapolis, respectively, checked in and were given jersey Nos. 20 and 21. Clark made it in time for practice, while Howard showed up later and watched in street clothes.
Meanwhile, a swarm of reporters sought their first comments from players since six-year veteran Corey Sawyer surprisingly was waived Monday. At cornerback, the Bengals have no player who has played over two seasons in the NFL.
“Everyone's gonna come after us,” said right cornerback Artrell Hawkins. “Anyone with common sense knows that.”
The secondary seems vulnerable, to put it mildly. The six cornerbacks on the roster have a combined five career interceptions — three by Hawkins last year.
At safety, the four players have a combined six career interceptions, with three each by starters Myron Bell and Greg Myers.
Team totals: 10 defensive backs, 11 career interceptions.
Second-year man Hawkins is suddenly the old guy over at right corner, with rookie Charles Fisher replacing Sawyer at left corner.
Fisher, a second-round draft pick, said he expected to start. But not necessarily this soon.
“You would like the ideal situation, where you maybe learn from a veteran and then beat him out,” Fisher said. “There's definitely going to be some ups and downs for me.”
Like most rookies, Fisher in preseason has appeared to give receivers a big cushion, preferring to play off the ball and react to the play. Atlanta quarterback Chris Chandler schooled him last week, with Tennessee's Steve McNair on deck.
“Every play, I've got to think they're going to be throwing at me,” Fisher said. “That's how it was for Artrell last year.”
Hawkins had former Pro Bowl corner Ashley Ambrose to help him. But Ambrose fled to New Orleans and Sawyer and Thomas Randolph were let go, leaving Fisher to start and fellow rookie Rodney Heath (Western Hills High) as possibly the nickel back.
Clark and Howard are three-year NFL men, but will not be of immediate help since they're new to the system.
“Time is against us,” Hawkins said. “We have no time to get the experience back there. It's going to take a lot of film study, a lot of work. I'll try to help guys out, but I'm still learning also.”
Coach Bruce Coslet is displeased at being so young in the secondary, but said his corps at least has speed. Plus, Coslet is encouraged that his defensive linemen and linebackers played well overall in preseason.
“The defense has been a positive,” he said. “We need to pick it up on the other side of the ball.”
AKILI'S MAN: Damon Griffin, the free-agent receiver claimed by Cincinnati on Monday, was to arrive late Tuesday night. Griffin was the top receiver for Akili Smith at Oregon, catching 58 passes for 1,038 yards last year.
The Bengals also plan to try Griffin as a kick returner, especially with Tremain Mack suspended for four games. Coslet is not sure if he will be activated this week.
The 5-foot-9, 186-pound Griffin was claimed by five teams off waivers, but the Bengals were first in line. Griffin was cut by the 49ers, who had hoped to sneak him through waivers.
“He was my go-to-guy,” Smith said. “He's got great hands, good speed, runs good routes.”
What Griffin doesn't have is height. But he has production, having scored preseason touchdowns on a 96-yard kickoff return and a 55-yard catch.
He also has a place to stay.
“I'm gonna have him move into my house,” Smith said. “But he has to help with the rent.”
STRIPES STRICKEN: Linebacker Adrian Ross, who drew attention for coloring his hair Bengal orange-and-black, is back to all black. The orange stripes were just for preseason, he said.
“I got a lot of comments on it, but it's time to get serious,” he said.
The stripes could return, he said. “Maybe for when we play Pittsburgh or something.”
NOTABLE: Nose tackle Kelly Gregg, the Bengals' sixth-round draftee from Oklahoma, cleared waivers and was signed to the practice squad.
SAY WHAT? Bengals President Mike Brown disputed the Forbes magazine report that the Bengals are the 12th-most profitable team in the NFL.
The magazine listed the team's value as $394 million, and said it had an operating profit of $3.4 million in 1998.
“It looks to me like Alice In Wonderland numbers,” Brown said.
Brown always is amused by various reports of professional franchise values, and wonders how they are compiled without full access to teams' financial records. He won't reveal the team's worth, but said the Forbes stats are well off the mark.
“It's a mystery to me, how they come up with the numbers they do,” he said.
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