Thursday, September 09, 1999
BENGALS NOTEBOOK
Smith back with his top college receiver
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Wednesday was Old Home Week for Damon Griffin at Spinney Field.
There was Griffin, two lockers down from college buddy Akili Smith. There was Griffin, catching a crossing route from Smith, just like they did 58 times for 1,038 yards last season at Oregon. There were Smith and Griffin leaving the building about an hour later, together again.
“You know how big Eugene is,” said Griffin of the Oregon city where more than 70 percent of his catches were for touchdowns or first downs.
“It's not very big. So everyone is close. The offseason workouts really gave (Akili and Grffin) a chance to know each other like it's been for 10 years. That's why we did so much damage at Oregon. We understand each other just once. Akili made that his team. He took control.”
The 49ers understood that the 5-foot-9, 180-pound Griffin could help them after an exhibition season he ran back a kick for a 96-yard touchdown and caught a 55-yard touchdown pass. In fact, Griffin walked into the Niners' facility Sunday, where he got a locker, a uniform and handshakes from coaches who were thrilled that an undrafted free agent made their roster.
But before he went out to practice, there was a minor detail. They couldn't complete the trade for Jim Druckenmiller until the next day, so they had to cut him, but they would re-sign him tomorrow.
Tomorrow never came. Three teams claimed him with the Bengals getting first dibs claiming at No. 3.
“Just to be in the NFL, I'm a happy man. I'm blessed,” said Griffin, when asked about going from a perennial playoff team to the Bengals. “It's great Akili's here. He can help me with a new team, new town, new people.”
Griffin assumes the reason he wasn't drafted is because he was not only just 5-9, but he also ran the 40-yard dash in “only” 4.5 seconds. He's dropped about five to eight pounds, but he doesn't think that means much.
“Apparently I wasn't fast then, but I guess I am now,” Griffin said. “Before I was just a 4.5 guy. But I'm breaking tackles and running away from a lot of people. Right now I feel real quick and fast.”
Griffin never returned punts or kicks until he joined the Niners, and he could be in one of those roles for the Bengals on Sunday. Or, he may not dress if receivers James Hundon (toe) and Craig Yeast (ankle) are deemed healthy. But since both are nagging injuries, Griffin probably gets a chance to dress.
JUST FOR KICKS: New punter Will Brice had a couple of boomers Wednesday as he tries to win a job Sunday. If you think you're seeing things when you watch him, you're not. He punts with his left foot and kicks with his right.
He's lefty all the way, so he says it was easier for him to use his left hand to drop the ball on his left foot when he punted. He was an all-state soccer player in high school, so he had to use both feet and his right one ended up being strong and he prefers that one when he kicks off.
THIS AND THAT: Rookie fullback Nick Williams took part in all phases of Wednesday's practice for the first time since he sprained his ankle in the Aug. 7 intrasquad scrimmage. He's been told he'll be inactive this week, but is encouraged about Game 2: “The only thing I can't do is explode when I hit somebody and that's coming along.
• It always seems like new 24-year-old Bengals cornerback Ty Howard is in someone's shadow. At Ohio State, first-round pick Shawn Springs played opposite him. In the NFL, he was behind Pro Bowler Aeneas Williams, first-round pick Tom Knight and second-round pick Corey Chavous at Arizona.
“It wasn't a good fit in Arizona. They had a lot of high-priced guys,” said Howard, who had one sack and five passes defensed in two seasons and 24 games with the Cardinals. “I've played some good games against tough teams. I know I can play. It's going to take me about a week here to get used to the defense and terminology. That's the key now.”
Bengals Stories
REDS 6, CUBS 4
Home run surge hard to explain
REDS NOTEBOOK
Box, runs
Astros 10, Phillies 2
UC drops jersey names for team unity
Blount signs with Suns
UC women's crew team a long time in the making
Baseball dead in Cincinnati? Not quite
Cooper denies OSU has QB controversy
OHIO HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS
OHIO HIGH SCHOOL RESULTS
N.KY. HIGH SCHOOL RESULTS
N.KY. HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS
This week's football schedule
