Saturday, October 02, 1999BENGALS NOTEBOOK
Coslet apologizes for Carter flap
BY TOM GROESCHEN
The Cincinnati EnquirerCoach Bruce Coslet apologized again Friday for the snafu involving running back Ki-Jana Carter, who learned via ESPN that he had been placed on injured reserve by the Bengals.
Coslet, hoping to clear the air, made an unannounced visit to the Spinney Field media room after Friday's practice. He told a handful of reporters that the team was unable to reach Carter before the move was announced at 1p.m. Wednesday.
Carter, seeking a second opinion on his dislocated right kneecap, visited nationally known Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., on Tuesday.
“First of all, we were in a time pinch, and Ki-Jana was down in Alabama,” Coslet said. “Apparently he was en route back, and nobody got to him.”
Coslet and Bengals President Mike Brown, who also has apologized to Carter, said the Bengals were facing an NFL deadline with their decisions to shelve Carter and promote Michael Basnight from the practice squad to replace him. Coslet was unclear on exactly when that deadline was but said the Bengals basically had to act quickly or risk losing Basnight to another team.
There remains confusion as to where Carter was when the Bengals made their decision, and why the media learned it before the player did. But apparently, the job of calling Carter simply fell through the cracks.
“No excuse for the way this happened, but it's just the way it happened,” Coslet said.
Carter was not at practice Friday and was unavailable for comment. On Thursday he told reporters he was upset that he had learned of his status upon watching the ESPN ticker and said he may have played his last down for Cincinnati.
Said Coslet: “I think the world of Ki-Jana. The bottom line is we would never intentionally not inform a player to slight him in any way, shape or form. I mean, I played, and I would not want that done to me.”
COSLET ON MILNE: Coslet, a day after saying he would not address the release of starting fullback Brian Milne, discussed it Friday. But he did not get into the football particulars of why Milne was cut.
Coslet said he asked running backs coach Jim Anderson to have Milne come see him Wednesday after Milne was informed of his release. But Milne declined, which reminded Coslet of his NFL days when he was waived three times.
“I wouldn't want to talk to my coach or anybody, either,” Coslet said. “It's embarrass ing, and there's no easy way to tell somebody. What can you say?”
Coslet said he was not upset that Milne left without seeing him.
“I just extended the courtesy to Brian because I think he's a hell of a guy,” he said.
GO AHEAD, LAUGH: The Bengals, at 0-3, have some weird statistical edges over their opponents, such as more first downs (58-49) and more rushing yards (377-306). Normally, that translates into a victory or two.
“All you guys want to do is point out statistics, but I'm trying to figure out reasons,” Coslet said Friday. “Because I think we have a better team this year. I honestly believe that.”
Uh-oh.
“I'll get ridiculed for saying that,” he said. “But I believe it; I see it every day at practice. We have a better offensive line, our defense is better ... we had two blowups last week on long runs, but we're a better football team than we've been. We've just got to score some points and win a game.”
PICKENS COMING AROUND: Carl Pickens, who signed only three days before the season opener, is just now getting back to form, Coslet said. Pickens has just 10 catches for 89 yards and no touchdowns and has only started one game.
“He's not quite Carl Pickens, but he's pretty close,” Coslet said. “He was in reasonable shape when he got here, but his legs weren't in football shape. I think he's getting back to where he was.”
GO REDS: Coslet smiled when it was suggested that the playoff-hopeful Reds, his Cinergy Field brethren, were threatening to take over the town.
“Hey, I'm proud of those Reds, I really am,” Coslet said. “I think they're wonderful to watch.”
Coslet said he likes to watch Sean Casey at bat.
“What's not to like?” he said. “But I want you to figure out how many times he clasps and unclasps that batting glove this season. He's got to be up in the millions.”
Coslet was reminded that the Reds started slowly this year and were written off like the Bengals are now.
“You never know,” he said, “but we've got to prove it. Talking about it is one thing, but they've already proved it. I hope they win the whole thing.”
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