Thursday, October 07, 1999BENGALS NOTEBOOK
Bell: It's not Coslet's fault
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati EnquirerNo one at Spinney Field is talking about what everyone else in Cincinnati is talking about.
If the Bengals lose in Cleveland Sunday, does coach Bruce Coslet lose his job to assistant head coach Dick LeBeau or running backs coach Jim Anderson, the most senior members of his staff?
Or does going to a rookie quarterback, as well as a lack of coaches with NFL head coaching experience on the staff, give Coslet life until the end of the season?
“I think about (how) he could get fired because of the way we're playing,” said strong safety Myron Bell. “And he's not out there throwing passes or missing tackles and he has to take the heat. If anything, it should light a fire under our butts, to get us to pick it up and start playing ball like we planned in the offseason.”
WYCHE HAPPY: Since Bengals President Mike Brown likes to hire within the family, one of the names bandied about is Sam Wyche, coach of the last Bengal playoff team during his tenure from 1984-91. When Wyche was fired/resigned, Brown's first call was to Forrest Gregg, Wyche's predecessor.
“I'm very lucky to have the job I have right now,” said Wyche, a CBS analyst, when asked if he wants to get back into coaching. “I would think the best way for them to turn it around now is to keep the staff they have. Bruce is a good coach. Those guys know what they're doing. It's tough, because the players start thinking about it, and that's time spent not thinking about the game.”
BLACKMAN GONE?: Both sides in the Ken Blackman case hope to have a resolution today, which means he could be released or agree to a contract extension. Blackman is in town after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery Friday, the third procedure on a knee that had an articular cartilage graft.
“The knee is solid now,” Blackman said. “The scope cleared out some scar tissue that was hindering the rehab. I've turned the corner.”
After a training camp blowup, Blackman agreed to go on the physically unable to perform list in exchange for not filing a grievance if the Bengals release him. Blackman is set to come off PUP in two weeks, but he has up to six weeks after that to decide if he can play.
The Bengals plan to activate safety Tremain Mack, who has been suspended, this week to return kicks.
MYERS FRUSTRATED: On losing his job to rookie Cory Hall at free safety, Greg Myers said, “I think I've helped the team this year. I've forced a fumble, recovered a fumble. I'm not bitter, just frustrated.”
THIS AND THAT: ormer Bengal fullback Brian Milne said a neutral doctor told him he shouldn't have practiced for three to four weeks with his sprained knee. Milne did practice off and on before the Bengals released him.
• The Bengals are suing former defensive lineman Ray Seals for the $50,000 signing bonus he got in '98 even though he couldn't play because of his weight.
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