Thursday, October 21, 1999

Blake sees success away from here

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BENGALS NOTEBOOK

BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Jeff Blake feeds the passing machine Wednesday. (AP photo ) | ZOOM |

        When he leaves Cincinnati next season, Jeff Blake plans to join that growing legion of former Bengals quarterbacks who win games elsewhere.

        Last Sunday, Neil O'Donnell won for Tennessee, and Damon Huard and Jay Fiedler starred in relief roles for Miami and Jacksonville.

        “Wherever I end up, I'm going to win,” Blake said Wednesday. “I'm going to play hard to get that opportunity to win. I always have and I always will. I'm the same guy I was in '95. The style of play never changes. The situation changes.”

        Blake, the 1995 Pro Bowler who has lost 13 of his last 16 starts, plans to leave via free agency at the end of the season. He would have liked a trade, but was so sure the Bengals weren't going to peddle him by Tuesday's 4p.m. deadline that he went to his children's school as show-and-tell.

        The classes of first-grader Torre and third-grader Emory got Blake; Jets coach Bill Parcells didn't.

        “When my agent and I talked, he told me teams weren't going to give up a draft pick or a player if they knew they could get me at the end of the season,” Blake said.

        “I know exactly what my role is, which is getting (Akili Smith) ready for next year. I'm going to try and coach him up, not too much, just be there when he needs me. Let him learn by trial and error. Let him do the things he needs to do to prepare himself. I can try and explain it to him, but he still has to go through it.”

        Since Smith took the quarterback job two weeks ago, the rookie has taken just about every practice snap in practice as Blake recovers from a variety of hurts from his four starts. Blake says his sprained throwing shoulder, turf toe, and sore ankle are about 95 percent.

        Blake is ready to go gracefully, but he couldn't hide the hurt from demotions in each of the past three seasons when asked if he would come back if there was the chance of an open battle for the job.

        “I've been through that competing-for-the-job bit,” Blake said. “There is no competing for a job when a guy gets that type of money.

        “Even at my best, we still couldn't make the playoffs,” said Blake of the 7-9 season in 1995. “What am I supposed to do?”

        GROCE OBSERVATION: Bengals fullback Clif Groce, a former Colt, has noticed how his old team has got on the 3-2 winning track: “They've got a good young quarterback, a good young running back, great receivers, a bend-but-don't-break defense. That's a pretty good prescription for success.”

        Told that sounded a bit like the Bengals, Groce said, “I think this team is better than the Colts.”

        INJURY UPDATE: WR Darnay Scott (bruised rib) practiced Wedneday and looks like he'll be fine for Sunday ... RB Corey Dillon didn't work with a sore foot. He's expected to be limited today, but should be OK ... G Mike Goff (knee) returned to practice and is probable.

        NO OFF DAY: On their off day Tuesday, the Bengals' four captains led a group of players to sites to help coach and lecture youngsters involved in United Way programs. At Spinney Field, wide receiver Carl Pickens led a group of players in a football clinic for about 80 children.

       

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