Sunday, December 12, 1999
Who's got the edge?
QUARTERBACK
Bengals: Free agent Jeff Blake played so well the last month, he's got Mike Brown reaching for wallet looking for $5.5 million transition tag to slip around Blake's neck
Browns: Tim Couch is real deal. Now it has to be Carmen's Policy to get real offense around him before Couch donates his body to science.
EDGE: Bengals
RUNNING BACKS
Bengals: Corey Dillon offered 210 reasons (133 yards running, 77 catching) last week to lock him up long term before mini camp. Tough. Durable. Productive. What else is there?
Browns: Karim Abdul-Jabbar better have good hook shot because his 2.8 yards per carry since he came over from Dolphins is air ball for league's worst offense
EDGE: Bengals
RECEIVERS
Bengals: May be last time Cincy sees Blake-to-Carl Pickens, best Bengal duo since Ken Anderson-to-Isaac Curtis
Browns: Imagine Browns draft first. Imagine Couch throwing to Kevin Johnson and Peter Warrick. Imagine Bengals defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau trying Senior Tour instead
EDGE: Bengals
OFFENSIVE LINE
Bengals: Tackles Wilie Anderson and Rod Jones graded in 90s last week. It's hard for rest of offense to flunk with such marks
Browns: Only thing they protected the last month is their gall when gave one of their own grief for bowing out of game because of illness. Nice chemistry. No wonder allowed NFL-high 51 sacks
EDGE: Bengals
DEFENSIVE LINE
Bengals: One question. Why did it take so long to go to 4-man line? In three games they've used it, Bengals trailed for just 21:21, big help for any alignment
Browns: Linebaker John Thierry moves to left end and is formidable player, as is other end, Derrick Alexander. But too many injuries, not enough bodies for unit last in NFL vs. rush
EDGE: Bengals
LINEBACKERS
Bengals: 4-man line invigorates them. Inside backer Takeo Spikes set team-record eighth forced fumble or fumble recovery of season last week with a strip leading to outside backer Steve Foley's recovery leading to Cincy's first TD
Browns: Weak side backer Jamir Miller earned every cent of recent contract extension, but word is he's struggling since falling on shoulder Oct. 24 vs. Rams
EDGE: Bengals
SECONDARY
Bengals: These guys have gone through more nickel corners than a vending machine. What about making safety Tremain Mack the third corner for a whole game? He has no fear and good hands
Browns: Corner Ryan McNeil and free safety Corey Fuller got used on Bengals' winning drive and it hasn't gotten any better with just three interceptions as a group and one by a corner.
EDGE: Even
SPECIAL TEAMS
Bengals: Coming off probably their best game of season with Doug Pelfrey's three field goals and Mack's 72-yard kick return
Browns: First-year kicker Phil Dawson beat Steelers at gun with 39-yarder into the wind and nine-year vet Chris Gardocki has 15 punts inside 20. But rookie returners trying to pull out of meltdown caused by five fumbles
EDGE: Browns
COACHING:
Bengals: Bruce Coslet has shot at opening Paul Brown Stadium next season. But not if he loses today's Cinergy finale
Browns: Chris Palmer will win because he's won everywhere else. Besides, you must pull for guy who was head coach at New Haven AND Boston University. Not exactly Florida State and Michigan
EDGE: Even
THE PICK
The moon is in the seventh house, Jupiter is aligned with Mars and Paul Brown is next door. BENGALS, 37-27
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Bowden didn't want to repeat Herschel Walker deal
Bowden pursuing other deals
UC 74, Mississippi Valley State 48
Huggins looking for killer instinct
Land's eligibility to be evaluated
Xavier 94, Central Michigan 75
Turner sits game under suspension
Shootout week starts today for fans
Miami 71, Notre Dame 55
Miami Notebook
Maryland 72, Kentucky 66
Tougher Woods could make Arizona great
Speedway adds 2nd ARCA race
Cincinnati boys basketball roundup
Ohio boys basketball scores
Cincinnati girls basketball roundup
Ohio girls basketball scores
Padgett runs to 9th place in national meet
Kentucky boys basketball scores
Kentucky girls basketball scores
N.Ky. boys basketball roundup
N.Ky. girls basketball roundup
No. 5 Shelby County downs No. 9 Brossart
St. Xavier wins showdown with Tol. St. Francis
Wrestling rule targets rapid weight loss
Frisk gives football 1 more shot
Hershey 4, Mighty Ducks 2
Orlando 6, Cyclones 3
Stuff 112, Richmond 90
