Monday, December 13, 1999
Grand finale (maybe) for Blake
Quarterback, Scott combine on bomb
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Bengals quarterback Jeff Blake left Cinergy Field Sunday the way he arrived in 1994, gunning touchdown bombs to wide receiver Darnay Scott.
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Scott, Blake, Pickens
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Blake on the run
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Blake's first two touchdowns in Cinergy (and in the NFL), came on strikes of 67 and 55 yards to Scott against the Cowboys. Against Cleveland Sunday, Blake closed the Bengals scoring by floating a 52-yarder to Scott streaking past nickel back Corey Fuller.
After running off the field at game's end, Blake jogged back on moments later with Scott and receiver Carl Pickens for a picture at midfield.
Blake wants a new start with a new team next year, but he balked when asked if the photo was meant to capture the trio in a Bengals home uniform for the last time.
“That had nothing to do with that,” Blake said. “That picture I just wanted to take and I haven't had a chance to do one, so I thought that was a good chance to take on the last (game) in the stadium.”
Blake figured his 64th Bengal start was probably his easiest with a running game generating 279 yards on 53 carries. He completed 11 of just 22 passes for 176 yards. It was the second fewest yards he's thrown for in victory.
“We're scoring 40 points a game. That's kind of hard to lose that way,” Blake said. “It's great for (the former Bengals) and great for the city itself. To see the Cleveland Browns' fans come in as many as they did and we can send them out like that, it was great for our fans. I know they had a good time today.”
Blake had a good time, too, and so did his buddies in the picture. The touchdown pass gave Scott a career-high 918 yards this season, 82 yards shy of his first 1,000-yard year. Pickens' three catches gave him 50 for a club-record sixth straight season.
It was fun, but Blake wouldn't say if it was the last time he had thrown some bombs on the river.
“I'll let God take care of that,” he said. “I'll let him put me where he wants me to be.”
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