Thursday, December 16, 1999
Bengals to play new CB Carter immediately
Veteran to play in last 2 games
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The word has come down from the top. Tom Carter, the Bengals' new cornerback, is going to play in the last two games. A lot.
The powers that be aren't so concerned about his rap as a non-tackler, although they would like to see a little more hitting. They mainly want to see if Carter lives up to his reputation as a solid cover guy who can play the ball, a talent missing from Cincinnati's young secondary.
“He will be active,” coach Bruce Coslet said Wednesday. “I don't know if he'll (start), but he will play. ... He has and can play nickel (the extra corner on passing downs), but the nickel is the guy that has to make all the adjustments. We're going to put him at one position and see how he does.”
The coaches reportedly relented on picking up Carter off waivers from the Bears when Bengals President Mike Brown assured them the club still would pursue a veteran corner in free agency.
The Bengals like the 6-foot Carter's intelligence, size and 24 interceptions in seven sea sons, more than the rest of the Bengals secondary combined. He's a former first-round pick (17th by Washington out of Notre Dame in 1993) who Bengals secondary coach Ray Horton says is already his most polished corner.
“I know it's an audition, not only for this team but for 30 others,” Carter said. “The Bengals looked at me on film, so you never know who's looking at you.”
Carter indicated the Bears' change in coaches this season altered a scheme that previously had emphasized his coverage and ball skills. He started six of the first seven games this season but was demoted to nickel for five games and was waived after being inactive for the Bears' last game.
Now he's looking forward to playing in the Bengals' aggressive philosophy. With seven seasons, Carter, 27, finds himself the secondary's grizzled veteran. He figured out that's why his new teammates were caling him “old man” during lunch.
“That's my thing,” Carter said. “I know how to play the game. I've been at it seven years. It's a tough position.”
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