Wednesday, December 22, 1999
Brown: Throw flags in air
Bengals Notebook
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
In 50 years of watching the NFL, Bengals President Mike Brown never saw a play like the one involving Cleveland tackle Orlando Brown on Sunday.
Brown suffered a serious eye injury when an official accidentally threw a penalty flag into Brown's helmet; Brown reacted by shoving the official, Jeff Triplette, to the ground.
Mike Brown, a member of the NFL's competition committee, said referees will now be instructed to simply throw their flags into the air instead of at players.
“That's obvious, isn't it?” Mike Brown asked. “If you've ever been hit in the eye, it smarts and the first thing you want to do is do something back. But in our league, the officials may be blind, but they're also sacrosanct and you can't just stand by and allow what amounted to an assault.
“I don't think (the shove) was an intent to hurt as much as it was to emphasize his unhappiness,” Mike Brown said.
Bengals tackles Willie Anderson and Rod Jones were amazed Orlando Brown is expected to be fined and suspended for pushing Triplette, which Anderson finds unfair.
“It was an impulse thing,” Anderson said. “Kind of like, "What's wrong with you?' It wasn't like he was unprovoked. I feel so sorry for him. If you can't see out of your eye...”
Jones said, “People have to put themselves in the man's shoes. It could have happened to anyone.”
ARTRELL'S CELEBRATIONS: The mother of cornerback Artrell Hawkins has asked about her son's recent bursts of shake-and-bake celebrations after he makes a play. Her son says it's all about savoring the fine moments.
“If (coach) Bruce (Coslet) came to me and asked me to tone it down, I respect him, he's my boss, I would do what he asked me to do,” Hawkins said. “But if I'm walking down the street and someone I see tells me to tone it down, what do they know about playing this game, about losing (23 games) in the last two years? I'm not going to pay attention that.
“It's not that I'm self-absorbed, cocky, but I'm having fun,” Haw kins said. “We're having fun, we're winning games and I'm not going to let someone who hasn't been in this locker room, who hasn't endured what we've endured the past two years tell me how I should express myself on the football field.”
DEMARCO ON IR: The Bengals returned from their four-day weekend to find right guard Brian DeMarco on injured reserve. DeMarco went to see one of the nation's top elbow specialists last week and was told he may need a “non-major” procedure.
If he keeps getting numbness in his fingers by the end of January, doctors may have to move a nerve from elbow to the bicep, a procedure from which DeMarco says he can recover in four weeks.
INJURY REPORT: Defensive end John Copeland (hamstring) didn't work Tuesday and is questionable. Linemate Kimo von Oelhoffen (ankle) did work and looks ready.
PRO BOWL WATCH: Pro Bowl teams are announced today. The Bengals are keeping their fingers crossed for running back Corey Dillon and wide receiver Darnay Scott. Dillon is third in AFC rushing behind the Colts' Edgerrin James and the Jets' Curtis Martin. Martin leads Dillon by 61 yards.
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Cincinnati boys basketball roundup
Ohio boys basketball scores
Cincinnati girls basketball rondup
Ohio girls basketball scores
N.Ky. boys basketball roundup
Kentucky boys basketball scores
Kentucky girls basketball scores
Chicago 5, Cyclones 4
Louisville 4, Mighty Ducks 2
