Friday, January 07, 2000Plenty of ex-Bengals in playoffs
BY TOM GROESCHEN
The Cincinnati EnquirerThe Bengals have spawned some NFL playoff participants after all. Of course, the players had to leave town first.
The Washington Redskins (DT Dan Wilkinson, SS Sam Shade, LB James Francis, DB Tito Paul) and Seattle Seahawks (DB Darryl Williams, FB Brian Milne, DB Kerry Joseph) have the heaviest representation of former Bengals, most of whom are in the playoffs for the first time.
In all, there are 16 former Bengals players who are still active — including some waived as rookies — on NFL playoff teams. There are also eight former Bengals players or assistant coaches on the coaching staffs of playoff teams.
EX-BENGALS IN PLAYOFFS A list of some former Bengals players and assistant coaches who are with NFL playoff teams:
• Buffalo: Quarterbacks coach Turk Schonert (Bengals QB 1980-85, 87-89); wide receivers coach Charlie Joiner (Bengals WR 1972-75).
• Dallas: WR Jason Tucker (drafted No.6 in 1998, waived during training camp with injury settlement).
• Detroit: WR Brian Stablein (with Bengals in 1993 camp, waived); defensive coordinator Larry Peccatiello (Bengals defensive coordinator 1994-96); linebackers coach Gary Moeller (Bengals tight ends coach 1995-96); defensive backs coach Dick Selcer (Bengals linebackers coach 1984-91).
• Jacksonville: QB Jay Fiedler (with Bengals in 1996 training camp, waived).
• Miami: QB Damon Huard (with Bengals in 1996 training camp, waived).
• Minnesota: P Mitch Berger (Bengals practice squad, 1994); OLB coach Trent Walters (Bengals DBs coach, 1984).
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St. Louis: QB Paul Justin (Bengals 1998); DB Ron Carpenter (Miami University product played for Bengals in 1993); special teams coach Frank Gansz (Bengals special teams/tight ends coach, 1979-80).
• Seattle: DB Darryl Williams (Bengals 1992-95); FB Brian Milne (Bengals 1996-99, waived Sept.29); DB Kerry Joseph (Bengals reserve QB in 1996, has switched to DB).
• Tampa Bay: OL Ken Blackman (Bengals 1996-99, released Oct.26).
• Tennessee: QB Neil O'Donnell (Bengals 1998).
• Washington: SS Sam Shade (Bengals 1995-98); DL Dan Wilkinson (Bengals 1994-97); LB James Francis (Bengals 1990-98; waived Sept.5, 1999); DB Tito Paul (Bengals 1997); TE coach Mike Pope (Bengals TE coach 1992, offensive coordinator/TE coach 1993).Milne, who fired some parting shots when the Bengals waived him Sept.29, revels in his good fortune. The Seahawks made the playoffs for the first time since 1988, and the Bengals (1990) now have the longest NFL streak of non-playoff seasons.
“It's a real different feeling, to be part of something after the season,” said Milne, a Bengal from 1996-99. “Just to go into Games 13, 14 and 15 and you're not 2-10 or 3-10 ... It was great just to be part of that.”
Milne left the Bengals criticizing everything from the team's food service to the medical care to the equipment.
“I said those things because I have a lot of friends on that team,” he said. “I'm hoping what I said will still help them.”
The Bengals will get a lift by moving to a new stadium and practice facilities next season. But it will take some doing to change attitudes among free agents, many of whom avoid Cincinnati because of its reputa tion as the NFL's Siberia.
Milne said another former Bengal once told him, “After I left Cincinnati, I felt like my career began.” Milne would not name the player, who is still active in the NFL.
Jay Fiedler, the Jacksonville quarterback who spent three weeks in the Bengals training camp in 1996, said the anti-Cincinnati perception is real.
“I have no problems with them, because I was thankful they gave me a chance,” he said. “But organizations get certain reputations, and one reputation they've had is the facilities are not up to par with the rest of the league. I think the new facility will help them bring in some free agents.”
Detroit defensive coordinator Larry Peccatiello, who was the Bengals defensive coordinator from 1994-96 in the Dave Shula era, said he feels no vindication at having made the playoffs in two of his three seasons as the Lions coordinator.
“Believe me, there's not much disparity between the teams that make it and those that don't,” he said. “With injuries and trying to get consistent performance, it's a very fragile line in this league.”
Peccatiello said he has no animosity toward the Bengals or coach Bruce Coslet, who left out Peccatiello when he came in.
“The Bengals are probably one of seven or eight teams that are just around the corner from making it happen,” Peccatiello said. “I enjoyed that organization. I have nothing but good memories.”
Bengals President Mike Brown also thinks the Bengals are not far away. It also doesn't bother him that several of his former players are on playoff rosters, a natural byproduct of NFL player movement.
“Most of those guys are guys I like and respect, and I wish them well,” Brown said.
Brown won't respond directly to Milne, who said the Bengals simply must change their ways.
“I think Mike Brown's philosophy is that they made the Super Bowl in 1988, so why can't we do it that way now?” Milne said. “Well, they can't do it that way now. Times and the players have changed. The thing that should be the most important, the players, is the last thing taken care of there.”
Players such as Milne and guard Ken Blackman, now with playoff-bound Tampa Bay, have not been alone in ripping the Bengals. The team's two biggest names, Carl Pickens and Corey Dillon, recently did it too. But it's nothing that a winning team cannot cure, Brown thinks.“When it doesn't go well, players become unsettled and some flare out,” Brown said. “That's the nature of the beast.”
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