Bengals President Mike Brown likes how Dick LeBeau has taken charge this week. Brown also cannot wait for Sunday, when the Miami Dolphins visit at 4 p.m.

        “I badly want us to do better,” Brown said Friday, while watching the Bengals practice in Paul Brown Stadium. “We've all had our confidence shaken. We've only scored one touchdown in three games, and we haven't been able to stop people. We know that better than anyone else.”

        The Bengals (0-3) have been outscored 74-7. They are the first team since the 1945 Chicago Cardinals to open an NFL season with only seven points in their first three games.

        “The issue is, can we get back to a competitive level?” Brown said. “We were in the preseason, when we were playing our good guys (starters) against their good guys. Until we do that, there will be doubt in everybody's mind, not just in the stands but down here amongst the team.”

        LeBeau, Brown said, has established himself as head coach. LeBeau took over Monday when Bruce Coslet resigned.

        “He's done extremely well,” Brown said. “He stepped into a difficult situation, and he has the players practicing just differently enough that they feel that it's helpful.”

        LeBeau installed a few new rules this week, such as no loud music in the locker room, no sitting on helmets at practices, and no wearing baseball caps backward.

        PLAYER WATCH: Left tackle Rod Jones (shoulder, shin) has been downgraded from probable to questionable for Sunday. John Jackson is Jones' backup.

        RB Michael Basnight, DE Vaughn Booker, C Rich Braham and LB Brian Simmons, all injured or ailing, were placed on the Friday inactive list.

        FB Clif Groce (abdominal strain) did not practice Friday but should play Sunday.

        HIS TEAM: LeBeau, in his quiet way, has reminded everyone he is no novice. At his introductory press conference Monday, he mentioned he had been in the NFL for 42 years.

        “That's longer than most of you (reporters) have been here,” he said.

        Friday, he was asked about his concerns for Sunday's game.

        “We've got a lot of quality coaches around here, and I've seen a few football games,” he said. “We'll hopefully put our guys in the best position to win.”

        AKILI RECOVERS: Quarterback Akili Smith appears near 100 percent after suffering a concussion last week. He will start Sunday.

        “I think he's fine, I really do,” LeBeau said. “It would behoove us to keep him protected, I think. I don't think we need to get his head hit any more than it was.”

        WHERE'S BRUCE: Brown said he has not talked to Coslet since the coach resigned.

        “I know he's going through a tough time, but he's a strong personality, a good guy. And he is a good coach,” Brown said. “It's a very unforgiving business that we're in. We all get chewed on from time to time.”

        WARRICK LOOKS BACK: Peter Warrick has been wearing jersey No.9, his Florida State University number, in practice. His game jersey is No.80.

        Warrick's No.9 was made for him by Bengals equipment manager Rob Reckers, after Warrick said he wanted some connection with his happy days at FSU. The Seminoles won the national title last year.

        LOOKING AHEAD: Some believe the Bengals could become the first NFL team to go 0-16, but don't bet on it. No team has gone winless since the NFL went to a 16-game format in 1978. Five teams have gone 1-15: the 1980 Saints, 1989 Cowboys, 1990 Patriots, 1991 Colts and 1996 Jets.

        WESSEL VISITS: Joe Wessel, a Bengals assistant coach from 1994-96 under Dave Shula, visited practice Friday. Wessel spoke briefly with LeBeau after practice but characterized the visit as a social call.

        He is vice president of HomeBanc Mortgage Corporation in Tampa, Fla.

Not even Bengals' best getting job done Brown backing LeBeau

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