Tuesday, December 05, 2000
Heath done for season
Bengals Notebook
By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Rodney Heath is out for the season, and Vaughn Booker could be next.
Heath, a cornerback from Western Hills, suffered a right shoulder separation Sunday and was placed on injured reserve Monday.
The injury will not require surgery, but needs 6-to-8 weeks to heal.
Heath, 26, led the team with eight tackles Sunday and had 44 for the season.
With Heath out, rookie Robert Bean would move to right cornerback, and veteran Tom Carter would play left corner.
Booker, 32, a defensive end from Taft High, has an arthritic condition and cyst on his left knee. He missed four games after fainting at the end of Game 2 at Jacksonville and has started nine games at left end.
“Prior to this, the only serious injury I've ever had was a swollen ankle,” he said. “I have to deal with it. I dealt with my head and my heart earlier this season. Now with my knee, it's a totally different year.”
Surgery is a possibility, and Booker said he has yet to make his final decision.
“I'm leaning towards it,” he said. “Let's say that.”
Jevon Langford and Reinard Wilson are behind Booker on the depth chart.
ROSTER MOVES: Cornerback Sirr Parker was signed Monday to the 53-man roster to replace Heath. He had been on the practice squad.
Safety Gary Thompkins, who had been cut in training camp, was signed to the practice squad. The rookie free agent from West Virginia had played in two preseason games with the Bengals.
ROAD WOES: The Bengals play Sunday at Adelphia Coliseum against Tennessee and will be looking for their first road victory against a winning team in 10 years.
The last one was Dec. 2, 1990 against the 6-5 Steelers at Pittsburgh. The Bengals won 16-12. The Bengals are 0-31 since against winning teams on the road in the regular season.
The Titans, who won 15-13 Sunday at Philadelphia, are 10-3. Cincinnati is 3-10.
STARTER: Middle linebacker Adrian Ross, who made his third start Sunday, will start against Tennessee, linebackers coach Mark Duffner said.
NO. 1 IN RUSHING: Cincinnati's 292-yard rushing game against Arizona moved it into first in the league in rushing with 157.4 yards a game.
COACHING SENIORITY: Bengals coach Dick LeBeau spoke to the media moments after Norv Turner was fired as coach of the Washington Redskins and was asked if he thinks about losing his job.
“No, I really don't,” LeBeau said. “I felt good yesterday (Arizona coach Dave McGinnis) was the only coach in the league that I had seniority on.”
McGinnis has coached six games since taking over for the fired Vince Tobin. LeBeau has coached 10 games in Cincinnati since replacing Bruce Coslet, who resigned. Offensive assistant Terry Robiskie replaces Turner.
“Now I've got two guys I've got seniority on, one in Washington and one in Arizona,” LeBeau said. “So before long, I'll be the dean of the NFL.”
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Heath done for season
