Saturday, December 29, 2001
Bengals notebook
Coach LeBeau's goal: 1st win vs. Steelers
By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Bengals coach Dick LeBeau was Pittsburgh's secondary coach and defensive coordinator for five seasons, and he has many ties to the city and team.
But he is 0-3 as Bengals coach against his former boss, Steelers coach Bill Cowher, and LeBeau said Friday beating Pittsburgh Sunday would mean a great deal to him.
“We want to finish this thing strong,” said LeBeau, whose team has lost seven games in a row.
LeBeau's Bengals have been outscored 79-35 by the Steelers.
Cowher's Steelers are 12-2, and a victory would give them home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.
HEALING HAND:
Quarterback Jon Kitna's injured finger on his throwing hand is healing, and LeBeau noted Kitna's improved accuracy and velocity in practice this week.
He hurt a ligament in his middle finger Dec.9 against Jacksonville but has played with the injury. He has thrown seven interceptions and no touchdown passes in his last three games.
DAY OF REST:
Middle linebacker Brian Simmons didn't practice Friday after stretching his leg Thursday. He'll play Sunday.
Guard Matt O'Dwyer didn't practice for the second consecutive day, and LeBeau said “it's a strong possibility” O'Dwyer won't play.
DRAFTY:
Bengals personnel director Jim Lippincott anticipates the club will look for help in the secondary and on the defensive and offensive lines in the draft. “I don't see us dabbling too much at running back or wide receiver,” he said.
PERSPECTIVE:
Two Bengals — quarterback Scott Covington and cornerback Kevin Kaesviharn — have worked jobs outside of football during the season, and although they're upset with the team's 4-10 record, they're thankful to be in the NFL.
Covington was signed Dec.20, a day after Scott Mitchell injured his rib cage in practice. Covington, who had been waived Sept.10, has a business administration degree from the University of Miami and worked for a Los Angeles trust company while he was out of football.
“With the status of our economy, there are a lot of qualified people out of jobs,” he said. “But when you've been in this, you don't have the skills necessary. You're playing catchup in a tight job market, and that's not very forgiving.”
Being an NFL player, even with limited experience and exposure, has helped.
“Regardless of a person's knowledge of the NFL, being a professional athlete opens doors or gives you five extra minutes with a person,” Covington said.
Kaesviharn was working as a substitute gym teacher at Washington High School in Sioux Falls, S.D., when the Bengals signed him to their practice squad Oct.23. He was signed to the 53-man roster Oct.27.
He had been a long-term substitute and had taught algebra the previous school year, between stints in the Arena League and the XFL.
“I appreciate more what I have now, knowing where I came from,” said Kaesviharn, who has one interception for the Bengals and has impressed coaches with his play in the secondary and on special teams.
“I'm living a dream right now.”
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