By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

A day after giving teammates an emotional halftime scolding, Takeo Spikes had calmed down. But the linebacker and defensive captain still was unhappy on Monday and called the current situation the most discouraging in his five years with the Bengals.

Fans like TKO's fiesty attitude. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

"It's worse than it's ever been," he said of the 0-6 start, in which the team has been outscored 181-51. "Taking into consideration the personnel we had last year and what we accomplished as a team, and then coming back into this year, that's why it's the worst."

On Monday afternoon - during a thoughtful, 20-minute interview in a nearly empty Bengals locker room - Spikes said every member of the organization, "from the top down to the waterboy," shares the blame for its losing tradition.

Without mentioning any team official by name, Spikes referenced the front office.

"It's us as a whole," he said when asked who or what is responsible for the Bengals' 11-plus consecutive non-winning seasons and 53-129 composite record since their last playoff appearance. "Attitude reflects leadership. Everything. Not some things. Not a few things. But everything starts from the top. Everything starts from the top, and you can make you're own tree out of it. Everything starts from the top.

"Certain people look and don't understand the concept. A lot of people don't see the opportunity and seize the moment, the privilege we have to walk out before 65,000 (fans). That's special, and once it's taken away, it's gone.

"Everything starts from the top. Your attitude in life reflects leadership."

Spikes is a self-described student of history, a trait he learned from his mother, Lillie Spikes, a high school teacher.

Takeo Spikes compared the Bengals' organization to those of the Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers, the latter having been Sunday's opponent in a 34-7 loss.

"Miami back in the '70s, the damn Steelers, I don't even care if they had an off year, which they had a couple of years ago, but (they have) character and integrity instilled in them from the guys way back then," Spikes said. "We don't have it. Don't have it. This is way bigger than LeBeau."

Coach Dick LeBeau has been under fire for the Bengals' poor start. Spikes defended his coach and former defensive coordinator, who convinced the Bengals to draft Spikes 13th overall in 1998.

Spikes, the undisputed team leader, again leads the Bengals with 60 tackles, a feat he accomplished in three of his first four seasons.

He is in the last season of a five-year rookie contract, signed two years before the Bengals made a loyalty clause standard in player contracts. The clause allows the team to recoup signing bonus money if a player is excessively critical of club management in public.

"This is why I hurt so much," Spikes said. "Dick LeBeau is a great coach. He's a veteran coach, and if you put Dick LeBeau in the Oakland Raiders system, I guarantee you this, they would be doing the same thing they're doing now."

Spikes said there aren't enough Bengals players who appreciate LeBeau's coaching style.

"He's not going to walk around and hold your hand, and it shouldn't be that way," Spikes said. "You're a grown man when you step into this locker room. Right now, we don't have enough guys who understand that."

Spikes' fierce loyalty to LeBeau, he said, led the linebacker to chastise teammates at halftime of Sunday's loss. The Bengals trailed 24-0.

"It got to the point of, 'Where is it going to stop? When is it going to stop? When are you going to get fed up?'" said Spikes, who has won just 17 of 70 games with the Bengals.

LeBeau had to intervene.

"I was present for that, and I actually had to quiet Takeo down a little bit," LeBeau said. "I want him to be involved. I want this team to be their life because it's mine. As the head coach, I'll monitor to what degree I want them involved. I certainly don't criticize him for being emotional at halftime."

Quarterback Jon Kitna was on the other side of the locker room with offensive players and said Spikes' remarks were directed mainly at the defensive players.

"He is a very passionate guy," Kitna said of Spikes. "Things need to be said. When things don't go well, you should expect to be challenged."

Bengals insiders say Spikes called out specific players at halftime Sunday. But, on Monday, Spikes wouldn't mention any teammates by name. He said that he considers the team a family, a band of brothers who can cuss and fight with each other but defend each other against all outsiders.

Has the miserable 0-6 start forced Spikes to reconsider his stated desire to re-sign with the Bengals? Does he want to be part of a new football family?

"I'm not going to worry about the contract situation," Spikes said. "I've got 10 more games to play here. Once the season (is over) and once I'm off of the contract, I'll be more than happy to sit down and talk about it."

"It's very hard. It's hard. I want to compete. I want to compete. I want to compete. And we're not competing right now."

E-mail: mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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