Thursday, October 31, 2002
Bengals' boasts may come back to haunt them
By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Bengals' guarantee of a victory Sunday against the Texans has not gone unnoticed in Houston.
In fact, says Texans quarterback David Carr, comments from Bengals coach Dick LeBeau and wide receiver Chad Johnson are posted on two locker-room bulletin boards.
"Actually," Carr said Wednesday, "they're plastered all over the entire stadium in bright yellow signs."
The "guarantee" was the talk of both the Bengals' and Texans' locker rooms Wednesday. And the war of words has elevated the relatively meaningless match into one of this weekend's most intriguing games, the 0-7 Bengals at the 2-5 Texans.
"I was a little surprised, but that just shows the lack of respect they have for us," Texans center Steve McKinney said. "Even though we have two wins, and they don't have any, it just shows they have no respect for us because we're an expansion team."
Houston coach Dom Capers was on the Steelers' staff in the early 1990s with LeBeau.
"Dick is trying to do what he has to do to get his team ready to play," Capers said.
Former Bengals safety Chris Carter, who played in Cincinnati in 2000 and 2001, said he was surprised to hear that LeBeau made such a statement.
LeBeau is a "classy guy," Carter said. "I don't think much of it, because I know exactly what it was. The frustration of losing can get to anyone."
Bengals players are in LeBeau's corner.
"They (the Texans) think the same thing," linebacker Takeo Spikes said. "It's just that we beat them in saying it."
The Texans' roster is filled with former AFC Central division opponents from Jacksonville and Baltimore who are familiar with the Bengals.
"I'm sure they're saying the same thing about us," Bengals right tackle Willie Anderson said. "Gary Walker and Seth Payne, those guys have been one game from the Super Bowl with Jacksonville. (Former Ravens linebacker Jamie) Sharper has been to the Super Bowl. I'm sure they're saying, `We can't lose to the Bengals.'"
LeBeau, for a second day, did not back down from his prediction.
When asked if his statements would motivate the Texans, LeBeau revealed some of his psychology.
"Well, you would probably be surprised to hear this, but I predict a victory for us every week," he said. "And I'll do that gladly, and I just see us doing more of the things that we have to do to win, and maybe I say that with a little more conviction this week.
"But I always expect us to win, and I want our players to feel that way, too."
E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com
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