Saturday, November 22, 2003
Lewis leans toward starting Dillon
Bengals notebook
By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Coach Marvin Lewis said Friday he would announce his decision Sunday on who will start at tailback, Rudi Johnson or Corey Dillon, for the Bengals against San Diego.
The lean appears to be toward Dillon, with the two backs sharing carries in the run game and being used as receivers out of the backfield or in the slot.
Dillon, who is coming back from an abdominal strain, practiced all week and appears to be getting stronger each time out.
LEADERS: Offensive linemen Matt O'Dwyer and Scott Rehberg and defensive linemen Glen Steele and Oliver Gibson will be captains for the San Diego game.
O'Dwyer, who is trying to play through a foot injury, is expected to be in uniform for the first time since the Baltimore game Oct. 26.
"Guys who are a big part of our success, part of the core of this team" is how Lewis described the four veterans who play as backups.
Wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh completed a full week of practice and could play Sunday for the first time this season. The only change in the injury report was the addition of guard Victor Leyva (ankle), who is questionable.
NO REGRETS: Former Bengals linebacker Takeo Spikes now plays for Buffalo, which enters the weekend with a 4-6 record, one game worse than the 5-5 Bengals. Spikes made no secret that he wanted to play for a winner when he left in free agency.
Asked by the Rochester, N.Y., Democrat and Chronicle if he regretted leaving Cincinnati, Spikes said: "No, not at all. If I had to do it 10 times over and even knowing we'd be at this point record-wise, I'd still do it. I had to believe what was best in my heart for Takeo. I love those guys (in Cincinnati) like brothers. I've spent more time with them than the guys here. I'm happy for them. But this is where I belong."
BENGAL FLAVOR: Two Bengals will be featured on ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown, which starts at 11 a.m.
The two-hour show will include Tom Jackson's feature on wide receiver Chad Johnson, who regularly spends nights sleeping in the players' lounge at Paul Brown Stadium, and a segment with Lewis, who wore a microphone on the sideline last week.
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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com
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