Jon Kitna

The Bengals quarterback joined Cincinnati.Com Thursday to share his thoughts on the Bengals' turnaround this season, as well as some insights on dealing with the highs and lows of being an NFL quarterback.

Andy Knight (Dec 11, 2003 1:35:05 PM)
Good afternoon and welcome to today's online chat with Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna. The only NFL quarterback to take all of his team's snaps this season, Kitna is tied with Brett Favre and Peyton Manning for the league lead with 23 touchdown passes and was the AFC Offensive Player of the Month in November. Jon has just joined us, so feel free to begin submitting your questions now. Thanks for being with us today, Jon.

Jubenesah (Dec 11, 2003 1:38:23 PM)
Jon, in your eyes how has Rehberg done this week in practice? Will you be thinking about your blindside more than usual this Sunday with Jones on the bench?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:38:23 PM)
Scott is going to be fine. Our communication is better this week. There were a lot of factors that went into that (Baltimore). Even when Levi was in there, there was pressure because of communication problems.

whitey (Dec 11, 2003 1:38:52 PM)
Jon thanks for a great year, regardless of what happens from here....How do you think this team is going to approach this stretch considering you need some hjelp from some other teams to get into the playoffs?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:38:52 PM)
We really don't need any help. As long as we win our three games, we'll get in.

greeneyedsweetie (Dec 11, 2003 1:39:27 PM)
Hi Jon-How do you think that we will get Chad Johnson back in the offense this week?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:39:27 PM)
They're not going to be able to double-team him all game like Baltimore did. Things will be more like normal for him this week.

Andy Knight (Dec 11, 2003 1:40:10 PM)
Please keep in mind that this is a moderated chat. All questions are screened before being passed along to Jon, and your question will not appear until Jon has responded to it. Thanks for logging on today.

Hacksta (Dec 11, 2003 1:40:12 PM)
Do you think the bigger mismatch is for their DB's to cover Chad Johnson and Warrick in stopping our passing game, or our DB's stopping T.O.? Thanks for a great year, and keep truckin.

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:40:12 PM)
Terrell presents his own problems. But I'd rather have them have to stop two guys instead of one.

Rico (Dec 11, 2003 1:40:40 PM)
As a quarterback what is more frustrating, having a defense get a lot of lucky bounces and favorable calls or having a well planned offensive strategy for a particular opponent and never being able to find a rythm to begin to excute your plan? Also, has Marvin Lewis ever contemplated using Oliver Gibson on offense like the way Jon Gruden uses Warren Sapp down in Tampa?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:40:40 PM)
The lucky bounces are more frustrations.

beau14 (Dec 11, 2003 1:40:53 PM)
jon, just wanted to say im a huge fan of yours and you are a true inspiration.

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:40:53 PM)
Thanks.

mike (Dec 11, 2003 1:41:11 PM)
Hi Jon. I just wanted to express my admiration for you in not hiding how your faith drives you in whatever you do. Hopefully you will serve as an inspiration to young people who are looking for someone to look up to.

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:41:11 PM)
I just try to do what God wants me to do.

jimb (Dec 11, 2003 1:41:37 PM)
John, did you have the flu last week?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:41:37 PM)
Yes. So did about six of us, including half of our offensive line.

ChazPilot (Dec 11, 2003 1:42:01 PM)
Jon, in the last few weeks your name has been coming up a lot with the talk of MVP. Do you feel any additional pressure when playing to keep your rating so high and win this award?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:42:01 PM)
No, that's a reflection of how your team is doing. Not how you are doing.

WhoDeyBrew (Dec 11, 2003 1:42:29 PM)
Jon, the offense does much better when we're not splitting time between Rudi and Corey. Do you also feel splitting RB time hurts the chemistry of the offense ?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:42:29 PM)
It's hard to justify not doing it because of how well they have both played.

Andy Knight (Dec 11, 2003 1:43:12 PM)
Thanks again to all of you for logging in. Jon has a LOT of questions, and he's trying to answer as many as he can. Thanks for your patience.

4HIM (Dec 11, 2003 1:43:30 PM)
Jon, do you think God has used the adversity in your career (and life) to help you become a better, more humble person and football player?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:43:30 PM)
No question. James, Chapter 1, Verse 1-12, tells us there will be trials of many kinds, and John Chapter 15 talks about how God will prune you like a grapevine to produce more fruit in your life.

steve (Dec 11, 2003 1:43:53 PM)
What's up with T.J.? Will he get involved in the passing game more these last three weeks?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:43:53 PM)
I think he's going to get more involved. He's back to 100 percent and been really involved this week in practice.

BengalsFanDr (Dec 11, 2003 1:44:26 PM)
The TV announcers said a lot of you guys were hit by the flu is this true and is this affecting any of you this week?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:44:26 PM)
There is still a lot of lingering flu. The guys are sucking it up and trying to practice through it. I've never seen anything like in my eight years in the league.

Jubenesah (Dec 11, 2003 1:45:22 PM)
Taking all the snaps this year is truly impressive. I know you said "body fat" is a big reason for it (grin) but what other factors do you attribute to your durablity this year?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:45:23 PM)
First of all, just being blessed. You get caught in some awkward situations. The offensive line has played great. And it's just knowing how to get rid of the ball on time. It's all those things working together.

rcou (Dec 11, 2003 1:45:42 PM)
What is the possibility of moving Willie to the left tackle this week?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:45:43 PM)
We don't want to affect two positions. And Scott will be just fine.

Andy Knight (Dec 11, 2003 1:45:48 PM)
Thanks again for logging on. Keep your questions coming, as Jon is trying to answer as many of them as possible.

J-Covers (Dec 11, 2003 1:46:12 PM)
Jon, can your team stop Terrell Owens?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:46:12 PM)
You can always take a guy out of the game, but at the expense of another part of your game. It's about making him work hard for everything that he gets.

Rowdical (Dec 11, 2003 1:46:49 PM)
Jon, I know you guys are going to be scoreboard watching in the next weeks; how tough will it be to root for Cleveland and Pittsburgh?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:46:49 PM)
I root for a lot of teams I don't want to root for. My thing is as long as we take care of our business and win out, we don't have to worry about the outside.

ig-66 (Dec 11, 2003 1:47:30 PM)
We can see how Marvin Lewis has changed the team, but how has he changed you personally?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:47:30 PM)
He has allowed me to focus on what I need to focus on. I don't have to try to motivate the whole team. He does that. I can concentrate on being the quarterback instead of trying to keep the whole thing glued together.

Andy Knight (Dec 11, 2003 1:48:03 PM)
Jon is continuing to answer your questions. Thanks for being with us today.

gracie (Dec 11, 2003 1:48:08 PM)
Who on the team is your biggest encourager? How do you think that affects your preparation time before games?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:48:09 PM)
Reggie Kelly. We spend a lot of time talking about our identity in Christ before the game and throughout the week. And that is really an encouragement.

Louis (Dec 11, 2003 1:48:34 PM)
Why was Baltimore able to double team Chad, but San Fran can't?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:48:34 PM)
SF wouldn't be able to hold up in the run game like Baltimore did.

Jeff (Dec 11, 2003 1:49:13 PM)
Jon, is it tough being a Christian in the NFL?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:49:14 PM)
No tougher than in any other walk of life. When you're a Christian, you're in the minority. If you're looking for popularity, it's not the thing to be. But that's not why you

Andy Knight (Dec 11, 2003 1:49:20 PM)
Please keep in mind that this is a moderated chat. All questions are screened before being passed along to Jon, and your question will not appear until Jon has responded to it. Thanks for logging on today.

J-Covers (Dec 11, 2003 1:49:40 PM)
Why did you point to your wrist after the last touchdown against Pittsburgh?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:49:40 PM)
I had a cross on there, and I wanted to give the credit to Christ and not myself.

redfishangler (Dec 11, 2003 1:50:21 PM)
Jon, first I wanted to congradulate you on your season so far. I have been a Bengals fan for a very long time. What do you feel has been the one most important reason that the offense has become so potent this year?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:50:21 PM)
We've really were, numbers-wise, about the same last year with yards and points. We've cut down on turnovers this year, which has been the biggest key.

Andy Knight (Dec 11, 2003 1:50:25 PM)
Don't forget to e-mail Bengals beat writer Mark Curnutte your questions about the team. He answers selected e-mails every Wednesday in his online column on Cincinnati.Com.

Kaz (Dec 11, 2003 1:50:58 PM)
Jon, thanks to you and Marvin Lewis and the rest of the team for an exciting season. What are your thoughts on all the Bengals weapons - you passing, Cory & Rudi running, Chad and Peter as the team heads to the playoffs

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:50:58 PM)
Hopefully, we'll continue to get better each week. This is the time you want to peak, in December. Hopefully that will happen as the playoffs near.

Guest (Dec 11, 2003 1:51:37 PM)
How scary is it to see Ray Lewis running toward you with that look in his eye?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:51:37 PM)
It's not scary at all. I like Ray. I love playing against him. He's the ultimate competitor, and that's what I like to think of myself as. That's what makes it fun.

Rico (Dec 11, 2003 1:51:59 PM)
Was the Chiefs game the loudest you have ever heard it get in The Jungle?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:51:59 PM)
That was definitely the loudest. Hopefully, it will be louder this week.

Florida Bengal (Dec 11, 2003 1:52:38 PM)
Jon I'm glad your having a great year . Do you think the running will get back on track this week or is the two back system hurting because they can't get in a groove? P.S. GO BENGALS

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:52:39 PM)
I think you'll see it get back. We were running good last week (over 4 yards a carry), but we weren't able to convert third downs, which took us out of our running game.

Andy Knight (Dec 11, 2003 1:53:15 PM)
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pdehner (Dec 11, 2003 1:53:29 PM)
What type of problems do the 49ers present defensively? What type of solutions are you planning on using on them?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:53:29 PM)
Their team speed on defensive and the versatility of some of their players. And their defensive scheme, which is different. You don't know exactly what they're going to do.

Andy Knight (Dec 11, 2003 1:53:46 PM)
A reminder that a transcript of today's chat will be available later this afternoon. Thanks again for logging on.

akili (Dec 11, 2003 1:54:06 PM)
You have really been playing a lot better this year Jon and i feel you definetley deserve a place in the Pro Bowl! Do you think you will get in?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:54:07 PM)
I don't know. It would be a great honor. But I would certainly trade that for a spot in the playoffs.

valpo (Dec 11, 2003 1:54:38 PM)
Jon, Your arm strength has greatly improved and throws are much crisper this year. Very few "rib killer" throws. Did you do anything in the off season to improve you shoulder?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:54:38 PM)
My arm hasn't changed. I didn't do anything special. Your perception has changed.

Rowdical (Dec 11, 2003 1:54:59 PM)
Jon, I think a good charity thing would be to auction off your Cross BEaring wristband, I would love one of those.

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:55:00 PM)
Organize the auction.

Andy Knight (Dec 11, 2003 1:55:18 PM)
Please keep in mind that this is a moderated chat. All questions are screened before being passed along to Jon, and your question will not appear until Jon has responded to it. Thanks for logging on today.

J-Covers (Dec 11, 2003 1:55:36 PM)
Jon, do you think the Seahawks can overcome their problems on the road this season? Does Hasselbeck have what it takes to bring the Seahawks to the postseason?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:55:36 PM)
Yeah, I think they'll beat St. Louis this week. We'll beat the Rams next week. And Seattle will win its division. Hasselbeck is the next Favre.

PaulT2 (Dec 11, 2003 1:55:49 PM)
While I'm still cheering for this year, I'm beginning to wonder what areas will be concentrated upon in the coming draft - are you thinking linemen and maybe some more cornerbacks? The marquee positions (QB, WR, RB, etc.) seem to be very solid so maybe we can fill some gaps in others.

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:55:49 PM)
I have no idea.

Ben (Dec 11, 2003 1:56:11 PM)
Hi Jon. I just wanted to say how proud I am to be a Bengals fan and thank you for bringing your, along with Coach Lewis' positive attitude to this team.

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:56:11 PM)
Thank you. If you lose hope, you have another.

Jim12pack (Dec 11, 2003 1:57:28 PM)
Jon, just wanted to shout out my thanks for giving us bengal fans something to root for every week. Your leadership as the QB has been outstanding and shows each week. Thanks again and beat those Niners this weekend!

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:57:28 PM)
CORRECTION ON THAT LAST ANSWER: If you lose hope, you have nothing. ... Thanks, and hopefully we'll continue to give you things to cheer about.

Andy Knight (Dec 11, 2003 1:57:47 PM)
A reminder that Mark Curnutte answers your Bengals e-mail questions every Wednesday on Cincinnati.Com.

!!Harris (Dec 11, 2003 1:57:55 PM)
Jon, you've turned out to be a great football fantasy league pick this year. Do you or many of the Bengals keep up with fantasy football stories, and who are some of your favorites in the league?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:57:55 PM)
I couldn't care less about fantasy football.

BengalMom (Dec 11, 2003 1:58:08 PM)
How do you handle praise one week, criticism the next? Does it get to you?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:58:08 PM)
I listen to neither.

jeni (Dec 11, 2003 1:58:43 PM)
It's been so great watching you play the entire season, you are a bright light to this team. Your witness is so consistent. Where can your fans get the orange hats with the cross and Scripture?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:58:43 PM)
The Hat Zone at Tri-County Mall. Just tell them you saw my hat. They have it on file.

BreaBengal (Dec 11, 2003 1:58:59 PM)
Jon, out here on the West Coast we are wondering how the progress of Carson Palmer is going?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:58:59 PM)
He's going to be phenominal.

Chance (Dec 11, 2003 1:59:13 PM)
How is the offensive line situation holding up? Who is going to start at left tackle this week?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:59:14 PM)
Rehberg will start. We'll do fine.

rd (Dec 11, 2003 1:59:39 PM)
Great job this year Jon, I was in B'more for the game. Tough conditions. My question is do you feel the organizations plan include you for next year with Carson salary being so high. I live in D.C. (native Cincinnatian) and thought you should've had the job last year and next. Keep up the good work, and the faith for the remaining schedule. God bless.

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:59:39 PM)
We'll see what God has in store.

Guest (Dec 11, 2003 1:59:54 PM)
As much as some people think Carson Palmer will be the future of the team. I believe you deserve to be a starter here as long as you continue to be succesful. Do you think that you will be given a chance to compete next year for the starting job? Good luck and congratulations on your successes!

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 1:59:54 PM)
See the previous answer.

fg3 (Dec 11, 2003 2:00:12 PM)
Jon, I'm a big fan of yours and want to say thanks for what you've done here. That being said, I'd like to see you around on this Bengals team in the future. Would you be willing to be a member of this team in any capacity, even if it wasn't as starting QB?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 2:00:12 PM)
See the previous answers.

Guest (Dec 11, 2003 2:00:38 PM)
So Jon, how do you feel about the possibility of starting alongside Chad Johnson in the Pro Bowl?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 2:00:39 PM)
That would be awesome.

Andy Knight (Dec 11, 2003 2:00:48 PM)
Jon has time to answer only a few more questions. Again, our thanks to all of you for being here today.

BengalMom (Dec 11, 2003 2:01:06 PM)
Do you think bad weather on Sunday would be a benefit to you guys? The Bengals in general have always seemed to thrive in cold weather against warm-weather teams.

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 2:01:07 PM)
I think it will help us a little more but not a huge difference.

Andy Knight (Dec 11, 2003 2:01:12 PM)
A reminder that a transcript of today's chat with Jon Kitna will be available later this afternoon at Cincinnati.Com.

Guest (Dec 11, 2003 2:01:40 PM)
Whats your opinion on the quarterbacks coach? Has he helped more than the previous QB coach?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 2:01:40 PM)
Ken Zampese does a great job of preparing me each week for the looks I'm going to see.

Hudy (Dec 11, 2003 2:02:00 PM)
Jon - I'm a die hard fan. I know this day would come around sooner or later. Cincinnati does not want to be a one hit wonder. What is going to be the key in off season, to continue what you guys have going this year?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 2:02:00 PM)
Keeping the core of guys together.

Spanky (Dec 11, 2003 2:02:10 PM)
How do you feel the people of Cincinnati have treated you and your family over your career here?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 2:02:10 PM)
It couldn't be better.

Terry J (Dec 11, 2003 2:02:27 PM)
I recently read the article in Sports Spectrum about Carson being a Christian. How has that helped your relationship and tutoring of him?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 2:02:27 PM)
It automatically gave us points of common interest.

Thumper (Dec 11, 2003 2:02:52 PM)
In your opinion, does Chad Johnson have a positive effect on the team despite his bold, cocky statements? Do you share your faith with Chad?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 2:02:52 PM)
No question, and yes, I do share my faith with him often.

J-Covers (Dec 11, 2003 2:03:34 PM)
Jon, who's going to win the Super Bowl?

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 2:03:35 PM)
Us.

Jon Kitna (Dec 11, 2003 2:04:26 PM)
This is Jon. I want all the fans to be loud this Sunday. Thanks.

Andy Knight (Dec 11, 2003 2:05:32 PM)
Unfortunately we're out of time. Our thanks to Jon Kitna for joining us today, and thanks to all of you for logging in. Look for a transcript later today at Cincinnati.Com.

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