By Mark Curnutte and Kevin Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Our review of the 2003 season's best, worst, and wackiest moments.

YEAR IN REVIEW

• Lewis not satisfied, but says foundation is solid • Teammate: 'Good riddance,' Corey • The envelope please ... • 2003 season recap • 2003 storylines • Lewis plans no changes, credits his co-workers • 17th pick could bolster defense • Major free agent acquisitions pay off in starting lineup • Johnson a hot property • Kitna wants to stay Bengal • Rookie class makes immediate contributions • Season stats

Best moment

No win boosted the Bengals' credibility, and gained more national attention, than the 24-19 victory against previously unbeaten Kansas City on Nov. 16 at Paul Brown Stadium.

Wide receiver Peter Warrick scored on a 68-yard punt return and a 77-yard pass in the fourth quarter that secured the win. Tailback Rudi Johnson rushed for 165 yards. And the defense allowed just 67 net rushing yards.

Worst moment

Needing a win to remain in playoff contention, the Bengals learned their fate earlier than expected Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium.

The Browns, led by rookie running back Lee Suggs, gained a season-high 264 yards rushing against a porous Bengals defense and won 22-14.

The Bengals tried to rally late in the fourth quarter, but quarterback Jon Kitna's interception with 47 seconds left ended any hopes of the franchise's first playoff berth since 1990.

Team MVP

Considering he had Carson Palmer, the No. 1 draft pick and Heisman Trophy winner, waiting in the wings, Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna performed admirably under the difficult circumstances placed before him.

An emotional leader, Kitna guided the Bengals to their first eight-win season since 1996 and set career marks with 3,591 yards and 26 touchdowns along the way.

Defensive player of the year

No game displayed Brian Simmons' value and talent more than the Bengals' 27-24 win against the Seahawks on Oct. 26.

The sixth-year linebacker forced and recovered one fumble, intercepted a pass and tipped another that led to an interception.

For the season, he had 115 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.

Comeback player of the year

Initially an afterthought when re-signed as a backup offensive lineman, Rich Braham ended up starting 15 games and immediately upgraded the play of the whole line. Coach Marvin Lewis called Braham's signing one of the best of the offseason.

Rookie of the year

Eric Steinbach, the 33rd overall pick in the NFL draft, started 15 games and showed how much he was needed when he missed the St. Louis game with a thigh injury. His athleticism allowed the Bengals to pull him to the right and run a power play behind right tackle Willie Anderson. Steinbach and left tackle Levi Jones have the look of a Pro Bowl left side.

Biggest surprise

In training camp, running back Rudi Johnson was in danger of losing his job to rookie free agent Ray Jackson. Inactive for the first three games, Johnson made the most of the opportunity to play when Corey Dillon was hurt. Johnson finished with three 150-yard games and 957 yards for the season.

Assistant coaches of the year

Jim Anderson and Darrin Simmons. Anderson continued to groom players who produce (see Rudi Johnson), and he helped to manage the tension created by Dillon at midseason. Rookie fullback Jeremi Johnson developed quickly under Anderson's watch and started 13 games.

Simmons oversaw the makeover of the kicking game, micromanaging it into an asset. A problem area for previous Bengals teams, special teams under Simmons allowed no touchdowns (five in 2002). Graham made 88 percent of his field goal attempts.

Purple heart

He could walk.

To Levi Jones that was a sign he could play against the 49ers on Dec. 14 despite having undergone surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee six days earlier.

Limping on and off the field and wincing at the pain, Jones started the Bengals' final three games, played nearly every snap and earned the respect of his teammates as a result.

Best end zone celebration

It wasn't quite Joe Horn pulling a cell phone from beneath the goalpost padding, but wide receiver Chad Johnson's poster plea to the NFL earns high marks for creativity.

After Johnson caught a 10-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, he ran to the back of the end zone and picked up an orange poster he commissioned and had planted for such an occasion.

Printed in black letters was an appeal to the NFL, which fined him repeatedly for various indiscretions this season: "Dear NFL, PLEASE don't fine me... AGAIN!!!!!"

In the spirit of giving, the NFL slapped Johnson with a $10,000 fine.

Strangest end zone celebration

Rookie wide receiver Kelley Washington calls his series of spasms and twitches, "The Squirrel."

We simply call it disturbing.

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