By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Out of the NFL since 1995, Sam Wyche returned Monday when he was introduced as Buffalo's quarterbacks coach.

Wyche is reunited with rookie head coach Mike Mularkey, whom Wyche hired as an assistant on his Tampa Bay staff in 1994.

"I'm very happy," Wyche said Monday in a phone interview. "I'm lucky just to get my health back. My voice is a little bit of an obstacle, but we'll get around it."

Wyche coached the Bengals to a 64-68 record from 1984-91. He had a 23-41 record as coach at Tampa Bay from 1992-95. He went into broadcasting after being fired by the Buccaneers, but a paralyzed vocal cord forced him to retire in 2000.

Wyche, 59, had a job tryout last week and said Monday he already is on the job. He will try to coach quarterback Drew Bledsoe into a rebound season after a disappointing 2003.

"I've looked at him as hard as I can," Wyche said of Beldsoe. "I've looked at his arm strength. He's still got it."

"The juices are flowing," said Wyche, who will attend the annual NFL scouting combine next week in Indianapolis.

EUROPEAN VACATION: Five Bengals players have been assigned to the Europe League for the 2004 season. The players and their teams are: Running back Skip Hicks, Frankfurt; linebacker Kenny Jackson, Amsterdam; center Mike Mabry, Cologne; offensive tackle Justin Sands, Scotland; and wide receiver Adam Ziesel, Berlin. The season begins April 3-4 and ends with the World Bowl on June 12.

RADIO, RADIO: Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna was a guest Monday on ESPN Radio's Dan Patrick Show.

When asked who will be the starting quarterback, Kitna said: "That's Marvin's (Lewis) call, but I hope it's me. We did some good things here last year and I think we'd like the chance to keep things going in that direction."

When asked who's the better quarterback, him or Carson Palmer, Kitna said: "There are things he does better than me and there are things I do better than him. He can make some throws. I mean, his arm is impressive, but I think I'm strong with game management."

Who's better right now? "Nothing against Carson," Kitna said, "but right now I'd say I am."

---

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

Return to Bengals front page...