Bengals sweep AFC North by beating Browns, 16-7...

- The offense wasn't pretty...but it didn't need to be. The Bengals defense did what they have done all season....shut down the opposing offense in a big way. They held the Browns to just 169 yards on Sunday, and kept Josh Cribbs from making any big plays. Marvin's guys are now 8-3....and a perfect 6-0 in the AFC North. The 2009 Bengals are the first team in franchise history to accomplish that feat. Bottom line, they were supposed to win the game...and they did. Honestly though, the offense will have to be MUCH better the rest of the way if they want to play deep into January.

THE GOOD:

- The Bengals scored first....albeit a field goal. They're now 5-1 in those situations.

- Happy to see Larry Johnson getting used a bunch on Sunday. Without Cedric Benson, they are missing the "thumper" between the tackles. LJ provides that power...and it showed. 22 yards for 107 yards. Imagine what life could be like with Cedric Benson, Larry Johnson and Bernard Scott all healthy. That could be a scary good backfield.

- Speaking of Bernard Scott, he continues to impress when he touches the football. 18 carries, 87 yards.

- Despite an ugly day offensively, Mike Zimmer's defense did a tremendous job silencing Brady Quinn and the Browns offense. Cleveland only managed 169 yards on the day. Way to go defense.

- We ripped him last week...this week we have to give him props. Shayne Graham was 3-3 on the day, including a BIG field goal at the end of the 1st half to extend the Cincy lead to 13-0.

- Perhaps the only dangerous Browns player, Josh Cribbs, was held to 3 catches for 7 yards. He only managed 19 return yards. Great job keeping him under wraps.

THE BAD:

- Is it just me, or does Chad get way more pre-snap penalties than any other receiver on this team?? Can't make those mistakes as a number one wideout. That goes for both lines too...

- Speaking of penalties...they took too many. 10 flags for 75 yards. Absolutely atrocious.

- Carson Palmer didn't get as much pass protection as he will need if the Bengals want to make the playoffs...and win games when/if they get there. This offense hasn't played good enough to beat the elite teams. They better improve before the Minnesota game or else that one could get really ugly, really fast.

- The Bengals got the ball to start the 2nd half....had to punt...and allowed the Browns to drive the field and score. They just don't seem to have a "killer instinct." Cleveland hung around a lot longer than they should have.

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Bengals grind out victory
Joe Reedy, Enquirer
Chad Ochocinco said on Wednesday that he would be perfectly happy to see the Bengals run the ball all day on the Browns. Well, in some respects he got his wish. In a game that will not win style points, the Bengals were content to ground it out against the Browns on Sunday and get a 16-7 win. On a scale of 1 to 10 on the pretty meter, this one might register in negative digits. The victory though does improve the Bengals record to 8-3 and also marks the first time in team history that they have swept the division portion of their schedule. It is also their first sweep in the Battle of Ohio in four years. Granted it was a win, but there were many things not to be happy about.

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Larry Johnson rolls as Bengals beat Browns
ProFootballTalk.com
Larry Johnson never managed to run for 100 yards in a game in seven games with the Chiefs this year. But in just his second game with the Bengals, he carried 22 times for 107 yards and led Cincinnati to a 16-7 win over the Cleveland Browns. The Bengals had a ridiculously conservative game plan, running the ball over and over and over again, mixing in a few short passes, and basically just assuming that if they didn't make any big mistakes, there was no way the Browns' offense could put enough points on the board to win the game. That game plan worked. With Johnson leading the way, the Bengals had a total of 210 rushing yards on 45 carries, and quarterback Carson Palmer completed 13 of 24 passes for 110 yards, with a touchdown and no turnovers.

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Bengals complete first-ever division sweep
ESPN.com
With newcomer Larry Johnson leading the way, the Bengals ran the table in the AFC North by running all over the Cleveland Browns. Johnson rushed for 107 yards in Cincinnati's conservative approach Sunday, and the Bengals completed their first division sweep with a 16-7 victory in their one-sided intrastate rivalry. The Bengals (8-3) went 6-0 in the division with a retooled run-first offense and a stout defense that has carried them into first place. They rushed for 210 yards on Sunday, with Johnson -- signed less than two weeks ago as insurance -- subbing for Cedric Benson, out for the second straight week with an injured hip.

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11-0....Tony Pike answered all the questions six times over. The senior quarterback returned from a major injury to his non-throwing arm and had a record day Friday, passing for six touchdowns in a 49-36 victory over Illinois that kept fifth-ranked Cincinnati unbeaten. And now, back at full strength. "Words can't describe how amazing this feels," Pike said. Cincinnati (11-0) remained one of six unbeaten Bowl Subdivision teams, ranked fifth in the BCS standings. The Bearcats finish their regular season next weekend in Pittsburgh, playing for their second straight Big East championship.

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UC deserves title shot
P-Doc, Enquirer
The players were pleased to dent the rep of another big conference. Illinois isn’t good, but the Big Ten was clearly schooled by a Big East club. Add this one to UC’s win at Oregon State – which will play Oregon next week for the Pac-10 title and a Rose Bowl appearance – and it’s not hard to see that conference affiliation doesn’t guarantee success the way it used to. And those who still snicker at the Big East have some homework to do. Who’s clearly better than the Bearcats at this point? Who knows? Texas, likely title-game participant? Not necessarily, cowboy.

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Kelly knew Big East title would come down to UC / Pitt....As soon as the Big East released its conference schedule for 2009 and Brian Kelly saw that the University of Cincinnati had been assigned to play at Pittsburgh on Dec. 5, he had a handle on how this season would unfold. “When I saw Dec. 5, I told our guys that we’re going to have to be at this all year,” the UC coach said. “This is probably going to come down to the last game of the year.” That’s exactly how things have played out. The fifth-ranked Bearcats have reached this juncture with a perfect 11-0 record, 6-0 in the Big East.

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Brian Kelly tells ESPN's Bob Griese Notre Dame decision could come in 7-10 days...

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Bob Stoops, not Kelly, atop Irish wish list....A university source told the South Bend Tribune that Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops is "at the very top" of Notre Dame's wish list. The paper also speculated that TCU coach Gary Patterson and Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp are top candidates for the job soon to be vacated by Charlie Weis. It was previously thought the job was Brian Kelly's to lose. The Cincinnati coach is on the brink of getting the Bearcats to consecutive BCS bowls and has been a success everywhere he has coached. But he's also an offensive coach. If the Tribune truly has tapped into the heart of the search, then shoring ND's shoddy defense might be the first priority. Weis never was able to develop a consistent D.

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The Latest College Football Rankings....

BCS
TBA

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Barry Larkin on the ballot 2010 Hall of Fame....During his 19-year career with the Reds, Barry Larkin helped revolutionize the persona of the shortstop position by being both a superb fielder and hitter. Larkin was one of the great shortstops of his era, but this will be the first chance to discover whether he is a Hall of Fame shortstop. His name is making its debut on the 2010 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot, which was revealed on Friday.

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Best news you'll hear today.....According to sources, Selig, who is 75, told the group of owners he will step aside in 2012 in order to pursue other interests while he's still able, the newspaper reported.

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Former Red lands in Toronto....

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Redsfest draws stars to winter celebration
Enquirer
Lou Piniella, who managed the Reds to their last World Series victory 19 years ago, will be among dozens of Reds players, coaches, broadcasters and greats scheduled to appear at Fox Sports Ohio Redsfest on Friday and Saturday at the Duke Energy Center downtown. Piniella will appear Friday night along with members of the 1990 wire-to-wire team, including Todd Benzinger, Glenn Braggs, Tom Browning, Eric Davis, Billy Hatcher, Hal Morris, Ron Oester, Joe Oliver, Jeff Reed, Chris Sabo, Scott Scudder and Herm Winningham. They’ll be on the main stage at 6:30p.m.

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Let's talk some puck....join Cyclones Head Coach Chuck Weber and me at Jefferson Hall in Newport to break down a sweep of Kalamazoo, a couple games in Wheeling, and look ahead to a BIG week of games. We'll be hanging out from 7-8pm....great food, drink specials, and hockey. Hope to see you there!

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Muskies fall in Old Spice Classic.....In the end, Xavier just couldn’t crack Baylor’s zone defense. The Musketeers shot 38 percent and missed 11 3-pointers en route to a 69-64 defeat to the Bears in the Old Spice Classic’s fifth-place game Sunday at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex. Jamel McLean led XU with a career-high 17 points and five rebounds, and Jordan Crawford added 16 points and six boards but it wasn’t enough as the Muskies dropped to 4-2.

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The Who will perform during Super Bowl Halftime...

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Congrats to UC Volleyball....The University of Cincinnati volleyball team was one of 33 at-large teams selected for the NCAA Volleyball Tournament. Cincinnati will play Ohio State in the opening round in Columbus on Friday, Dec. 4. The winner of the Cincinnati/Ohio State matchup will meet the winner of the match between Lipscomb and No. 9 California on Saturday, Dec. 5 in Columbus.

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Monday's Hangover Cure....Kelly Karloff

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Monday Food Porn....introducing Thanksgiving Leftovers Sandwich

Leftover turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, corn, cranberry sauce, mac & cheese, spinich balls, puerto rican rice, brussel sprouts, pearl onions, bacon, white castle hamburgers and ravioli inside a foot long bun.

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So Tiger is reportedly cheating on his supermodel wife Elin Nordegren with some chick named Rachel Uchitel....you be the judge...

Tiger's wife, Elin Nordegren...

Rachel Uchitel...the alleged mistress...

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FAIL of the day....you know those barricades that prevent you from diving down a street. Yeah, they are there for a reason

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Let's see Starbucks compete with this...

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Today's Definition of Duh....Late for your flight? No problem, just have your secretary email a bomb threat to the airport.

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This is gonna be awesome....

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Medieval Times...courtesy of WalMart....

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Ochocinco decided to do some Black Friday shopping....

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Best practical joke you'll see today....

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Coolest new invention you'll see today....self-healing paint....

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Week 12 Inactives...

1pm Games

Tampa Bay at Atlanta

Miami at Buffalo

Washington at Philadelphia

Seattle at St. Louis

Carolina at New York Jets

Cleveland vs. Cincinnati

Indianapolis at Houston

4pm Games

Kansas City at San Diego

Jacksonville at San Francisco

Chicago at Minnesota

Arizona at Tennessee

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Week 12 Start Em / Sit Em
James Morris, Bengals.com

START EM

Carson Palmer: Palmer and the Bengals face off against the helpless Browns this week and they need to win to prove to people that they can handle success, as well as adversity. Because of how bad the Browns secondary is, I wouldn’t be shocked to see Palmer finish the week as a top 10 QB.

Matt Hasselbeck: Hasselbeck is usually far too erratic to pick as a starter, but the Rams defense has a way of making QB2s look like QB1s. I’ve picked Hasselbeck before and he burned me but I think this could be the week where he finally steps up and looks like a QB1.

Jason Snelling: Word is that Michael Turner practiced on Wednesday on a limited basis, but Coach Mike Smith said there is no timetable for his return. The Bucs defense isn’t good at stopping the run (in fact they are dead last in the league), and Snelling should finish the game as the Falcons leading rusher with a score or two.

Justin Forsett: Forsett is filling in for Julius Jones and if there was ever a week for the Seahawks offense to click, it would be this week against the Rams. Last week Forsett had 89 total yards and a TD and this week could be more of the same. I don’t think you will see RB1 type numbers, but I think Forsett could be a solid RB2.

Sidney Rice: Rice has become Favre’s new man-crush in the passing game, and this week they will face up against a weak Bears secondary. The Bears are aging and even though they are ranked eighth against the pass, I think the Vikings will find a way to have Rice and Favre hook up.

Mike Sims-Walker: MSW has turned into a household name this season and the Jaguars need him. Maurice Jones-Drew can only do so much by himself and Garrard seems to have found his go-to guy in Sims-Walker, so I’m going to give him a WR2 start this week.

Vernon Davis: I don’t like using the same player in back-to-back weeks, but Davis is just about all the Niners have in the passing game and the Jaguars secondary can be beat. TE is an all or nothing position, but I think Davis will be a winner this weekend.

Miami Dolphins Defense: This week the Dolphins match up against a struggling Buffalo offense. Sure, Terrell Owens had a huge game last week, but lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same spot and I don’t see the Bills and Owens filling up the stats sheet. I look for them to be a lower end DEF1 this weekend.

SIT EM

Jay Cutler: The Bears offense has more problems than a stud QB could fix and Cutler is proving that this season. Chicago is ranked 14th in the NFL in passing offense and there is that little 15-18 TD-INT ratio looming over their heads right now too.

Eli Manning: This breaks down to Denver’s passing defense being ranked third in the NFL. Forget that the Giants offense is hot and cold and the passing game seems to be more cold than hot, the Broncos defense is still ranked third in the NFL against the pass.

Rock Cartwright: Well, Clinton Portis got his bell rung and is seeing double still; Ladell Betts tore both his ACL and MCL ligaments, so he is out; that leaves fullback Rock Cartwright to carry the load and I want no part of it against this Eagles defense. Don’t fall into the waiver wire trap I see so many others getting into here.

Knowshon Moreno: Moreno got a lot of publicity heading into the season, but he has yet to hit the century mark for rushing yards and he has just three total touchdowns this season. The Broncos schedule was misleading because they had an easy early schedule that started off with a fluke win over the Bengals. Walk away if you can. See if someone will trade for him.

Terrell Owens: T.O. sat on 99 percent of people’s benches last week and he finally had a good game. Thus, this week owners are falling over themselves to stick him in their lineups and they are making the wrong decision. I think he will finish as a WR3 at best this weekend.

Steve Smith (CAR): OK, I am officially done with Steve Smith and the Panthers offense. Sure, Smith has had back-to-back games where he has scored, but he isn’t getting the catches or the yards most weeks and I wouldn’t trust him against the Jets defense this week.

Kevin Boss: I’ve seen far too many Week 12 rankings with Boss as a TE1 and why? Before last weekend, his best game was in Week 8 where he had a whopping 3 catches for 70 yards and a score. Yes, he has had three straight weeks with a touchdown, but he isn’t the new Shockey.

New Orleans Saints Defense: The Saints have probably the most surprising fantasy player on their team this season, and it is their defense. The problem this week is that they run into the New England Patriots offense and we all know they can put up stats in bunches. I’d find another defense to play if you could.

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Here's wishing you and yours a great long weekend of food, family, fun and football! I'll be busy eating until I explode....but I'll update the page throughout the long weekend and will still have your fantasy football updates on Sunday morning. Now go eat some food!

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The 5 Stages of Thanksgiving
Maxim

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Bengals / Browns Prediction
WhatIfSports.com

Bengals 28, Browns 13

WhatIfSports.com "played" the 2009 Week 12 - Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals game 10,001 times. The Cincinnati Bengals win 85.5% of the time by an average score of 27.5-13.0.

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Benson good chance to play Sunday
Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com
Calling the Bengals health “a bright light” with six games left, head coach Marvin Lewis said Wednesday that running back Cedric Benson has a good chance to play this Sunday. “He’ll be listed as not practicing with the team, but he’ll assume the Cedric Wednesday type of work,” said Lewis, indicating that Benson is going to step up his regimen after missing the last six quarters with a sore hip muscle.

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Breaking down the NFL Playoff Contenders
Fox Sports.com

NO. 4 SEED PREDICTION:
CINCINNATI BENGALS (7-3)

Remaining opponents' winning percentage: .433 (26-34)

Head-to-head tiebreaker info: Division record - 5-0. The Bengals can complete a perfect mark Sunday by defeating Cleveland. Potential out-of-division wild cards — lost to Denver and Houston

Key games: at Minnesota (Week 14), at San Diego (Week 15)

Reason to feel good: The Bengals have such good karma that not even Sunday's loss to Oakland cost the team in the standings. Pittsburgh and Baltimore also fell

Reason for concern: Are the Bengals mature enough to handle the spotlight that would come with the team's second playoff appearance since 1990?

Projected Record: 11-5. No Hard Knocks here. QB Carson Palmer, RB Cedric Benson and a swarming young defense will get the chance to showcase their skills as the surprise AFC North winner.

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Andre Smith getting closer
John Erardi, Enquirer
With the release of Scott Kooistra on Tuesday and guard Evan Mathis possibly back for Sunday’s game against Cleveland, Andre Smith’s chances of being active for his first NFL game have increased. Smith has been taking part in full-contact workouts for four weeks, which should have him in game shape, but he wasn’t active the last two games because of a lack of depth at guard. “He’s getting better every week and trying to get in the swing a little bit,” offensive line coach Paul Alexander said.

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AFC North Bloggers Blitz
James Walker, ESPN.com

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Another former Cyclone headed to NHL
Official Release
Former Cincinnati Cyclones forward David Desharnais has been recalled by the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League. Desharnais played with the Cyclones during the Kelly Cup championship season of 2007-08.

Desharnais, 23, is in his third professional season, having played 68 games with the Cyclones during the 2007-08 season. He had 29 goals and 77 assists for 106 points. David was the ECHL’s Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player and led the league in scoring that year. The club went on to capture the Brabham Cup for best record in the ECHL and secured the Kelly Cup championship in six games over Las Vegas.

The five-foot-six, 177 pound native of Quebec City, QC, spent last season with Hamilton and played in 77 games, netting 24 goals and collecting 34 assists for 58 points. Desharnais has already appeared in seven games with Hamilton, notching four goals and six assists for ten points after missing the first month of the season with a broken foot.

David Desharnais becomes the third Cyclones player to earn an NHL promotion (Greg Stewart and J.T. Wyman are the others) since the club re-started operations in 2006-07. Six Cyclones players this season have earned AHL promotions and in the four years under Head Coach Chuck Weber, 54 players have earned shots at playing in the AHL.

The Cincinnati Cyclones are the ECHL affiliate of both the Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators.

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Be thankful for Danielle Christina Ruiz....

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Thanksgiving Food Porn....

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Thanksgiving FAIL....

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Tis the season for hot women dressed as Native Americans...

more here

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Considering the NFL games on the slate this Thanksgiving....these will be the best tackles you'll see this weekend....

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Your Cheerleader of the Week
Katelynn Johnson - Oregon

Name:Katelynn Johnson
Hometown: Springfield Oregon
School: University of Oregon
Year: Senior
Major: Sociology

I love my school, but I almost went to: Portland State... I love the city.

My best physical feature is: My smile...it can cure more than you think.

If I had to watch one movie on loop forever, it would be:Love & Basketball.

If you looked at the "most played" songs on my iPod, you'd see a lot of: R&B, I could not live without it. Music is my first love and I usually get made fun of for it.

The shows I DVR/TiVo are: I'm not a big DVR'er but I like to watch The Game, R&B music video channel, Entourage, Heros, 90210, and couldn't forget about a little ESPN.

My favorite Web Sites are: Victoria's Secret, Youtube, Facebook, (I looked at my history and those popped up the most)

My favorite people to follow on Twitter are: I don't Twitter... I wish I did, but I feel like that's one more thing I have to do/keep up on. Am I that lame?

My worst habit is: I sometimes drink out of the milk carton. I learned it from my older brother.

My gameday superstitions are: A good cup of coffee, a healthy breakfast and a good luck text.

The talent I'd most like to have that I don't possess is: I used to play the piano, I wish I would have stuck with it.

These three things top my bucket list: Get married, have a healthy family and be in a Sports Illustrated and/or Victoria Secret's magazine.

I'd want my last meal to be: Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner with my family.

The most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to me during a game is: I do a lot of embarrassing things. That is what makes me unique. It sometimes brings character to a crappy game. Crowd interaction is my favorite!

Three things I'd take to a desert island are: World map, a motor boat and steroids (does that count?)

My favorite pro sports teams are: Cowboys, Dodgers and Lakers.

My one guilty pleasure is: Chocolate milk.

My celebrity crush is: Don't really know... let's just say any chef on the food network. I like a man who can cook!

Five people I'd like to have dinner with (living or dead) are:Jesus Christ, Barack Obama, Beyonce acquainted by Jay-Z , my mom's father and my brother and sister. Family is VERY important to me.

My friends would be surprised to know that I: Used to sing in front of my church.

The next risk I want to take is: Life is all one big risk. I just try to live day by day, that's all you can really do!

The worst date I've ever been on was: Worst date? I have only been on one date with someone I didn't really know that he asked me out the night before. Other than that, I'm dateless.

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Smooth criminal eats the evidence....literally...

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The most obvious study results you'll see today.....College students assigned to coed dorms drink more, have more sex and watch more pornography than those living in single-sex housing. NO WAY?!?!

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Bengals' Fanene worth the wait
Joe Reedy, Enquirer
On the edge of the mayhem, but also deeply (and gratefully) entrenched in the middle of it, stands the Bengals' Jonathan Fanene, the indomitable defensive end from American Samoa. He's been there since Antwan Odom went down five weeks ago with a season-ending injury. It is guys like Fanene and Brandon Johnson and Bernard Scott --and other players who've had to step in when the starters went down --that have helped make the Bengals what they are this season: 7-and-3, and extraordinarily close, a team in the best sense of the word.

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Despite loss, Scott nominated for Rookie of the Week....Bengals running back Bernard Scott has been recognized by the NFL for his efforts in last Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders. Scott is one of five finalists for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week along with Saints cornerback Malcolm Jenkins, Browns wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and Cardinals running back Beanie Wells. Scott rushed 21 times for a career-high 119 yards, recorded three receptions for 32 yards, and added one kickoff return for 15 yards against the Raiders.

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AFC North Power Rankings
ESPN.com

1. Cincinnati Bengals (7-3)
Last week: No. 4
Current ranking: No. 7
Analysis: An upset to the Oakland Raiders dropped the Bengals three spots to No. 7. The team held firm in the top five for a couple weeks but was bound for a poor outing at some point. Cincinnati can get back on track with a win Sunday against the division rival Cleveland Browns. The Bengals need to get back to the efficient, focused football that put them in playoff contention and on top of the AFC North. This recent loss should wake them up.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4)
Last week: No. 6
Current ranking: No. 9
Analysis: Pittsburgh’s trip to Kansas City wasn’t a good one. Not only did the Steelers lose to the lowly Chiefs (3-7) in overtime, but starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger suffered a blow to the head and backup Charlie Batch (wrist) is out for the rest of the regular season. All of this dropped the Steelers three spots in the power rankings. Pittsburgh is in jeopardy of losing three in a row for the first time this year. Roethlisberger is expected to play Sunday but beating the Baltimore Ravens on the road is never easy. The special teams also need help. The defending champs have some issues.

3. Baltimore Ravens (5-5)
Last week: No. 11
Current ranking: No. 15
Analysis: There is no shame in the Ravens losing to the undefeated Indianapolis Colts (10-0). But the way Baltimore lost makes it feel as though it blew a good opportunity. The Ravens had plenty of offense but couldn't score touchdowns. They were 0 for 4 in the red zone, and that won’t cut it against a Peyton Manning-led offense. Right now Baltimore is on the outside looking in but its playoffs hopes are not over. The Ravens likely have to go 5-1 or 4-2 down the stretch to have a legitimate chance at the postseason.

4. Cleveland Browns (1-9)
Last week: No. 32
Current ranking: No. 32
Analysis: The Browns remain dead last in the power rankings after losing in the final play to the equally struggling Detroit Lions (2-8). It was a wild game where Cleveland feels it has a lot to complain about. But the point is the Browns shouldn't have blown a 21-point lead to a bad team. The good news is Cleveland showed signs of life, particularly on offense, which is something it can build on. The Browns will try to pull the upset next week against first-place Cincinnati.

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AFC North Stock Watch
ESPN.com

Falling

2. Andre Caldwell, Bengals receiver: As I mentioned on Monday, it is time for the Caldwell experiment on kickoff returns to end. He lost a fumble on a crucial return in the final seconds in Cincinnati’s 20-17 defeat to the Oakland Raiders. It is clear at this point that Caldwell is not a natural kick returner, and that’s fine. He is a solid wide receiver, who has made a lot of big catches this season, and that should be enough for the Bengals’ coaching staff. Cincinnati needs to find someone else, perhaps Bernard Scott or Quan Cosby, to take over the kickoff return duties on a full-time basis.

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Bengals / Browns game is a sellout
Official Release
<blockquote>This Sunday’s 1 p.m. Bengals home game against Cleveland is officially a sellout, the club’s ticket office announced today. The game is the club’s 50th consecutive sellout in regular season and postseason play, and it will be aired live on CBS television affiliates in the Bengals’ home market of Cincinnati, Dayton and Lexington, Ky.

Though the blackout has been lifted, a limited number of single and partial-view seats remain available, and more than 6500 tickets remain available for each of the season’s final two home games -- on Dec. 6 vs. Detroit and on Dec. 27 vs. Kansas City.

“We thank our fans for responding to our successful season by selling out the Cleveland game,” said ticket sales manager Andrew Brown. “But it’s clear we will need strong sales from this point forward to sell out for the Lions and Chiefs. We are working hard to achieve that end and hope that we can fill the stadium for our final two home games in the push for the playoffs.”

The Bengals have not had a regular season or postseason home game blacked out for local TV since Nov. 9, 2003.</blockquote>

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Bengals roster moves...

- Signed free agent DT Orien Harris, a second-year player from Miami (Fla.). Harris (6-3, 300) is in his second stint with the Bengals this season. He was initially signed on Oct. 20. He played in one game and was inactive for two games before being waived on Nov. 17. He has 17 games of NFL experience, with one start, with 24 career tackles.

- Waived seventh-year G Scott Kooistra. Kooistra played in three games this season on special teams. He opened the season with Cincinnati, was released on Nov. 3 and was re-signed on Nov. 9.

BENGALS PRACTICE SQUAD MOVE
The Bengals today signed CB Antonio Smith of Ohio State to the practice squad. Smith (5-9, 190) is classified as a second-year NFL player. He entered the NFL in 2007 as a college free agent with Indianapolis, and spent the regular season on the Colts’ Reserve/Injured list. He was waived by Indianapolis during the 2008 preseason and was briefly on the Detroit practice squad during the 2008 regular season. He was with Detroit and San Diego during the 2009 preseason, and was waived by the Chargers on Sept. 6.

Smith takes a practice squad spot opened today when CB Geoff Pope was signed off the Bengals practice squad to the Philadelphia Eagles’ 53-player roster.

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Time for Cincinnati Bearcats coach Brian Kelly to say he's staying
P-Doc, Enquirer
You can build and stay. That’d be almost unique and downright Paterno-esque. Or you can build and leave, which would make you like everyone else. We know you’re not like everyone else. Pull an Urban Meyer. "I’m Brian Kelly and I’m not leaving." That’d keep would-be Bearcats from texting and IM-ing and whatever else they do these days to communicate their concerns to the coaches recruiting them. If you’re a hotshot quarterback or a wideout who can run down wild rabbits, boy do we have a school for you. If Brian Kelly stays. If you want to play for a hot young coach, on a top 10 team, in a city quickly falling in love with both, here’s a pen and there’s the dotted line. You’ll love it here. If Brian Kelly stays.

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Kelly says don't pay attention to rumors
ESPN.com
Coach Brian Kelly is so accustomed to hearing rumors about him leaving Cincinnati that he pays little attention to what he calls the "silly season" of college football. Kelly said on Tuesday the speculation he will be up for other coaching jobs doesn't affect his undefeated team or its recruiting. The Bearcats (10-0) are fifth in the BCS standings heading into their final home game Friday against Illinois (3-7). A week later, they play at Pittsburgh, a game that will determine the Big East championship. In each of his three years in Cincinnati, Kelly has been mentioned as a candidate for various openings. This year it's as a possible candidate if Notre Dame fires Charlie Weis after the season. Kelly's players have been good at ignoring the talk, too.

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Pike will be ready for Friday....Tony Pike passed the last big test Tuesday. He took direct snaps from under center without a problem. “There were no problems,” he said. “There are no concerns with it.” Pike will return to his starting role Friday when the University of Cincinnati Bearcats close out their home season with a noon game with Illinois at Nippert Stadium. Pike missed four starts after re-injuring his left arm. He played briefly against West Virginia, throwing two touchdown passes. The bye last week allowed Pike to get back to being, well, Pike – the guy who was in the Heisman Trophy conversation.

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Bearcat basketball keeps rolling....Yancy Gates scored 17 points and added 13 rebounds and Deonta Vaughn had 16 points to lead Cincinnati to the championship game of the Maui Invitational with a 69-57 victory over No. 21 Maryland on Tuesday at the Lahaina Civic Center. Gates scored 10 of his 17 points during a decisive second-half stretch that put the game out of reach for the Terrapins (4-1), who will play either Wisconsin or Gonzaga for third place on Wednesday, while the Bearcats (4-0) take on the other team in the championship.

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Former Cyclone to skate in NHL
Official Release
Former Cincinnati Cyclones forward J.T. Wyman has been recalled by the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League. Wyman played with the Cyclones last season.

Wyman, 23, is in his second professional season, having played 15 games with the Cyclones during the 2008-09 season. He had eight assists and four penalty minutes during his time in Cincinnati. He also played 52 games with the Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL) and netted six goals and five assists for eleven points.

The six-foot-two, 212 pound native of Edina, MN, has played in 19 games with Hamilton (AHL) this season and has three goals and six assists for nine points. Wyman was drafted by Montreal in the fourth round (number 100 overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

J.T. Wyman becomes the second Cyclones player to earn an NHL promotion (Greg Stewart is the other) since the club re-started operations in 2006-07. Six Cyclones players this season have earned AHL promotions and in the four years under Head Coach Chuck Weber, 54 players have earned shots at playing in the AHL.

The Cincinnati Cyclones are the ECHL affiliate of both the Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators.

The Cyclones host North Division leader Kalamazoo for games Wednesday and Friday. Wednesday is a ‘Wet Wednesday’ with one dollar cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon and Miller High Life. Friday is a ‘Kids Eat Free’ game, with children two to twelve years of age getting a coupon for a free kids meal with the donation of a canned goods item for the Freestore Foodbank.

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Miami Hockey, still atop national rankings, with busy T-Giving slate....Both of Miami's opponents this week are ranked in the top sixin the nation in Division I hockey. The RedHawks face No. 6 Bemidji State on Friday and No. 4 North Dakota at the Subway Holiday Classic, hosted by the Fighting Sioux. Miami defeated Bemidji State in the semifinals of the 2009 Frozen Four, 4-1.

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Hump Day = Alice Goodwin

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Wednesday Food Porn....introducing The Smorturary

One layer of marshmallows, a layer of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, another layer of marshmallows sandwiched between two S’more Pop-Tarts topped in chocolate sauce.

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WTF of the day....

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Most disturbing new product you'll see today....

hat tip to Sloanie from OneQuickBeer.com

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Best motivational poster you'll see today....

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FAIL of the day....

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Hayden Panettiere sprays champagne all over herself....that is all....

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Peko says he should be able to play Sunday
Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com
Bengals defensive tackle Domata Peko, who left Sunday's game in Oakland with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee in the third quarter, said Monday he is day-to-day and might be able to play like he did last month. Peko sprained the MCL in his left knee against the Texans and returned the next week to play against the Bears. Although the club is preparing a brace for him, he says this injury doesn't feel as bad so he's confident he'll be able to play this week...

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Can Bengals learn from a loss?
P-Doc, Enquirer
Let them loiter long enough, fate will drop a quarter in their cup. Fumble enough – does five times qualify? - violate enough rules, play long enough like you’re the team with seven losses in nine games, and the real losers of seven out of nine will find some inspiration in their desperation. They’ll take fate’s quarter, and your seat on the bus. The Bengals lost to the Oakland Raiders because, somehow, the Raiders were better. We use the word “better’’ loosely. Oakland was every bit as lousy as Cincinnati. On this particular Sunday, Oakland and Cincinnati would finish 1-2 in an international lousy-fest.

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Bengals seek offensive answers
Joe Reedy, Enquirer
On one side, the numbers looked good – 348 yards of total offense, 177 on the ground (despite their leading back being out) and 38 minutes, 24 seconds in time of possession. On the other side, there are three turnovers, three sacks, six penalties and two missed red-zone opportunities. In this case, the cons outweighed the pros and translated into a 20-17 loss at Oakland that ended a Bengals three-game win streak.

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Brian Kelly says Tony Pike will start Friday....Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly confirmed in today’s Big East football coaches’ conference call that quarterback Tony Pike will start in Friday’s noon game against Illinois at Nippert Stadium. “It’s going to be Tony Pike unless something happens during practice that’s unexpected,” Kelly said. “He will start Friday.” Kelly said Pike, who is six weeks removed from an injury to his left non-throwing forearm, has had time to heal and minimize the risk of further injury.

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UC hoops take care of Vanderbilt...Yancy Gates was ready to go as soon as breakfast was over. The 6-foot-9, 260-pound forward scored 12 points in an 18-2 first-half run that set the tone for Cincinnati's 67-58 victory over No. 24 Vanderbilt on Monday in the first round of the EA Sports Maui Invitational. Cincinnati will face the winner of the game between No. 21 Maryland and Chaminade, the Division II host school, in the semifinals on Tuesday.

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Weis' fate sealed, Irish and Kelly makes sense
Dennis Dodd, CBS Sports
The immediate impact of Weis' eventual firing after Saturday's loss to Connecticut -- let's not kid ourselves -- is that it might cause some very public and very emphatic denials from Bob Stoops and Urban Meyer. In the short term, that is certainly where this is headed no matter how long Weis hangs on. I wrote a couple of weeks ago that if it was going to make a move, ND had to go after Cincinnati's Brian Kelly immediately. Nothing has changed. Stoops and Meyer are still not interested but Notre Dame will try, perhaps because of hubris, perhaps out of desperation.

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Kelly a finalist for Munger award....University of Cincinnati head football coach Brian Kelly was named one of three finalists for the 2009 George Munger Award for coach of the year, Maxwell Football Club President Ron Jaworski announced Monday. Kelly is joined on the finalist list by Temple coach Al Golden and TCU head coach Gary Patterson.

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Another week of BCS Bowl Projections
Sporting News

BCS national title game: Alabama vs. Texas
Rose Bowl: Oregon vs. Ohio State
Sugar Bowl: Florida vs. Pitt
Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. TCU
Orange Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. Iowa

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Congrats to Lance Stephenson.....University of Cincinnati freshman forward Lance Stephenson (Brooklyn, N.Y./Abraham Lincoln) was named the BIG EAST Conference's Rookie of the Week for Nov. 16-22 for averaging 11.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and two assists in the Bearcats first two games of the season, the league office announced today. Stephenson is the first Bearcats Rookie to earn the distinction since Yancy Gates earned the honor last year.

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Urban Meyer says Notre Dame isn't an option....With rumors swirling about Charlie Weis' future at Notre Dame, Meyer squashed any potential speculation about leaving Gainesville for South Bend, Ind. "I'm ready to dispel it," Meyer said. "I'm going to be the coach at Florida as long as they'll have me. So I want to make that clear."

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Tuesday Time Vampire....Hilary Rhoda

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Tuesday Food Porn...introducing the ChocoNacho

Chocolate Covered Cinnamon Nachos Topped With Chocolate Mousse

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NO no no...please NO.....

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FAIL of the day....

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Top 14 Fake Movies from Real Movies
Film Critic

3. Angels with Filthy Souls (from Home Alone): Birthed from the golden era of film noir, Angels with Filthy Souls is a classic tale of betrayal. "Snakes" is a man just trying to do his job when he ends up in the middle of a power struggle between local mob bosses Johnny and Acey. Too bad for Snakes, Acey ain't in charge no more. Johnny turns on Snakes and pays him in cold, hard lead. Angels with Filthy Souls slings hard-ass mobster dialogue and pumps enough brutal violence into its audience to scare a nine year-old, a pizza delivery guy, and two cowardly crooks looking for their own "10 percent." (Jason Morgan)

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The 20 Best Gadgets of the Decade
Paste Magazine

11. Sony Playstion 3/Blu-ray (2006)
Though Warner’s announcement that it would no longer release movies on HD-DVD effectively ended the decade’s biggest format war, Blu-ray’s victory also owes some credit to Sony’s latest-gen gaming device, which along with the XBox 360 ushered in an era of mind-blowing graphics. And with the price of 1080p HDTVs coming down, watching movies at home will never be the same.

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Today's Definition of Duh....How do you take a not-so-serious crime to the next level? Gesture to the judge that you're going to slice her throat, of course.

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Maxim has unveiled their "Best Chest List"....that is all....

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Raiders upset Bengals, 20-17....

- This game was the classic case of what happens when you let a bad team hang around by making stupid mistakes and leaving points off the board. They have absolutely nobody to blame but themselves. 3 sacks allowed, 4 turnovers (3 lost fumbles), missed field goals, and a disgraceful offensive performance in the second half just flat out won't get it done. A 7-3 record ain't bad...but damn it, that one stings. They better bounce back during the next two games...or we could witness another late-season collapse.

THE GOOD

- Bernard Scott and Brian Leonard filled in very, very well for a banged up Cedric Benson. Scott provided the shifty speed while Leonard hammered it between the tackles. Scott's HUGE 61-yard run in the 3rd quarter brought some life back to the Bengals offense. Scott finished with 21 carries for 119 yards.

- Despite the embarrassing loss, the Bengals controlled the clock throughout....they held the ball for more than 21 minutes in the 1st half. They won the T.O.P battle, 38:24-21:36. But the only stat that truly matters is the final score.

- Carson Palmer continues to lead the offense with the confidence I remember seeing from him in 2005....perhaps even more so. I also love that he's starting to become more mobile. When plays break down, Palmer's not afraid to scramble. It's too bad that it all went straight to hell in the second half.

- Jonathan Joseph came up with his fifth interception of the season....that's tied for third most in the NFL. Way to go J-Jo. Too bad it was in a losing effort.

THE BAD

- 0-9 all-time in Oakland...

- 2-for-5 in the Red Zone flat out won't get it done...

- Putting it bluntly, the Bengals were their own worst enemy on Sunday. They took way too many stupid penalties....4 flags on the opening drive alone. It got even worse in the 2nd half. They ended up with 8 penalties for 59 yards. You can't beat yourself...especially against the lower-tier teams. Absolutely unacceptable.

- It was WAY closer at halftime than I would have liked...14-7....and they allowed Oakland to hang around in the second half. Ultimately, it came back to bite 'em.

- How many times will the Bengals have trouble holding onto the football...give me a f****ing break....

- I'm not gonna torch Andre Caldwell for the fumble...although that basically lost the game. I'm more interested in finding out why Bernard Scott wasn't on the field for that kickoff. Any ideas?

- Shayne Graham simply cannot miss field goals inside 40 yards if he wants to stay employed. For a 7-3 team...the special teams HAS to be among the bottom 10 in the NFL.

- The offensive line allowed 3 sacks...the most in a single game since the first week of the season.

- While they didn't lose any ground in the division....this loss hurts the Bengals chances of getting home-field advantage in the playoffs as AFC division leaders Indianapolis (10-0), New England (7-3) and San Diego (7-3) were all victorious in Week 11. FML.

- I know you can't ever blame anything on officiating alone...but I think we can all agree that the zebras were BRUTAL on Sunday. They're gonna be embarrassed when they look back at the replay of the game. Their ineptitude, however, wasn't to blame for the loss...you can lay that squarely on the shoulders of the Orange and Black.

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Somehow, this seems appropriate....

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It would have been a nice day for the Bengals to win....because the Colts squeaked past the Ravens, the Lions beat the Browns at the gun, and perhaps best of all the Chiefs knocked out Big Ben and beat the Steelers in OT. Yet, no ground was gained....then again, none was lost.

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Raiders stun Bengals
ProFootballTalk.com
The Cincinnati Bengals were feeling pretty good about themselves entering today's game in Oakland. Cincinnati was 7-2 and in first place in the AFC North, and their two division rivals, the Ravens and Steelers, had both lost early games this afternoon. But the Bengals won't be feeling so good about themselves tonight as they fly home from Oakland. In a shocking upset that will re-shape the AFC playoff race, the Raiders scored 10 points in the final 41 seconds to beat the Bengals, 20-17.

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Bengals fall apart in Oakland
AP
Bruce Gradkowski provided more than a spark for the struggling Oakland Raiders. He delivered a much-needed comeback victory that the Cincinnati Bengals handed over to Oakland. Gradkowski threw a 29-yard game-tying touchdown pass to Louis Murphy with 33 seconds left and Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 33-yard field goal after Andre Caldwell fumbled the ensuing kickoff, giving the Raiders a 20-17 victory Sunday. The Bengals (7-3) have lost all 10 games in Oakland, including one playoff game. But this had to be one of the most painful. Cincinnati maintained its one-game lead over Pittsburgh in the AFC North after the Steelers lost in overtime at Kansas City, yet this loss could prove critical to seedings or even a playoff berth down the stretch.

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FAIL to the victors.....Ohio State intercepted four passes by Michigan freshman Tate Forcier, and the OSU offense did just enough today to offer some breathing room as the Rose Bowl-bound Buckeyes gained their sixth straight victory in The Game, 21-10. Senior safety Kurt Coleman had two of the picks, but Devon Torrence's interception in the end zone stopped a Michigan scoring attempt early in the fourth quarter, and defensive end Thaddeus Gibson's pick with 3:34 left at the Michigan 42-yard line sealed it.

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Michigan fans show discontent by not showing up
Sporting News
Every other year, this town hosts a color war on the third Saturday of November. The 2009 version came with a twist – Michigan maize didn't overwhelm Ohio State scarlet. Along South Main Street, the main drag outside Michigan Stadium, each group of tailgating Wolverines fans was matched by a road-tripping crew of Buckeyes. Inside the Big House, the OSU colors, like chunks of tomato in a bowl of corn, stood out as much as any time in decades.

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Have we seen the last of Charlie Weis?....Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis said he would have a hard time arguing if the school decides to fire him for his 6-5 record, saying it isn't good enough. He made the comment Sunday after being asked about his quote when he was hired five years ago when he said 6-5 wasn't good enough. That's what Notre Dame's record was when Tyrone Willingham was fired and that's the school's record again after a double overtime 33-30 loss Saturday to Connecticut (5-5).

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College Football Rankings...

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Mike Holmgren to meet with Browns?.....Former Seattle and Green Bay coach Mike Holmgren says he would be interested in working for the Cleveland Browns. Holmgren said on his weekly radio show on Seattle’s KJR that he has not yet spoken to Browns owner Randy Lerner, who is looking for a “serious, credible leader” football authority to run his struggling team. Holmgren did not say if he would like to coach again, but indicated he would be welcome the chance to take on a rebuilding project like the 1-8 Browns.

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Cris Collinsworth's son wins prestigious award....Collinsworth, who has helped the Bluebirds win back-to-back Class 5A state titles, was an all-state defensive back as a sophomore and all-state receiver as a junior. He moved to running back in the offseason and entered Friday’s playoff game against Johnson Central with 1,040 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. In Friday night's 42-21 victory against Johnson Central, Collinsworth rushed for 159 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries,

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Walt Jocketty trying to re-sign Johnny Gomes....

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Congrats to Xavier's Jordan Crawford.....Xavier University sophomore guard Jordan Crawford has earned Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Week honors. Crawford averaged 25.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.0 steals and had no turnovers in two wins this past week, while shooting 69.0 percent from the field, including 72.7 percent from three-point range.

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Join Chuck Weber and me tonight at Jefferson Hall....it's another week of the Coors Light Cyclones Coaches Show. We'll be hanging out at Newport on the Levee from 7-8pm talking hockey. Hope to see you all there!

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In an act of extreme stupidity...the BCS has created an Official Twitter Page....this can't end well....

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Monday's Hangover Cure....Shrimit...

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Monday Food Porn....introducing IHOP Who-Cakes

Inspired by Horton Hears a Who!: A stack of five pancakes drenched in boysenberry and blueberry syrup, covered in rainbow-colored chocolate candy and topped with a pink Dum-Dum lollipop.

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Best PSA you'll see today...

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Ladies and Gentlemen, Hollywood has officially run out of ideas....

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Chuck-E-Cheese is a perv....

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Best NHL goal you'll see today...

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Chad promised this during Hard Knocks...and now he's delivering...

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FAIL of the day....

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WTF of the day...courtesy of WalMart...

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Fantasy Football Weekend

Week 11 Inactives....

1pm GAMES

Indianapolis at Baltimore

Washington at Dallas

Cleveland at Detroit

San Francisco at Green Bay

Buffalo at Jacksonville

Pittsburgh at Kansas City

Seattle at Minnesota

Atlanta at New York Giants

New Orleans at Tampa Bay

4pm GAMES

Arizona at St. Louis

San Diego at Denver

New York Jets at New England

Cincinnati at Oakland

Week 11 Start Em / Sit Em
James Morris, Bengals.com

START EM

Kurt Warner: Going up against his old team (St. Louis) will certainly light a fire in Warner for sure. I’m not a big fan of Steve Breaston or Tim Hightower in fantasy terms, but Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin are top-tier WRs and Chris Wells is going to be pretty good if Arizona ever commits to the run.

Carson Palmer: For those who own someone like Kyle Orton, Matt Ryan or even Joe Flacco, you’ll want to give Palmer a definite look. The new-look Bengals travel to Oakland to face the helpless Raiders, so this is as close to a scrimmage as you will get in-season.

Kevin Smith: This is Smith's last chance to prove to me that he deserves a roster spot this season. The Browns and Lions have combined for two wins this season, meaning that as bad as one team is, the other is equally as bad. Smith at least has shown talent in the past and if there were ever a weekend to do it again, it would be Week 11 of the 2009 season.

Ricky Williams: With Ronnie Brown out for the rest of this season, Williams becomes an elite fantasy RB in that Miami offense. Add to that the Carolina Panthers 25th-ranked run defense, and you have a recipe for success.

Steve Smith (CAR): This is one of the only weeks I will put either Smith to start because Miami is 27th against the pass and Smith is coming off a two TD performance in which he only yielded 34 yards. If he can just get some more targets, he could turn in a 100-yard game for the first time since Week 2.

Sidney Rice: Rice has surpassed Bernard Berrian as the go-to guy in Minnesota and Favre knows it. Rice went undrafted in almost every fantasy league this season, but quickly became a household name. I am going to say that Rice finishes this weekend with enough stats to rank him as a low-end WR1.

Vernon Davis: Now, after last week’s abysmal performance (3 catches for 16 yards), many people are going to let Davis ride the bench this week. I, personally, will give him another shot against Green Bay because Alex Smith needs to bounce back and Davis is his only real weapon.

Cincinnati Bengals Defense: The Bengals defense is ranked within the top five in most standard formats, and that is a shock to people outside of Cincinnati. This week the Bengals face the Oakland Raiders and their newly anointed starting QB. Just when you think things can’t get any worse in Oakland, the Bengals come to town.

SIT EM

Kyle Orton: Speaking of the devil, Orton has reverted back to his old self as of late. He hasn’t throw for more than 229 yards since Week 6 and in that same span he has 4 TDs to 3 INTs. I’ve never been a fan of Orton and you shouldn’t be playing him against the suddenly-hot Chargers defense.

Matt Ryan: I like Ryan as a QB2 this week, but that is about it without Michael Turner in the lineup. No matter how good they look, Jason Snelling and Jerious Norwood will not scare defenses like Turner does and that means Matty-Ice will face more defenders pinning their ears back and coming for his head. If I had a different option, I would consider using him this weekend.

Marion Barber: It came out this week that the Dallas coaching staff wants to “feature” Felix Jones more in the offense, so where does that leave Marion the Barbarian? At best I think he will be a low-end flex play against the Redskins and I won’t play him until I know exactly what they were talking about with Jones.

Knowshon Moreno: Moreno hasn’t really been the starting fantasy RB that we all wanted in the preseason. He is averaging just 3.9 YPC and has scored just two TDs all season long. This week the Broncos match up with the Chargers and like Orton, I would just say no.

Lee Evans: As the QB carousel goes round-n-round in Buffalo, this week it stopped on Ryan Fitzpatrick’s name. And, anyone who knows about Fitzpatrick (Bengals fans and Chad Ochocinco), that is not a good thing for Evans and Terrell Owens. Look elsewhere or expect only WR3 type of numbers.

Chris Chambers: I’ve had more than just a few emails asking if Chambers is worth starting with Bowe out until Week 15. The answer is maybe in Week 14 against the Bills, but not until then as they face the Steelers, Chargers and Broncos. Kansas City was bad before Bowe was suspended and the Chiefs are even worse after the suspension.

Jason Witten: Witten has to be on the fantasy bust list for this season and I don’t think it will get any better this week. Washington has the No. 1 ranked pass defense and Tony Romo only has eyes for Roy Williams these days.

Baltimore Ravens Defense: The Ravens are perpetually at the top of everyone’s fantasy defense list. But, this week they face off against Peyton Manning and his offensive circus and I wouldn’t play the Ravens for any reason this week. I’d pick up the Titans or 49ers off the waiver wire before I played the Ravens defense this week.

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Potential trap for Bengals
ESPN.com
On the surface, the Cincinnati Bengals and Oakland Raiders shouldn’t be a close contest, right? The Raiders are 2-7 and starting quarterback Bruce Gradkowski against the first-place Bengals (7-2). But when you look deeper, consider the fact that Cincinnati has never won in Oakland in eight attempts. The Bengals are coming off a huge emotional win over the Pittsburgh Steelers (letdown factor?), and starting tailback Cedric Benson is not expected to play with a hip injury. This has all the makings of a trap game in the NFL. The Bengals have been a mature team all season. Winning in Oakland for the first time would be another huge step in that maturation process.

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Look for unlikely heroes in Oakland
Sporting News
Don't be surprised if the Raiders and Bengals get key performances from unlikely sources in their matchup. Oakland has replaced JaMarcus Russell with Bruce Gradkowski, who doesn't have a strong or especially accurate arm but is mobile and does a good job of keeping his eyes downfield while extending plays with his legs. That will cause problems for a Cincinnati defense that focuses on getting upfield quickly. Meanwhile, our sources tell us Bengals newly signed Larry Johnson has gotten significant practice reps this week and could play a significant role with Cedric Benson (hip) likely out.

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Speedy Scott could be ready for larger role with Bengals
Joe Reedy, Enquirer
On the playground, nobody could catch Bernard Scott. Couldn’t get a hand on him. Pfft. Pfft. Pfft. Three cuts, sometimes only two, and like Zorro he was gone. Last Sunday in Pittsburgh, he had almost forgotten how good he was with a wide-open field in front of him and a running head start. He knows where the guys in the other color jerseys are going before they do – because he can make them go where he wants. Before he ran back five kicks against the Steelers last Sunday -- one of them 96 yards for a touchdown -- he had run back only two kicks as a pro during this, his rookie NFL season. Previous to that, the last time he had run back a kick was as a freshman at Abilene Christian University.

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Another Bengals/Ravens prediction
James Walker, ESPN.com

Analysis: The Bengals have never won in Oakland, but there is a first time for everything.
Pick: Bengals, 20-7

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L.J anticipates playing, Cedric is a gametime decision
Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com
Running back Larry Johnson's Bengals debut looks to be on track for Sunday in Oakland while Cedric Benson says he's a game-time decision. Benson's sore hip muscle kept him out of practice for a third straight day Friday, usually an indication of a deactivation on Sunday. The injury report has him as "doubtful." Head coach Marvin Lewis said after Friday's practice that if Johnson is active, he'll carry the ball and he's been impressed with how quickly Johnson has picked up the scheme. He says he'll have to know enough "not to handicap the playcaller."

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Third and Nothing....Third down is where the Bengals took over the AFC North the past two weeks against offenses rich with big-play capabilities. They halted Pittsburgh on 10 straight third-down tries to end the game in turning quarterback Ben Roethlisberger from a 70-percent throwing Pro Bowler to a one out of every two journeyman. That came a week after holding Baltimore nine out of 10 times on third down and shrinking big-armed Joe Flacco’s field to barely six yards per throw.

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ProFootballTalk.com breaks down the Bengals....

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Ohio State vs. Michigan has slipped in stature....The Game has lost a lot of luster. Ohio State has beaten Michigan five straight times, its best winning streak and the longest in the series since the 1920s. The ninth-ranked Buckeyes (9-2, 6-2 Big Ten) have already clinched at least a share of their fifth straight conference title and a spot in the Rose Bowl. Michigan (5-6, 1-6) is mired in another miserable year - coming off a school-record nine-loss season - and is nearly a two-touchdown underdog to lose Saturday at home to guarantee consecutive losing records for the first time since 1962-63. Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, though, insisted those factors haven't diminished the rivalry.

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Reds making roster moves...

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Babe of the Weekend....Jessica Rabbit

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Weekend Food Porn....The Bodybag

Three hamburger patties, ham, salami, cappicola, pepperoni, provolone, American cheese, two eggs, french fries, coleslaw and hot sauce, on a whole loaf of Italian bread.

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Most realistic viral video you'll see today...

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Nordstrom's gets it....

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Them hockey sticks are valuable...

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FAIL of the weekend....

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This guy doesn't have a life...but he's managed to create amazing acapella rendition of Thriller with 64 separate audio tracks using only his voice...

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Your "Real or Fake" video of the day....I'm goin real....

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Oprah has announced she's retiring her TV show....so naturally that means the end of network-broadcast TV....

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Bengals / Raiders Prediction
WhatIfSports.com

Bengals 24, Raiders 13

WhatIfSports.com "played" the 2009 Week 11 - Cincinnati Bengals vs. Oakland Raiders game 10,001 times. The Cincinnati Bengals win 85.4% of the time by an average score of 24.2-12.5.

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Benson unlikely to play against Raiders
Joe Reedy, Enquirer
Running back Cedric Benson did not practice for a second straight day and is unlikely to play Sunday at Oakland. That means Larry Johnson's timetable to be somewhat comfortable with the playbook is accelerated. "It's a new offense and they have to get comfortable with trusting me to step in there," said Johnson, who celebrated his 30th birthday Thursday. "The plays are the same handing off and right now the exchange has been pretty good between Carson (Palmer) and myself."

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Midseason tests
Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com
At 7-2, these Bengals have gone where no stripes have gone before. A 5-0 division record and a 4-0 road record built with a Woodstock locker room of peace and love. Indeed, this is the kind of game the 2007 team lost enough to dribble themselves out of contention at 7-9. The Bengals lost on the road to a four-win team (Kansas City), a five-win team (San Francisco) and a seven-win team (Buffalo). They take care of business and there are 10 wins. But now they have guys like safety Chris Crocker. In six previous seasons he’s never played on a team that won more than seven games. He can end that Sunday.

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Two good backs are better than one
Ludwig at Large
The newest Cincinnati Bengal should play, and play a lot, against the Raiders in Oakland on Sunday. With starting tailback Cedric Benson rehabbing a right hip flexor strain and unable to practice, Johnson is getting a crash-course in the offensive scheme and preparing for his Bengals debut. The Bengals would be best served by deactivating Benson and allowing his hip to heal, and deploying the ol’ tailback-by-committee approach featuring rookie Bernard Scott, veteran Brian Leonard and Johnson.

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AFC North Playoff Forecast
ESPN.com
Cincinnati Bengals (7-2)
With the Denver Broncos fading, the Bengals are now the NFL's biggest surprise through nine games. Cincinnati, with a strong running game and physical defense, is built like an AFC North team for the first time under coach Marvin Lewis. If Cincinnati takes care of business, it will be 10-2 after this stretch and in prime position to secure a home playoff game and a possible bye. Even one slip-up would give the Bengals a solid 9-3 mark with four games remaining, which would make them very hard to catch in the AFC North.
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LJ's former coach says he'll do well in Cincinnati...."He put himself in position and made some choice that he can’t make. He understands that he has to salvage his career. It’s a good situation for him. He’s not coming in as a star while in Kansas City he was the star. Cincinnati has a bunch of good playmakers and people in that locker room."

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Congrats to Mardy Gilyard....University of Cincinnati wide receiver/kick returner Mardy Gilyard was named one of 15 Players to Watch for the 2009 Walter Camp Football Foundation Player of the Year award, the fourth oldest college football award in the nation. He leads the BIG EAST Conference in total receiving yards, catching 68 balls for 930 yards and eight touchdowns. He has three 100-yard receiving games and has caught a pass in 15-straight contests.

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Collaros told to comply with court or face jail time....A judge warned Cincinnati sophomore quarterback Zach Collaros on Thursday that he could spend the bowl season in jail if he doesn't get his act together after being accused of showing a fake ID at a bar. Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge Bernie Bouchard scolded Collaros for failing to begin a court-ordered program on the dangers of underage drinking. Bouchard told Collaros he had until Dec. 7 or would face jail time. "Got it? Are we clear?" Bouchard asked him. "You're not going to get another chance." Collaros said through his attorney that he would begin the program right away.

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New coach Chris Mack carries on long tradition at Xavier
P-Doc, SI.com
This one's for anyone who refers to Xavier University as "Eggs-avier'" or, come on, "Eggs-avier of Ohio" when crunching a bracket in March. The other Xavier is in New Orleans. Fine institution. Not basketball-relevant. Eggs-avier of Louisiana. This one's for people who lob the term "mid-major" at XU like a hand grenade in a men's room, who couldn't tell you where XU is if you gave them a Rand McNally and a GPS. It's especially for those who refer to the Musketeers as "the Gonzaga of the East."' Xavier: Isn't that where good coaches go to leave? This one's for you.

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Reds won't be busy in free agency
Mark Sheldon, Reds.com
Free agency opens for business at 12:01 a.m. ET on Friday, and that means it will be buying season for all 30 clubs. Don't expect the Reds to be busy free-agent shoppers, however. "I don't see us being very active with free agents," general manager Walt Jocketty said at season's end. "It's not a very strong free-agent market from what we see." Sure, there are unsettled situations for the club in left field and at shortstop, but economics will be the overriding factor in how the Reds maneuver to fill those needs.

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Ouch....In a season such as Miami's, a team will take its bright spots wherever it can find them, even in a 42-17 Mid-American conference loss to Buffalo. Wednesday night, they came from two senior wide receivers - Brayden Coombs and Dustin Woods. Miami (1-11, 1-7) set the single-season school record for losses, surpassing the 0-10-1 1988 season.

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Cyclones claim Matt Robinson off waivers
Official Release
<blockquote>The Cincinnati Cyclones, ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators, announced this afternoon they have claimed forward Matt Robinson off of the ECHL waiver list.

Robinson, 24, is in his fourth professional season, having played twelve games with Johnstown (ECHL) this season. He has scored three goals and added six assists for nine points and 13 penalty minutes. He has a pair of three point games this season, including a goal and a pair of assists in his last game with the Chiefs versus Wheeling on Sunday (November 14).

The six-foot-one, 186 pound native of South Surrey, BC, has played all four pro seasons in the ECHL. Robinson has appeared in 143 career games with 46 goals and 43 assists for 89 points and 130 penalty minutes. He spent his first two years with Alaska (ECHL), before being traded to Johnstown before the start of the 2008-09 season.

Matt Robinson is not related to Cyclones rookie forward Brett Robinson.</blockquote>

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Cyclones on 1530 Homer TONIGHT....Chuck Weber's bunch travel up I-75 for a two-game weekend set against the Toledo Walleye. You can hear tonight's game starting at 7pm on 1530 Homer and 1530Homer.com.

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You HAD to see this one coming....Four major carriers -- American, Delta, Northwest and United -- will tack on a $50 surcharge for all passengers flying out of the three southern Florida airports on February 8, the day after the Super Bowl.

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TGIF Babe of the Day....Charlie Kristine

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Friday Food Porn....introducing the Bacon Beer Mug...

hat tip to Sloanie from OneQuickBeer.com

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Cyclones fan likes to jump around....

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Today's Definition of Duh.....The case of one of four teens who were cited after rapping their order at a McDonald's in Utah appears headed for trial. Police in American Fork, about 30 miles south of Salt Lake City, cited the teens for disorderly conduct last month after the drive-through rap.

hat tip to Matt B for the link

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WalMart could really make some money if they sold "back-bras".....

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Rob Schneider doesn't like waiting to do interviews. In other news, Rob Schneider is still doing interviews...

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FAIL of the day...

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No wonder the Mayans predicted the end of the world in 2012....Oprah is calling it quits...

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Three and Out: Bengals vs. Raiders
Joe Reedy, Enquirer

1. Raider dysfunction: It could be JaMarcus Russell, Bruce Gradkowski or even Charlie Frye. One of the more telling comments from Raiders coach Tom Cable Monday came when he was asked about the viability of Charlie Frye as the starting quarterback. Russell, the former No. 1 draft choice, has been awful and has just two touchdowns against nine interceptions.

2. Easy stretch: After back-to-back games against the Ravens and Steelers, the Bengals face three of the worst teams in the league - the 2-7 Raiders, 1-8 Browns and 1-8 Lions - over the next three weeks. Although it might look like a three-week vacation until the Dec. 13 game at Minnesota, Lewis might be even more focused this week in terms of not trying to prevent a letdown.

3. And at running back...: Cedric Benson's hip will receive extra scrutiny, and everyone will see how quickly Larry Johnson can pick up the playbook and possibly adjust to playing on five days notice, if Benson can not go.

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Raiders, in fact, bench Russell....Raiders coach Tom Cable, who yanked Russell for Bruce Gradkowski during Sunday's 16-10 loss to the Chiefs, said Wednesday that Gradkowski is the new starter. Per RaiderBeat.com, Cable called the move an "easy decision."

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LJ looking to convert history
Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com
His agent describes Larry Johnson as a football historian and when it came to a pop quiz on his new team, he passed with flying orange and black. Asked Tuesday what he knew about the franchise, Johnson quickly churned out, “The coach here also coached Jimmy Brown and Ernie Davis in Cleveland.” Not bad. Marvin Lewis, the current Bengals head coach who is four wins away from passing Paul Brown into second place on the club’s all-time list, is calling on history as he welcomes the star-crossed Johnson to his team. But it’s a little more recent.

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Benson guarded about Johnson signing
James Walker, ESPN.com
Most Cincinnati Bengals players are accepting the addition of troubled running back Larry Johnson as a move to improve the team. The player who could be most affected doesn't have much to say, and that's the most telling reaction of all.

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Signing Johnson will test Bengals chemistry
Kyle Nagel, Dayton Daily News
More than that, Johnson - as any new player would, whether or not he has a history — will test the Bengals’ locker room chemistry. Things have clearly been better on the field, and much of that comes from harmony off the field. Injecting a new presence into that mix will test the Cincinnati leadership.

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Larry Johnson wants to earn his stripes
ESPN

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LJ's role will depend on Benson
Joe Reedy, Enquirer
Although everyone continues to stress that everything is operating smoothly, it is looking more like Larry Johnson could be in the lineup for the Bengals Sunday in Oakland. Johnson practiced with the team for the first time Wednesday and did get a couple of snaps, but mostly tried to immerse himself in the playbook. Also on the field was Cedric Benson, but he did not practice as he continues to recover from a hip flexor injury.

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It's a QB's world in the NFL
Alex Marvez, Fox Sports
It's a quarterback's world. The rest of the NFL is just living in it. That's how the 2009 season is unfolding. Quarterback hasn't just stayed football's most important position. It has never been played better. For the first time since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, there are nine signal-callers with at least a 95.0 passer rating 10 weeks into the season. The three leaders — Minnesota's Brett Favre (107.5), New Orleans' Drew Brees (104.6) and Indianapolis' Peyton Manning (104.2) — play for the franchises with the league's best records.

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Congrats to Bernard Scott
Official Release
<blockquote>Bengals rookie HB Bernard Scott today was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week by the NFL.

Scott returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown to help lead Cincinnati to an 18-12 victory at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. In a game that decided current first place of the AFC North, Scott’s score was the only touchdown by either side (the game included eight combined field goals by both teams otherwise). It gave the Bengals a 6-3 lead at the time, and it proved to provide the winning point margin.

In his first action as the No. 1 kick returner this season, Scott returned five total kickoffs for 206 yards (41.2-yard average) at Pittsburgh. Those 206 KOR yards rank as the third highest single-game total in Bengals history. Scott’s 96-yarder was the team’s first for a TD since Nov. 4, 2007, when WR Glen Holt returned one 100 yards at Buffalo.

Scott, a sixth-round draft pick out of Abilene Christian, has seven kickoff returns for 261 yards (37.3-yard average) for the season.

This the third time this season that a Bengals player has received an AFC Player of the Week honor. DE Antwan Odom, currently on the team’s Reserve/Injured list, was named Defensive Player of the Week for his five-sack performance at Green Bay in Week 2. QB Carson Palmer earned the AFC Offensive Player of the Week honor for his play in Week 7 vs. Chicago.

The last Bengal to win an AFC Special Teams Player of the Week award was WR Tab Perry in Week 13 of 2005.</blockquote>

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UC QB Collaros due in court Today....Zach Collaros has helped thrust the University of Cincinnati football team into the national championship picture, but it’s what he didn’t do that will have the sophomore quarterback before a judge Thursday. Collaros was cited May 15 for presenting a fake ID – a Tennessee driver’s license – as he tried to enter the Holy Grail, a Corryville bar. Collaros turned 21 in August.

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Vote for Bearcat is in the Capital One Mascot Challenge....

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UC is #1 in BCS, academically.....Of the top 10 teams in the BCS standings, Cincinnati, now fifth in the standings, was the only school to top 70 percent in both reports. Texas, which is third in the standings, and Georgia Tech, which is seventh, had the lowest scores. Both came in at 49 percent (NCAA) and 41 percent (federal).

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Bearcats vs. Pitt game info....The University of Cincinnati football team will face BIG EAST Conference rival Pittsburgh at noon on Dec. 5 at Heinz Field and the game will be televised nationally by ABC, the BIG EAST Conference office announced Wednesday. The game will decide the 2009 BIG EAST Champion and the winner of the league's automatic Bowl Championship Series berth. The No. 5 Bearcats (10-0, 6-0 BIG EAST) have a bye this week in advance of playing Illinois (3-7) at Nippert Stadium on Nov. 27. No. 8 Pittsburgh (9-1, 5-0 BIG EAST) take on West Virginia on Nov. 27 before playing the Bearcats.

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UC hoops ink another recruit....Kelvin Gaines, a 6-foot-10, 225 pound center from Ocala, Fla., has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the University of Cincinnati men's basketball team beginning in 2010, fourth-year head coach Mick Cronin announced today. Gaines averaged 10.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 6.2 blocks in 2008-09 playing for Jason Niblett at Heat Academy in Martinsville, Va. The Heat finished the season with a record of 50-8 and was ranked as as high as No. 12 in the national prep school polls.

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King James to be a Cleveland Brown??....If LeBron James truly believes he can help the Cleveland Browns, coach Eric Mangini has an orange helmet waiting for him. “I think he should come on down,” Mangini said. The NBA superstar, who was an All-State wide receiver in high school, said Tuesday night that if he put the time and commitment into it, he could be a good football player. Mangini agreed, calling James “a freak athletically” and said the 6-foot-8, 260-pounder could be dangerous at tight end, wide receiver or even outside linebacker.

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Joe Morgan to start selling cars....Former Cincinnati Reds second baseman Joe Morgan hopes to sell some red machines – and plenty of vehicles in other colors – at his new auto dealership in southwest Ohio. Morgan took part in groundbreaking Tuesday for the future site of Joe Morgan Honda. He is the majority owner of the business that will be just off Interstate 75 in Monroe, roughly midway between Cincinnati and Dayton.

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Maybe there's hope for Bud Selig after all....baseball plans to cut down on off days during the postseason next year. Commissioner Bud Selig said Wednesday he's working on tightening up the 2010 playoff schedule so there will be fewer gaps between games. Selig also said he would continue to discuss instant replay. It's not expected to be a major topic when owners have a full meeting Thursday morning, even though there were several missed calls by umpires during the postseason.

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Thursday's are better with Joanna Krupa.....in honor of her Playboy cover...

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Thursday Food Porn....introducing Eggs Benedict Poutine

French fries, brown gravy and cheese curds topped with a poached egg, bacon, Hollandaise sauce.

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Speaking of food...need help on where to eat? Use this handy flowchart...

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Today's Definition of Duh....Teachers at a Bronx school are being portrayed as dunces for letting students play dodgeball with hard soccer balls in a crowded gym - leaving left one kid with busted teeth. The city offered 12-year-old Shane Reese $20,000 Monday to head off a lawsuit stemming from a head shot he took in the crazy game last year at Intermediate School 219.

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FAIL of the day....Steelersr fnas can't spelle reel goode....

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Because when you think classy dining....you think McDonald's.....Danish Modern furniture. Flat-screen TVs. Free Wi-Fi. You want fries with that? A McDonald's in midtown Manhattan became the first in the U.S. this fall to undergo a sleek, European-style makeover similar to what McDonald's has done at thousands of outlets around in France and the United Kingdom.

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The only hope for Dancing with the Stars is Joanna Krupa....cuz Julianne Hough is done...

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I hate Steelers fans and all, but I wouldn't poison one.....A Pittsburgh man in town to watch the Steelers play in September says he had to be rushed to the hospital on the verge of death after accepting a drink from a Bears fan. Police are investigating whether Zack Heddinger was drugged or whether his drink was spiked at Kitty O'Shea's bar where he and some friends went after watching the Steelers lose to the Bears 14-17 at Soldier Field Sept.20.

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Wal-Mart is the home of great mullets....amongst other life failures...

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TGIT...Here's your Cheerleader of the Week
Chelsie Stefano, University of Minnesota

Name: Chelsie Stefano
Hometown: Maple Grove, Minn.
School: University of Minnesota
Year: Sophomore
Major: Advertising, and Management Minor

I love my school, but I almost went to: I knew that the U of M was where I wanted to go because of the education and dance team.

My best physical feature is: My eyes, or unique voice.

If I had to watch one movie on loop for ever, it would be: Dumb and Dumber, for sure. I never can get sick of such a classic movie.

If you looked at the "most played" songs on my iPod, you'd see a lot of: Country and rap. No particular artists because I like a variety depending on the mood I am in.

The shows I DVR/TiVo are: So You Think You Can Dance.

My favorite Web Sites are: YouTube, Facebook, and Yahoo.

My favorite people to follow on Twitter are: Don't have one ... yet.

My worst habit is: Talking really loud, or being a perfectionist.

My gameday superstitions are: Standing next to Toni in our team huddles before we perform.

The talent I'd most like to have that I don't possess is: Singing, for sure. I wish I had a nice singing voice so I could sing and dance!

These three things top my bucket list: Study abroad in Spain; Go to Hawaii because I haven't been there yet; Run a marathon.

I'd want my last meal to be: A delicious meal from Ichibans ... steak and chicken, with fried rice and shrimp sauce. To top it off, a warm chocolate chip cookie with vanilla ice cream!

The most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to me during a game is: Haven't really had anything happen.

Three things I'd take to a desert island are: My cell phone, tanning lotion and water!

My favorite pro sports teams are: The Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys.

My one guilty pleasure is: Sweets.

My celebrity crush is: Robert Pattinson.

Five people I'd like to have dinner with (living or dead) are: My Grandpa, Megan Fox, Carrie Underwood, Robert Pattinson and Adrian Peterson.

My friends would be surprised to know that I: I am not Italian. Stefano definitely seems like an Italian name, though.

The next risk I want to take is: Try out for So You Think You Can Dance, and find a successful job after I graduate.

The worst date I've ever been on was: Luckily, can't say I have ever been on a bad date.

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As if you haven't heard by now...Larry Johnson is officially a Bengal...

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LJ is not a "4th Running Back"
John Thornton, AllProBlogger.com
Bengals owner Mike Brown and Marvin Lewis probably see this as a chance to add another starting RB on a squad that is a power running team. I don’t see Larry screwing up the chemistry on this team because he will probably be on his best behavior, ala WR Terrell Owens. And I love Marvin Lewis, but I’m not buying his explanation that Larry will be the 4th RB if brought to Cincinnati. Really? If Larry would be the 4th RB, why not bring in Dede Dorsey, Kenny Watson, or any other guy that can play that role. Larry Johnson isn’t going to be running down on kickoffs, or blocking on punt returns. Marvin has to say that out of respect for the RB’s on the roster now and LJ isn’t signed at this point.

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Johnson signing is strange
P-Doc, Enquirer
It’s too soon to say whether signing Larry Johnson is good or bad for the Cincinnati Bengals. It’s just strange. Marvin Lewis has spent a couple years removing problem children from his locker room. The room is for grown-ups now. Where does Larry Johnson sit? Why do the 7-2, first-place-and-rolling Bengals still need to be the home office for career rehabilitation? It’s a business, not a halfway house. Once you’ve cured the headache, you don’t look for the nearest wall to slam. At least in other NFL places.

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Embattled tailback Johnson aims to move forward
CBS Sports
When Bengals coach Marvin Lewis doesn't want you around, he's not shy about making his feelings known -- even if team owner Mike Brown is intent on, in his own words, redeeming a fallen player. Ask wide receiver Chris Henry, who's stayed out of trouble since rejoining the team in Week 5 of 2008 but who often disappeared from the game plan this year before an arm injury ended his season. Ask fullback Jeremi Johnson, who was buried on the depth chart by Lewis to start this season after making a habit of showing up to training camp overweight.

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Joey Galloway had a tryout with Bengals yesterday...Adam Schefter of ESPN reports the Bengals worked out the former Patriot/Buc/Cowboy/Seahawk on Tuesday, in addition to safety Mike Doss and defensive tackle Ed Johnson. The Bengals have replaced Chris Henry from within to this point, but Galloway could be an option down the line if the team feels it needs another vertical threat.

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No joke, Bengals are serious contenders
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports
Crazy. Nuts. Stupid. Typical Prisco. I know that's what many of you said, and it's what many of my colleagues said, when I picked the Cincinnati Bengals to make the playoffs. But in the past few weeks, I'd be a rich man -- OK, I would be able to buy a nice tuna sandwich -- if I had a dollar for every time I've heard this: "When you picked the Bengals, I laughed. I guess you were right." Halfway home, I might be. We've seen teams fall apart in the second half of a season -- especially teams like the Bengals, who have had a dark cloud following the franchise for years. But I'm starting to get the idea this is a different Cincinnati Bengals team.

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Rest easy, Bengals fans
Ludwig at Large
Rest easy, Bengals fans. I command you to relax and chill over the Cincinnati Bengals’ signing of ex-Chiefs tailaback Larry Johnson on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009. And, please, don’t lose any sleep over it. I guarantee — right here, right now — that the Bengals’ fifth Johnson will not be a disruption or a distraction on the glory road to Super Bowl XLIV in South Florida. The seventh-year veteran from Penn State will not step out of line, get in trouble, make waves or moan and groan about his limited role with this year’s AFC champion Bengals.

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Bernard Scott up for weekly award....Bengals HB Bernard Scott is among five finalists for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week honors for games played Nov. 12-16, the NFL announced today. Fan voting will determine the winner, and fans can vote for one of the finalists on NFL.com/rookies through Friday at noon. The winner will be announced Friday evening on NFL.com/rookies.

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Scott won't run from troubled past
Gregg Doyel, CBS Sports
Bernard Scott knows what he did. He returned a kickoff 96 electric yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, and then he filled in capably for injured tailback Cedric Benson, and at the end of the game the Cincinnati Bengals were in first place in the AFC North ... and Bernard Scott was an anonymous sixth-round draft pick no more. And that's not necessarily in his best interest. See, Bernard Scott has a past, and it's not the greatest of pasts, and now that he has outed himself as a fabulous football talent, people will start digging into that past. They'll wonder who he is, where he came from, how come he's so old (25) for a rookie.

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AFC North Stock Watch
ESPN.com

Rising

1. Bengals defense: The very underrated Cincinnati defense registered four sacks, one interception and held Pittsburgh to 226 yards of total offense. The Bengals controlled the pace of the game through their defense, which continues to surprise opponents with physical play. Cincinnati also was money in the red zone. The Bengals made big play after big play to keep the Steelers out the end zone and hold the defending champs to field goals. That kept the game within reach on the road as the Bengals eventually pulled away.

3. Bernard Scott, Bengals tailback: In a big game between two division rivals, you had a sense that a surprise player would step up and make a huge difference. And that player was Scott. Not only did Scott fill in for injured running back Cedric Benson (hip) in the second half, but his 96-yard kickoff return turned out to be the only touchdown Sunday. With Benson’s status unclear for this week, Scott may get more opportunities with the Bengals.

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Bengals making plenty of roster moves...in addition to the signing of Larry Johnson, they've done the following:

- Terminated the contract of wide receiver Antonio Chatman, releasing him to free agency. Chatman was released from the Reserve/Injured list. A seventh-year NFL player, Chatman opened the 2009 preseason with the Bengals but suffered an ankle injury in practice on Aug. 7. He was placed Sept. 5 on Reserve/Injured and has completed his rehab.

- Terminated the contract of tight end Ben Utecht, releasing him to free agency. Utecht was released from the Reserve/Injured list. A fifth-year NFL player, Utecht opened the 2009 preseason with the Bengals but suffered a concussion in practice on Aug. 5. He was placed Aug. 31 on Reserve/Injured and has completed his rehab.

- Signed safety Brannon Condren to the practice squad. Condren (6-1, 205; Troy) is a third-year NFL player. He opened 2009 with Indianapolis, but was waived on July 29. A fourth-round draft choice of Indianapolis in 2007, he played in eight games for the Colts that season, with two tackles, a pass defensed and four special teams tackles. He was waived by the Colts on Aug. 30, 2008. Later in ’08, he was inactive for four games with St. Louis and played in four games for Miami, with three special teams tackles.

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AFC North Power Rankings
James Walker, ESPN.com

Cincinnati Bengals (7-2)
Last week: No. 4
Current ranking: No. 4
Analysis: Cincinnati continued to shock the NFL with another huge win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, but it didn’t help much in the Power Rankings. Movement is very difficult at the top as the Bengals remained solid at No. 4. The panel got this one right. You cannot move Cincinnati ahead of the top three teams in the Minnesota Vikings and undefeated New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts. The Bengals have a chance to pad their record over the next few weeks with easy games and will have to wait for one of these top three teams to fall off.

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3)
Last week: No. 5
Current ranking: No. 6
Analysis: After a respectable, hard-fought loss to a top five team in the Power Rankings, the Steelers dropped just one spot to No. 6. Similar to the Bengals, Pittsburgh’s schedule eases up over the next several weeks. The Steelers should have their way with the Kansas City Chiefs this week. But Troy Polamalu’s injury status will have a huge impact on this team’s potential if he is out longer than a game or two. The Steelers just aren’t the same team when he’s not on the defense.

Baltimore Ravens (5-4)
Last week: No. 14
Current ranking: No. 11
Analysis: Who knew a win over the lowly Cleveland Browns could do so much? The Ravens moved up three spots to No. 11 and continue to be one of the most schizophrenic teams in ESPN.com's Power Rankings. It’s been hard to get a read on this team all season due to their streaky and inconsistent play. Baltimore played an average game Monday and still manhandled Cleveland. But the team will have to play a lot better to have a shot this weekend at knocking off the undefeated Colts.

Cleveland Browns (1-8)
Last week: No. 32
Current ranking: No. 32
Analysis: There is no doubt the Browns are currently the worst team in the NFL. It’s been that way for several weeks, but it took previously winless teams to get its first victory of the season for our panel to take notice. Cleveland’s offense is hard to watch. I’m not sure what its trying to accomplish most weeks than to run out the clock. The defense is OK, but it gets worn out too quickly and can’t put together four good quarters. This could be an ugly final seven games in Cleveland.

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Charlie Weis says he doesn't think his future has been decided...."Oh no, I don't think that any decision's been made because I probably would know, and I don't know," Weis said Tuesday. "With that being said, it's full speed ahead to UConn, full speed ahead to Stanford and full speed ahead to recruiting. That's exactly the way we're approaching it."

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Cronin places gag order on freshmen....Under a new policy instituted this year by UC head coach Mick Cronin, neither Stephenson nor fellow freshmen Sean Kilpatrick and Jaquon Parker are allowed to talk to the media.

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Congrats to the Cyclones....The Cincinnati Cyclones set a club record for regular season weekday attendance, drawing 8944 for the ‘Ohio Lottery presents Education In Hockey Day’ game played this morning. The previous regular season weekday attendance record of 6211 was set in a 2-1 shootout win over Idaho on Wednesday, February 18, 2004 during a ‘NASCAR Night’ promotion. The club also takes over the ECHL lead for average attendance with today’s crowd. The 8944 is the largest regular season weekday attendance in the ECHL in at least ten years. The biggest weekday attendance in 2008-09 was 8115 for Stockton at Ontario on March 18, 2009. The biggest during the three seasons (2006-07 to present) that the Cyclones have returned to ECHL play was 8661 set when Las Vegas visited Bakersfield on November 14, 2007.

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Speaking of the Clones, they won yesterday morning
Official Release
<blockquote>The Cincinnati Cyclones used a two goal performance from Scott Reynolds to pace the club to a 3-1 win over the Trenton Devils on Tuesday morning. The win snapped a three game winless streak (0-2-1) for the club.

The contest was the annual ‘Ohio Lottery presents Education In Hockey Day’ event with a crowd of 8944. It was the fourth-largest regular season crowd and biggest weekday regular season attendance in team history. It was also the biggest regular season weekday crowd in the ECHL in at least ten seasons. Cincinnati now leads the ECHL in attendance, averaging 6653 per game.

The EIHD program utilizes the 16 college educated players on the Cyclones roster teaching math, science, geography and physical education elements to students in the Tri-State area. Pupils from the second through twelfth grade were on hand, a total of 76 schools and nearly 9000 students attended.

The Cyclones took Trenton to school early, as Matt Pierce tipped home a Jason Jozsa shot from the right point. Pierce’s tenth goal of the season was also assisted by rookie Brett Robinson. Trenton evened the score at one when Kyle Kucharski converted a two-on-one break with a shot just inside the right post for his fifth score of the campaign. Tim Kunes and Andy Thomas had the assists. Cincinnati regained the lead when Scott Reynolds tallied his fifth lamplighter at 6:14. Dustin Sproat and former Devil Mark O’Leary had the helpers. The shots on goal favored the Cyclones, 9-6, in the opening frame.

The second period finished scoreless, but Cincinnati had chances. The Cyclones had four minutes of five-on-three power play time after a major penalty and a pair of minors in a scrum near the Trenton goal. All told, Cincinnati had four power plays and nine minutes of man-advantage time—but was unable to score. Devils netminder Dave Caruso stopped all 14 shots he faced in the stanza. The Cyclones outshot Trenton, 14-9.

Reynolds’ second goal of the afternoon and sixth of the season came on the power play at 3:26. Pierce and Sproat handed out the assists on the score. The shots once again favored the Cyclones, 10-8. For the game Cincinnati held the upper hand in shots, 33-17.
Jeremy Smith picked up the win, his fourth of the year—stopping 16 shots. Dave Caruso was pinned with the loss despite stopping 30 shots. Cincinnati was one for twelve on the power play, while Trenton was one for four with the extra attacker.

Cincinnati is now 6-5-1, while Trenton is 5-6-3. Cincinnati and the Devils meet again tomorrow night (November 18) at 7:30pm, also at U.S. Bank Arena. The game can be heard on the internet at: www.cycloneshockey.com.</blockquote>

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Just another reason I'm proud to be a Miami RedHawks alum: Charlie Coles....when asked by "How did this one get away from you?" Coles responded with this:

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The Bengal-Mobile....now I'm not exactly a ladies man, but I'm guessing this isn't gonna help you pick up chicks...just a guess...

hat tip to Alex in Indy for the photos

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Hump Day = Kayleigh Pearson

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Wednesday Food Porn...introducing The Toaster Orgy

A toaster strudel topped with cream cheese, strawberry jelly, butter and Aunt Jemima syrup sandwiched between two waffles, all covered in strawberry cream cheese and more syrup.

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WalMart is like the Ellis Island of shopping....they welcome all kinds....

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WTF of the day....damn you spandex, damn you!!...

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Jerry Jones likes his booze....

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Coolest transformation you'll see today...

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hat tip to Sloanie at OneQuickBeer.com for the video

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Thinking about growing a mustache? This flowchart will help...
Maxim

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FAIL of the day....

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One less reason to watch House....

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Today's Definition of Duh.....Anthony Carrazco, 19, practically arrested himself after he was going door-to-door attempting to sell weed, but he knocked on the wrong door. Police say Carrazco had a gun, marijuana and went up to a police officer's front door and asked him if he wanted to buy some weed. They say Carrazco even had his own scale.

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