Bengals turnaround has been a long time coming
Charlie Casserly, CBS Sports
The Bengals stand one miracle play away from being 3-0. To those who have not seen them play, that might seem shocking. But the Bengals are a much improved team from last year. My colleague Bill Cowher said to look out for the Bengals on The NFL Today Show last season. I asked Bengals coach Marvin Lewis what his plans were to turn the team around this year. He said it started at the end of last season. With three games to go, they decided to make it a three-game season. He said they picked out some areas they wanted to improve during that span.

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Run and Resolve
Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com
Bratkowski doesn’t want to talk about past teams, but that had certainly been the knock on head coach Marvin Lewis’ best teams, the 2005-2007 editions that were 9-10 in games decided by seven points or less. They folded at the first whiff and sight of adversity. "All I know that this group, I’m not talking about years past and all that stuff, is a really mentally tough group that rarely flinches in the face of adversity," he said.

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AFC North Power Rankings
James Walker, ESPN.com

Baltimore Ravens (3-0)
Power ranking: No. 1
Last week: No. 1
Walker’s take: Although last week’s top ranking was a surprise, keeping the Ravens at No. 1 this week was a no-brainer after Baltimore’s 34-3 thrashing of the Cleveland Browns. The Ravens are extremely dangerous because they can beat you in so many ways. Against the Browns, Baltimore had four interceptions and another big passing day from quarterback Joe Flacco. Here is a cool power rankings fact: Every week this season an AFC North team has held the No. 1 ranking. That’s a nice win for the division.

Cincinnati Bengals (2-1)
Power ranking: No. 11
Last week: No. 24
Walker’s take: Last week the Ravens jumped a whopping nine spots. This week the Bengals jumped an amazing 13 spots after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers. When it comes to the AFC North, the power rankings are more fickle than the stock market. This is probably further proof that Cincinnati has been underrated in these rankings all offseason. Not to pat myself on the back, but I’ve tried to tell people about the Bengals’ sleeper potential since April when no one was paying attention. I’m sure "Bengaldom" may have some issues with the Green Bay Packers rated one spot higher. So send your complaints to the aforementioned people above.

Pittsburgh Steelers (1-2)
Power ranking: No. 16
Last week: No. 6
Walker’s take: The Steelers are steadily dropping down the rankings after blowing back-to-back leads in the fourth quarter. Two weeks ago Pittsburgh was the top team in ESPN.com’s power rankings. Tuesday the Steelers came in at No. 16. Are there 15 teams better than the defending champions this year? I doubt it. But Pittsburgh will have to start winning these close games if it wants to climb back up the rankings. The Steelers have a big matchup Sunday against the San Diego Chargers (2-1).

Cleveland Browns (0-3)
Power ranking: No. 29
Last week: No. 29
Walker’s take: I’m somewhat surprised the Browns didn’t drop this week after a third consecutive blowout. Cleveland is currently rated ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and St. Louis Rams, which are all struggling teams in their own right. But a strong case can be made that Cleveland has played worse football the past three weeks than all of these teams. Expect the Browns to be near the bottom of the power rankings for a while. There are just too many problems internally on and off the field that need to be cleaned up.

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Stat of the day....Eight of WR Andre Caldwell's 14 catches for the Bengals this season have come in the fourth quarter.

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Bengals Week 3 Report Card
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports

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AFC North Stock Watch
ESPN.com

Rising

2. Carson Palmer, Bengals quarterback
Forget about overall statistics. To look the vaunted Steelers defense in the eyes and drive the Bengals down the field 71 yards for the game-winning touchdown deserves to have Palmer on this week’s Stock Watch. Overall Palmer threw for just 183 yards and a touchdown. But he got most of his yards during the Bengals’ two touchdown drives in the final period. The last drive took 16 plays and two fourth-down conversions on the part of Palmer. The performance ended a five-game losing against the Steelers in dramatic fashion.

3. Johnathan Joseph, Bengals cornerback
Before Palmer’s heroics, the first player to spark Cincinnati in the second half was starting cornerback Johnathan Joseph. He recorded a 30-yard interception return of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to score Cincinnati’s first touchdown of the game. From there momentum followed. Joseph also recorded six tackles and a pass defense, while battling with Steelers receivers Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes all game.

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Jury's Still Out on Bengals
SI.com

Cincinnati Bengals (2-1) -- Yes, I know the Bengals are a play away from being 3-0 and the talk of the NFL. But they're also a play away from being 1-2 and in third place in their division, were it not for that stirring Carson Palmer-led, 16-play, game-winning touchdown drive against the Steelers. The Bengals are clearly better than they've been since 2005. But sustaining their momentum is now the next test. If Cincy really has grown up, it'll dispatch the woeful Browns in Cleveland this week without any messing around.

- Early season playoff potential - Easy there, Bengals fans. Knocking off the Steelers at home was a great first step. But a trip to Baltimore looms in Week 5.

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Reds still seeking 1999 magic
Rory Glynn, Enquirer
They were the captain and The Mayor, a scrappy bulldog for an ace and a stingy bullpen behind him. They were Dmitri, Cammy and Pokey. Ten years ago this weekend, they came within one of their newly-permissible whiskers of making the playoffs. They were the 1999 Reds, a bargain $33 million collection of exuberant overachievers, Cincinnati’s last boys of summer to capture the city’s dreams of autumn. They were the last Reds team to arrive at the season’s final series with their fate in their own hands, the power theirs alone to take their season beyond memorable to magical.

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While Ochocinco seems to be happy and productive....T.O. is blaming the media for his routine....

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UC vs. Miami is about rivalry, not rankings
Bill Koch, Enquirer
When the two teams meet again Saturday afternoon at Miami’s Yager Stadium, the UC program will be at its peak, having achieved its first Top 10 ranking and coming off a Big East championship, while the RedHawks (0-4) are at one of their lowest points in years, though they still lead the series, 59-47-7. On paper, this could be the biggest mismatch in the history of the series.

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College Football Power Rankings
SI.com

7. Cincinnati Bearcats (4-0)
Linebacker Andre Revels and company have proven in the past two weeks that they can win even if the offense isn't blasting down the field every possession. Saturday, Cincinnati's defense stayed on the field for 43 minutes, 42 seconds, or roughly the length of the average television drama with the commercials removed.

Last game: Beat Fresno State, 28-20
Next game: Saturday at Miami (Ohio)

9. Ohio State Buckeyes (3-1)
The Buckeyes should be the biggest Golden Bears fans in the country. As long as USC also has only one loss, common sense dictates that the Trojans -- who beat Ohio State in the Horseshoe -- deserve a higher ranking. Fortunately for the Buckeyes, the coaches' and Harris Interactive polls don't require common sense.

Last game: Beat Illinois, 30-0
Next game: Saturday at Indiana

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Football at Yankee Stadium??....The Big East has a press conference scheduled for tomorrow morning at which the league is expected to announce that it will be part of a new bowl game to be played at the new Yankee Stadium beginning in 2010 against the Big 12 Conference.

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Selig should come here
P-Doc, Enquirer
Here’s what the commissioner should do. Here’s a plea from a concerned fish-wrap hack, who isn’t what you’d call comfortable: Come to Cincinnati this weekend. Take in a game. Reds-Pirates, for the Class AAAA championship of the world. Buy some peanuts and Cracker Jack. Soak up the local competitive balance.

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Fantasy Football Wednesday....

- Limus Sweed and Rashard Mendenhall owners....beware...

- Tyler Thigpen now a Miami Dolphin....

- More trouble for Dallas RB's....now Felix Jones could miss time....

- Frank Gore out 3 weeks....

Top 10 Wavier Claims for Week 4
Fox Sports

9. Andre Caldwell, WR, Cincinnati - Surprisingly, second-year wideout Andre Caldwell is tied for the team lead in receptions (14) with Chad Ochocinco. He also scored the game-winning touchdown against Pittsburgh, and has led the Bengals in receptions for two of the first three contests.

6. Cincinnati defense - Helped by Antwan Odom's five sacks against Green Bay in Week 2, the Bengals are among the league leaders with 10 sacks. On the other hand, Cincinnati's next opponent, Cleveland, has allowed the NFL's second-most sacks (11). If the Bengals can continue to put great pressure on the quarterback, they will force Cleveland into frequent turnovers. The Browns already have allowed one of the league's most giveways (9). Of note, Cincinnati can serve as a bye-week replacement for these resting teams in Week 4: Arizona, Atlanta, Carolina or Philadelphia.

Week 4 Fantasy vs. Reality
CBS Sports

Fantasy: No way Kevin Kolb throws for 300 yards again. For the second week in a row, Kolb proved that he can be a solid West Coast offense quarterback and lead the Eagles in place of Donovan McNabb. He's got a nice, quick release, but the key to his big stats has been the play of DeSean Jackson and Brent Celek, both of whom have contributed heavily to Kolb's stat line. McNabb owners have to love seeing this because when the veteran gets back in there from a broken rib, he'll be in line to have totals like Kolb.

Reality: It's hard to count on Tony Gonzalez against Bill Belichick. Not only did we talk about it before Week 3, but it was dissected after the game: Belichick has a standard plan for defending against Gonzalez, and it probably extends to other elite tight ends. Gonzo was targeted just two times in a game where the Falcons had a hard time throwing the ball, period.

Fantasy: The Texans will be involved in a lot of close, low-scoring games. In what might be a very positive development for Fantasy owners, Houston's defense is worse than expected. But Houston's offense continues to flourish. Combine the two, and you'll have a lot of high-scoring games. The Texans have allowed at least 24 points per game this season and Matt Schaub has thrown at least three touchdowns in his last two contests. Expect the Texans to be the favorite team of Fantasy owners seeing as how everyone they start -- and play against -- will be worth a look each week. And yes, that does apply to Darren McFadden for Week 4 when the Raiders visit H-town.

Reality: Joe Flacco is a No. 1 Fantasy quarterback. Hats off to the Fantasy folks who wrote in last week telling me I was a nut bar for continuing to underestimate Flacco's game. I've learned my lesson after his 342-yard, one-touchdown performance over the Browns. The Patriots get a crack at him next week and I'm interested to see how they defend against this Ravens offense, which is running the ball just about as well as anyone right now (4.7 yards per carry average for the team).

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Hump Day = Michelle McCurry

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Wednesday Food Porn...The Widowmaker...

1.5 lbs of ground beef, 1 package of bacon, 1 package of italian sausage, 1 box of hot pockets, 1/2 package of fried onion strips between 2 Tombstone Pepperoni Pizzas topped with Velveta Cheese and Marinara Sauce.

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7 Beers to Try Before You Die
COED Magazine

6. Shiner Bohemian Black Lager, Spoetzl Brewery, Texas
Back when I first got into trying out new beers, I foolishly wrote off lagers since I’d been accustomed to Bud Light, Coors, etc. However, it is more than possible for someone to make a great lager, and the Shiner Bohemian Black Lager was one that brought me to that realization. This beer pours a dark brown with a nice foamy head. You’d never guess it was a lager looking at it. Its got a rich, roast flavor, and finishes about as clean as any light lager so many of us are used to drinking. This is a very easy to find beer, so make sure you pick up a sixer (or more).

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Conan O'Brien suffers a concussion chasing around Terri Hatcher in a wetsuit....

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Best SNL Characters of the 1990's
Ice Ice Babies

Matt Foley
“I live in a VAN down by the RIVER!”
Matt Foley was a spectacular trainwreck to watch. He was clumsy, obnoxious, and down on his luck - the polar opposite of a motivational speaker. I loved when he would get all pumped up while trying to illustrate a point in his story with exaggerated gestures and then end up destroying a piece of furniture in the process. Although his speeches would backfire, they were successful in that no one wanted to end up like him, thrice divorced and living in a van down by the river.

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25 Awesome Dirty Car Window Drawings
Holy Taco

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Just another reason why you should be watching hockey....

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At this rate, I'm gonna have a lot of Calendars under the Christmas Tree this year...

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I could also use one of these electronic Foosball tables...

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FAIL of the day....

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Today's Definition of Duh....If you are going to have a snack attack when being pulled over at least wipe the marijuana from your mouth before the officer gets to the car.

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Carson's cardiac kids
Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com
Marvin Lewis is a Pittsburgh guy. A stubborn, strong, single-minded grinder. So naturally in his 100th game as Bengals head coach his team gave the Pittsburgh native his first Paul Brown Stadium victory over the Steelers in seven seasons with a Pittsburgh victory of perseverance, toughness and good old-fashioned grinding that stunned the Super Bowl champions with a fourth-quarter rally that is becoming a way of life for Comeback Carson Palmer and his Cardiac Kids.

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Bengals thriving as cardiac kids
James Walker, ESPN.com
Palmer says being the latest version of the cardiac kids is a blast when things go right, such as they did late in wins over Pittsburgh and Green Bay. But it also hurts tremendously when last-second breaks cause you to lose the game like it did against Denver. Cincinnati’s next step in its maturity is not to put the team in those positions late in games. Despite a solid 2-1 record, the Bengals haven’t put together four complete, efficient quarters of football this year.

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AFC North Up For Grabs
John Thornton, AllProBlogger.com
Before anyone makes any postseason plans, we have to remember how long the season is. Players and coaches are quick to say that its a marathon, not a sprint. Each team in the AFC North is strong in some areas and weak in others. So all four teams will have to bring it each and every week. The Ravens are not as good as their 3-0 record and they could be 2-1, and the Browns ARE as bad as their 0-3 record. The Bengals could be 3-0, as everyone keeps saying, or the Bengals could also easily be 1-2. The Steelers could be 3-0 with the three close games that they have had, and they could also be 0-3. So that tells me that health and consistent play from defenses will go a long way in deciding the AFC North.

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Bengals target inconsistency
Joe Reedy, Enquirer
During Monday’s press conference, coach Marvin Lewis pointed out inconsistencies on defense and uneven play in special teams as areas of concern following a 23-20 come-from-behind win over the Steelers.
"Obviously there’s a lot of correction to be made," Lewis said. "Defensively we didn’t play very well across the board almost to a man, or good enough, all the time consistently. But we made some plays there to get the ball back, stopped them on the third downs in the second half and then in the fourth quarter there to make the plays offensively."

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Bengals earn contender status....Much of the pain from nearly two decades filled with losing and heartache was washed away for Cincinnati on Sunday when the Bengals pulled off a thrilling, 23-20 victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. The joy permeated throughout the Bengals’ locker room. Players who talked for months -- whether it was on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” or through the media -- about believing in the team finally put together tangible evidence on the field. Cincinnati overcame an 11-point deficit to the usually efficient Steelers in the fourth quarter. With Pittsburgh’s long history of closing out games and the Bengals’ history of losing, the outlook was bleak for the home team. But these aren’t your father’s Bengals.

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Caldwell emerging at WR....The second-year receiver worked out with Carson Palmer during the offseason and built a great rapport. That has continued into the regular season as the two have hooked up often on late scoring drives. In Sunday’s 23-20 win over the Steelers, Caldwell had three catches for 21 yards, including a four-yard strike from Palmer with 14 seconds left for his first NFL touchdown.

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History shouldn't repeat itself....The Bengals were coming off a huge win at Paul Brown Stadium to open the season in a Monday nighter, a 27-20 victory over AFC North rival Baltimore in what remains one of their most intense and hard-hitting games under Lewis fueled by a last-minute goal-line stand. Anderson then stunned the Bengals with five touchdown passes and 328 yards in Cleveland’s shocking 51-45 win that sent the Bengals into a four-game losing streak and basically knocked them out of contention.

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Could it be? Could it possibly be? Could the Steelers actually respect the Bengals?
Peter King, SI.com
Time will tell if Cincinnati deserves it. But it was interesting after the Bengals pulled the 23-20 stunner at home -- breaking an eight-game home losing streak to the Steelers - to hear Ben Roethlisberger say: "Tough loss for us. Tough divisional fight.'' Tough divisional fight - those words have been reserved for games with the Ravens, not the Bengals or Browns.

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Bengals / United way combined for a great cause....The Bengals announced Monday that the partnership with the United Way of Greater Cincinnati to sell out the Bengals’ opening game on Sun., Sept. 13 against the Denver Broncos at Paul Brown Stadium resulted in a contribution to United Way of $36,890.

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Miami Hockey ranked #1 in preseason poll....Following a berth in the NCAA Division I National Championship game, Miami will enter the 2009-10 season with the preseason No. 1 ranking in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Men's College Hockey Poll. The RedHawks collected 457 points, including four first-place votes, to claim the top spot.

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Congrats to Mardy Gilyard.....University of Cincinnati wide receiver Mardy Gilyard was named the BIG EAST Conference Offensive Player of the Week for the week ending Sept. 26, the league office announced Monday. Gilyard hauled in nine catches for a career-best 177 yards and two touchdowns in UC's 28-20 win over Fresno State at Nippert Stadium on Saturday. He finished with 226 all-purpose yards and had touchdown receptions of 11 and 23 yards from quarterback Tony Pike to lead a Bearcats offense that was on the field for just 16:18.

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UC wideouts make impact in different ways
GoBearcats.com

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Congrats to Joey Votto....Reds first baseman Joey Votto's sizzling week, during which he hit .560 to lead the league, has earned him honors as the National League Player of the Week presented by Bank of America for the period ending Sept. 27. Votto went 14-for-25 for streaking Cincinnati, with 10 of the hits doubles. That put him in position to also lead the NL with a slugging percentage of 1.080.

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New spring training complex impresses Jocketty
Mark Sheldon, Reds.com
Reds prospects broke in the new $23 million complex last week, taking the field for fall instructional league workouts. After planning and construction were completed over nearly a year and a half, Jocketty was on hand to see the finished product for himself.

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Xavier / Gonzaga series is officially a go....Xavier will be playing Gonzaga in a home-and-home series beginning in 2010 at Gonzaga. School officials just finalized the two-year contract. This is a huge deal for several reasons. One, some former XU coaches were reluctant to make the cross-country journey and, two, XU obviously doesn't recruit in the Pacific Northwest. But this sets up a great showdown that TV will probably scoop up and thus draw a much larger audience. Gonzaga, the Cinderella-turned-Top 25 contender, will be a great litmus test for the Muskies. It's a great get for the regular season.

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Fantasy Football Tuesday....

- Chad Pennington is likely out for the year.....

- Frank Gore could be out for 2 weeks....

- Start of the Week result: Trent Edwards grossly disappointed with 156 yards passing, no touchdowns and an interception off a tipped pass. When punter Brian Moorman has more Fantasy points than you, you know you didn't do well. One reason for the poor results: Terrell Owens had no catches and Lee Evans had four for just 31 yards. The Saints defense deserves credit for pressuring Edwards, who overthrew receivers on several passes and wasn't confident to throw deep very often.

- Sit of the Week result: Chris Johnson was worth nine Fantasy points in a standard-scoring league thanks to his 97-yard performance against the Jets. For a guy taken in the first round of most Fantasy drafts, that's a disappointing stat line. At least 21 running backs were better than Johnson this week with four others tied with him in Fantasy points in standard-scoring leagues. Other than a few carries here and there, Rex Ryan's defense effectively stopped Johnson for the third time in two seasons.

- Insane stat line of the day: Brett Favre might be an indecisive, tattered 40-year-old grizzly quarterback, but he's an indecisive, tattered 40-year-old grizzly quarterback who can still throw for over 300 yards with two touchdowns and lead improbable comeback drives. Favre's 32-yard touchdown pass to Greg Lewis, who made an incredible tiptoe catch in the back of the end zone, saved the Vikings from falling to 2-1 and gave them a win over a very good 49ers defense. And here's a stat that counts for diddly in Fantasy, but big in the NFL's annals: Favre now has 42 comebacks from fourth-quarter deficits or ties in his career.

Week 3 Fantasy Leaders

QB's

RB's

WR's

TE's

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Tuesday Time Vampire....Kelly Branningan

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Tuesday Food Porn...introducing the Swisswitch A La Mode

Nestle tollhouse cookie ice cream sandwiches stuffed with Swiss Rolls and Nutella, smothered in hot fudge.

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Ozzie Guillen gets pissed at his players for watching college football in the clubhouse on Saturday...."[Do] they think the season's over for them? Yes. If they think the season's over for me, no. And I'm going to make it clear. It's a bunch of [bleeps] out there watching football games like a piece of [bleep] with no pride the way they [bleep] play, and that's embarrassing.

.....Chicago is 16.5 game out of the wildcard lead.

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FAIL of the day....and the parent of the year award winner goes to...

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Need another reason to watch Entourage? You shouldn't...but just in case, here's Jana Kramer...

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Best motivational poster you'll see today...

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How not to pass a sobriety test....

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100 (in)famous Viral Videos in 4 Minutes...

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Bengals rally to win a wild one at PBS, 23-20.....

- WOW....what can you say about that finish but WOW. After a 3 quarters of practically nothing from the Bengals offense, they were able to come back to complete one of the most exciting comebacks I've ever witnessed. And to do it against the Steelers, on your turf, for the first time in 8 years....that's just leaves you feeling great. MAN IT FEELS GOOD TO BEAT THE STEELERS....WHO DEY!!!!

THE GOOD:

- The grittiness of the Carson and company in that final drive was very impressive. For the second straight week, when faced with the task of driving nearly the length of the field to stave off a loss, they were able to take care of business.

- As Ochocinco said after the game..."Nobody quit and everyone in the country got a chance to see it." And there were MANY times where they could have just thrown in the towel...and didn't.

- Andre Caldwell continues to make plays and find open space on the field. He's starting to earn his stripes...no pun intended. He came up with 4 catches in that final drive...including the game winner.

- Rey Maualuga left the game briefly after hurting his knee and left the field with a serious limp...yet was back on the field within minutes. That's the kind of toughness that he brings to that defense and I'll bet you it's contagious.

- Brian Leonard made some great plays when he touched the ball...including the game saving catch and run on 4th and relatively long. He's elusive, yet powerful...and certainly a good compliment to Cedric Benson.

- Have anything to add? Email me

THE BAD:

- The offensive play calling throughout the 1st half and much of the 3rd quarter was atrocious. I'm not saying that you can put it all on Bob Bratkowski, because the players gotta go out and execute....but when you're 3rd and short or 4th and short and you choose to throw a pass into the flat or toss a quick slant rount short of the 1st down marker, how are you ever gonna win?

- Chris Henry was basically invisible again....yet, when he was on the field, he made plays. I just don't understand why Marvin doesn't utilize him more often in their passing packages. You've gotta wonder if Marvin just doesn't like Henry....I mean, prior to re-signing Chris, Lewis was very clear that he doesn't have a place on his team. It's no secret that bringing him back was Mike Brown's idea....could benching Henry be his way of "sticking it" to the boss-man? Worth a thought at least.

- Special teams struggled...another bad snap for Brad St. Louis, a missed FG for Shayne (although it was a long one) give me reason to stay nervous...even on extra points. Gotta give credit to the punt team for converting the sneak on a critical 4th and short. That was solid. Overall, though, they can't afford to miss extra points and expect to win games.

- Have anything to add? Email me

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CBS' postgame wrap up...

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Palmer key to rejuvenated Bengals' path to playoffs
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports
It's no wonder receiver Chad Ochocinco insisted that the music he picked out had to be played over the speakers inside the locker room after the game, even though he was urged not to play it because interviews were going on. The song? Sam Cooke's A Change is Gonna Come. A line from that song that is repeated over and over again is this: It's been a long, long time coming. "You like the song?" Ochocinco asked anybody who walked by. "It fits today." It sure did. A change has come to the Bengals. They are legit, a real playoff threat.

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Bengals' rally beats Steelers
Joe Reedy, Enquirer
Following a heartbreaking loss to Denver, the Bengals have come back with two straight wins and remain a game behind Baltimore in the AFC North. Pittsburgh dropped its second straight to fall to 1-2. The win excised several losing streaks. It snapped a five-game skid to the Steelers and an eight-game losing streak to them at Paul Brown Stadium.

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Bengals end 8 years of suffering at home vs. Steelers
CBS Sports
Beating the Steelers at home was no small thing. Thousands of Steelers fans were sprinkled throughout the crowd of 64,538, waving their yellow towels almost nonstop as Pittsburgh dominated but repeatedly failed to take advantage of scoring chances. And, in the end, the defense failed to make a play to finish off the Bengals, reminiscent of the way Pittsburgh missed two second-half field goals in Chicago, then let the Bears pull out a 17-14 win on a field goal with 15 seconds left.

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Long time comin' for Bengals fans
P-Doc, Enquirer
The Bengals beat the Steelers Sunday, 23-20, with a final drive pretty enough to hang on a wall. Maybe it was just one game in a season barely begun. Or maybe it broke down some unseen, yet ever-present, psychic barrier that has blocked this franchise’s path out of purgatory for a very long time.

"This is a true turning point," Bobbie Williams declared.

"We’ll celebrate tonight," Carson Palmer allowed, "and forget it tomorrow."

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Changing of the guard in AFC North
ProFootballTalk.com
The Bengals looked tough and gritty and all of the things that ordinarily aren't associated with the team that generally has stunk in the 21 years since last making real noise. The game winning drive featured plenty of calm and poise, and it made the Steelers' defense seem old and slow and desperately in need of safety Troy Polamalu. This time around, it's too early to tell whether the Bengals are ready to leapfrog the Steelers. But the reality is that both teams are now chasing the team that is arguably the new king of the division. The Ravens. In two weeks, the Bengals get their shot at the bullies from Baltimore.

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Best T-Shirt you'll see today...

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Bearcats win again, taking down Fresno State 28-20.....Tony Pike was on the field just long enough to save No. 14 Cincinnati. Pike threw three touchdown passes in a quick-strike offense that was hardly on the field Saturday, and the Bearcats held on for a 28-20 victory over a Fresno State team that ran all over them for most of the game. One big gamble made the Bulldogs (1-3) come up empty.

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UC overcomes Fresno's keepaway
P-Doc, Enquirer
The visitors played Ultimate Keepaway. That was their plan: Limit Tony Pike’s effectiveness by limiting Tony Pike. UC’s offense couldn’t hit home runs from the dugout. Fresno State would take Cincinnati’s ball and go home. It might have worked, but for one very aware play by one very beleaguered defender. Craig Carey, the senior linebacker, dropped back when he was supposed to blitz, intercepted a pass and kept aloft the unbeaten Bearcats’ magic carpet for at least another week.

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UC climb to 10th in the country....highest ever for the Bearcats....

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Fast Facts on UC win over Fresno...

- Cincinnati improved to 4-0 for the second time in the last 55 seasons (first time since 2007) as it jumped out to a 14-3 lead and hung on.

- Tony Pike recorded his third 300-yard passing game this season, connecting with Marshwan Gilyard nine times for a career-high 177 yards and two TDs. It was Gilyard's sixth 100-yard receiving game in his last eight games dating back to last season and his sixth straight with a receiving TD.

- The win evened the Bearcats' all-time mark vs. current WAC schools at 18-18-2.

- Fresno State fell to 1-3 for the first time since 2006.

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Another shutout for Ohio State's defense....Dan Herron slogged through a downpour for two touchdowns Saturday and No. 13 Ohio State collected a second straight shutout for the first time in 13 years, beating mistake-prone Illinois 30-0. The Buckeyes (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten) and Terrelle Pryor had 0 yards passing in the first half and finished with just 82. He did throw a touchdown with 1:18 left. But Brandon Saine rushed for 81 yards on 13 carries and Herron had 75 on 14 attempts – scoring on runs of 4 and 2 yards – and the defense did the rest.

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In Buckeyes rout, Pryor still stalling
Sporting News
Maybe Tressel has grown to understand what so many see but won't say: A season and a third into his college career, Pryor shows his flaws as much as his flash. He's still figuring out the basics of playing quarterback at this level, still struggling to gain his coaches' trust as a pocket passer. Mostly, he's inconsistent, maybe the worst sin a Jim Tressel-coached player can commit.

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Did you see the hit on Tim Tebow??

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Reds coaching staff returning in 2010?
John Fay, Enquirer
Dusty Baker said the future of the coaching has not been discussed yet, but it sounds like he’s in favor of bringing them back. “Why not?” he said. “We’ve operated almost the entire year without the team that we expected to have.” Most susceptible when a team struggles are pitching and hitting coach. In the Reds case, that’s pitching coach Dick Pole and hitting Brook Jacoby. In Pole’s case, the Reds are seventh in the National League in ERA at 4.20. They finished 13th last year at 4.55. In Jacoby’s case, the Reds are 15th in the NL in batting average at .247. That’s the same average as last year.s" ever said.

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Monday's Hangover Cure....Ashley Gellar

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Monday Food Porn...introudcing Texas Benedict

Eggs benedict with poached eggs, bacon and fried chicken on homemade biscuits topped with Texas gravy.

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Marisa Miller in a bubble bath....that is all...

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FAIL of the day....

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8 Iconic TV Show Buildings that actually exist....

#8 Dunder Mifflin Building (The Office) - Located in Van Nuys, California, the Dunder Mifflin building does a very good job acting and looking like a building in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It's also the home of some of the greatest "that's what she said's" ever said.

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The 60 Hottest Women in Sports Movies

No. 54: Jenna Fischer - Blades of Glory
Question: When is a movie about male figure skaters okay to watch?
Answer: When it stars Will Ferrell and includes a scene with Jenna Fischer in lingerie. Glad I could clear that up.

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Fastest knockout you'll see today...

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WTF of the day....elephant's playing darts

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Now THIS is a solid Halloween decoration...

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The 15 Most Memorable Lines in Video Game History
Zikkir

12) "FINISH HIM!!!" – Mortal Kombat
Despite filling me with bloodlust for most of my adolescence, I did not grow up and murder a whole bunch of people by playing Mortal Kombat too much. Instead the only thing that’s stuck with me has been this line, telling me to do a Fatality that was way too damn hard to execute on the shi**yGenesis controller.

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Today's Definition of Duh....A prison which installed alcoholic hand gel dispensers to combat swine flu had to withdraw them within hours after a drunken fight between inmates.

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The Miracle of Beer

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FANTASY FOOTBALL SUNDAY....

WEEK 3 INACTIVES:

1pm GAMES

Cleveland at Baltimore

Washington at Detroit

Jacksonville at Houston

Atlanta at New England

Green Bay at St. Louis

NY Giants at Tampa Bay

Tennessee at NY Jets

Kansas City at Philadelphia

San Francisco at Minnesota

4pm GAMES

Pittsburgh at Cincinnati

New Orleans at Buffalo

Chicago at Seattle

Denver at Oakland

Miami at San Diego

Week 3 Start Em / Sit Em
James Morris, Bengals.com

START EM

Matt Schaub: Schaub put on a clinic last weekend as he threw for 357 yards and four TDs. The lack of a running game is forcing Schaub to pass more and he made better decisions last week, showing everyone that he can get it done.

Kevin Kolb: For just one more week Kevin Kolb will have value. The Chiefs head into Week 3 ranked 14th in pass defense with 201 YPG, but Kolb should light them up for 300+ yards and a couple more TDs. INTs are likely, but the yards and TDs will make up for it.

Maurice Jones-Drew: Who would have ever thought I would have to say to start MJD? In the first two games he has 163 rushing yards, 43 receiving yards and one TD, and that has many fantasy owners thinking if they should bench him. The good news is the Texans are dead last in rushing yards against with a 215 YPG average.

Matt Forte: Forte is in the same boat as Jones-Drew with fantasy owners. Bears coach Lovie Smith said Wednesday that the coaching staff "wants to get the running game going this week." Seattle is 26th for rushing yards against (166.5) and Forte is the feature back in Chicago.

Vincent Jackson: Jackson went off for six catches for 141 yards and a TD last weekend. This Sunday the Chargers match up against the Dolphins and their No. 23 ranked passing defense. Without LaDainian Tomlinson and a real running game, the Chargers are going to have to pass more often.

Devery Henderson: We all know the firepower that Drew Brees has at his disposal, but Henderson isn’t a name that jumps out to most fans. Look, 174 yards and a score is good enough to get my attention. Oh, did I mention that Lance Moore is dealing with a bum hamstring and Henderson should start opposite Marques Colston?

Dustin Keller: The Titans are dead last for passing yards against with 339 YPG, and Keller is looking every bit as good as Jason Witten did last year. Tight ends are very much all or nothing plays, but Keller should be a good bet to put up some numbers against a soft passing defense.

Washington Redskins Defense: The Redskins defense is not a good one, but this week they play the helpless Detroit Lions, and that is reason enough to add them as a rental.

SIT EM

Brett Favre: I don’t know why so many people are so high on Favre; he has done nothing to show such faith yet. I remember the days when 264 yards and three TDs was a single-game line, not a season line.

Matt Cassel: The Chiefs paid a lot of money for a guy that looks injury prone and has a sketchy supporting cast. Dwayne Bowe is every bit as good as Randy Moss, but the Chiefs have more problems than Cassel can overcome. Larry Johnson is near the end and Mark Bradley/Bobby Wade won’t scare anyone.

Marion Barber: Marion “The Barbarian” is trying to practice this week enough to play on Monday, but even if he does play it will be limited action. I would sit him until next week just in case the Cowboys decide not to risk further injury.

Thomas Jones: The Jets have the Titans this week and while they are dead last in passing defense, they rank No. 2 in rushing defense. Jones only has one reception for -1 yard this season, so he won’t be a factor in the passing game.

Brandon Marshall: The only reason I am even bothering to mention Marshall is because people keep asking me about trades involving him. Seriously people, it is time to trade him for whatever you can get. He is fantasy garbage at this point.

Devin Hester: Hester hasn’t been the star of the Bears passing game so far this season and he is starting to remind me a lot of Dante Hall. Johnny Knox and Earl Bennett look like better options than Hester and it is only a matter of time before the Bears realize that too.

Ben Watson: People got too hyper over the first week's stats from Watson. Don’t fall into that trap. Watson has never done what he was supposed to do and I won’t be starting him this weekend.

New York Jets Defense: The Titans can put points on the board and Chris Johnson is, well, Chris Johnson. The Jets are ranked No. 1 in total yards against at 241.0 YPG, but I think this is the week that bubble gets busted.

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Hines Ward better watch out....believe what you wanna believe, Keith Rivers is looking for payback...wouldn't you???

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3 keys for success against Pittsburgh
Chick Ludwig, DDN

- Turnover city - The Bengals are woefully lacking in this department. If they don’t force at least two turnovers and cut down on their penalties — they were flagged 13 times for 100 yards at Green Bay — Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will have plenty of success. Bengals cornerbacks Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph are doing a good job in coverage, allowing right defensive end Antwan Odom to generate an NFL-best seven sacks in two games. The coverage must stay the same, but the number of turnovers must change.

- Create mismatches - Part of LeBeau’s game plan is to take away Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco, who gets crowded by a corner, safety and linebacker. With Polamalu out, the Bengals need to attack his replacement, Tyrone Carter, who can’t match Polamalu’s talent, athleticism or playmaking ability. And if Ochocinco gets bracketed, then Chris Henry, Laveranues Coles and Andre Caldwell must step forward.

- Enough 'Ced’ - Tailback Cedric Benson (50 carries, 217 yards, 4.3 average, 1 TD) is off to a fast start, and must keep rolling against a physical, swarming Steelers defense. The Steelers’ defense has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 20 straight games. The key to snapping that string is the Bengals’ offensive line, which needs to clean up its physical and mental errors. The linemen have been too sloppy with their hand placement, triggering penalties. They must do a better job of moving their feet so they can get themselves in better position to block more crisply.

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I.Q. test for O-line
Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com
The last time the Bengals beat the ferocious Steelers defense, center Kyle Cook was second team All Big Ten. Right tackle Anthony Collins was playing at Kansas. The other right tackle, Dennis Roland, was on the Tampa Bay practice squad. Left guard Evan Mathis was playing in Carolina. Left tackle Andrew Whitworth was on the bench.

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Another prediction for Sunday's game
James Walker, ESPN.com

Analysis: The Steelers haven't lost in Cincinnati since 2001, and Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is undefeated in the state of Ohio. It’s hard to pass up those two trends.

Pick: Steelers, 23-20

Containing Ocho: Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco says he will make Pittsburgh's defensive backs "kiss the baby." But Ochocinco has had very few monster games against the Steelers in his career. It’s been six years since Cincinnati’s star receiver had a 100-yard performance against Pittsburgh. His last huge game came in 2003 when he recorded six receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown. The Steelers have taken the approach in the past of not letting Ochocinco beat them and rolled extra coverage his way. That has allowed other receivers, such as reserve Chris Henry, to put up decent numbers in the past but it usually amounted to overall team success for Pittsburgh.

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Yet another prediction....
Fox Sports

KEYS TO THE GAME: The Bengals found a good recipe against the Packers' 3-4 last Sunday: establish the run to take the sting out of the zone blitzing scheme and open up the passing game. The Steelers are allowing just 3.1 yards per carry, however, and are eager to turn up the dial on a meager pass rush to date. The defense is clearly missing the playmaking presence of SS Troy Polamalu. Offensively, the Steelers have thrown 78 passes against 45 runs. Not very Steeler-like, but coach Mike Tomlin claims he's not overly concerned about balance. Regardless, considering the Bengals' improved pass rush, Pittsburgh would like Willie Parker and/or Rashard Mendenhall to pump up the listless ground game.

PREDICTION: Steelers 28-21

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CBS' Phil Simms weighs in on Bengals / Steelers...."This is going to be a knock-down, drag-out game," said CBS analyst Phil Simms, who is calling Sunday’s game with Jim Nantz. "I think the Bengals are going to try to get into that mix with the Steelers and Ravens being that type of team, because that’s what you’ve got to be in this division. You have to learn to compete against them, and that’s what the Bengals are doing."

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Ochocinco to do Dancing with the Stars?.....Video director Matthew “Mac” Cherry, a former football player who was cut by the Bengals during training camp four years ago, says the show wants the wide receiver next season. The owner of Cherry Entertainment in Los Angeles says a producer talked to him about Ochocinco when Cherry attended ABC’s live “Dancing” results telecast Wednesday night in Hollywood.

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Breaking Down Bengals vs. Steelers
Sporting News Today

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Henry still nursing quad injury....Henry has been battling the nagging injury for four weeks. He said he felt something during warm-ups prior to the preseason game against St. Louis and has received daily treatment since then. "It’s coming along,” Henry said. “I hope it’s not going to be a season-long thing. I just have to stay on it. I’m not taking a week off. They told me if I just keep treating it like I do every day, two times a day if I have to, it will get better."

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UC gaining national attention
Bill Koch, Enquirer
One web site this week predicted that the University of Cincinnati football team will play Florida for the national championship. Earlier this week, a Sports Illustrated writer was in town to write about the surging Bearcats, while quarterback Tony Pike has been mentioned as a dark horse candidate for the Heisman Trophy. The 14th-ranked Bearcats (3-0) are starting to receive the national attention they’ve always craved. Now they have to learn to deal with it as if they’ve been in the spotlight forever.

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The NCAA's top backcourts in 2009-10
Fox Sports

17. Xavier
Backcourt: Jordan Crawford, Mark Lyons, Terrell Holloway, Dante Jackson, Brad Redford
Analysis: New coach Chris Mack has plenty of backcourt options, but we think it'll be the tandem of Crawford and Lyons that will eventually emerge. Both are athletic and have the ability to score and distribute.

hat tip to Matt for the link

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What if UC moved their basketball home games downtown?
Bill Koch, Enquirer
This is a new era, with UC now in the Big East and with its basketball program apparently having regained its footing after a tough post-Huggins transition. Would it work now if UC played downtown? On the plus side, the seating is better, especially in the upper levels. UC fans have long complained – with good reason- about the poor seating on the upper level of Fifth Third. But unless a renovation were done to U.S. Bank, many of the fans would be much farther from the action than they are at Fifth Third.

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UK vs. Florida scouting report
Lexington Herald Leader

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A return of Arena Football??....A news conference is planned Monday to announce the formation of a new league called Arena Football 1 with teams from the former AFL and arenafootball2 leagues.

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Babe of the Weekend....Heather Theissen

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Weekend Food Porn....introducing the Big Fat Ugly

A sandwich filled with four cheeseburgers, a double cheesesteak, a chicken cheesesteak, gyro meat, grilled chicken, bacon, sausage, mozzarella sticks, chicken fingers, chicken nuggets, mac n’ cheese bites, fried mushrooms, jalapeño poppers, pizza bites, onion rings, hash browns, American cheese, mayo, and ketchup on two rolls.

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FAIL of the weekend....

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They've got some crazies up there in Canada....The incident occurred after a practice altercation between six-foot-four 285-pound [Xzavie] Jackson and six-foot-four, 298-pound centre Aaron Fiacconi. No one intervened in the tussle. Jackson, who got the worst of it, flung off his practice jersey and headed off the field — returning with a shovel from behind some nearby dumpsters. Jackson’s shouts alerted head coach Richie Hall and general manager Danny Maciocia, who stopped him from entering the field at Clarke Park and talked him back down to reality before he was escorted to the dressing room by a team doctor.

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Hottest gymnast you'll see this weekend....Lacey Alexandra

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How West Texas A&M Cheerleaders warm up...

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The 10 Sexiest Babes from Dancing with the Stars
Manofest

#9 Julianne Hough

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When older people on Facebook don't understand how it works....hilarity ensues....

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Words That Sound Dirty But Aren't....I wonder if Cleeman made the list?

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WTF of the Weekend...

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Earlier this week I gave you the Top 50 Movies of the 2000's....now here are some of the worst....

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Everybody could use a little Bueler....

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25 Favorite Fake Movie Brands
Gunaxin

Sex Panther
As seen in: Anchorman

It’s made by Odeon, illegal in nine countries, and made with bits of real panther. So you know it’s good. They’ve done studies on this type of thing. Caution: may smell like Bigfoot’s d**k.

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Best tattoo you'll see this weekend....

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Best way to wake up your wife / girlfriend you'll see this weekend...(NSFW language, but hey, it's the weekend).

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Today's Definition of Duh....Doctors sue KFC, claiming the grill marks on grilled food cause cancer. The plaintiffs face two obstacles: They already lost a similar case against McDonald's, and they're all idiots

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In hockey news...Sidney Crosby is a pansy. That is all.

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Big Ben must be clocked
Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com
The NFL's reigning Defensive Player of the Week, Bengals right end Antwan Odom, goes against the defending NFL Defensive Player of the Year Sunday in Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison. The soft-spoken Odom admits, "What goes on in my head nobody knows," but everyone knows what he and the Bengals defense is thinking. The problem for Odom and friends is that Harrison weighs the same as the man they must bring down, 6-5, 241-pound quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

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Not suprisingly, Carson is happy Polamalu is going to sit...."I'm absolutely glad he's not going to be out there," said quarterback Carson Palmer, Polamalu's friend and former roommate at Southern Cal. "We need to win this game, and our chances are better when Troy is not on the football field.

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Rumble in the Jungle
James Walker, ESPN.com
But with both teams currently at .500, the table is set for a rumble in the "The Jungle" between the Steelers and Bengals on Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium. Pittsburgh - which went 6-0 in the division last year -- is trying to maintain its dominance while the Bengals are fighting for leaguewide respect. Although it’s early, this matchup will set the table for where both teams stand in the AFC North and could play a large role in altering the course of each team’s season.

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Mike Florio responds to Rodney Harrison's comments.....Clown show or not, that road win over the Packers got our attention. And if they can continue to play that way, maybe the Bengals will be introduced at their playoff opener with a Volkswagen driving into the middle of the field, and all 53 players climbing out of if.

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Balance of (North) Power
Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com
Because of his flowing hair and heritage, he is supposed to be the Bengals answer to Steelers safety Troy Polamalu and become the heart and soul of the defense. Because of the position he plays and the ferocity he brings, he is supposed to be the next Ray Lewis, the Ravens linebacker that inspires teammates as well as detonates opponents.

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Former Bengal making most of his opportunity.....The strutting flamboyance, elaborate end-zone pirouettes and a certain swagger have defined Kelley Washington’s approach to football in a way that contrasts his soft-spoken, humble nature off the field. For the Baltimore Ravens’ imposing wide receiver, it’s just the way he expresses himself through his sport.

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Athletes off-kilter without media filter
Gregg Doyel, CBS Sports
Athletes have Twitter, that's true, but they need us more than ever. They need us because of Twitter. Because somebody has to clean up their Twittered mess, and who do you think that's going to be? It's going to be the traditional media, who have always given athletes a filter, even a self-filter, that athletes have come to take for granted.

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Baker sees brighter times ahead for Reds
John Fay, Enquirer
The team has gone 19-10 since Aug. 22, the day Scott Rolen came off the disabled list after being sidelined by a concussion. Baker is optimistic about next season. "We’ll have Scott Rolen all year," he said. "We’ll have Joey (Votto) all year. I hope and pray we keep the bullpen intact - that’s been our strength. Our young guys have gotten a couple of months under their belts.

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UC, Thomas pushing for football facilities....UC is making a big push to raise the money it needs to complete the practice facility that Brian Kelly has asked for, with a completion target date of September, 2010.

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Columbus native glad to be at UC
Bill Koch, Enquirer
Pead attended Eastmoor Academy, where he broke Griffin's career rushing record. If anyone ever seemed destined to play at Ohio State, it was Pead. But Pead had other ideas. He didn't want to venture too far from home, but he didn't want to play in Columbus, either.

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What we learned: Cincinnati battles for state supremacy
Sporting News
The Cincinnati love-fest is gaining steam, so much so, that the inevitable comparisons have become the talk of the town in Cincinnati. Are the Bearcats better than holier-than-thou, we-own-this-place Ohio State? At this point, it's all subjective. The teams don't play again until 2012, so the only hope for a resolution this fall is a matchup in a BCS bowl. That likely means the ACC champion (best bet is Miami) must be one of the top two teams in the final BCS standings and play in the national championship game.

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UC / Fox Sports Ohio Announce TV schedule...

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Cyclones ink a pair
Official Release
<blockquote>The Cincinnati Cyclones, ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators, announced this morning they have agreed to terms with rookie defenseman Shawn Fensel and rookie forward Travis Winter.

Fensel, 22, closed out his collegiate career at St. Lawrence last season, appearing in 36 games and netting four goals and 16 assists for 20 points. He was whistled for just eleven penalties through the campaign as the Saints went 21-12-5 during the year.

The five-foot-nine, 200 pound native of Nepean, ON, played four seasons at St. Lawrence—serving the last two years as assistant captain. Fensel played in 147 games and had 14 goals and 45 assists for 59 points and 74 penalty minutes. During his collegiate career, Shawn played with former Cyclone Kyle Rank.

Winter, 25, completed his senior season with Bemidji State, playing in 33 games and having six goals with an assist for seven points and 29 penalty minutes. Serving as captain of a Beavers squad that advanced to the ‘Frozen Four’ of the NCAA ice hockey championships, Travis played most of the season with an injury that limited his productivity.

The six-foot-one, 195 pound native of St. Cloud, MN, played four seasons for Bemidji State and participated in 118 games with 28 goals and 37 assist for 65 points and 73 penalty minutes. Winter served as assistant captain his junior season (2007-08) and was twice selected to the All-College Hockey America (CHA) squad and was selected as an All-Academic choice of the league two times. Travis turned in a twelve goal, 17 assist, 29 point, sophomore season and tied for the team lead in scoring.

“We are looking forward to having Shawn Fensel and Travis Winter in camp,” Cyclones Head Coach Chuck Weber said. “They are both looking to launch their professional careers and have been successful with their collegiate careers. Adding players of this caliber is only going to make training camp that much more competitive for everyone.”

The addition of Shawn Fensel and Travis Winter brings the number of players on the Cyclones roster to 24. They join forwards Hans Benson, Sam Bloom, Jonathan Duchesneau, Kenton Dulle, Barret Ehgoetz, Jimmy Kilpatrick, Adam Krug, Chris Mueller, Felix Petit, Matt Pierce, Scott Reynolds, Brett Robinson, Dustin Sproat and Mark Voakes and defensemen Jamie Coghlan, Doug Krantz, Kirk Medernach, Brian O’Hanley, Kevin Roeder, Brock Sheahan, Jason Woll and Dwayne Zinger.

Tickets for the 2009-10 Cincinnati Cyclones season are now on sale. The Cyclones Sales Department can be reached at 513-421-PUCK, extension 3. The Cyclones open the season at Elmira on Friday, October 16 and after three road games, host their home opener at U.S. Bank Arena against Wheeling on Saturday, October 24 at 7:30pm. There will be a special divisional championship banner raising ceremony prior to that game.</blockquote>

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Fantasy Football Friday....

- For what it's worth, Michael Vick is expected to play this week....

- Eddie Royal has good history against Oakland....

Week 3 Sleepers
Fox Sports

QB's
Seneca Wallace vs. Chicago
Injured starter Matt Hasselbeck's still on the radar (keep an eye on the injury reports at the end of the week), but Wallace would become a solid play against the Chicago secondary should Hasselbeck be deactivated. Ben Roethlisberger moved the ball well last week, only to see Jeff Reed miss multiple kicks. Wallace's elusiveness should create space and holes in containment.

Kevin Kolb vs. Kansas City
Donovan McNabb hasn't been ruled out for Week 3 just yet, but conventional wisdom is that the longtime Philadelphia star will sit down ahead of the Week 4 bye. If that occurs, Kolb represents a solid play against the Kansas City defense. The Chiefs haven't generated consistent pressure through two games (although improved from 2008), and I have to believe the Eagles and their swarming defense rebound nicely this weekend.

Kyle Orton at Oakland
Orton's yet to find his stride with Eddie Royal and Brandon Marshall, but he's efficiently run the offense to lead the Broncos to back-to-back wins. He's averaging 253 passing yards per game with two touchdowns and no turnovers. I suspect we begin seeing more production from those receivers and tight end Tony Scheffler this weekend against the Raiders. Oakland ranks 21st in pass defense, having surrendered 238 passing yards per game. Philip Rivers and Matt Cassel combined to complete 64 percent of their pass attempts.

RB's
Correll Buckhalter at Oakland
Buckhalter's averaged 10 touches per game and has demonstrated good speed into the secondary with runs of 14 and 45 yards. He's a solid RB2 play this weekend against the Oakland run defense that, while improved with Richard Seymour up front, is at the mercy of its offense.

LeSean McCoy vs. Kansas City
It didn't take long for Brian Westbrook to occupy his usual spot on the injury report. His ankle is reportedly improving, but his availability for Week 3 against the Chiefs is not guaranteed. Perhaps McCoy's presence allows Andy Reid to sit Westbrook down for a week, particularly with a Week 4 bye looming. McCoy has the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield (four receptions in Week 2) and should play a huge role in Week 3 against the Chiefs.

Tashard Choice vs. Carolina
Marion Barber went down with a quadriceps injury late in the Week 2 home loss to New York, putting Choice on the radar for this week's matchup against the heretofore run-deficient Carolina defense. Barber hasn't been definitively ruled out yet, but Choice is most certainly a solid waiver-wire pickup for this week. He performed well last year when given an opportunity, and could be a nice "Hail Mary" pick for Monday night if he gets a substantial workload.

Ahmad Bradshaw at Tampa Bay
Bradshaw doesn't get the press of his bruising backfield mate, but he's been very effective in the second chair. He's averaged 4.6 yards per attempt (21 carries) while adding five receptions. The Buccaneers have allowed 168 yards per game through two weeks of play. I expect to see "thunder and lightning," or whatever they're being called, post a big day on Sunday.

WR's
Johnny Knox at Seattle
Knox caught six passes for 70 yards and a touchdown in the nail-biting home win over Pittsburgh. Jay Cutler looked more comfortable in the pocket in Week 2, and I expect the timing in the passing game to continue its improvement. Knox is a speedy rookie who'll create problems downfield. The loss of linebacker Leroy Hill in the middle created big holes in the Seattle zone last week - not that Frank Gore's monster runs didn't help.

Mario Manningham at Tampa Bay
Manningham took advantage of Domenik Hixon's absence to post a monster performance against the Cowboys (10 receptions for 150 yards and a touchdown). He's scored in back-to-back weeks for the Eli Manning-led offense, which is showing more punch in the passing game than we'd anticipated. The Buccaneers' pass defense has been exposed time and again through the first two weeks, and the desire to slow Jacobs and Bradshaw out of the backfield will open huge holes in the secondary.

Jason Avant vs. Kansas City
DeSean Jackson made headlines for his early 71-yard touchdown grab against the Saints. However, Avant became a top-notch target for Kevin Kolb, catching seven passes for 79 yards and a touchdown. He worked with Kolb extensively last season, so another start by the third-yard quarterback from Houston could mean big things again for Avant against a weak Kansas City defense.

Pierre Garcon at Arizona
Garcon hits the sleeper list again following his game-winning grab that lifted the Colts over the Dolphins in Week 2. He was targeted only three times during the game, but he made the one grab that mattered and motored 48 yards into the end zone. This has the makings of a shootout, and while he won't pile up receptions in the vein of Anthony Gonzalez, he has the speed to cause the Cardinals fits downfield.

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TGIF Babe of the Day....Vannessa Raia

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FAIL of the day....courtesy of the Reds vs. Pirates

According to the Associated Press, paid attendance was 15,892, but turnstile count was about 3,000, and even that seems generous. Attendance was so sparse that the Pirates closed off the upper deck at PNC Park.

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Friday Food Porn...introducing Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding

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Tastiest looking lingerie you'll see today....

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This has GOTTA be fake right??

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Why you must watch Dancing with the Stars....Joanna Kruppa

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FINALLY, I have a conversation starter if I ever meet Megan Fox....we have the same weird looking thumbs!

Megan Fox's Thumb

My Thumb

....don't act like your not impressed.

Hat tip to Stefanie for the Fox photo.

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The Surprising Things That Attract the Ladies
AskMen.com

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In case you were having Audrina Patridge deprivation....I've got ya covered....

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Coolest near death experience you'll see today...

more here

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So you don't have to spend 9 bucks to see "Jennifer's Body"....here are the only 2 minutes you need to see...

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WTF of the day...

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Bengals vs. Steelers Week 3 Projection
WhatIfSports.com

Steelers 20, Bengals 18
WhatIfSports.com "played" the 2009 Week 3 - Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals game 10,001 times. The Pittsburgh Steelers win 62.1% of the time by an average score of 20.3-18.0.

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Bengals need to bully Steelers
P-Doc, Enquirer
Keith Rivers is going rope-a-dope in front of his cubicle in the Bengals locker room, taking body blows from the heathen media. If Rivers talked like Eight-Five, the state cops would be locking down the Pennsylvania-Ohio border right now. Here’s what the press scavengers want Rivers to say:
"I'm going to treat Hines Ward’s head like a bad hotel pillow. He better not be slanting across the middle, 'less he wants me to go pinata on his butt. By 7:30 Sunday night, his dome’s gonna be sunny-side up and his season’s gonna be over, easy."

Instead, Rivers says this: "It’s over, it’s done with. It’s not about Hines Ward and Keith Rivers."

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Chad amps up his trash talking for Steeler week....Ochocinco had an important message he wanted to pass along to the cornerbacks of the defending Super Bowl champions heading into Sunday's game at Paul Brown Stadium. "This week I have Ike Taylor and William Gay, and I'm looking forward to making them kiss the baby," Ochocinco said confidently.

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Ward: I'd do it again
ESPN.com
"I'll still hit him," Ward said Wednesday in Pittsburgh. "I'll just get fined. There's nothing I can do about it. It's either that or try to hurt somebody. So are you going to fine me, or do you want me to end someone's career? I'd rather take a fine than try to end somebody's career, so I'm not going to change."

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Stat of the day....Through two weeks, the Cincinnati Bengals are leading the NFL with nine sacks. Cincinnati only had 17 sacks in 16 games in 2008. The Bengals are on pace to break that total in Week 4.

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AFC North Blitz
James Walker, ESPN.com

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For Cosby, it's catch and go
Joe Reedy, Enquirer
Don’t look now, but the Bengals’ Quan Cosby is second in the AFC in average yards per punt return. Cosby, an undrafted rookie out of Texas who previously played four years of minor-league baseball in the Angels organization, is averaging 16.3 yards on 10 punt returns this season.

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

1. Rivers vs. Ward: Let’s get the most obvious one out of the way first. Since Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward made his infamous hit on Keith Rivers last Oct. 19 that broke the jaw of the Bengals linebacker and ended his season, the NFL has added a rule banning blind-side hits to the head or neck area. The league will keep a close eye on the game to see if any retaliatory hits occur. This will be Rivers’ first game against the Steelers since being injured, but there was plenty of chippy play in last year’s second Bengals-Steelers matchup in Pittsburgh, including a hard hit by Cincinnati defensive back Chris Crocker on Pittsburgh wide receiver Santonio Holmes.

2. Running men: The Steelers’ running game is averaging just 3.1 yards per carry and Willie Parker is averaging just 2.4 yards per carry. The Bengals are averaging 3.9 yards per carry, and Cedric Benson is coming off a 141-yard rushing game against Green Bay.

3. Buckeye Ben: Ohio native Ben Roethlisberger is 11-0 as an NFL quarterback in games in his home state. But the Steelers star has been sacked six times so far and will be facing a Bengals defense that has nine sacks in two games, including five by defensive end Antwan Odom Sunday at Green Bay.

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For those of you who said you wouldn't even watch the Bengals this year, you are in a HUGE minority....WKRC-TV (Channel 12) averaged a 30.8 rating (282,960 TV homes) for the CBS telecast from 1-4:15 p.m. It was the highest rated Bengals telecast since a Dec.30, 2007, victory over Miami that had a 31.1 rating and 56 percent audience share.

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Congrats to Antwan Odom
Official Release
<blockquote>Bengals DE Antwan Odom today was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week by the NFL.

Odom tied a franchise record at Green Bay this past Sunday with five sacks, helping to lead the Bengals to a 31-24 win at Lambeau Field. The Bengals, who have compiled individual sack records since 1976, had seen such a performance only once previously, when DE Eddie Edwards logged five sacks vs. Cleveland on Dec. 21, 1980.

Odom produced 31 yards in losses with his five sacks of Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers. Two of his first three sacks helped push the Packers out of field-goal range, forcing punting situations, and midway through the fourth quarter, he pushed the Packers into a third-and-15 situation at their 28, with a punt the result of that drive.

Odom also recorded two sacks vs. Denver in Game 1, and his seven-sack total leads by three in the NFL sacks race. Odom and Edwards now share the Bengals record for most sacks over any two-game span, as Edwards had seven over the last two games of 1980.

Elias Sports Bureau reports this week that since 1982, when individual sacks became an official NFL statistic, no player has matched that total for the first two games of a season. The previous record for Games 1-2 of a season was 6.5, by Detroit DE William Gay in 1983 (Gay finished ’83 with 13.5).
Odom’s five sacks against the Packers were the most by an NFL player in any game since Sept. 30, 2007, when N.Y. Giants DE Osi Umenyiora had six against Philadelphia. The NFL record for sacks in a game is seven, by Kansas City LB Derrick Thomas vs. Seattle in 1990.

Odom, a sixth-year NFL player, now has 22.5 career sacks, and 18 of those have come in the 30 games he has played since 2007. He played for Tennessee from 2004-07 before joining the Bengals last year as an unrestricted free agent.

The last Bengal to win an AFC Player of the Week award was CB Leon Hall, for recording three interceptions in a 14-0 win on Dec. 21 of last season at Cleveland.</blockquote>

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Week 3 NFL Power Rankings
ProFootballTalk.com

1. NY Giants
3. Baltimore Ravens
5. Pittsburgh Steelers
18. BENGALS
30. Cleveland Browns

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Another roadblock removed for NFL in LA....

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Bengals add new corner to fill spot left by Cory Lynch....The Bengals today signed rookie CB Rico Murray of Kent State to the practice squad. Murray fills a spot opened yesterday when Tampa Bay signed S Corey Lynch off the Bengals practice squad to its 53-player roster. Murray (5-11, 202) was with the Bengals in preseason, having signed April 30 with Cincinnati as a college free agent. He played in all four Bengals preseason games, logging eight tackles, and was waived on Sept. 5.

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Bruce aims to come back strong
John Fay, Enquirer
If you had asked Baker the same question last September, there’s little doubt he would have said the job was Bruce’s. But Bruce, in his second major-league season, is hitting .210 and has played only part-time since returning from a broken wrist. Baker is writing off his season somewhat this year, but he’s not writing off Bruce.

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Pead making a name for himself
GoBearcats.com
Isaiah Pead knows all about Archie Griffin. He knows that Griffin, a former Ohio State Buckeyes running back, was the only college player to win the Heisman Trophy twice. He probably knows Griffin was the first player ever to start in four consecutive Rose Bowls. He must know Griffin played for the Bengals as a professional.

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Bearcats vs. Fresno State at a glance
GoBearcats.com
THE SERIES
Cincinnati and Fresno State meet for the first time on the gridiron Saturday. UC is 17-18-2 all-time versus Western Athletic Conference (WAC) teams. UC is scheduled to play at Fresno State in the 2010 season.

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Since Miami has barely found the endzone in 3 games for the RedHawks.....they'll start a new QB this week...

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Former UK coach Billy G offered plea bargain....An attorney for Billy Gillispie says the former Kentucky basketball coach has received a “reasonable offer” for a plea bargain in his drunken driving case but hasn't decided whether he will take it.

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Lance Stephenson on Decoucy's list of NCAA's Top Power Forwards....

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Fantasy Football Thursday...

- Maybe Marion Barber is gonna play after all....

- QB Donovon McNabb looks like a no-go again...

- Wes Welker should be back on Sunday....

- Fred Gore's ankle shouldn't be a concern for fantasy owners....

If you own Willie Parker, do you start him against the Bengals?
CBS Sports
Dave must have missed the memo that the Steelers have become a passing team now. Parker might play well in this game, but there's no evidence to suggest you should trust him as anything more than a No. 3 Fantasy running back with how he's played this season (27 carries for 66 yards). Rashard Mendenhall and Mewelde Moore might be better Fantasy options going forward, and Parker hasn't played well against the Bengals in almost two years. If Parker can turn things around, then I'll start to believe in him again. But the Steelers are airing it out now, and that means less time for Parker on the field.

What about Darren Sproles?
CBS Sports
Whether LaDainian Tomlinson is active or not, Darren Sproles is a solid No. 3 Fantasy running back or flex for Week 3. Let's start with his matchup against a Miami defense that is not only on a short week but forced to travel across the country. Now, the Dolphins have played well against the run, limiting the Falcons and Colts in their two games thus far. San Diego's offensive line is also hurting, which helps them. But in my mind, that doesn't impact Sproles as much since he's an outside runner and brilliant receiver out of the backfield. In fact, I like Sproles better than Tomlinson if L.T. suits up for the game. The only catch for the shifty speedster is that his total touches aren't guaranteed, and he could see as many as 10 catches or as few as four over the course of a game -- other reliable Fantasy rushers will touch the ball far more often in better matchups. That's why he's no better than a No. 3 running back and not a No. 2.

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Help your Thursday fly by with Sasha Cane....

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Thursday Food Porn....introducing Deep Fried Bacon Crusted Pork Rinds

Served with bacon mayonnaise.

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FAIL of the day....

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Quite possibly the coolest kid you will ever see....he's memorized the Herb Brooks pre-game speech from the movie "Miracle."

and in case you haven't seen the movie...here's how it really went...

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TGIT...Here's Your Cheerleader of the Week
Lisa Charisse Blanco - Arizona State

Name: Lisa Charisse Blanco
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
School: Arizona State University
Year: Sophomore
Major: Broadcasting/ Journalism

I love my school, but I almost went to: I have been registered at ASU since the day I was born!

My best physical feature is: I like my small feet. Kids shoes are half the price.

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

If you looked at the "most played" songs on my iPod, you'd see a lot of: Anything by Trey Songz, Drake and, of course, my Zumba songs!

My worst habit is: Leaving my T.V. on.

My game day superstitions are: I have to eat a lot the night before; it gives me energy for the next day.

I'd love to trade places for a day with: Michelle Tafoya. She has my dream job!

The talent I'd most like to have that I don't possess is: I wish I could act. I could never be in a school play!

These three things top my bucket list: 1. Live in Spain; 2. Skydive; 3. Deliver Tom's Shoes across the world to little kids.

I'd want my last meal to be: Our family Christmas dinner -- beans, rice, tamales, enchiladas and menudo.

The most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to me during a game is: During the "Who Show" we had to learn a flag routine. Unfortunately I am not very skilled in this area. My flag was caught around the pole the entire performance; I could barely keep it up!

Three things I'd take to a desert island are: My sister, some sour patch kids and my swimsuit!

My favorite sport and professional sports teams are: I support all my home teams, but I did grow up loving the Cowboys! Go Suns!

My one guilty pleasure is: Animal-style fries at In & Out Burger. I can't get enough!

My celebrity crush is: Paul Walker.

Five people I'd like to have dinner with (living or dead) are: Charles Barkley, Michael Jackson, Selena, Barack Obama and Jim Carey for some laughs!

My friends would be surprised to know that I: Used to be tall for my age.

The next risk I want to take is: Skydiving on my birthday.

The reality show I'd do best on is: Deal Or No Deal.

The worst date I've ever been on was: I went to see the movie Spirit. It wasn't a horrible date, just not the best movie choice!

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The Anatomy of Fast Food Restaurants....Fast food restaurants are a lot like prostitutes: every thing in them is slimy and filth-ridden, and you're still going to pay way too much for whatever you get. Just as with a prostitute, it's important to investigate the anatomy of a fast food restaurant, so that you have a good idea of exactly what you're getting into before you embark on your gastrointestinal odyssey.

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Women in Wifebeaters....does it get any better?

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Today's Definition of Duh....With guns drawn and flashlights cutting through darkened rooms, Polk County undercover drug investigators stormed the home of convicted drug dealer Michael Difalco near Lakeland in March. As investigators searched the home for drugs, some drug task force members found other ways to occupy their time. Within 20 minutes of entering Difalco's house, some of the investigators found a Wii video bowling game and began bowling frame after frame.

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More evidence that lingerie football is AWESOME...

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BEST scientific study you'll read about today...wanna be better on the softball field or in your flag football league? Have more sex.

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Nick Swisher doesn't have it all bad...he goes home to Joanna Garcia...

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Meet George Jetson....

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Palmer's prowess concerns Steelers
Pittsburgh Tribune
The Steelers didn't face Palmer, who missed most of last season with an elbow injury, in 2008. Unfortunately for them, he fits the profile of the quarterbacks who have had success against the Steelers through the first two weeks of the season. Like Kerry Collins and Jay Cutler, Palmer has a big-time arm, the size to stand tall and absorb hits in the pocket and a track record of success in the NFL.

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Here's your gameplan vs. the Steelers....run the football...Last Sunday, the Bengals improved to 14-3 in games when QB Carson Palmer shares the backfield with an 100-yard rusher.

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AFC North Stock Watch
ESPN.com

Rising:
2. Antwan Odom, Bengals defensive end
Odom put forth one of the most dominant defensive performances I’ve seen in person during Sunday’s 31-24 victory over the Green Bay Packers. Odom registered five sacks of Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Odom wasn't going to be denied and dominated anyone Green Bay put in front of him. Both Chad Clifton and Daryn Colledge struggled to block Odom on passing downs for a majority of the game.

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Week 3 AFC North Power Rankings
James Walker, ESPN.com

Baltimore Ravens
Power ranking: No. 1
Last week: No. 10
Walker’s take: This is the biggest power rankings surprise that I can remember in a long time. The Ravens have been overlooked by this panel for weeks -- even months if you include the offseason -- so it was a shock to see this group suddenly believe Baltimore is the NFL’s best team. The fact the Ravens jumped nine spots in one week shows either they were terribly underrated to begin with, or the voters’ opinion of the San Diego Chargers is too inflated. Baltimore beat San Diego on the road last weekend, leading to the nearly unprecedented jump. Either way, Ravens fans cannot play the disrespect card for a long time in the AFC North blog following this surprise.

Pittsburgh Steelers
Power ranking: No. 6
Last week: No. 1
Walker’s take: The defending champs dropped five spots to No. 6 after their loss to the Chicago Bears. Newcomers such as the Ravens, Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings all entered the top 5 at Pittsburgh's expense. With the Ravens on top, the AFC North has had a division team rated No. 1 in all three power rankings this season. The Steelers have a chance to get back into the win column Sunday with an interesting matchup on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals (1-0). That game will have a major impact on the division moving forward.

Cincinnati Bengals
Power ranking: No. 24
Last week: No. 26
Walker’s take: The Bengals jumped just two spots after a marquee road victory over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Cincinnati showed a lot of grit in that game to overcome some early mistakes and still get the win. But it didn't help the Bengals much in the rankings, according to this panel. I get the sense our group of voters still view Cincinnati's home loss to the Denver Broncos as a major blemish, despite the fact that the Broncos are now 2-0.

Cleveland Browns
Power ranking: No. 29
Last week: No. 28
Walker’s take: The Browns continue to stay with the dregs of the NFL after their second consecutive blowout defeat. Only the Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions and St. Louis Rams are rated lower than Cleveland, and a strong case can be made that those teams are playing more competitive football. The Browns aren't showing much progress on offense or defense, and the team has been outscored 41-7 in the second half this season. It doesn’t appear things will get any better this week when the Browns travel to face the Ravens Sunday.

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Bearcats think they're Ohio's best team....In years past, it would have been a ludicrous question. But Cincinnati's impressive 3-0 record and Ohio State's 2-1 start have left the two teams nearly dead-even in this week's Top 25 poll. Ohio State is No. 13, followed by Cincinnati.

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Brian Kelly staying focused on the goal
Bill Koch, Enquirer
Brian Kelly has coached one team that did win all of its games, so he knows what he’s talking about. In 2002, his Grand Valley State team won the Division II national championship with a 14-0 record. The following year, Grand Valley won another national title, this time with a 14-1 record. He says that this UC team possesses some of the same characteristics that those teams exhibited.

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BCS talk for UC is legit
P-Doc, Enquirer
Five years ago, UC football wasn’t household unless the household belonged to the head coach. Now, a guy who writes a national college football column suggests the Bearcats should enter the title conversation. As UC linebacker J.K. Schaffer put it, "To be in this situation is beyond anything I’d thought would happen."

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BENGALS PRIZES ARE UP FOR GRABS IN OHIO LOTTERY SECOND-CHANCE DRAWING; ENTRY DEADLINE IS THIS FRIDAY ......This Friday (Sept. 25) marks the entry deadline for the Ohio Lottery's $5 Cincinnati Bengals Instant Game second-chance drawing. Players with non-winning Bengals instant game tickets can enter online by clicking the Ohio Lottery link on the Bengals.com home page. Players may also enter by mail (mailing instructions appear on the back of the ticket). The drawing will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 30, with 125 prizes to be awarded. Prizes include game-worn jerseys, autographed merchandise, away-game trips, suite tickets and more. This is the first of four second-chance drawings. Below is an itemized list of prizes that will be given away in Drawing #1:

- 14 Game Worn Jerseys
- 14 Autographed Footballs
- 8 Autographed Helmets
- 8 Autographed Jerseys
- 25 Merchandise Packages
- 5 Pairs Season Tickets (2010 Season)
- 3 Pairs Club Seat Season Tickets (2010 Season)
- 35 Pairs Individual Game Tickets (10/25/09)
- 3 Pairs Pre-Game Sideline Passes and Game Tickets (10/25/09)
- 4 Suites (Two for 10/18/09, one for 10/25/09, and one for 11/8/09)
- 2 Training Camp Experience (2010 season)
- 2 Dinner on the Field (2009 Season)
- 2 Road Trip to an Away game (11/15/09 and 11/22/09)

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UC vs. West Virginia is sold out, Fresno game close.....Tickets for the BIG EAST Showdown at Nippert Stadium between the defending BIG EAST Champion Bearcats and West Virginia University are now SOLD OUT, the University of Cincinnati Athletics Ticket Office announced on Tuesday. The game is set for an 8 p.m. kickoff on Friday, November 13th and will be televised nationally on ESPN2.

Also, Less than 2,000 west side tickets remain for this Saturday’s Game vs. Fresno State, which is set for a Noon kickoff. Bearcats football tickets can be purchased online at www.CATSTIX.com, by phone at 1-877-CATS-TIX, or in person at the Athletics Ticket Office in the Lindner Athletics Center.

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UC, Pike getting notice
ESPN.com
The more you win, the more national attention you gain. Cincinnati and Tony Pike are starting to attract more notice. Pike made his debut today in ESPN.com's Heisman Watch with three fifth-place votes. Full disclosure: one of those fifth-place votes came from me. It would be hard for anyone to argue that Tim Tebow or Colt McCoy has had a better three games than Pike in 2009, but you know how that award works.

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Big East earning respect in non-conference play
ESPN.com
The league entered the year with no ranked teams and with some people painting major gloom-and-doom portraits of its health. That clearly was off the mark. The Big East is 16-5 against nonconference competition this season, and last weekend it went 6-2 with wins at Oregon State, at Baylor and over Northwestern. "I think we carried the banner for the Big East quite well nationally," said Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly, whose team snapped Oregon State's 26-game nonconference home winning streak with a 28-18 victory in Corvallis, Ore. "Wins in a Big 12 stadium, in a Pac-10 stadium, those are huge.

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Jim Tressel says he learned his lesson
Columbus Dispatch
OSU coach Jim Tressel said today he made a mistake last week in chastising his most virulent critics as "miserable" and chronically unhappy.
"Probably in error I said, 'Well, they must not be real happy people.' I think I was referring to the very venomous and raunchy ones, as opposed to anything from a general standpoint. Sometimes you learn your lesson no matter how long you’ve been doing it. Reserve comments more conservatively. But as far as what the reaction has been, I guess you’d have to ask the media because we’re kind of in a cocoon where we are at the football office with our players watching film. But lesson well-learned."

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Tressel outshines Carroll in college football's location nation
Gregg Doyel, CBS Sports
This story is going to do things you didn't think possible. It will compliment Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel in a way that insults the OSU football program. It will compliment Southern California in a way that insults USC coach Pete Carroll. How is that possible? It just is. Trust me. I know how this story ends.

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Fantasy Football Wednesday....

- Marion Barber is likely out 1-2 weeks....

- With Barber out, that means Felix Jones' stock will rise....

- McNabb has "chance" to play....don't count on it....

Top 10 Fantasy Waiver Claims
Fox Sports
7. Johnny Knox, WR, Chicago...Chicago's best kept surprise, along with tight end Kellen Davis, has surpassed early expectations. Rookie Johnny Knox already leads the Bears in receptions (8) and yards (111). He also scored his first career touchdown against Pittsburgh after nearly scoring on a 68-yard completion from a fly route against Green Bay in the opener. Of note, Knox had six receptions for 70 yards and a score against last year's stingiest defense for points, overall yards and passing yards.

Fantasy & Reality
CBS Sports
Quick observations about the misconceptions (Fantasy) and truths (Reality) during the week's action.

Fantasy: Kevin Kolb will drag down the stats of Philly's receivers. Kolb's 391 passing yards and two touchdowns were insane, and it's a great indicator of not just how effective he could be some day, but how strong the Philadelphia offense is. By the way, Kolb's stats were good, but some of his passes were still awful. He missed on 20 attempts and threw three interceptions, so let's just say he's improving. If he does indeed start in Week 3 vs. the Chiefs, he's not a bad replacement for Donovan McNabb even if he gives up some snaps to Michael Vick.

Reality: The Texans' passing game is getting warmed up while the Titans' run defense is falling down. I actually felt nervous ranking Matt Schaub 12th among quarterbacks for Week 2, but I guess it wasn't high enough. Houston's offensive line did a solid job protecting Schaub and giving him time to hit Andre Johnson over and over again. If anything, Houston further exposed Tennessee's secondary, which was believed to be a strength, but they've allowed back-to-back 350-yard passers. The good news for the Titans is that they play at the Jets and at the Jaguars over the next two weeks before hosting the Colts, so they'll have a chance to rectify their issues.

Fantasy: Frank Gore's offensive line is bad and the Seahawks' defensive line is good. How refreshing was it to see Gore rip off over 200 rush yards against Seattle? I mean if you didn't play against him in Week 2. Gore's line did a nice job opening up holes for him on both of his long runs and he flashed solid acceleration, especially for a big guy. No complaining about him as a first-round pick as he has four total touchdowns through two weeks, and his schedule gets very easy after a Week 3 duel at the Vikings. P.S. Absolutely start him in that game.

Reality: Kurt Warner might be old, but he's not rusty anymore. Everyone who drafted Warner can take a huge sigh of relief as he finally showed signs of breaking out of his preseason and Week 1 slump. Actually, he did much more than that thanks to his 24-of-26 passing show, completing an NFL-best 92 percent of his passes. That'll make up for his slow start, and it was encouraging to see him lean on Steve Breaston and Anquan Boldin more than Larry Fitzgerald. And, how about him completing passes to nine different receivers? Nice touch. Next week could be even better -- the Cardinals host the Colts in what might wind up being a barnburner.

Week 3 Add 'Em / Avoid 'Em
CBS Sports

ADD 'EM
LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia
Owned: 81 percent of leagues
Week 2: Had five carries for 18 yards and caught four passes for 37 yards against New Orleans.
Analysis: Here we go again with Brian Westbrook (ankle) getting hurt against the Saints, and this is why you either drafted McCoy or should pick him up. In two games, McCoy had 14 carries for 64 yards and five catches for 38 yards. The Eagles haven't needed him with Westbrook in there, but he could end up starting in Week 3 against the Chiefs, which is a great matchup. McCoy has the chance for a breakout game if Westbrook is out or limited.

Willis McGahee, RB, Baltimore
Owned: 81 percent of leagues
Week 2: Had 15 carries for 79 yards and two touchdowns and two catches for 10 yards at San Diego.
Analysis: It's obvious McGahee isn't going anywhere even though Ray Rice is the starter and LeRon McClain will get occasional touches. McGahee had almost twice as many carries as Rice (eight for 36 yards) against the Chargers, but Rice led the team in catches (five for 46). It will likely be a tandem going forward, but you can make a case McGahee has more value than Rice since he has four touchdowns on the season and Rice has none. If you're dealing with an injury at running back, McGahee could be a great start in Week 3 against Cleveland.

Mark Sanchez, QB, New York Jets
Owned: 69 percent of leagues
Week 2: Completed 14 of 22 passes for 163 yards and one touchdown and also lost a fumble against New England.
Analysis: Sanchez might not be a great Fantasy option for the season, but he has a great matchup in Week 3 against the Titans, who have been torched in consecutive weeks by Ben Roethlisberger and Matt Schaub. Sanchez likely won't post similar stats as those two quarterbacks, but he could be a great replacement for Donovan McNabb or Matt Hasselbeck, who are battling rib injuries. Some other good quarterback options for this week include David Garrard (64 percent), who is at Houston, and Jason Campbell (59 percent), who is at Detroit. Byron Leftwich (18 percent) also has played well but has a tougher matchup in Week 3 against the Giants.

AVOID 'EM

Alge Crumpler, TE, Tennessee
Owned: 2 percent of leagues
Week 2: Caught four passes for 44 yards against Houston.
Analysis: Even though Bo Scaife (knee) was out against the Texans, don't expect Crumpler to start playing like he used to with Atlanta. He's not that player anymore, and there are better tight ends available, including Benjamin Watson (61 percent), Heath Miller (58 percent), Brent Celek (56 percent), Todd Heap (48 percent) and Jermichael Finley (27 percent). Even Scaife is a better Fantasy option once he returns from the injury.

Jake Delhomme, QB, Carolina
Owned: 45 percent of leagues
Week 2: Completed 25 of 41 passes for 308 yards, one touchdown and one interception at Atlanta.
Analysis: It was good to see Delhomme play better after his five turnover game against the Eagles in Week 1, but Delhomme is not a good Fantasy option anymore. As a Fantasy owner, his one job is to get Steve Smith the ball, and that's all you should ask him to do. There are better No. 2 Fantasy quarterbacks out there, so look elsewhere once the bye weeks happen or if you have an injury to Donovan McNabb (rib) or Matt Hasselbeck (rib). You don't want Delhomme in your lineup when he becomes a turnover machine again.

Kevin Kolb, QB, Philadelphia
Owned: 3 percent of leagues
Week 2: Completed 31 of 51 passes for 391 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions against New Orleans.
Analysis: Kolb played better than expected with Donovan McNabb (rib) out, but McNabb could return this week. The Eagles also might decide to give Michael Vick (32 percent), who is eligible to return this week, some touches at quarterback. Either way, don't plan on trusting Kolb as a Fantasy option if you're missing McNabb or Matt Hasselbeck (ribs). The Eagles also could be without Brian Westbrook (ankle) and DeSean Jackson (groin), which would make Kolb even less appealing than he already is despite a good matchup against Kansas City.

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NFL in Los Angeles continues to be a priority....As the NFL vacuum in Los Angeles continues to exist, nearly 15 years after it was first created, the president of a nearby franchise (relative to the rest of them) has said that the league still wants to put a team back in L.A.

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Cyclones add a trio
Official Release
<blockquote>The Cincinnati Cyclones, ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators, announced this morning they have agreed to terms with forwards Chris Mueller, Felix Petit and Sam Bloom.

Mueller, 23, spent the majority of his rookie season with Lake Erie (AHL) where he collected five goals and eleven assists in 16 games. He launched last season with Johnstown (ECHL), collecting six points on three goals and three assists in just three games.

The five-foot-ten, 190 pound native of West Seneca, NY, played his collegiate hockey at Michigan State where he earned four varsity letters and was a member of the 2006-07 NCAA championship winning team. Mueller played 166 games with the Spartans and tallied 42 goals and 62 assists for 104 career points. Chris scored the insurance marker in the final seconds of Michigan State’s 3-1 win over Boston College in the NCAA title game on April 7, 2007.

Petit, 21, completed his final season of junior hockey with Baie-Comeau (QMJHL), collecting 25 goals and 65 assists for 90 points in 68 games with the Drakkar. After the season, Felix signed with the Cyclones and played in three games—netting a goal and two assists. He also played in 13 Kelly Cup playoff contests, scoring two goals and adding two assists for four points.

The five-foot-eight, 175 pound native of Jonquiere, PQ, played four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) between Quebec and Baie-Comeau. Petit played in 273 games and netted 86 goals and 202 assists for 288 points. Felix was also a part of the Quebec club that captured the 2005-06 Memorial Cup.

Bloom, 22, finished his collegiate career with McGill University (CIS) playing in 26 games with 14 goals and 20 assists for 34 points in the 2008-09 campaign. Sam was selected as a second-team All-Ontario University Athletic’s East choice. He was the second-leading scorer for the Redmen.
The six-foot-one, 195 pound native of Toronto, ONT played four seasons at McGill and appeared in 96 games with 35 goals and 54 assists for 89 points and 130 penalty minutes. Bloom was a part of the 2007-08 McGill club that captured the school’s first Senior Intercollegiate Hockey League championship in 62 years (1945-46)

“These three players come from diverse backgrounds but are all accomplished offensive hockey players,” Cyclones Head Coach Chuck Weber said. “All three are going to be going to American Hockey League camps and we are looking forward to getting them here in Cincinnati..”

The addition of Chris Mueller, Felix Petit and Sam Bloom brings the number of players on the Cyclones roster to 22. They join forwards Hans Benson, Jonathan Duchesneau, Kenton Dulle, Barret Ehgoetz, Jimmy Kilpatrick, Adam Krug, Matt Pierce, Scott Reynolds, Brett Robinson, Dustin Sproat and Mark Voakes and defensemen Jamie Coghlan, Doug Krantz, Kirk Medernach, Brian O’Hanley, Kevin Roeder, Brock Sheahan, Jason Woll and Dwayne Zinger.

Tickets for the 2009-10 Cincinnati Cyclones season are now on sale. The Cyclones Sales Department can be reached at 513-421-PUCK, extension 3. The Cyclones open the season at Elmira on Friday, October 16 and after three road games, host their home opener at U.S. Bank Arena against Wheeling on Saturday, October 24 at 7:30pm. There will be a special divisional championship banner raising ceremony prior to that game.</blockquote>

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Hump Day = Kristina Raquel

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Wednesday Food Porn...introducing Fried Green Tea Bites

Green tea ice cream encased in pound cake, battered and fried.

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Body Paint makes everything better....as long as you look like this...

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FAIL of the day...

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This is why Tim Tebow stayed in college....

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15 Most Embarrassing Cakes...

13. Sexual Harassment Cake
This is proof that cakes can make social change. A big “Ghostbusters” “no” around an ass-slap is how you get a message across. We hope this was a cake for a boss.

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Best rejected billboard you'll see today...

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The Ultimate Bachelor Party Guide
MadeMan.com

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Eliza Dushku's show "Dollhouse" comes back this Friday....here's why you should watch....

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In American sporting events...we do the wave. In Korea...they do this...

....score 1 for Korea...

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So you're telling me this dude gets paid to do this for Katy Perry??....

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The 50 Best Movies of the 2000's
I Heart Chaos

4. Anchorman (2004)....Will Ferell is arguably one of the funniest bastards of the last 10 years, having him in a movie is a guarantee of greatness - Blades of Glory for example, which I bought without having seen, was an utter piece of crap. Anchorman however, is not only the best comedy of the decade, but one of the funniest, most brilliantly put together comedies in a long time.

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Many Happy Returns
Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com
The golden day for the Bengals special teams almost became blue in the last minute when the Packers onside kick was recovered at the Green Bay 43 with 44 seconds left after Packers cornerback Tramon Williams pounced on Mason Crosby's dribbler. The members of the hands team didn't appear to move and Bengals special teams coach Darrin Simmons thinks he knows why.

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Marvin says they can do better, despite win
Joe Reedy, Enquirer
A day after his team upset the Green Bay Packers in Wisconsin, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said on Monday that there are plenty of corrections and improvements to be made with division rival Pittsburgh up next on the schedule. Asked why receiver Chris Henry’s strong preseason hasn’t translated into big numbers after two regular-season games, Lewis said “playing the first team makes a big difference.”

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Nothing says STEELER WEEK like a photo of Jeff Reed crying after an epic FAIL last Sunday....

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Bengals take giant leap forward
James Walker, ESPN.com
Last week the Bengals were goats in defeat. Sunday they experienced the glory of winning. The difference between 1-1 and 0-2 is huge in this league. And those words couldn’t be any truer for the Bengals after the first two weeks of the 2009 season. The Bengals took a giant leap forward in Green Bay. But next week’s game against the defending champions will be an even larger measuring stick of where the Bengals currently stand during their interesting start to the 2009 season.

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UC must keep focus
Shannon Russell, Enquirer
Cincinnati football coach Brian Kelly called Saturday’s 28-18 win at Oregon State a “gut check” for players to “find out what they’re about.” After passing that test, securing a 3-0 start, and rising to No. 14 in the Associated Press Top 25, there’s something more he’d like to see this week: Continued focus.

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Bearcats projected to be playing Florida for the National Championship....
Scout.com

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NBC Sunday Night Football drew BIG numbers....The Giants' last-second win over the Cowboys at the opening of Dallas' new stadium drew the highest preliminary television ratings for a prime-time game in 11 years. New York's 33-31 victory Sunday on NBC earned a 16.5 overnight rating and 27 share. The network said Monday that's the best overnight rating for a prime-time matchup since a 17.4/27 for Broncos-Dolphins on Dec. 21, 1998.

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Lexington to host NCAA 1st and 2nd Round games in 2013....With 2013 marking the 75th anniversary of the NCAA Tournament, organizers wanted to pick sites imbued with basketball history. So no surprise that the NCAA chose Lexington as one of its first- and second-round sites for the 2013 tournament.

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Fantasy Football Tuesday....

- I know it's only Tuesday...but keep your eye on RB Marion Barber...

- Looks like Matt Hasselbeck is gonna be out next week....he's got a fractured rib...

Week 2 Fantasy Leaders

QB's

WR's

RB's

TE's

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Bill Cowher to coach Carolina?....FOX Sports' Terry Bradshaw has a bold prediction for what might happen if that seat bursts into flames and Fox is actually fired. Bradshaw says CBS analyst Bill Cowher "desperately wants to get back in the NFL. Cowher will go to Carolina."

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Astros fire manager Cecil Cooper....The 59-year-old Cooper was hired on Aug. 27, 2007, to replace Phil Garner. Houston went 171-170 under Cooper, who was the bench coach under Garner between 2005-07.

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Cyclones add Scott Reynolds
Official Release
<blockquote>The Cincinnati Cyclones, ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators, announced this afternoon they have agreed to terms with left wing Scott Reynolds for the 2009-10 season.

Reynolds, 28, spent his third professional season with Fassa (Italy) appearing in 42 games, collecting eleven goals and 21 assists for 32 points. Scott was the second-leading scorer on the club and was one of five players to appear in all 42 contests. Fassa turned in an 11-25-6 record during the campaign.
The six-foot-one, 195 pound native of Kerrobert, SK, spent his first two professional seasons with the Cyclones. Reynolds appeared in 139 games with Cincinnati, netting 23 goals and adding 38 assists for 61 points during that stretch. Five of his scores were game winners. Scott’s most memorable goal as a Cyclones came in Game Six of the North Division Finals in 2008 (May 3). His score midway through the third period proved to be the game winner and leveled the series at three wins apiece as Cincinnati went on to capture its first-ever Kelly Cup.

“Scott Reynolds is one of the better defensive forwards in the ECHL,” Cyclones Head Coach Chuck Weber said. “His ability to kill penalties and steadiness are assets to his style of play.”
“I am excited to return to Cincinnati and the atmosphere of U.S. Bank Arena,” Scott Reynolds said. “Hopefully we can develop into a championship caliber team as we did a couple of years ago.”
The addition of Scott Reynolds brings the number of players on the Cyclones roster to 19. He joins forwards Hans Benson, Jonathan Duchesneau, Kenton Dulle, Barret Ehgoetz, Jimmy Kilpatrick, Adam Krug, Matt Pierce, Brett Robinson, Dustin Sproat and Mark Voakes and defensemen Jamie Coghlan, Doug Krantz, Kirk Medernach, Brian O’Hanley, Kevin Roeder, Brock Sheahan, Jason Woll and Dwayne Zinger.

Tickets for the 2009-10 Cincinnati Cyclones season are now on sale. The Cyclones Sales Department can be reached at 513-421-PUCK, extension 3. The Cyclones open the season at Elmira on Friday, October 16 and after three road games, host their home opener at U.S. Bank Arena against Wheeling on Saturday, October 24 at 7:30pm. There will be a special divisional championship banner raising ceremony prior to that game.</blockquote>

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Let the Countdown to Hockey officially begin....10 days away...

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Tuesday Time Vampire....Sonni Pacheco

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FAIL of the day....

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Forgot to mention this yesterday, but Blake Lively was flat out getting it done at the Emmy's on Sunday night....

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Another highlight of the Emmy's was Ricky Gervais....

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Tuesday Food Porn....introducing Bologna Fries...

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This old dude is a bonafide badas$....

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As if you didn't know by now...Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is a loser...

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Oktoberfest Babes....'nuff said

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It's not a Lambeau Leap...but it's close...

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ESPN have hired Jenn Brown as a sideline reporter....smart move...

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Best PSA you'll see today...probably all year...

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HotChicksWithHotDogsInTheirMouths.com is what you would expect....

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In case you forgot....Emmanuelle Chriqui (from my favorite show Entourage) is kinda attractive...

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Coolest Golf Bag you'll see today....with built in LCD screen

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WTF of the day....not really sure what's going on here, but I'm very sure it's awesome....

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Best office kitchen note you'll read today....

more here

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Bengals knock off the Packers in Lambeau, 31-24...

- Well, they couldn't make it easy for us, could they? But at the end of the day...the Bengals offense played much, much better, the defense was extremely solid, and the special teams came up big on multiple occasions. That's a BIG win and confidence boost for Marvin's guys as they head back home for Steeler week.

THE GOOD...

- Antwan Odom was a BEAST....he came up with 5, count em, 5 sacks. It seems like an eternity since the Orange and Black have been able to put consistent pressure on the opposing QB.

- Cedric Benson showed why it's vital to have a powerful running game....he ended up with 29 carries for 141 yards (many of which were big runs in the 2nd half that ate up the clock). It's amazing how many passing plays become possible thanks to a solid rushing attack. Good job, Ced!

- Ochocinco got to do the Lambeau Leap....not only did he wait to see if his TD was going to stand...but after the signal was made, he found a small group of Bengals fans in the front row. Hilarious.

- The Special Teams were outstanding yesterday too....Kevin Huber did what he always used to at UC...punt with precision. If you didn't watch or listen to the game...his performance would not have been noticed. However, it was extremely pivotal in giving Green Bay bad field position all day long. Quan Cosby was also solid in the return game. It was great to see.

- Offensive execution on 3rd down....the Bengals converted 64% of their 3rd down plays, which was something they've struggled with in years past. For what it's worth, they converted just 25% on 3rd down last week against Denver.

THE BAD...

- 13 penalties for 100 yards....that's flat out unacceptable and will likely burn you more times than not. Had the Bengals lost the game, this would have been one of the top reasons why.

- Anyone else wonder why Chris Henry isn't getting more touches? His only reception of the game was for a TD, yet he seems to be invisible from the playbook the rest of the game.

- Umm...can you think of anything else? I'm sure there are still pessimists out there. Email me and I'll add to the list.

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A leap of faith for Bengals fans
Joe Reedy, Bengals.com
After a heartbreaking loss to the Broncos last week, the Bengals had many things going against them during Sunday’s game against the Packers. And after a first half where there were too many self-inflicted wounds, the Bengals bounced back and got their first regular-season win at Lambeau Field, 31-24. Behind a 141-yard, 29-carry game from Cedric Benson, the Bengals were able to overcome two first-half interceptions by Carson Palmer to persevere and even their record at 1-1.

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More late game jitters for Bengals, but this time they win....Two weeks and two heart-stoppers for the Bengals. Fortunately for Cincinnati, this one went the Bengals way as Green Bay ran out of time at the Bengals 10 and the Bengals hung on for a 31-24 victory to even their mark at 1-1 on the season.

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Satisfying win for Bengals Nation....It was a kooky game, very Bengal-esque, except the result. The result was something else entirely: Satisfying and prideful, a huge leap on the team growth chart. We won’t even mention the cardiac finish, because it didn’t matter. The patient survived.

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Odom: This is not a dream
P-Doc, Enquirer
He’d waited a long time for a game like this. Through the foot injury he suffered the first day of training camp last July and the shoulder injury he incurred in a November practice. Through lots of public wondering about unmet expectations. Two years ago, the Bengals signed free agent defensive end Antwan Odom to rush the passer. He had three sacks all last year. He had five here Sunday. "That’s a hell of a lot. You think you’re dreaming,’" Odom said.

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Bengals / Packers Postgame News and Notes
Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com

- Sunday was Cedric Benson's fourth 100-yard game as a Bengal and his second most rushing yards (169 at Cleveland last year).

- Benson said he suffered a slight ankle sprain in the first quarter but he indicated he will be fine.

- The Packers offensive line had to shuffle around after starting left tackle Chad Clifton left the game on the first series of the second half after getting injured. Green Bay moved left guard (Daryn Colledge) to left tackle and center Jason Stitz moved from center to left guard. The flux on the Packers line helped Bengals defensive end Antwan Odom on his way to a team record-tying five sacks. "He really wore out Clifton before he got hurt," Bengals safety Chris Crocker said of Odom. "Then he got the backup. To go from the starter to a backup, that's a huge difference."

- Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga forced a key Packers fumble that teammate Pat Sims recovered to thwart a Packers drive in the second half. "We had to make a statement and what better place than Lambeau Field?" Maualuga said.

- Carson Palmer had an up-and-down day with three touchdown passes but two costly interceptions that led to 14 Packers points. "I gave them 14 points and we can't continue to do that and beat good teams like Pittsburgh next week," Palmer said. "The first one was a bad decision. I should have thrown it downfield. The second one I didn't see (Packers cornerback Charles Woodson) until he had the ball going the other way." Woodson's 37-yard return gave the Packers a 21-14 second-quarter lead.

- Chad Ochocinco was wearing a black "Kiss the Baby" T-shirt after the game. He said he set up the Lambeau Leap with Bengals fans via Twitter. "I wanted to show the Packers fans who stuck to their tradition," he said. As we was looking for his Leap Location, he said he heard from Bengals fans but not many Packers fans.

- Ochocinco had four catches for 91 yards, his biggest day since the 2007 finale. "It's crazy what I'm doing with the ball after the catch," he said. "Talk to Coach Lewis and talk to Coach Bratkowski because I can't explain it myself."

- Bengals special teams coach Darrin Simmons had a nice day with Quan Cosby's two big punt returns (a 60-yarder and a 32-yarder) and punter Kevin Huber's nice day of two kicks inside the 20 and a 61-yarder. "It's nice to have two rookies come through like that," Simmons said. "All it comes down to, really, is the blocking and everyone blocked their butts off on those two returns."

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What they're saying about the Bengals win over Green Bay
ESPN.com
The win was huge for Cincinnati (1-1), which didn’t want to fall to 0-2 heading into next week’s AFC North showdown with the Pittsburgh Steelers. It also showed a strong will to bounce back from a heart-breaking loss in Week 1 to the Denver Broncos. A lot of credit also should go to the Bengals’ defense for holding Green Bay's high-powered offense to just three points in the second half. Even two of Green Bay’s three touchdowns in the first half were a direct result of Palmer’s interceptions.

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Chad's Lambeau Leap...

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Some of YOUR email reaction....got something to say? Email me.

Nick,
I am physically and mentally exhausted after that one! That game had it all. Bearcats and Bengals...all aboard the bandwagons and man does this city need this kind of fun. What a week for sports talk! - Keith

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Bearcats bounce Beavers....Tony Pike threw for 332 yards and hit Mardy Gilyard with an 18-yard scoring pass in the fourth quarter as No. 17 Cincinnati stopped a second-half Oregon State comeback bid for a 28-18 victory on Saturday. The Bearcats (3-0) snapped Oregon State's streak of 26 straight nonconference victories at Reser Stadium, dating back to a 67-28 win over Northern Illinois on Nov. 16, 1996.

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More on the Bearcats' win over Oregon State....
Bill Koch, Enquirer
During the early part of the season, as the University of Cincinnati football team put points on the board at a dizzying rate, the offense has been the talk of the town. But, on Saturday, in the most important nonleague game of the season, it was the defense that stole the show.

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What we learned about the Big East in Week 3
Brian Bennett, ESPN.com
2. Cincinnati needs to be taken very, very seriously: The Bearcats' win at Oregon State might not have garnered a lot of national attention, but it should have. The Beavers hadn't lost at home to a team outside the Pac-10 since 1996, and they came into Saturday ranked 24th in the coaches' poll. Cincinnati, despite missing one of its top defensive playmakers in linebacker Curtis Young, held Oregon State to just one touchdown in an impressive 28-18 victory. The defense is much stronger than most people anticipated, and the offense led by Tony Pike has a lot of answers. This team could easily be 5-0 heading into its game at South Florida, and it's worthy of top 10 consideration.

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Ohio State rolls over Toledo....When people said No. 11 Ohio State had no offense, quarterback Terrelle Pryor took offense. The sophomore threw for a career-high 262 yards and ran for 110 yards to help the Buckeyes rebound from disheartening loss and the criticism that went with it and beat Toledo 38-0 on Saturday at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

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What they're saying about Ohio State's win and ranking...
ESPN.com
Ohio State actually fell two spots in the poll to No. 13, a surprising result after its 38-0 pasting of Toledo. The Buckeyes' drop had very little to do with their performance Saturday and stemmed more from USC's shocking loss to Washington. Most voters couldn't justify putting Ohio State ahead of USC after the Trojans won in Columbus on Sept. 12.

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UC climbs to 14th in latest College Football poll, OSU falls despite win...

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South Florida QB Matt Grothe out for season
ESPN
Grothe had started 41 straight games for the Bulls (3-0), who play at No. 18 Florida State this week. He became the Big East's career leader in total offense with 10,875 yards in Week 2 at Western Kentucky. He had 121 rushing yards and 512 passing yards this season.

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Reds 2010: What You See Now
John Fay, Enquirer
Jocketty always plays things close to the vest, but he indicated they are likely to go with what they’ve got, i.e., Drew Stubbs as the center fielder, Paul Janish as the shortstop and some combination of the current players in left field and at catcher. Asked if Stubbs is the center fielder for 2010, Jocketty said: "I think based on what we’ve seen, we have to give him that opportunity. We’ll see how he finishes up this year and what happens over the winter. But he’s given us a strong indication that he might be able to do that. He’s had a long test."

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Dusty Baker frustrated by season of adversity
Mark Sheldon, Reds.com
As the Reds prepare for their final road trip of the 2009 season, manager Dusty Baker is lamenting a season's worth of adversity and missed opportunities. "We're pretty close, which is indicative of the games we've played," Baker said. "I can't remember the last time we had a blowout. All the games have been close. I just wish we had everybody here playing together, having better years and not being injured."

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Rich Franklin loses UFC 103....Belfort registered a technical knockout over Cincinnatian Rich Franklin 3:02 into the first round Saturday night to win the headline bout of UFC 103 before a rabid, sold-out crowd at the American Airlines Center.

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Monday Hangover Cure....Christine

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FAIL of the day....

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Monday Food Porn...introducing Cheese-Steak Sushi

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Yo I'mma let you finish, but you gotta check out the The Kanye West Apology Generator...

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Worst ad placement you'll see today...

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So, people aren't watching Leno at 10pm....

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If the Xbox 360 was your girlfriend, she'd be an unstable, high-maintenance gold-digger....

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Today's Definition of Duh....If you are going to rap about murdering people and defiling graves, don't put the songs on your MySpace. Especially if you actually did it

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The 100 Best Video Games of All-Time
FHM

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FANTASY FOOTBALL SUNDAY....

WEEK 2 INACTIVES
1PM GAMES

Carolina at Atlanta

Minnesota at Detroit

Cincinnati at Green Bay

Arizona at Jacksonville

Oakland at KC

New England at New York Jets

New Orleans at Philadelphia

Houston at Tennessee

St. Louis at Washington

- LT is out for San Diego this week...so plan your roster accordingly...

- McNabb doubtful vs. New Orleans....

- Matt Cassel, however, looks like he'll be a gametime decision....

- Todd Heap is back for the Ravens this week....

Top 10 Week 2 Moves You MUST Make
Fox Sports

1. Start Darren Sproles....LaDainian Tomlinson is hobbled by an ankle injury, leaving backup Darren Sproles with the chance to star in his place. Last year, Sproles substituted for an injured Tomlinson in Week 2, and responded by totaling 125 yards and a touchdown. Again replacing Tomlinson at times in the opener, Sproles totaled 66 yards and a touchdown. Baltimore presents a difficult challenge, but Sproles has proven he's up to the challenge.

Players to Love / Hate in Week 2
ESPN

Players to Love
Kevin Smith, RB, Lions: I have him ranked 19th this week, which means I feel he's a starter in a 10-team, two-running back league. (Like an ESPN standard league. I'm a company man.) My fellow fantasy analysts Christopher Harris and Eric Karabell have him outside the top 20, and its against a great Vikings run defense in a game most expect the Lions to be down in … what am I thinking? Here's the thing: Smith is a huge part of the Lions' passing game (seven receptions and 10 targets last week), and if you are going to run on Minnesota, you are doing it around the edges, not up the middle. Smith can have some success doing that.

Packers D/ST: Another home game for the Packers, and Carson Palmer still doesn't look right to me. Remember, the cheese stands alone. (Pause.) Yeah, I got no idea what that means, either.

Justin Gage, WR, Titans: As seen in this week's Talented Mr. Roto pickup column. Speaking of that column, I got many angry notes about the lateness of its posting. Sorry about that. Without getting too much into it, my schedule will be better next week, and it will get written a lot sooner than it was this week.

Players to Hate:
Chad Ochocinco, WR, Bengals: I like Charles Woodson. I don't like Carson Palmer. There ya go.

Larry Johnson, RB, Chiefs: The addition of Richard Seymour makes the Oakland defensive line a lot better than in years past. This is no longer the everyone-can-run-on-them Raiders.

Randy Moss, WR, Patriots: If you have him, you obviously are starting him. I am not saying to bench him. I have him ranked at No. 7 overall, which is still a must-start stud, but I'm the lowest on him among my ranking bretheren. I list him here only because if you are playing Gridiron Challenge or another salary-cap game, your money might be better spent elsewhere. I believe Rex Ryan will put a lot of pressure on Brady and Darrelle Revis will do a solid job on Moss.

Donovan McNabb, QB, Eagles: My guess is he won't play, but if he does, I'm not starting him. Too risky this week, despite the tasty shootout matchup with the Saints.

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Fire in the zone
Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com
With Dom Capers running the show and former players Darren Perry and Kevin Greene helping him coach it, believe that the Packers defense is going to line up a lot like the Steelers on Sunday. Whether they play it as well is the great question, but here is the stat check.

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Bengals know they have to fight back....No one put Sunday's game in Green Bay in perspective better than Bengals left tackle Andrew Whitworth in a locker room Marvin Lewis decked out in T-shirts that read "Fight Back" back in the spring when he began pounding his twin themes of resiliency and redemption in 2009.

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John Thornton on Bengals vs. Packers
AllProBlogger.com
I think the Bengals bounce back at Green Bay. The Bengals don’t have to win this game, but for their whole off season to have any meaning, they need to win this game. The Packers don’t have better personnel, but they are playing well offensively. The Bengals need to come together on the road to make up for last week. The Giants at Cowboys is going to be a good game as well on Sunday Night Football. I like the Giants in that one.

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Yet Another Bengals vs. Packers preview
CBS Sports
The Bengals' offensive line will be tested by a Packers' defensive front that has played well for a while. That will mean more pressure on Carson Palmer and a challenging battle for Cedric Benson. Because Benson can put up some stats making catches, and because he's shown some good burst, he's still usable. Palmer? Not as enticing simply because his receivers have a difficult challenge going up against the Packers' corners. It is worth noting that when Chad Ochocinco has his mind set on a certain touchdown celebration at a specific stadium, he gets his wish (Ocho has promised a Lambeau leap if he scores). It would be foolish to start him on that premise alone, but you have to figure the Bengals will be playing from behind, giving him a chance to make some plays and possibly stretch a mid-area catch into a long gain. Chris Henry still has some value; his speed can test the Packers' corners. The Packers should just keep doing what they've been doing: Grind with Ryan Grant and pass effectively and efficiently. The only way Aaron Rodgers throws for 300 yards is if the Bengals keep it close, but he still could fire off a couple of touchdowns.

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AFC North Week 2 Picks
ESPN.com

Cincinnati Bengals (0-1) at Green Bay Packers (1-0), Sunday at 1 p.m.
- Analysis: I like the way the Bengals are playing defense, but have questions about their sloppiness on offense. Cincinnati plays smarter this week but winning in Lambeau is asking a lot.
- Pick: Packers, 20-17

Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0) at Chicago Bears (0-1), Sunday at 4:15 p.m.
- Analysis: Chicago’s Jay Cutler can't read defenses and Brian Urlacher (wrist) is out for the season. Take the champs coming off 10 days of rest.
- Pick: Steelers, 21-14

Cleveland Browns (0-1) at Denver Broncos (1-0), Sunday at 4:15 p.m.
- Analysis: The Browns were outmanned by the Minnesota Vikings last week, but the Broncos are more on their level. Home-field advantage makes the slight difference.
- Pick: Broncos, 16-13

Baltimore Ravens (1-0) at San Diego Chargers (1-0), Sunday at 4:15 p.m.
- Analysis: Both teams are playoff caliber. But with the favored Chargers coming off a physical game Monday and a short week, the Ravens are my upset special.
- Pick: Ravens, 21-20

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I love when national writers think Marvin could be on the hotseat....apparently they've never been to Cincinnati...

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Bearcats ready for Beavers tonight....The University of Cincinnati Bearcats know all about Oregon State’s 26-game winning streak at home against non-Pac-10 opponents. But when you win your first two games by an average score of 58-9, you tend to develop quite a bit of confidence - if not swagger - no matter who the opponent is or where the game is being played.

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UC will be without starting LB....Curtis Young is expected to miss up to six weeks for No. 17 Cincinnati after having surgery on his right knee. The senior had surgery Friday, leaving the Bearcats (2-0) without one of their best defensive playmakers Saturday at Oregon State. Young started in Cincinnati's wins over Rutgers and Southeast Missouri State, making 13 tackles with one sack.

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RedHawks need consistency at QB....So far, inconsistency has been the name of the game for Daniel Raudabaugh, Miami’s fifth-year senior quarterback. Raudabaugh has completed just 34-of-69 passes for 281 yards with four interceptions, adding up to a quarterback rating of 71.9, the worst of his four years at Miami. The RedHawks have been shut out their first two games.

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UC announces Basketball Caravan...All events during the BASKETBALL CARAVAN will be running from 6:00-8:00 p.m. with specials to Bearcats fans for the evening. The locations are as follows:

October 5......BD’s Mongolian Grill, 8655 Mason-Montgomery Rd.
October 19....Rusty Bucket, 2692 Madison Road-Rookwood Pavilion
October 26....Champions Grille-Western Hills. 5039 Crookshank Rd.
November 2 .....Gameday Café, 537 E. Pete Rose Way

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Babe of the Weekend.....Jamie Gunns...

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Weekend Food Porn...introducing Max Brenner’s Chocolate Pizza...

Pizza topped with double melted chocolate chunks, melted marshmallows and candied hazelnut crunch bits.

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10 Worst Movies to Debut at #1
COED Magazine

9. Pearl Harbor
Release Date: May 25, 2001
Opening Weekend Box Office: $59,078,912
And old-fashioned love story set against the attack on Pearl Harbor? Sadly, this wasn’t another From Here to Eternity. Instead, it was nominated for six Razzies, failed to break the $200 million mark following its big opening, and basically ruined Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett’s legitimacy for years to come. It was even one of Cuba Gooding Jr.’s lesser movies, which is saying something.

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I wish NFL referees looked more like this...

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FAIL of the weekend...

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Worst security system you'll see this weekend...

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You know how you can "like" someone's status on Facebook? Well, here are some awkward "likes."

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WTF of the weekend...courtesy of Gary Busey

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The 100 Most Iconic TV Show Intros of All-Time
Manofest

8. The A-Team

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This Weekend's Definition of Duh....Massage therapist: "I need to give you an internal massage since you haven't had previous massage work". Women clients: "Okay"

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