Bengals news & notes

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http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...190354/1066/spt

 

Wednesday, January 19, 2005

Lewis mum on Frazier firing

Coach also not ready to name new defensive coordinator

 

By Mark Curnutte

Enquirer staff writer

 

Marvin Lewis offered no additional information on why he is making a change at defensive coordinator.

 

The Bengals coach fired former coordinator Leslie Frazier on Jan. 5 and hinted in a group interview Tuesday with reporters who cover the team that he spent too much time with the defense this past season.

 

Lewis would not discuss the possible promotion of assistant coach Chuck Bresnahan to coordinator or whether he has interviewed coaches currently on staff with another team.

 

"Today actually was, by league rule, the first day you officially were able to contact a member of another coaching staff on another team," Lewis said.

 

The job description was clear, though.

 

"There's going to be continuity for the players," he said. "The players aren't going to have to change. Whoever walks in the door is going to learn from the ground up how we do it, terminology and so forth."

 

RUDI AND T.J.: Tailback Rudi Johnson and wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh can become unrestricted free agents the first week of March.

 

"In both cases, we have had good conversations with representation for both guys," Lewis said of efforts to re-sign them. "Within the next two, three weeks, we hope to have discussion from their point of view back and see where things are. As we get closer to free agency, both sides have the opportunity to explore their options further."

 

SICK BAY: Surgeries for right tackle Willie Anderson (knee) and running back Chris Perry (sports hernia) went according to plan, Lewis said. Both players are laid up right now but should begin more active rehabilitation Feb. 1.

 

Lewis also said wide receiver Peter Warrick (knee, shin) was going to have to do a better job with his injury rehabilitation this offseason than he did last year.

 

"We learned a valuable lesson last year to stay on top of things better," Lewis said of club medical contact with Warrick. "He's going to have to continue to meet us in the middle on that. I think he understands the urgency of that now."

 

HONORS: Members of the Professional Football Writers of America voted Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson All-AFC in balloting released Tuesday by Pro Football Weekly.

 

No other Bengals player was named to all-conference, all-pro or all-rookie teams.

 

Madieu Williams was third in rookie balloting at safety.

 

Former Bengals coach Dick LeBeau, defensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers, was voted assistant coach of the year.

 

SCHEDULE: The Bengals will hold their rookie minicamp the weekend immediately after the draft, April 30-May 1. The mandatory minicamp will be held on the third weekend in June, Lewis said.

 

Lewis said the team will reduce its time at training camp by about half a week and instead return to Cincinnati to train and allow players to adjust.

 

Instead of waiting until before the third preseason game to break camp at Georgetown (Ky.) College, the team probably will leave before the second preseason game.