.JPG)
2008 OSU vs. Michigan
2008 Ebony Fashion Show
Alter vs. Genoa Area
Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2008 > June > 16 > Entry
Sights & sounds at Bengals minicamp
SEEN & OVERHEARD
AT BENGALS MINICAMP
• Colorful tattoos decorate center Eric Ghiaciuc’s upper right arm and shoulder blades.
A skull is on his arm, while an eagle — wings spread — meshes with an American flag on his upper back.
It’s the handiwork of Jeff Shea at Wholeshot Tattoo in Berkley, Mich.
profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=155232183
Ghiaciuc said the skull “represents all the bad things I don’t do. It reminds me that football has been really good to me, and keeps me on a good path.”
• Third-round draft pick Andre Caldwell of Florida is clearly ahead of second-round pick Jerome Simpson of Coastal Carolina at wide receiver.
Offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said the Gators program “probably gives (Caldwell) a big advantage. He’s used to a bigger arena. But they’re both going to be fine.”
• Right guard Bobbie Williams was installed at center for several plays. Is he getting used to quarterback Carson Palmer’s gentle touch?
“I told him I was married already,” said Williams, laughing.
• While tight ends coach Jonathan Hayes punched the code to get in the locker room, he interrupted defensive tackle Domata Peko’s impromptu news conference with a question. “Can I get a loan?”
Peko had just signed a five-year extension (through 2014) worth $30.3 million with $8.5 million guaranteed.
“Sure,” Peko said. “But you’ll have to get in line.”
• Linebackers coach Jeff FitzGerald is a wild man. He runs all over the field, gets in his players’ faces and they love it.
“He’s definitely a straight-up guy,” linebacker Brandon Johnson said. “He tells you how it is. It’s either black or it’s white. There’s no gray area. He keeps us intense. He keeps us on point. Hopefully, it’ll carry over to game time.”
• Tailback DeDe Dorsey was taken off the field on a cart on Thursday, and was on crutches in the locker room. The crutches were gone on Friday, but Dorsey’s walking very gingerly.
His severely strained hamstring will keep him out until training camp, and he’ll be limited when practice at Georgetown College begins July 28.
• The punt return job looks like Antonio Chatman’s to lose. “It should be,” he said. The top backups: Cornerback Deltha O’Neal, wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh and, yes, cornerback Leon Hall.
Hall is handling punts flawlessly at minicamp.
“You can never be too prepared,” Hall said.
• Left tackle Levi Jones is sad that Baltimore’s Jonathan Ogden has retired.
“I watched a lot of film on the man,” Jones said. “Anytime I needed to know how to block a guy, he was one of the first films I put on — him blocking it and him doing it.”
• Defensive tackle John Thornton and his wife, Allison, are building a home in Indian Hill, an affluent suburb of Cincinnati.
Is the residence anywhere near club president Mike Brown and head coach Marvin Lewis?
“It’s close enough,” Thornton said. “I know where they live.”
• Fullback Jeremi Johnson is a severe case of “Fatosis.” He’s working out on the side with strength and conditioning coaches, trying to get his weight under control. He’s listed at 260 pounds, but he’s at least 300-plus.
Jeremi is so big you can show movies on his back … or butt.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Bengals
Comments