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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 > November > 12 > Entry
Chad to The Chickster: ‘Grab a chair; I haven’t talked to you in a while, stud’
OCHO CINCO REMAINS
ON HIS BEST BEHAVIOR
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco was seated at his locker, chowing down on Tilapia Fish in a sweet-and-sour sauce and asparagus.
The fish is low in fat and perfect for grilling. Ocho Cinco wishes it would give him a few more receptions for a few more yards and a few more victories.
“Grab a chair. I haven’t talked to you in a while, stud.”
Yes, he was speaking to me — Chick Ludwig, Bengals beat writer for the Dayton Daily News, and author of the LUDWIG AT LARGE blog at DaytonDailyNews.com
Our conversation:
Q. How are you?
A. I feel great. To be 1-8 — and you already know how I am — I feel great. Not to blow up, and this is week 11, to this point. I feel great. I’ve been positive about everything. I feel excited. I’m playing this game like we’re 8-1, not 1-8. I’m approaching it the same way every week. There’s really not much I can do about our situation except play to the best of my ability, and do the things I can to help this offense, and not be a distraction because the offseason was enough.
Q. You’re four catches away form 600. Does that mean anything to you?
A. Not a damn thing. We’ve sucked across the board this year offensively. I mean, horrible. Have we gotten one deep ball this year? No, and it’s been 11 weeks. Last year, we went off. That’s the difference in winning games. Those explosive plays, for one, puts us in field goal position or you’re going to score. Or sometimes when you go deep it is a touchdown. It makes a big difference.
Q. What variables go into a deep pass play?
A. A lot goes into it. We’ve got to be right. His (quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick’s) steps have got to be right. It just hasn’t been there all year. Even when 9 (quarterback Carson Palmer) was playing, it still wasn’t where it should be. It just ain’t been right.
Q. The Bengals are the only team to play both the Titans and Giants at this point in the season. How good are their DBs?
A. Very exposeable. But they do what they do so freaking well. That front four that they’ve both got is ridiculous. That ain’t fair. That’s like an all-star defensive front which makes it easy for their secondary. If you can block the front four, you can eat the secondary up. You can eat it up. They’re human. But with the damn pressure they put on in the front, you can play DB with a cigar. I give the edge to the Giants. They might be a little more talented with Aaron Ross, Corey Webster and Sam Madison. They have more talent. But Cortland Finnegan and Nick Harper are good. They’re very good.
Q. The Bengals players say all they’ve needed is one victory, and more will come. True?
A. Yep. And we’re going to prove it week in and week out against quality teams, not just anybody. We’re going to prove it every week.
Q. Did you know the Bengals are 3-0 all-time at home against the Eagles and lead the series, 7-3?
A. Seriously? That’s a good thing. But they have big talent — 5 (Donovan McNabb), 36 (Brian Westbrook) and 10 (DeSean Jackson).
Q. Are you upset about your production (37 catches, 349 yards, 4 TDs)?
A. Nah. For what? We know what I can do. We all know. People around the league know why. It’s no secret. We know why my numbers aren’t the same. It ain’t no one-man show. I’m not getting it done without them over there (the offensive line). I’m not getting it done with him down there (Carson Palmer). That’s the way it goes.
Q. Are you playing to your maximum?
A. Ain’t nothing wrong with me. I wish they would try to use that. Please. Turn the film on and watch me doing jumping jacks. I’m going to play my tail off like always. You know that. Remember: I’m playing like we’re 8-1, not 1-8.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Bengals
Comments
By blindeye
November 12, 2008 9:15 PM | Link to this
Boy this season must be wearing Chad out. A four time AFC yardage leader has just a little over 300 yards midway thru the season. The prospects for the remainder of the season don’t look favorable either. I think that they will be lucky to win one more game. I know that Palmer got injured and that has a big effect on the team and I can’t help but wonder if Palmer got injured because the team wasn’t fully ready to play football when the season started. I blame the whole season on the head coach.By Brian
November 12, 2008 11:04 PM | Link to this
Ahh, passive aggressive Chad, embracing the joy of losing with lustful vigor. I guess once you’ve accepted the futility of ever escaping “The Monster/Redeemer” you might as well kick back and enjoy the catering.By psychostats
November 13, 2008 12:08 AM | Link to this
I see Chad is starting to pick up on Chick-Speak. That really scares me. I can see it now — the opponents are struck silly when they hear 85 trash talkin’ with, “Make Love, Not War; Give Peace a Chance; and Strawberry Fields Forever.”By Connie
November 13, 2008 7:04 AM | Link to this
Chad is an adult playing professional football, making millions of dollars, and we have to write an article on him because he is being a good boy!By Lisa
November 13, 2008 1:34 PM | Link to this
I know Chad regrets not fighting harder to get off the awful team. He’s too good for this assemby of misfits…and leading the way for the team’s underperformance is Carson Palmer. Given the tough economic times the country is facing, the Bengals should definitely part ways with that joke of a QB.By Bob V
November 14, 2008 12:33 AM | Link to this
Every time I see a shot of Chad or TJ with that blank stare, watching the final minutes click off the clock of another loss, I think about their absence at the voluntary work outs, and lack of commitment and participation in the off season. They are reaping what they sowed. They need to go back and find the approach they had when they weren’t quite sure they were good enough to stay on this team. Whatever happened to the attitude that prompted Chad and Carson, in an effort to get better, travel to Indy during the bye week to watch in their words the best quarterback and receiver combo in the league? Winning is about personal commitment and personal effort. Your results are generally indicative of your effort. They have both lost another year of their careers chasing that elusive ring with only their pocketbooks to take with them. If losing is still a disappointment they need to re-evaluate their commitment and leadership to this team. While TJ wasn’t the distraction that Chad was during the off season his absence was well noted around the locker room….. Chad you still need to fire your agent for the advice you got during the off season.