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Award-winning columnist Tom Archdeacon — an old-school storyteller in a brand-new venue — writes about sports, the city, southwest Ohio and anything else that catches his fancy… or yours.Home > Blogs > Through the Arch > Archives > 2009 > October > 18 > Entry
Bengals’ Odom Lost for Season
CINCINNATI — Antwan Odom has been lost for the season.
A few hours after the game, Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis finally confirmed what two of us who talked to the the team’s star defensive end right after the game had suspected: Odom had ruptured his right Achilles tendon in the first quarter of the Bengals’ 28-17 upset loss to Houston, Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium.
You sensed the severity of the situation as soon as you stepped into the Cincinnati dressing room just minutes after the game.
Odom — who came into the game leading the NFL, along with Denver’s Elvis Dumervil, with eight sacks — was in front of his locker, leaning heavily on a set of silver crutches. He had a padded blue walking boot on his right foot.
His right Achilles tendon was shredded, his spirit crushed.
Jay Hayes was huddled with him and then — after patting the 280-pound lineman on the cheek and saying softly “Hang in there,” — the Bengals defensive line coach turned and left.
When we approached him — the rest of the media corps was just leaving coach Marvin Lewis’ post-game comments and never got to him — Odom whispered:
“I really don’t feel like it — I hope you understand.”
He was struggling to control his emotions — and his crutches — and once he got himself turned around, he maneuvered slowly across the dressing room to the training room.
Several of the Bengals players watched him depart. From the far corner of the room — where several linebackers dress — someone blurted out an expletive of frustration,
“He’s our best player on the line,” said Bengals defensive tackle Tank Johnson, who plays right next to him.
And that’s why the biggest loss of the day may not be the one to the Texans. It could be losing Odom — the heart and soul of the Bengals resurgent defense — for the year.
Odom had started the game as a defensive terror once again.
On the Texans fifth offensive play, he overwhelmed the young guy blocking him — tackle Duane Brown — and then chased Texans quarterback Matt Schaub out of the pocket on a third-down play and forced him to throw an incompletion. On the very next play, he blocked Kris Brown’s 28-yard field goal attempt.
But on the Texans’ next possession, Odom was hurt when he was flattened by a delayed — and likely unseen — block on what ended up being a 12-yard touchdown pass from Schaub to Owen Daniels.
As Odom lay on the field, players began to congregate around him — not just Bengals, but some Texans, too. Finally, a motorized cart appeared and he was helped onto it and driven slowly off the field.
The sixth-year lineman was hampered much of last season with injuries. He missed the entire preseason with foot problems and then missed four game’s at year’s end with a shoulder injury.
“Any time you see a cart come out, you know it isn’t good,” said Tank Johnson. “We all know injuries are part of the game, but it doesn’t make them any easier to see happen in front of you.”
Odom’s loss — along with the temporary loss to another starter in the defensive front, tackle Domata Peko, who wrenched his knee — were felt immediately by the Bengals.
Cincinnati was unable to pressure Schaub for most of the rest of the game and he picked the Bengals apart, completing 28 of 40 passes for 392 yards and four touchdowns.
“When you lose Antwan — having him out of the game — that was huge for them because he’s a big-time pass rusher coming off the edge,” said Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer.
The loss ended the Bengals’ four-game winning streak and drops them to 4-2 and tied with Pittsburgh for the lead in the AFC North.
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Comments
By Patman
October 20, 2009 3:54 AM | Link to this
Excuse #5,653,859 for the Bengals and thier fans to use when they lose a game this season and don’t make the playoffs (again). Bengal fans, hearing this is getting old.
By Just play the game
October 19, 2009 11:07 PM | Link to this
The season is not over there plenty of football left to be played. 53 man roster will be filled. Injuries happen next week it will be someone else hopefully not from the Bengals. Get well Mr. Odom take your time ….
By William
October 19, 2009 4:55 PM | Link to this
Anybody thinking 8-8 now instead of 10-6?
By JMo
October 19, 2009 4:41 PM | Link to this
Antwan was the hardest working dude in that locker room and it was showing this season. I feel bad for the guy, it sucks. Now the rest of the team has to decide to either fold like a chair or man up and soldier on. Somebody’s got to p/u the slack, coaching staff included. Zim’s going to have to get creative with pressure schemes now. Fanene and Rucker are really going to be counted on heavily. I hope they come through.
By Mike B.
October 19, 2009 1:26 PM | Link to this
Dear Roidrage, Save your money (if you actually have any) because we don’t want foul-mouthed, beer swilling, jerks like you at the stadium with us real fans anyway. It sounds to me like you would make a good Steeler’s Fan. Move to Pittsburgh.
By Mike B.
October 19, 2009 1:19 PM | Link to this
It’s nice that gutless people can hide behind fake names and make accusations in a public forum like this. It gives them a chance to spread their bull*t opinions without risk of prosecution. Hey “Roidrage”, your comments are what they call Slander. I bet you wouldn’t say them to Odom’s face. I would buy a ticket for that show.
By Mark
October 19, 2009 11:16 AM | Link to this
Hate to see anything like that when he was having a great start to the year with 5 scaks already. Hoping for a speedy recovery for next year.
By dale1
October 19, 2009 11:03 AM | Link to this
Roidrage - every lineman in the NFL uses Steriods. Blame the NFL not GM Brown.
By chelsea
October 19, 2009 10:58 AM | Link to this
excuse me why are you saying he took steroids?? do u have any proof of this??
By roidrage
October 19, 2009 10:45 AM | Link to this
Well, when you abuse your body with massive amounts of harmful steroids over a very short period of time - the off season … forcing your frame to handle 35 pounds of muscle - things are going to tear, shred and pop. I’m sure GM Brown will now make a key trade to keep this good defense going. When he does, I’ll buy a ticket!
By Roidrage
October 19, 2009 10:44 AM | Link to this
Well, when you abuse your body with massive amounts of harmful steroids over a very short period of time - the off season … forcing your frame to handle 35 pounds of muscle - things are going to tear, shred and pop. I’m sure GM Brown will now make a key trade to keep this good defense going. When he does, I’ll buy a ticket!
By Shane
October 19, 2009 10:06 AM | Link to this
What a shock! Typical Bengals luck. This is the worst luck team in the NFL every season.