Commentary: Camaraderie, focus ‘a good sign’ for Bengals

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By Chick Ludwig, Staff Writer Updated 12:22 AM Friday, June 19, 2009

The last time I saw a Bengals player leave his position group in the locker room and approach another position group was 2005 when quarterback Jon Kitna left his cozy corner to play cards with the running backs during lunch.

Now I’m seeing outside linebacker Keith Rivers speaking with right guard Bobbie Williams and middle linebacker Dhani Jones talking to defensive tackle Tank Johnson.

The Queen City Kitties are actually crossing the Line of Demarcation and communicating with one another. What gives?

“The most pleasant thing has been the atmosphere here,” offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said on Thursday, June 18 — Day One of minicamp at Paul Brown Stadium. “It’s been very upbeat.

“I’ve had players — guys who have been here a while — mention to me that there’s a very serious focus and intensity to everybody that they haven’t felt in a while. That’s a good sign.”

A humbling, embarrassing 4-11-1 record shook the team to its core in 2008. It was a wake-up call, a signal that talent doesn’t matter when it’s neither cohesive nor consistent.

From the depths of third place in the AFC North Division, a motto for 2009 was born — “Fight Back!” It’ll appear on players’ T-shirts soon.

“There’s an awareness of what we did last season wasn’t good enough,” head coach Marvin Lewis said. “This is a group of guys who are very proud and know where they want to be. Let’s just stay below this radar and keep doing things the way we want to do ’em. We don’t need to talk about it, We’ve got to go prove it.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253 or cludwig@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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