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Graham not fazed by Smith
Monday, December 24, 2007
CINCINNATI — Bengals kicker Shayne Graham and Cleveland Browns defensive end Shaun Smith won't be exchanging holiday greeting cards this year.
Both were involved in a heated war of words after Graham's 38-yard field goal for a 6-0 Bengals' lead with five minutes, four seconds left in the second quarter Sunday.
Extras
As Graham threw his arms in the air, signaling his field goal was "good," ex-Bengal Smith approached him. Standing facemask to facemask, Graham gave Smith a shove.
"I blame (Graham) for the reason we lost last year and didn't make the playoffs," Smith said. "That's why I have so much — how do you say it? — hatred toward him. It is what it is. I'm on to bigger and better things."
Was Smith serious?
"Yeah," he said. "I blame him. All he had to do was get the snap and kick the ball (against Pittsburgh in the 2006 regular-season finale) and we'd have been in the playoffs. I said the usual stuff I always say. I try to get guys ticked off during the game."
Graham brushed off the encounter as no big deal.
"Everybody likes to get pumped up during the game," he said. "It was the heat of the moment. I don't understand what was being said on the field anyway. It's too loud."
Record setter
Graham's 38 yarder smashed into the top of the right upright, bounced left and fell over the crossbar.
It was his club-record 30th field goal of the season, breaking the old mark of 29 set by Doug Pelfrey in 1995.
"That's probably the most suspenseful finish to a kick I've ever had," Graham said. "Of the millions I've kicked over the years in practice, high school, college and the pros, I've never seen one do that. To see it in a game was kind of cool and for that to be the record breaker was cool, too."
The only mistake
Kenny Watson rushed 30 times for 130 yards and a TD, but fumbled with 1:48 to play at Cleveland's 17, giving the Browns one last chance.
"I've just got to do a better job of taking care of the football, especially in those situations, and put two hands on the ball down there," he said. "We could've put the game away. They were coming from everywhere. You knew they were going to try and strip it."
Why not kick?
Leading 19-0 just before halftime, the Bengals failed to convert a two-point conversion. Carson Palmer completed a pass to Watson, who was tackled short of the goal line. Why not kick the extra point and go ahead 20-0?
"We wanted a chance to be up by three touchdowns," head coach Marvin Lewis said. "We had the momentum, and I thought it was a good time."
Quote machine
"We didn't want any hats being pulled out of boxes and no cigars being broken out. Not here." — Shayne Graham
