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Sports TwitterCrocker comes up big at the safety spot
- COMMENT: How should the NFL handle overtime?
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Monday, November 17, 2008
CINCINNATI — Bengals safety Chris Crocker is starting to feel a little more comfortable in the uniform number he hates — "42."
"It makes me look bigger," he said.
Nobody on the Bengals' defense was bigger than Crocker in a 13-13 tie with the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Nov. 16.
Signed as a free agent on Oct. 30 after the Miami Dolphins released him, Crocker was an emergency replacement for strong safety Chinedum Ndukwe, who suffered a foot injury at 7:41 of the first quarter against the Eagles.
Crocker registered four tackles (all solos), sacked quarterback Donovan McNabb and intercepted a McNabb pass intended for tight end L.J. Smith in the third quarter.
"One thing we can take away from this is that we need to finish games," Crocker said. "It's a young locker room, and sometimes I think we believe that we can't get over the hump. We're the best 1-8-1 team that I've ever seen. We just need to get over that hump.
"We kept fighting. Nobody quit and we played very hard. It really feels like a loss though because you don't get anything for a tie."
Crocker's transition to Cincinnati was seamless because he played for Bengals' first-year defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer last year in Atlanta. He signed in the offseason with Miami as a free agent, but the Dolphins dumped him on Oct. 21.
"Chris has come in and done a fine job," head coach Marvin Lewis said. "We were excited to get him. Mike had a great feel for him, and he was a guy that could come in and play for us with a day's work. I've been impressed with how he has gotten around the guys and become a part of the team. Obviously, he stepped up and made some plays."
Crocker wanted uniform No. 25, but cornerback Jamar Fletcher has it.
"I've been 25 my whole career," Crocker said. "It's just something that grows on you. You have it for so long. That's just your number. I'll let (Fletcher) keep it for now. Next year, I might have to steal it.
"They've got me in 42, but I'll take it for right now. I got here with eight weeks to go, so I'll suck it up. It's all right."
Comments
By islebfrank
November 18, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this
That’s 3.5 hours I’ll never get back! I would have rather seen the Bengals lose than leave this unfinished business.
If baseball never has a tie, and they play 162 games a season, then there is no excuse for the NFL stopping a game before there is a winner!
By Gravdigr
November 17, 2008 9:12 PM | Link to this
Ties are lame for the reasons posted above. Something needs to be done. I’m not sure that a faceoff with kickers is the answer. Eventually someone is going to get tired. Let it go 8 quarters. The team with the most heart will win, it may not necessarily be the best team on the field, but it will be the team that deserves it.
Btw, pittsburgh is coming, I can’t wait. Always a knock down drag out fight no matter what the stats say.
BTW I am a steelers fan, and I still fear bengals games.
By John
November 17, 2008 6:53 PM | Link to this
Overtime is “handled” OK. just as it is. Perhaps all the players should be told how it is “handled”. Ties are just a part of the game. Each team should play in such a way so as to avoid a tie.
By Ted
November 17, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this
To “Finish It” - on a humorous note, baseball only does it if it’s not an Allstar Game lol. But we definitely need to have a clear winner in any game with professional athletes!
By Cait
November 17, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this
Institute the rule the high schools and college have, but start the pros at the 40 yard line. At three OTs, they have to go for 2 if they school at TD. A hockey format could be interesting. Play a sudden death OT, as they do now, and if it’s tied at the end, then go to a shootout - each kicker starting from the 20 or 25 and moving back 5 yards until one misses.
By Michael
November 17, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this
I hate the idea of ties, but I somehow thought it was poetic in this type of a season for the Bengals.
By sam
November 17, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
Philly was lucky to have escaped with a tie..Cincy’s defense was tight…except for getting some dammm sacks…another year of spoiling some teams playoff chances,..Bring on Pittsburgh…
By Bryan
November 17, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this
No tie! These are professional athletes. The money they are being paid, and the money it costs people to go see the games, there should be a clear winner at the end of the game. If that game ends up taking all night, then I guess the players get to sleep in the next day, but it needs to be finished.
By Finish It
November 17, 2008 8:44 AM | Link to this
Play til there is a winner!! Baseball does it.