SUNDAY’S GAME
Falcons at Bengals, 1 p.m.
TV: Ch. 7, 12
Radio: 1530-AM, 102.7-FM, 104.7-FM
It’s not presidential election or Olympics rare, but a Jermaine Gresham interview is something that doesn’t happen often.
Thursday afternoon following practice, the Cincinnati Bengals’ fifth-year tight end chatted with reporters for the first time in nearly a year. He said he doesn’t hold any ill will toward the media, he’s just a private guy who would rather keep to himself.
For 10 minutes he talked about his role, the public’s perception of him and his future in Cincinnati as he begins the final year of his contract.
Gresham said he likes Cincinnati but isn’t sure how things will play out because he’s never gone into contract negotiations since being drafted in the first round (21st overall) of the 2010 draft.
“I don’t know how things go,” he said. “Right now they’ve got me signed, so I’m happy.”
Gresham was the first tight end taken in a draft stocked with talent at the position, including Rob Gronkowski (second round, 42nd overall), Jimmy Graham (third round, 95th), Aaron Hernandez (fourth round, 113th) and Dennis Pitta (fourth round, 114th).
“I’m the other tight end who everybody hates,” Gresham said. “I’m pretty used to it by now. Pretty much everybody is disappointed that I’m not what certain people are. It is what it is, and I accept that.
“I would like to do a lot of things. I would like to be loved by a lot more people, but it’s just the nature of the sport,” he continued. “It comes and goes. It just is what it is. I’m paid very well and I have no complaints about it. It comes with the nature of the game. I’m OK with it.”
Gresham has never been used as a primary recevier the way many of the others have, and that’s not going to change as long as the Bengals have A.J. Green, Marvin Jones, Mohamed Sanu and the like.
New offensive coordinator Hue Jackson opened the season with a lot of two-tight end sets last week at Baltimore, but the gameplan and possibly the season plans changed when Tyler Eifert went down early with an elbow injury that will sideline him until at least Nov. 6.
On the surface, Eifert’s absence could create more opportunities for Gresham. But he said he doesn’t see it playing out that way.
“I don’t see much changing,” Gresham said. “We’re just down one great player. Things are going to be the same. I don’t see myself getting any more than I normally would or anything like that. He brought something to the team that’s definitely going to be missed. We just have to find it another way until he gets back.”
Practice report: Defensive tackle Geno Atkins (feet) returned to practice in limited fashion after sitting out Wednesday, but wide receiver A.J. Green (foot) watched from the sideline after being limited Wednesday.
Green’s injury is not believed to be anything that will keep him from playing Sunday, but it will be worth monitoring today.
Linebacker Vontaze Burfict (concussion) missed his second consecutive practice. The NFL concussion protocol is a nebulous procedure, so it’s possible Burfict could clear all hurdles by Sunday. But it doesn’t look promising.
Running back Rex Burkhead (knee) and linebacker Sean Porter (hamstring) also missed practice. Left tackle Andrew Whitworth and left guard Clint Boling took the day off but are not injured.
Defensive end Carlos Dunlap (hamstring) and cornerback Terence Newman (groin) were limited, while cornerback Darqueze Dennard (hip), defensive end Margus Hunt (ribs), right tackle Andre Smith (shoulder), wide receiver James Wright (concussion) and guard/center Mike Pollak (knee) were full participants.
TV time: The Bengals announced Thursday they had reached the 85-percent threshold of non-premium tickets sold, which means Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons will be televised locally.
Normally FOX carries games in which NFC teams are the visitors, but CBS has picked up the contest as a crossflex game, which means it will air locally at 1 p.m. on Channel 7 in Dayton and Channel 12 in Cincinnati.
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