12-19-2015, 02:59 PM
By Jim Owczarski, Cincinnati.com
The Enquirer takes a deep dive into NFL history and finds that the Bengals are looking to do something very rare - continue their Super Bowl dream with a backup quarterback.
The speeches began immediately.
With Most Valuable Player Candidate Andy Dalton standing on the sidelines in a black T-shirt, black baseball hat and with a black cast on his right hand, left tackle Andrew Whitworth called up the offense on the sidelines Sunday afternoon at Paul Brown Stadium. He challenged his teammates to play at a higher level to help AJ McCarron fill the void.
That message remained consistent through Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis’ post-game speech, and in position group meetings on Monday. Move forward. Do what we do. Keep the train rolling.
“You gotta almost have a bedside manner, like a doctor,” said former Baltimore Ravens head coach and Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Brian Billick. “You walk in and you’re calm and well, we’re OK, you’re going to be OK, this is what we’ll do.”
Despite the public facing statements, or even the comments between the team and coaches, undoubtedly there were the private thoughts among the team Sunday on the sideline – private moments alone in a closed-door office, which maybe only the years can open.
“It’s almost like your heart kind of drops in your lap,” said former Ohio State quarterback Mike Tomczak, who as a second-year player was forced into a similar situation in Chicago in 1986.
Billick was more blunt.
“It’s ‘oh my God we’re f-----.”
Full Article
The Enquirer takes a deep dive into NFL history and finds that the Bengals are looking to do something very rare - continue their Super Bowl dream with a backup quarterback.
The speeches began immediately.
With Most Valuable Player Candidate Andy Dalton standing on the sidelines in a black T-shirt, black baseball hat and with a black cast on his right hand, left tackle Andrew Whitworth called up the offense on the sidelines Sunday afternoon at Paul Brown Stadium. He challenged his teammates to play at a higher level to help AJ McCarron fill the void.
That message remained consistent through Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis’ post-game speech, and in position group meetings on Monday. Move forward. Do what we do. Keep the train rolling.
“You gotta almost have a bedside manner, like a doctor,” said former Baltimore Ravens head coach and Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Brian Billick. “You walk in and you’re calm and well, we’re OK, you’re going to be OK, this is what we’ll do.”
Despite the public facing statements, or even the comments between the team and coaches, undoubtedly there were the private thoughts among the team Sunday on the sideline – private moments alone in a closed-door office, which maybe only the years can open.
“It’s almost like your heart kind of drops in your lap,” said former Ohio State quarterback Mike Tomczak, who as a second-year player was forced into a similar situation in Chicago in 1986.
Billick was more blunt.
“It’s ‘oh my God we’re f-----.”
Full Article
