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Cincinnati Bengals...
Hall
on target for summer camp - NFL call on Jones
bengals.com
Bengals cornerback Leon Hall says he’d be shocked if he went on the
physically unable to perform list (PUP) and said he believes he’ll take
the first snap of practice at training camp on July 27.
Before the first Bengals practice of the mandatory minicamp Tuesday,
Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis stopped just short of confirming it,
but said Hall’s rehab has exceeded expectations.
Hall has rebounded well enough from his Nov. 15 surgery for a torn
Achilles that he says he’s virtually done everything but put on the
helmet. For the past two weeks he’s been mirroring the moves of the
defense on the side, including the all-important backpedal, under
director of rehab Nick Cosgray’s gaze.
“I can do anything he asks of me,” Hall said. “I have confidence in my
Achilles for the most part. The Achilles is strong enough. I just
mentally have to believe it and just do it.”
The NFL, which banned Bengals cornerback Adam Jones five years ago for
a season because of his legal problems, has called on him to help it
advise the league’s youth at the rookie symposium later this month in
Cleveland.
Jones said before Tuesday’s mandatory minicamp practice that he’ll
participate in a panel discussion every day of the event, June 25-28,
and is already preparing what he’ll say.
“The message is, this is not a joke. At the end of the day you have to
treat it like a business,” he said. “And you’re a business owner and
every decision you make is a reflection of you.”
Even though his most veteran receiver has just 65 NFL catches as a
rookie, Lewis gets upset when asked if he’s worried about the lack of
experience at wideout. Not, apparently, when that guy is Pro Bowl
rookie A.J. Green, a guy that on Tuesday Lewis very nearly called the
best receiver in the league.
“Why would we be more concerned this year about the lack of
experience?” he asked. “I really don’t understand that. It seems like
last year we had a lack of experience. Now we may have the best
receiver—one of the best receivers—in the National Football League, so
we’re in pretty good shape there.
“We’ve got that big stature back at wideout, which we feel is
important. They’re big, fast guys. They’re strong catching the
football, strong at the point.”
» Lewis says tight end Jermaine Gresham’s experience at the Pro Bowl
last year has been huge for him: “He’s a different man. He’s very, very
confident in himself.”
» When Lewis walked into a crowded media room Tuesday, he wondered,
“Are we breaking news?”
“Only if you signed an extension,” said a reporter of Lewis’s contract
that is up at the end of the season.
“No,” Lewis said.
» The Bengals opened their three-day, three-practice minicamp Tuesday
with 85 players and it won’t be much different than what has transpired
in the voluntary workouts.
All players have been here either practicing or rehabbing and the only
difference is that they are allowed more time on the field, so the
schedule looks more like a regular-season practice day. Head coach
Marvin Lewis plans to conduct morning walkthroughs and afternoon
practices Tuesday and Wednesday before Thursday morning’s final
workout.
» When the Bengals report to camp July 27 they can have up to 90
players.
» With the retirement of Hines Ward earlier this year and Derrick Mason
earlier this week, old friend Chad Ochocinco becomes the most prolific
wide receiver the Bengals face this season when the Dolphins play a 1
p.m. game on Oct. 7 at Paul Brown Stadium.
The Ocho, who secured a one-year deal in his hometown of Miami on
Monday, is 26th on the all-time list with 11,059 yards as he begins his
12th season. Ward is 18th with 12,083 in 14 seasons and Mason 19th with
12,061 in 15 years.
The Ocho had 10,789 of those yards during his 10 seasons in Cincinnati.
In 11 of his seasons, Mason played in the Bengals division and along
with Ward there has to be place for him on their all-opponent list.
According to Elias, in 24 games against Cincinnati, Mason had 86
catches for 1,176 yards with nine TDs and a 13.7-yard average.
“There’s no downside for them,” said Lewis of the Dolphins signing The
Ocho. “He was obvuously a great player when he was here.”
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