CINCINNATI, OH — The Cincinnati Bengals  officially announced this afternoon that the home game this Sunday is NOT a sellout and will be blacked out.

This is the first time in seven years that the team has not sold all the tickets to a home game.  The team [...]]]> By M.Bowman / Staff Contributor and Wire Reports

CINCINNATI, OH — The Cincinnati Bengals  officially announced this afternoon that the home game this Sunday is NOT a sellout and will be blacked out.

This is the first time in seven years that the team has not sold all the tickets to a home game.  The team will not say how many tickets are still available for the game.

The team is playing the Buffalo Bills at Paul Brown Stadium at 1 p.m.

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Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kelvin Hayden, right, celebrates as he scores a touchdown in front of Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jordan Shipley on a 31-yard interception-return in the first quarter.

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts don’t need Peyton Manning playing at an MVP level to win every game.

On Sunday, they found an old-fashioned formula [...]]]> Associated Press

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kelvin Hayden, right, celebrates as he scores a touchdown in front of Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jordan Shipley on a 31-yard interception-return in the first quarter.

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts don’t need Peyton Manning playing at an MVP level to win every game.

On Sunday, they found an old-fashioned formula — defense and turnovers — works just fine.

The Colts overcame Manning’s season-low 185 yards by scoring 17 points off five Cincinnati turnovers and stopped the Bengals twice in the final 2 minutes, 40 seconds to preserve a 23-17 victory Sunday.

“That’s the way it has been with this team over the years,” defensive end Dwight Freeney said. “We find ways to win games like this. We needed to do that today, and we did.”

The injury-depleted Colts (6-3) retook sole possession of the AFC South lead thanks to Tennessee’s loss at Miami.

But it certainly wasn’t pretty.

The four-time league MVP completed 20 of 36 yet had the lowest yardage total of any game he’s finished since Nov. 30, 2008 at Cleveland. His quarterback rating of 69.8 marked the first time he’s had sub-70 ratings in successive weeks since November 2007 and for the second time this season, Manning didn’t throw a touchdown.

The explanation: He’s working with some new parts.

Indy played again without All-Pro tight end Dallas Clark, running back Joseph Addai, short-yardage specialist Mike Hart and receivers Anthony Gonzalez and Austin Collie.

And all those absences finally caught up to the Colts, whose only offensive touchdown came on a 3-yard run from undrafted rookie Javarris James.

“We had chances to put the game possibly out of reach and we did not do that,” Manning said, referring to the offensive struggles. “Fortunately our defense was able to hang on there at the end.”

The defense played well all day.

Cornerback Kelvin Hayden scored on a 31-yard interception return. Backup linebacker Tyjuan Hagler nearly scored on another pick and Antonio Johnson’s fumble recovery set up Adam Vinatieri for a short field goal late in the first quarter.

Meanwhile, nothing went right for the Bengals (2-7).

Carson Palmer was 31 of 42 for 287 yards with two TD passes, three interceptions and three sacks. Cedric Benson ran 14 times for 24 yards and lost a fumble that led to one field goal.

Chad Ochocinco caught seven passes for 86 yards and one score but finished the game with a sore left shoulder.

“I just hit the floor; it just popped out,” he said. “It does the same thing every year. Nothing new.”

Even rookie Jermaine Gresham’s best NFL game, nine catches for 85 yards and the TD catch that got the Bengals within 23-17 with 2:35 was tarnished. He lost the fumble that cost Cincinnati its best chance to win, at the Colts’ 34, with 2:33 to go after the Bengals had recovered an onside kick.

Manning improved to 7-0 against the Bengals, who found themselves following a familiar script during this six-game losing streak.

“Everybody needs to be on the same page, like an old married couple,” Ochocinco said. “Like a man being able to say a sentence and your wife being able to finish it off. The more we’re on the same page, the easier it is.”

It wasn’t easy for Palmer & Co. on Sunday.

When Palmer and Terrell Owens had a first-quarter miscommunication, Hayden jumped the route, grabbed the ball and sprinted 31 yards for a 10-0 lead.

Benson lost a fumble on the Bengals next offensive play, and James capped the seven-play drive with his scoring run to make it 17-0.

Finally, the Bengals started correcting things.

Mike Nugent booted a short field goal, and a beautiful double toe-tap from Ochocinco for a 5-yard score got Cincinnati within 17-10 with 1:06 left in the first half.

It was too much time for Manning, who set up Vinatieri for a 47-yard field goal as time expired.

“That was huge,” Indy coach Jim Caldwell said.

Indy nearly sealed the win when officials ruled Hagler scored on a 45-yard interception return early in the fourth quarter, but Lewis contended Hagler was down by contact at the Bengals 10 and won the challenge.

So the Colts settled for another field goal to make it 23-10.

Cincinnati answered with the 19-yard score from Palmer to Gresham and got the ball twice in the final 2:40, but fumbled it away the first time. Palmer was sacked twice the second time and Ochocinco dropped the final pass of the day — a fitting end to an ugly game.

“We just have to keep working and find a way to score more points and keep our defense out of those pressure situations,” Manning said. “They came up big all day and we have to try and do our part.”

Game notes
Vinatieri’s first field goal Sunday gave him 1,600 career points. … Ochocinco’s first-half TD catch gave him 65 career scores, breaking a tie with James Brooks (64) for second in franchise history. Only Pete Johnson (70) has more. … Reggie Wayne caught three passes for 34 yards, joining former teammate Marvin Harrison as the only players in league history to top the 10,000-yard receiving mark with one quarterback. … Nugent was carried off the field by his teammates after hurting his knee on the onside kick. Lewis did not have details about the injury but said it did not look good.

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Complicating the physical concerns are the financial issues. The Bengals have to decide this offseason if they want to exercise a $5 million option in his deal that would make it a six-year contract or decline it and keep it at four years.

CINCINNATI, OH — In his [...]]]> By M.Bowman / Staff Contributor and Wire Reports

Complicating the physical concerns are the financial issues. The Bengals have to decide this offseason if they want to exercise a $5 million option in his deal that would make it a six-year contract or decline it and keep it at four years.

CINCINNATI, OH — In his second season, right tackle Andre Smith has broken his left foot for the second time and indications are he could be headed to season-ending surgery as soon as next week.

But on Thursday, Jim Gould, who represents Smith along with Alvin Keels, said no decision on surgery has been made.

“It’s early in the process,” Gould said. “It’s a possibility. We all have to talk. Alvin, the family, the doctors, and see what is the best course of action.”

On Wednesday during a pass protection set, Smith suffered a stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal, the bone on the outside of the foot and next to the fourth metatarsal that he broke last season and had surgically repaired in January.

No matter what, it looks like his season is done. The procedure would shelve him for six to eight months. Head coach Marvin Lewis pronounced Smith out for Sunday’s game with Dennis Roland getting the start. Even when he broke his foot 12 days before the opener on Sept. 1 and didn’t have the surgery, Smith didn’t return to practice until eight weeks later.

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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tom Brady survived a frightening car crash, signed a rich contract and ended his week with what he wants most: a win.

The quarterback who makes headlines on and off the field threw two of his three touchdown passes to Wes Welker, who returned after a speedy recovery from a serious [...]]]> Associated Press

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tom Brady survived a frightening car crash, signed a rich contract and ended his week with what he wants most: a win.

The quarterback who makes headlines on and off the field threw two of his three touchdown passes to Wes Welker, who returned after a speedy recovery from a serious knee injury, and led the New England Patriots to a 38-24 opening win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

“I’m glad it’s over,” Brady said, “but it was a good week.”

It was pretty special for Welker, too. He caught eight passes for 64 yards less than nine months after tearing a knee ligament in the final game last season and less than eight months after surgery. Many doubted he’d be back for the opener, but he and Brady were confident.

“I had pretty much instilled it in my mind that I would be back,” Welker said. “I still have a ways to go. … I have this stupid knee brace I hate. I can’t wait to burn it. We’re getting there, slowly but surely.”

He had the most impact of any receiver, surpassing the Bengals’ new much-hyped tandem of Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens, who combined for 19 receptions for 212 yards and a touchdown.

Brady and Welker worked out together on the West Coast in the offseason.

“I spent a lot of time with him,” Brady said. “I knew in February or March that he was going to be back on the field on opening day.”

For a time after Thursday’s accident, there was some concern among fans whether Brady would be there. But he quickly called the Patriots after the accident near his home in Boston to say he was OK and would be late for meetings.

“It’s a scary thing,” Brady said. “Fortunately, I was OK. Hopefully, the people in the other car are recovering quickly.”

Later that day, he agreed to a four-year extension worth $72 million. The annual average of $18 million is the highest of any NFL player.

“I’m more excited about the win,” Brady said. “Contracts take care of themselves.”

On Sunday, the Patriots’ dominance was complete as they also scored on defense with Gary Guyton’s 59-yard interception return and on special teams on Brandon Tate’s 97-yard runback of the second-half kickoff.

“Obviously, you allow a kickoff return for a touchdown and an interception return for a touchdown, that’s hard to overcome,” Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis said. “It’s hard to see through the muck, but there were some positives.”

Not many for his defense, though.

“We weren’t ourselves today,” Bengals cornerback Leon Hall said. “Today was really unacceptable.”

Welker led the NFL with 346 receptions the past three years, the last coming on Jan. 3 in the regular-season finale at Houston. He hurt his knee on the play and missed New England’s 33-14 first-round playoff loss to Baltimore.

The Ravens led that game 24-0 in Gillette Stadium. On Sunday in the same stadium, the Patriots led the Bengals by the same score.

New England quickly boosted a 24-3 halftime lead to 31-3 on Tate’s touchdown.

Cincinnati cut that to 31-17 on Carson Palmer’s scoring passes of 1 yard to rookie tight end Jermaine Gresham midway through the third quarter and 28 yards to Ochocinco with 22 seconds remaining in the period.

Then, Brady regained control by leading a 14-play, 81-yard march that was capped by a 1-yard scoring pass to Rob Gronkowski, another rookie tight end. It was his first pro touchdown and, before lining up to block for the extra point, he handed the ball to Brady for safekeeping on the sideline.

Brady completed 25 of 35 passes for 258 yards. Palmer, forced to throw because of the big deficit, finished 34 for 50 for 345 yards and two touchdowns. Ochocinco had 12 catches for 159 yards, and Owens added seven receptions for 53 yards.

“Apologies to Cincy fans,” Owens tweeted, “tough loss today, only week 1, we’ve a long season ahead, all of you be blessed, 1 luv.”

Cedric Benson scored on a 1-yard run for Cincinnati with 3:57 left in the game.

While the Patriots’ offense was expected to be strong, the young defense was suspect but was very stingy in the first half. The Bengals’ first five possessions ended with three punts, a lost fumble and Guyton’s touchdown that made it 24-0 with 5:38 left in the half.

On their first offensive play, Palmer threw about 35 yards down the left sideline toward Owens. Rookie cornerback Devin McCourty, a first-round draft pick, stayed with him step for step and broke up the play.

“Devin is a real mature kid,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “He’s still got a lot to learn, but he’s done a good job for us.”

On the Patriots’ first offensive play, Welker caught a 5-yard pass over the middle. He ended that drive with a 9-yard touchdown. Stephen Gostkowski’s 32-yard field goal made it 10-0, and Welker struck again with a 4-yard scoring catch about 6 minutes into the second quarter.

“I feel like it was just another game,” Welker said. “You go out there preparing and, you know, ‘This is the big comeback or whatever,’ but for me it was just going out there and playing and be out there with my teammates and trying to contribute to a win.”

Game notes

Welker has at least six catches in 27 of his last 31 games. … Brady is 8-1 in season openers. … Owens became the third receiver in NFL history with 15,000 yards receiving. His seven catches for 53 yards gave him 1,013 receptions for 15,004 yards.

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Jordan Palmer #5 of the Cincinnati Bengals throws a pass during the NFL preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts

INDIANAPOLIS — Cedric Peerman made the kind of play a fourth-string running back needs to get his coach’s attention in the final preseason game.

His 93-yard touchdown run in the third quarter helped the [...]]]> Associated Press

Jordan Palmer #5 of the Cincinnati Bengals throws a pass during the NFL preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts

INDIANAPOLIS — Cedric Peerman made the kind of play a fourth-string running back needs to get his coach’s attention in the final preseason game.

His 93-yard touchdown run in the third quarter helped the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Indianapolis Colts 30-28 on Thursday night.

Peerman burst up the middle, then got loose down the right sideline on a second-and-10 just as the relatively quiet Indianapolis crowd started getting into the game. The score gave the Bengals a 13-6 lead.

Peerman finished with 100 yards rushing and had a 50-yard kickoff return. His touchdown run made the kind of mark he was hoping to leave.

“That shows the speed we know he’s got,” Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. “That was the thing Cedric had coming out of Virginia a year ago. It kind of got him elevated in the draft. We know he can do it. He’s been an impressive guy for us.”

Jordan Palmer completed 10 of 14 passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns for the Bengals (3-2). Starting quarterback Carson Palmer played for one possession, which netted a field goal.

Lewis said his mission was accomplished.

“To sum it up, we had an opportunity to look at the guys that we wanted to look at,” he said. “It was a close game throughout, and everytime the Colts were able to score, we went back and answered, which was a good thing. I think the only negative that I’d like to clean up was on special teams.”

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning didn’t play, and most of Indy’s starters took the night off. Curtis Painter got the start and completed nine of 20 passes for 114 yards. Backup Tom Brandstater completed 10 of 18 passes for 177 yards and three touchdowns, all to rookie Brandon James.

It’s the sixth winless preseason in Colts history. They last failed to win a preseason game in 2005, then finished with the league’s best record in the regular season.

It was a marked change in fortunes for Indy’s offense. The Colts had scored on only three of 26 possessions led by backup quarterbacks heading into Thursday’s game. Colts coach Jim Caldwell has been committed to Painter as Manning’s backup, but Brandstater has outperformed him statistically.

“The big thing is being able to put it in the end zone, and I thought Brandstater did a good job of that,” Caldwell said.

Blair White had seven catches for 132 yards for the Colts. The rookie from Michigan State doesn’t know if he can break into Indy’s crowded receiving corps.

“You prepare for the worst in this business because you never know what’s going to happen,” he said. “I’ve been trying to put myself through that and my mind through that, and whatever happens, happens.”

James finished with four catches for 56 yards and had two kickoff returns for 35 yards.

Mike Nugent opened the scoring with a 52-yard field goal, capping a nine-play drive for the Bengals. A key play was a 12-yard completion from Palmer to Chad Ochocinco on a third-and-4 from the Cincinnati 49.

The Bengals got a short field on their next possession after Quan Cosby returned a punt 28 yards to the Indianapolis 42. Dave Rayner ended it with a 39-yard field goal to give Cincinnati a 6-0 lead.

The Colts put together their first threat of the game in the second quarter. A quick pass from Painter to White on a third-and-1 turned into a 52-yard catch-and-run. Adam Vinatieri kicked a 23-yard field goal to put the Colts on the board with 4:32 left in the first half.

Vinatieri’s 36-yard field goal tied it at 6 with 53 seconds left in the first half.

On the possession after Peerman’s big run, Jordan Palmer threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Jerome Simpson to give the Bengals a 20-6 lead.

Brandstater tossed a perfect pass over a defender to James for a 26-yard touchdown that cut Cincinnati’s lead to 20-13. The two connected again on a 23-yard TD pass, and then on a 2-point conversion pass to cut Cincinnati’s lead to 23-21 with 6:28 to play.

Cincinnati scored on its next offensive play as Palmer fired a 50-yard touchdown pass to Dezmon Briscoe to push the lead back to 30-21.

Brandstater rallied the Colts again, finding James in the end zone for the third time, this time from 4 yards out, to cut Cincinnati’s lead to 30-28 with 1:39 to play.

Indy lost its sixth straight preseason game dating to last season, but Caldwell still was positive afterward.

“I’m excited about where we are,” he said. “We certainly have been improving all along, getting a little bit better. Overall, I think we made good progress.”

Game notes

The Colts entered looking to find a favorite for the kickoff return job, but no one stood out. Ray Fisher had three for 75 yards, Devin Moore had two for 45 and Brandon James had two for 35. … The Bengals haven’t named a starting kicker since letting Shayne Graham go in the offseason. Nugent made field goals from 52 and 34 yards, and an extra point, while Rayner made a 39-yard field goal and two extra points. … The Colts allowed 40 points per game in the preseason.

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Bengals wide receiver Terrell Owens reels in a 43-yard pass against Eagles cornerback Joselio Hanson in the 2nd quarter.

CINCINNATI — Terrell Owens put some bite back into the Bengals‘ offense.

Owens caught a 43-yard pass along the sideline, setting up the only touchdown by Cincinnati‘s starting offense Friday night in a 22-9 preseason [...]]]> Associated Press

Bengals wide receiver Terrell Owens reels in a 43-yard pass against Eagles cornerback Joselio Hanson in the 2nd quarter.

CINCINNATI — Terrell Owens put some bite back into the Bengals‘ offense.

Owens caught a 43-yard pass along the sideline, setting up the only touchdown by Cincinnati‘s starting offense Friday night in a 22-9 preseason victory over the Philadelphia Eagles that showed he’s still got a lot left.

“According to sources and anybody that analyzes talent or what-have-you: I’m 36, I’ve slowed down, I don’t have it anymore,” Owens said. “I’m a different person. I’m very talented, I keep myself in shape. So everybody can think I’ve slowed down. If they want to play me like that, that’s fine.”

The Eagles couldn’t keep up with him.

Owens caught a perfect throw from Carson Palmer along the right sideline, stretching over Joselio Hanson to pull it in before going out of bounds at the 6-yard line. Bernard Scott ran it in on the next play.

Owens had three catches for 67 yards in the first half, and ran 1 yard on a reverse.

“He’s as good as anyone when he gets on top of a corner,” Palmer said. “We’re going to take shots when we get opportunities.”

So far, he’s been the Bengals’ top receiver.

Cincinnati signed him to a one-year deal as training camp opened with receiver Antonio Bryant sidelined by a troublesome left knee. Palmer worked out with Owens on the West Coast in July, saw that he could still run and urged the Bengals to bring him aboard, giving him another playmaker.

That one play showed why.

“That’s what they brought me here for, right? Deep threat,” Owens said. “Beat your guy, get down the field, make the catch. We’ve got it all in our arsenal.”

His over-the-shoulder catch set up the only touchdown while both teams had their starters in the game. Cincinnati got the better of it in the half, but had to settle for the one score.

“We gave up a couple big runs, more than we wanted to, then they had the big play to T.O.,” safety Quintin Mikell said. “We just wanted to see what we could do when we made bad plays, how we would bounce back. We’re still gelling and still bringing this whole thing together.”

Philadelphia’s main goal was to get a touchdown out of its starters. In the preseason opener against Jacksonville, quarterback Kevin Kolb led the Eagles down the field on two possessions, but they had to settle for field goals.

Same thing again in Cincinnati. Six possessions, two field goals.

The Eagles kept their starting offense on the field for the entire first half and got less-than-desired results. Kolb was 11 of 17 for 126 yards, most of them in two drives at the end of the half when the Bengals began substituting. The most glaring disappointment: Philadelphia failed to score against a defense full of reserves after driving to a first-and-goal at the 7-yard line.

“We’ve got to be better than that,” Eagles coach Andy Reid said. “You can’t have the penalties in the red zone that we did.”

Kolb was disappointed at the lack of a touchdown.

“It’s the same story,” he said. “We need to do better.”

David Akers kicked field goals of 40, 25 and 48 yards. Cincinnati’s Mike Nugent was short on a 59-yard attempt at the end of the first half, and Dave Rayner missed a 34-yarder. They’re competing for the starting job.

Palmer was 15 of 23 for 169 yards with two interceptions, both while trying to get the ball to Chad Ochocinco, who had a painful night.

The first interception came on an apparent mixup. Palmer threw several yards short of Ochocinco, the ball going directly to cornerback Dimitri Patterson. Palmer raised both arms in a quizzical gesture toward Ochocinco, and talked to him on the sideline.

Patterson celebrated his easy interception by kneeling on the field and raising both arms, holding the ball aloft for several seconds. Bengals rookie tight end Jermaine Gresham swatted the ball out of his hand as he walked past him.

Palmer got picked off when he tried to squeeze a pass to Ochocinco, who was bracketed in coverage. The receiver was hit hard and the ball deflected to Mikell. Ochocinco lay on his back for several seconds, then popped up and jogged to the sideline without assistance.

The Eagles played without cornerback Asante Samuel, who has a hamstring injury. Receiver Jeremy Maclin left in the second quarter after he was hit hard on the left shoulder. Reid said X-rays were negative.

The Bengals had a couple of injuries. Scott injured his left shoulder in the second quarter and didn’t return. Safety Gibril Wilson hurt his left knee in the second quarter and didn’t return. Agent Alvin Keels tweeted that he had damaged ligaments.

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GEORGETOWN, Ky. —The Cincinnati Bengals aren’t sure how long running back Brian Leonard will miss because of an injured left foot.

Brian Leonard’s foot injury might not be so bad.

Leonard hurt the foot during a 16-7 loss to Dallas in the Hall of Fame game on Saturday. Leonard, the Bengals’ top pass-catching threat [...]]]> Associated Press

GEORGETOWN, Ky. —The Cincinnati Bengals aren’t sure how long running back Brian Leonard will miss because of an injured left foot.

Brian Leonard’s foot injury might not be so bad.

Leonard hurt the foot during a 16-7 loss to Dallas in the Hall of Fame game on Saturday. Leonard, the Bengals’ top pass-catching threat out of the backfield, initially feared he had torn ligaments and might have to miss the season.

Coach Marvin Lewis said on Wednesday that he’s optimistic Leonard will be able to play at some point during the season. He said it will be a couple more weeks before the team has a better idea how long it will take to heal.

“There’s nothing that says he would be out for the year or on (injured reserve), so we’ll go from there,” Lewis said.

Leonard led the Bengals’ running backs with 30 catches last season, 19 of them on third down.

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Chad Ochocinco #85 and Terrell Owens #81 of the Cincinnati Bengals look on against the Dallas Cowboys during the 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game

CANTON, Ohio –Emmitt Smith and Jerry Rice could be excused if they turned their eyes away from the field. Maybe there was a rerun of “Dancing with [...]]]> Associated Press

Chad Ochocinco #85 and Terrell Owens #81 of the Cincinnati Bengals look on against the Dallas Cowboys during the 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game

CANTON, Ohio –Emmitt Smith and Jerry Rice could be excused if they turned their eyes away from the field. Maybe there was a rerun of “Dancing with the Stars” to catch.

The NFL offensive icons who entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame the previous day could not have been comfortable with the action at Fawcett Stadium on Sunday night, when Dallas beat Cincinnati 16-7 to open the preseason.

At least they could marvel at Chad Ochocinco’s footwear.

The Bengals receiver wore gold shoes for his few plays. Was that a tribute to Smith, Rice and the other members of the Class of 2010?

“That’s exactly what it was, how did you know?” he said. “That’s exactly why I did it.”

Asked about possibly being fined by the league for sidestepping the dress code, he threw up his hands in disdain and moved on to other questions.

“Chad has so many different-colored shoes he is like a woman,” Terrell Owens chimed in.

The offenses generally sputtered all night and there were eight sacks in a sloppy affair. Clearly, none of the aura of the NFL’s career leaders in rushing and receiving rubbed off.

At least some of Saturday’s other inductees — the ones who played defense, Dick LeBeau, John Randle and Rickey Jackson — could appreciate the lack of scoring and the takeaways. Dallas picked off three passes and recovered a fumble; Cincinnati also recovered a fumble.

Nobody could be impressed by the slew of penalties, 16 overall, 12 by Cincinnati for 90 yards. Then again, it was the preseason opener.

“The best thing about it,” Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said, “is you see what you did and what you need to improve on.”

The Cowboys hope this is the opening step, small as it was, toward becoming the first team to play in a Super Bowl in its home stadium. That goal will take months before it can be achieved, of course, and the most memorable item this weekend for them will remain Smith’s entry into the Hall of Fame.

“Having Emmitt inducted into the Hall of Fame is special,” All-Pro linebacker DeMarcus Ware said. “For us now playing for the Cowboys, it does make it extra special.”

Most of the regulars worked short shifts. At least the Cowboys’ starters looked sharp during their minimal stints.

Tony Romo led them to the Cincinnati 2 with a steady opening drive before they stalled and David Buehler kicked a 20-yard field goal. Romo was 5 for 10 for 59 yards.

“You just have to continue to work on the things we’ve been doing through the offseason and in training camp,” Romo said. “You’re never sure until you get into a game-like mode, and some of the new stuff, it was nice to see it work out really well. It’s a start. We have to build off of it, but we still have a ways to go, and we’re on the way.”

Dallas certainly needs better protection for its quarterbacks after Cincinnati had five sacks, including two by linebacker Michael Johnson.

The Bengals made plenty of offseason news with the additions of Owens and Pacman Jones, who was not signed by any teams last year because of his previous off-field issues and missed the season. Neither former Cowboy had much impact, although Owens caught two passes for 18 yards and was thrown to four times by Carson Palmer.

“We’re a work in progress,” Owens said. “We’re getting there. It felt just like practice.”

It often looked like it, as well.

Buehler added field goals of 34 yards in the second quarter and 23 yards in the third. The last kick was set up when linebacker Brandon Williams returned an interception of Jordan Palmer — Carson’s younger brother and Cincinnati’s third-string quarterback — 36 yards to the Bengals 9-yard line.

Dallas capped the one-sided victory when Brandon Sharpe picked off Jordan Palmer’s fourth-quarter pass and dived untouched into the end zone for a 6-yard score.

Bengals rookie Jordan Shipley ran back a punt 63 yards in the final minutes, and Jordan Palmer hit rookie tight end Darius Hill for a 1-yard TD with 51 seconds remaining.

“It was looking like we’d get the shutout,” Ware said. “Almost did.”

Cincinnati’s best player was punter Kevin Huber, who averaged 46.4 yards on 10 punts.

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The Chad & T.O. Show hits the playing field - and national TV - for the first time tonight.

CANTON, Ohio (AP) — Call them America’s Team’s expatriates.

Terrell Owens, Pacman Jones and Tank Johnson are among the former Dallas Cowboys who now reside in Cincinnati. The Bengals and Cowboys will meet Sunday [...]]]> Associated Press

The Chad & T.O. Show hits the playing field - and national TV - for the first time tonight.

CANTON, Ohio (AP) — Call them America’s Team’s expatriates.

Terrell Owens, Pacman Jones and Tank Johnson are among the former Dallas Cowboys who now reside in Cincinnati. The Bengals and Cowboys will meet Sunday night in the Hall of Fame game, and while T.O. and the other veterans might not spend much time on the field, they will draw plenty of attention when they are in the lineup.

Owens, of course, always gets the spotlight, whether he’s with the 49ers, Eagles, Cowboys, Bills or, now, the Bengals.

“I’m a playmaker,” Owens said. “I know Michael Irvin has adopted that title, but that’s what I do and have done throughout my career is make plays. The coaches know what I’m capable of once the ball is in my hands. They’re going to get all of Terrell on the field.

“I’m glad to be with my new team and we’ll see where it takes us.”

For now, it’s taken them to Canton’s Fawcett Field, where Owens will get some time with the regulars early in the first preseason game. He’s never caught passes from Carson Palmer against an opposing defense, and while it’s too soon to expect that connection to click precisely, it’s never to soon to begin the process.

“I think the opportunity to play against other people is always good,” Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. “I don’t know if it’ll affect Terrell and Carson as much since Terrell’s learning on the move. He’s a veteran player. There are things he has done that maybe we coach a little differently. The terminology may be different in some instances, but he’s basically carrying what he already knows.”

What Owens also knows is that he belongs in the Hall of Fame, saying earlier this week all he lacks is the bust.

Pacman Jones hardly is in that class.

The defensive back was out of the NFL last season, none of the 32 teams willing to sign him after his repeated off-field problems, including a run-in with a bodyguard that cost him his job in Dallas. The Bengals, known for giving second chances, twice worked out Jones before signing him in May.

Sunday night, he returns to the NFL on national television – against the Cowboys.

“Whoever it was it would have been special,” Jones said. “I haven’t played a real game in a whole season.

“I have a lot of friends on the Cowboys. I talk to those guys all the time. It was no love lost when I left there. People have to make business decisions, and it is what it is. I’m happy to be a Bengal.”

Johnson merely is happy to be healthy after a right foot injury limited him last year. Johnson served an eight-game suspension in 2007 for off-field issues, but had no such problems with the Cowboys or last season with Cincinnati.

“Injuries or not, I’ve been able to play through stuff most of the time,” Johnson said. “Being able to feel good going into a game rather than having to get injections just to make yourself feel good is a plus.”

Starters rarely go more than two series in this game. Lewis and Cowboys coach Wade Phillips admitted that’s likely to be repeated Sunday night.

Still, when the former Cowboys, particularly Owens, are on the field, interest will be high.

“That’s the Cowboys North,” Dallas wide receiver Patrick Crayton said.

“It will be good to see him again,” he added about Owens. “Him and a couple of other guys that were here and stuff. It’s always good to see old friends and old teammates.

“Is there anything about facing (Owens)? I never even thought about facing him, because I don’t have to stick him.”

Tony Romo, who had his ups and downs throwing to T.O. over three seasons, won’t carry any bitterness toward the former Cowboys into the game.

“I know. Dallas No. 2,” he said with a chuckle about the Cincinnati roster that also includes safety Roy Williams and defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who have strong ties to the Cowboys. “Those guys are all good guys and we enjoyed having every one of them. It allowed us to have great success when we were here, in a lot of ways. It’ll be good to see them and say hi and wish them good luck, hopefully not quite as good against us. I root for them.”

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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Terrell Owens signs autographs following practice at the NFL football team's training camp in Georgetown, Ky.

GEORGETOWN, Ky. — Newly acquired Bengals wideout Terrell Owens has been the topic of discussion at training camp since joining the team last week.

The six-time Pro Bowl receiver made headlines when he [...]]]> Associated Press

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Terrell Owens signs autographs following practice at the NFL football team's training camp in Georgetown, Ky.

GEORGETOWN, Ky. — Newly acquired Bengals wideout Terrell Owens has been the topic of discussion at training camp since joining the team last week.

The six-time Pro Bowl receiver made headlines when he signed a one-year contract worth $2 million with Cincinnati. He could earn an additional $2 million in incentives. Many people are wondering if Owens is the missing piece of the puzzle on offense.

Owens is off to a fast start earning his keep in camp. He practices hard and is learning his way through the system. He appears focused and seems to care more about winning a championship with the Bengals than his legacy as a receiver.

“I look at this as an edition to what I’ve done my entire career,” Owens said. “Whether it’s the Hall of Fame or not really doesn’t bother me. I think my number speaks for itself. I came to Cincinnati to help the team win a Super Bowl. We’re trying to get that title this year and I’m ready to do my part to get them over the hump.”

The 36-year-old receiver has accumulated 1,006 receptions for 14,951 yards and 144 touchdowns in his 14-year career. He is third all-time in receiving touchdowns and receiving yards.

Last season, Owens led Buffalo in receptions (55), receiving yards (829) and yards-per-catch (15.1). He finished the season with five touchdowns.

It will be interesting to see if the well-traveled Owens, who has now played for five NFL franchises, can make the best of it in Cincinnati.

Of course, skeptics are anticipating the first eruption from the infamous T.O. after clashing with quarterbacks and coaches in years past. Everything is copasetic at this juncture.

“I’m looking forward to playing with Carson (Palmer),” he said. “He’s probably one of the best quarterbacks in the league that’s underrated. I look forward to the opportunity and camp is where we are going to get better. I’m starting to get my legs back and getting the offense down. Once we gain that chemistry things will start clicking. Carson has looked sharp and should have a big year.”

Owens has marketed himself fairly well over the last few years during free agency, reminiscent to the way cornerback Deion Sanders marketed himself to San Francisco and Dallas to win Super Bowl titles. That being said, the one thing that has eluded Owens is a championship.

The receiver signed with the Bengals because he believes they have the makings of being champions. And adding another playmaker on offense certainly improves their chances.

“We have a lot of quality players at every position,” Owens said. “The team has steadily improved during coach (Marvin) Lewis’ tenure here. I’m just trying to add to what they already have.

“I’m a playmaker. I know Michael Irvin has adopted that title, but that’s what I do and have done throughout my career is make plays. The coaches know what I’m capable of once the ball is in my hands. They’re going to get all of Terrell on the field. I’m glad to be with my new team and we’ll see where it takes us.”

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