Young players emerge on Bengals’ defense
CINCINNATI — Defensive end Sam Hubbard dreamed about chasing Ravens, Steelers and Browns quarterbacks around the field someday.
Early in the Bengals’ first prime time game of the season, the rookie sacked Joe Flacco for a key play in Cincinnati’s decisive start.
The third-round pick out of Ohio State has a lot of company in the up-and-coming category. The Bengals (2-0) are getting the biggest plays from some of their newest players, especially on a defense that has given up a lot of yards but forced decisive turnovers at the end.
The young players were expected to add depth at the start of the season, but they’ve wound up changing the course of games.
“It’s very encouraging,” said end Carlos Dunlap , the thirdoldest player on the defense at age 29. “I feel this year more than any, we have a 1A and 1B of pass rushers and run stoppers.”
And, so far, playmakers who stepped into starring roles well ahead of expectations.
In the season opener, Andrew Luck was driving the Colts to what would have been a winning touchdown when second-year safety Clayton Fejedelem stripped tight end Jack Doyle of the ball at the Cincinnati 15-yard line and returned it for a touchdown and a 34-23 win .
Fejedelem was in the game because veteran safety Shawn Williams was ejected in the first quarter for a hit on Luck.
Fejedelem wound Cincinnati Bengals safety Clayton Fejedelem picks up a fumble by Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle, right, and returns it for a touchdown during the second half Sept. 9 in Indianapolis. up playing alongside rookie safety Jessie Bates.
The Bengals’ 34-23 win over the Ravens on Thursday night featured more important moments from newcomers. Hubbard’s sack set up a Ravens punt during a 21-point Cincinnati spurt in the first half.
End Michael Johnson — the oldest player on defense at age 31 — suffered a knee injury on his fourth play and didn’t return. Hubbard wound up playing 50 of the defense’s 85 snaps.
“We were coming in waves all night,” Hubbard said. “Mike went down early, and we stepped up and rallied together. Whoever was fresh was going out there and trying to make a play. We just kept coming and just trying to wear them down.”
A group of Pro Football Hall of Famers is demanding health insurance coverage and a share of NFL revenues or else those former players will boycott the induction ceremonies.
In a letter sent to NFL Commissioner
Roger Goodell, NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith and Hall of Fame President David Baker — and obtained by The Associated Press — 21 Hall of Fame members cited themselves as “integral to the creation of the modern NFL, which in 2017 generated $14 billion in revenue.”
Among the signees were Eric Dickerson, who is listed as chairman of the newly created Hall of Fame Board the group has formed, Jim Brown, Jerry Rice, Joe Namath, Lawrence Taylor, and Sarah White, the widow of Reggie White.
Rice, however, said he wasn’t on the Hall of Fame board. And in a statement on Twitter , the former receiver said he plans to support the Hall of Fame and “looks forward to attending the 100th anniversary in 2020.”
Kurt Warner, whose name is also on the letter, also released a statement on Twitter that said he wasn’t made aware of the letter and his name was mistakenly put on it. He said he supports the efforts for better benefits for all retired players but doesn’t believe in boycotting the Hall of Fame.
The Minnesota Vikings have signed kicker Dan Bailey, owner of the secondbest field goal percentage in NFL history and replacement for rookie Daniel Carlson.
Bailey’s deal was done Tuesday, after the Vikings waived Carlson fresh from his 0-for-3 game at Green Bay.
The fifth-round draft pick from Auburn missed field goals of 48, 49 and 35 yards, with the last two failed tries coming in overtime and forcing the Vikings to settle for a 29-29 tie with the Packers.
To make room for Bailey, the Vikings waived wide receiver Stacy Coley.
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin wants to talk to Antonio Brown about the Pro Bowl wide receiver’s social media usage.
Tomlin said Tuesday he plans to talk to Brown directly following Brown’s latest outburst.
Brown responded to criticism on Twitter by a former team employee by suggesting the Steelers trade him . The post came a day after the Steelers fell to 0-1-1 following a 42-37 loss to Kansas City.
Brown declined to speak to reporters afterward and Tomlin said Brown did not report to the team’s facility on Monday. Tomlin did not say whether Brown’s absence was excused.
Tomlin downplayed the image of Brown venting on the sideline during the loss, calling it a mixture of frustration and losing and the byproduct of being competitive.