Antwan Odom: AFC Defensive Player of the Week

As expected by most league observers, especially commentator Ian Eagle, Bengals DE Antwan Odom was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after his five-sack, six-tackle performance against Green Bay. Odom’s impressive work helped seal the win for the Bengals, with two sacks that effectively knocked the Packers out of field goal range. The five sack total ties the record held by former Bengal DE Eddie Edwards, who recorded five in the 1980 season finale against Cleveland. His seven sacks through the first 2 games of the season are the most since sacks became an official stat in 1982. Sweet. As Eagle stated Sunday, “Antwan Odom…is not human.”

As a team, the Bengals lead the NFL with nine total sacks. The team had only 17 all of last year.

Corey Lynch-pinned by Bucs

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Safety, Special Teamer, and old-lady-life-saver Corey Lynch to their active roster off the Bengals practice squad. Lynch, a 2008 sixth-round pick, lost his spot on the active roster due to the unexpectedly superb play of 2009 college free agent Tom Nelson. Their battle was one of the central themes of the final Hard Knocks episodes.

Lynch’s spot on the squad has been filled by rookie DB Rico Murray. Another 2009 college free agent, Murray battled Morgan Trent for the final CB spot but was waived on cut-down day.

Hines Ward Apparently Unapologetic

This is why the Bengals need to make a statement Sunday. When asked about his season-ending hit on LB Keith Rivers last year, Hines Ward told the media that “I’ll still hit him. I’ll just get fined.”

Remarkably, he feels this is the safest way to hit someone. He points out that it’s better to hit a guy high than low, where career threatening knee injuries can happen. Concern for knee injuries, huh…ironic coming from a Steeler, I know. James Harrison concurs with Ward’s assessment, stating, “I think that’s one of the craziest rules that they ever implemented.”

What these “sensitive guys” neglect to realize or accept is that the rule does not forbid hitting a player high; nor does it condone going for the knees. It simply states that blindside blocks should not be directed to the head or neck. Makes sense to me. Last time I checked, the most appropriate and sportsmanlike place to lay a blindside block would be in the numbers, just like every Pop Warner and High School coach teaches. Not sure what’s so confusing about that.

Here’s hoping this stuff makes it on a bulletin board in the Bengal locker room.

Shocker: Not Much from Marvin in Wednesday Presser

Head Coach Marvin Lewis, AKA the Anti-Rex Ryan, had sparse, unremarkable comments about Sunday’s clash with Pittsburgh. To sum it up for those of you who may have missed it:

They have good coaches

They have good players

They are a good team

They won the Super Bowl

We play them Sunday

Thanks, Coach.