FanHouse AndrewWhitworth

CINCINNATI -- As losses go, this one was a stinker. Flying high off yet another last-minute intra-divisional win, the Bengals showed up for a home game Sunday against the Texans and had just about everything go wrong. They lost, 28-17, most important, and they also saw key defensive lineman Antwan Odom and Domata Peko go down with injuries. Odom's is a torn Achilles' tendon, which means they've lost him for the season. Bad, bad loss.

But the message Bengals coach Marvin Lewis delivered to his team in the wake of this bad loss was the same, simple two-word mantra he delivered on the first night of the season, after a goofy last-minute bounce cost the Bengals a game against the Denver Broncos:

"Don't flinch."

Unless you were a Patriots fan or a self-loathing Dolphins supporter, you probably missed the live showing of Channing Crowder and Matt Light offering their interpretation of the Pacman-bodyguard hotel bathroom cat fight. You've no doubt seen the replay, although it's still not clear what precipitated the whole thing.

Thankfully, the Boston Herald's Karen Guregian has some answers, via Light's offensive line mate, Logan Mankins:

"He was doing a good job, drilling [Chowder] right in the head," Mankins said of Light, "so kudos to Matt." ...

[As to why the fight happened:] "Any time you have a team with the guy 55 (Joey Porter), he just won't shut up the entire game," Mankins said. "Then I think some of the other guys are starting to play the way he does."

Mankins also figures that Light won't face a suspension, just a fine. While whaling away on a dude not wearing a helmet might seem like an offense worth of a little time away from the game, as Mankins rightly points out, a precedent has been set. A few weeks ago, John Henderson actually tried to remove Andrew Whitworth's eyeballs and all it cost him was $15,000.

During the Bengals Week 9 win over the Jaguars (their first of the season!), Jacksonville defensive tackle John Henderson tried to remove Cincy offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth's eyeballs from his skull. He didn't scrub up, ask for a melon baller ... nothing. Just started poking away.

Predictably, both players were fined for the altercation ($10,000 each), although Whitworth has a legitimate gripe: why is the punishment for eye-gouging the same as having your eyes gouged? It's a fair question.

During last week's loss to the Bengals, Jaguars defensive tackle John Henderson decided that trying to remove Andrew Whitworth's eyeballs with his fingers might be a way to bring energy to his team. It's not as effective as flexing your muscles, apparently, but desperate times, measures and whatnot.

You can see Henderson in all his professional wrasslin' glory below:



And yesterday we learned that the going rate for eye-gouging with the intent to blind* is $15,000, at least according to the NFL Plinko Board. Of course, this is the same outfit who fined Justin Tuck for making a legal tackle only to have commissioner Roger Goodell explain that legal tackles are, you know, legal.

Whitworth was also fined $10K because he threw a punch, but there should probably be allowances for self defense, especially if it's in an effort to save your sight. Just outside-the-boxing it there.

"I just pushed [Henderson] past the quarterback, and he fell to the ground," Whitworth said. "But he held onto my facemask and ripped my helmet off. I turned to go back to the play, and the next thing I knew, I felt him grabbing at my eyeballs. I really didn't know what to do when someone's fingers are trying to dig into my eyes."

Not punch him for one, Andrew. That'll cost you 10 large, forget that you were just protecting yourself. Also acceptable answer: don't dance, don't jump into the stands, don't honor fallen teammates, and absolutely NO BONGOS. Llello, on the other hand...

* wild speculation

During the Bengals win over the Jaguars yesterday, there was a nasty exchange between Bengals OL Andrew Whitworth and Jags DT John Henderson. There were punches thrown and ejections made, but there was also some eye-gouging from Henderson that could/should see him fined or suspended.

For his part in the brawl, Whitworth defended himself:

"We had gotten in a tussle after a run play and he came up and took a shot at the back of my head. Levi (Jones) was screaming at the refs for a flag. And when he stood up, he pushed me again in my facemask, and the ref still didn't throw anything," Whitworth said.

"So on the next play, he wanted me, I wanted him, and he kind of 'swam' me. I just pushed him past the quarterback and he fell to the ground, but he held onto my facemask and ripped my helmet off."

After that, well, you can see on the video above.

Training camps are underway, the NFL season is a month off, and to get you ready for 2008, FanHouse previews all 32 teams, "heat index" style. We'll rate each club in 10 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Quarterback: If there is one constant on this team, it is Carson Palmer. Sure, Palmer didn't have his best season a year ago, but his off seasons are better than many QBs best years. In reality, other things factored into his poor season (injuries to the line, injury to Rudi Johnson, receivers pouting). The only issue here is what happens in Cincinnati if Palmer gets hurt. They have no one groomed to come in. Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jeff Rowe are in their second seasons with the team and Carson's brother, Jordan, is fighting for a spot. Heat Index: 8

Running backs: Injuries have hurt this unit in the past couple of years. Workhorse Rudi Johnson finally hit a wall; Kenny Irons blew out his knee in his first preseason game; Chris Perry has never been able to stay on the field. Well, Rudi and Perry are healthy again, with 2007 surprises Kenny Watson and DeDe Dorsey around to give the offense a different dynamic. Cincy needs this unit to get back to form to allow the entire offense to explode. Heat Index: 4

Receivers: Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh are one of the best receiving combos in the NFL. T.J. tied for the lead in receptions; Chad was third in receiving yards. However, this could be the last season either is in Cincinnati. Johnson's issues with the team are well documented. T.J. is in his final contracted season. Chris Henry is finally gone and there are several guys trying to step into that #3 spot. Rookie Jerome Simpson will get a strong look, as will Andre Caldwell and Antonio Chatman. Chatman is the only one with experience and could get the nod. Heat Index: 8

The Bengals selected LSU tackle Andrew Whitworth in the second round of the 2006 draft just in case the team couldn't re-sign Willie Anderson. Now, a year later, and with guard Eric Steinbach now in Cleveland, the club plans on playing Whitworth at guard.

Because of injuries along the offensive line last season, Whitworth got 10 starts at left tackle and two more at left guard -- fairing well at both positions -- and now it looks like he's in line to replace Steinbach.

"There's an open spot on the line, and I want to be in it," Whitworth said. "It's going to take work and I understand that there's other guys going for it."

The other guys are Stacey Andrews (the younger, heavier brother -- I thought it was impossible too -- of the Eagles' Shawn Andrews) and Nate Livings.

For most NFL linemen, the move from tackle to guard is a little smoother than from guard to tackle. For starters, guards benefit from having players on both sides, while tackles can get beat to the outside, usually at the expense of the quarterback. Plus, guards don't have to be as quick-footed as tackles because they don't often work in space (at least at the line of scrimmage) and aren't often called on to pass-block speedy defensive ends.

Still, playing next to the center means Whitworth will have to do a lot more "getting to the second level" -- basically blocking defensive linemen before taking on linebackers. But even at 6'7", 339 pounds, Whitworth has shown surprising athleticism and the Bengals are confident he'll be successful.