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BENGALS NOTES

Bengals' Henry motivated in contract year

Associated Press photo Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry said, "I feel like I’m at my best right now," and he'll have to be to earn himself a new deal with the team.

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By Chick Ludwig, Staff Writer Updated 11:12 AM Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Contract years have a way of bringing out the best in NFL players.

To secure a future deal, they must produce in the present season.

That’s the situation Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry finds himself in.

He’s in the final year of a two-year contract, and needs a solid season of trouble-free productivity to land another deal either here or someplace else.

“It’s going to be a big year for me,” Henry predicted during the club’s recent minicamp. “I’ve been working hard. I feel like I’m at my best right now, and I’m going to do everything I can to help the team get to where we’re trying to get.”

Henry joins Chad Ochocinco, Laveranues Coles and Andre Caldwell as the top four wideouts in the Bengals’ stable of receivers.

‘Wildcat’ Caldwell

Caldwell is expected to play a multifaceted role as a slot receiver, kickoff returner and “Wildcat” — a formation in which he lines up at quarterback with the option of running or throwing.

In the Bengals’ 16-6 victory over Kansas City in the season finale Dec. 28, Caldwell had five catches for 34 yards and rushed four times for 49 yards. He performed well enough that he’ll be utilized in the “Wildcat” more this year.

Vital weapon

As the only punter on the roster, rookie Kevin Huber hopes his strong left foot can make a difference for the Bengals in 2009.

“That’s my job — to help the defense and give them a lot of field behind them so they feel more comfortable,” Huber said. “I want to give our defense a chance to possibly get safeties and have the opposing team punt far back in their territory to give us better field position.

“It’s just a big field-position game, and I’m trying to play a huge part in it right now.”

Linebacker depth

Why is defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer smiling? His linebacker corps is showing improvement.

Left to right, the Bengals will line up with Rashad Jeanty, Dhani Jones and Keith Rivers as the starters. Brandon Johnson and rookie Rey Maualuga are the top backups.

“We’ve got a lot more depth now than we had,” Zimmer said. “Rivers can really accelerate and run. Rashad Jeanty has been doing really good. I think Maualuga will even show up a lot more when we get to training camp because you can just tell he’s a football player and he’s physical.

“Brandon Johnson played all last year, and he’s a pretty smart guy. They’re all pretty intelligent kids, which allows you to be on the same page and communicate.”

Quote machine

“I want to have some impact. I want to make some plays and be able to feel like I’m helping the team — not just sitting back, getting a free ride.” — second-year wide receiver Jerome Simpson.

Two-deep depth chart

OFFENSE

WR: Chad Ochocinco, Chris Henry

LT: Andrew Whitworth, Anthony Collins

LG: Nate Livings, Andrew Crummey

C: Kyle Cook, Jonathan Luigs

RG: Bobbie Williams, Scott Kooistra

RT: Andre Smith, Dennis Roland

TE: Reggie Kelly, Ben Utecht

WR: Laveranues Coles, Andre Caldwell

QB: Carson Palmer, J.T. O’Sullivan

TB: Cedric Benson, Brian Leonard

FB: Jeremi Johnson, Chris Pressley

DEFENSE

LE: Robert Geathers, Michael Johnson

LDT: Tank Johnson, Pat Sims

RDT: Domata Peko, Jason Shirley

RE: Antwan Odom, Jonathan Fanene

SLB: Rashad Jeanty, Rey Maualuga

MLB: Dhani Jones, Abdul Hodge

WLB: Keith Rivers, Brandon Johnson

LCB: Johnathan Joseph, David Jones

RCB: Leon Hall, Geoffrey Pope

SS: Roy Williams, Chinedum Ndukwe

FS: Chris Crocker, Corey Lynch

SPECIALISTS

K: Shayne Graham, Kevin Huber

P: Kevin Huber, Shayne Graham

KR: Andre Caldwell, Bernard Scott

PR: Antonio Chatman, Quan Cosby

LS: Brad St. Louis, Ben Utecht

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rey and rivers will be two of the best .i caNt wait to see the punter he will m,ake a Big impact . then i would like to see jordan as the nuber 2 qb i think we have the deepst receivingt corp in yhe nfl WHO DEY

RONALD PARSONS
5:03 PM, 7/7/2009

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I wholeheartedly agree that the team will ride the defense until the offense finds itself with having Carson back from injury and hopefully an offensive line that can mesh and really an unproven running game. But DAN you are way off about Maualuga's completeness as you put it. That is why he slid in the draft. He is not as good as Rivers was last year. I think he can be good. I'm a little more concerned with Williams starting over Ndukwe and Pat Simms seemed like a force when he was used.

ChrisB
4:40 PM, 7/7/2009

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Just because he fell to the second round is no reason to ignore the completness of Mauluga's game. He has to start, the sooner the better. The defense has to be the xcitement for the Bengals to prosper.

Dan
8:20 PM, 7/6/2009

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That's if he stays out of jail and get a decent haircut. Grow up Henry!

bengal
10:56 AM, 7/6/2009

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Um..... they have to sign him first.....

Duh
11:03 PM, 7/5/2009

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