10-23-02, 6:30 a.m.
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Bengals honored Cincinnati's top civic organizations Tuesday at a Paul Brown Stadium luncheon, where Robert S. Edwards of the Freestore/Foodbank took home the club's NFL Community Quarterback award. A panel headed by Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn made the selection from 10 nominees and wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh made the presentation.
Each nominee received $1,000 for their organizations, with the winner getting a $10,000 check. The runnerups, Patricia Stewart of The Salvation Army and Edward D. Diller of Family Service, each received $2,500.
Also nominated were James Douglas Armstrong, Esq., of Victory Neighborhood Services Agency, Inc.; Robert Napier of the Boone County Pee Wee Football League; Liz Herald of Brighton Center, Inc.; Barbara C. Rabkin of Jewish Family Service; Gini Haffner of the Mental Health Association of the Cincinnati Area; Nancy Hollenkamp of the Aubrey Rose Hollenkamp Children's Trust; and Brian Brockhoff of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Cincinnati.
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NO SELLOUT:** For the third time in four home games this season, the Bengals won't be on local television. Sunday's game against the Titans is nowhere near a sellout, with the projected attendance (tickets distributed) in the 52-53,000 area that was announced at the first two games against San Diego and Tampa Bay.
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STAT STORY:** Are the Bengals going to draft a quarterback? This week's NFL stat package would say, "yes." At 54.5 and 46.1, respectively, Jon Kitna and Gus Frerotte have the league's two lowest passer ratings. Rookies Patrick Ramsey (67.4), David Carr (66.9) and Joey Harrington (66.8) are having better seasons. And the closest AFC team to the Bengals' NFL-high 13 interceptions is Miami's 10 after Ray Lucas'
four interceptions on Sunday. The Giants and Vikings lead the NFC with 12 interceptions each. It's hard to believe that other teams are struggling as much as the Bengals throwing the ball, but expansion Houston and Baltimore are 32-31 in the league in pass offense with the Bengals' 30th. Cincinnati is next to last in total offense and has a toehold on the least points scored. They are averaging 8.5, nearly two field goals behind the Texans' 13.4 points per game. The Bengals have scored five offensive touchdowns, one fewer than at least two of their individual foes. Steelers receiver Hines Ward and Titans running back Eddie George already have six each.
