Updated: 10-15-07, 4:40 p.m.
Marvin Lewis, getting supreme heat from a fan base incensed with the club's 1-4 start, hopes the fans turn their jets on the Jets.
"My only heat is internal and that's what drives me," Lewis said during Monday's news conference. "I'm not going to get concerned. They don't need to be concerned one way or another. They ought to just go back to being loud and cheering. This is going to be a great football game this weekend. We have a team coming in here with the Jets (1-5), a playoff a team a year ago and not quite where they want to be."
Also from Monday, the '07 hex on the Bengals wide receivers and linebackers continues, but Lewis said Tuesday backers Caleb Miller and Rashad Jeanty have a chance to return for Sunday's game.
But right tackle Willie Anderson, wide receiver Tab Perry, and cornerback Ethan Kilmer are out again.
Lewis and running back Chris Perry wouldn't say if Perry is ready to return to practice. He was eligible to come off the physically unable to perform list (PUP) Monday.
With Antonio Chatman injuring his hamstring in Kansas City, the Bengals are down to four receivers against the Jets.
The team's newest linebacker, Corey Mays, didn't make it out of his Bengals debut Sunday on special teams and he's not expected to play this Sunday but Lewis didn't think he would have to make a counter roster move with Miller and Jeanty coming back.
Lewis said he would look at the left tackle situation after the benching of Levi Jones and Andrew Whitworth's steadying play against the Chiefs before making a move for Sunday.
Offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said Monday that there is no common thread to the third-down woes (1-for-18) the last two weeks.
"Believe me," he said, "because I've watched them all."
Lewis saluted the Reds hiring of Dusty Baker at his Monday news conference and responded to Baker's pride that two African-American men are the field bosses of Cincinnati's two pro sports teams.
"Coming from Dusty, who has accomplished as much as he has, that means a lot," said Lewis, who has never met Baker. "It's not black or white. Let's go win a lot of football and baseball games."
