You know A.J. Green.
He's not getting into anything controversial. Especially before the Bengals play the Seahawks Sunday (1 p.m.-Cincinnati's Channel 19) at Paul Brown Stadium. So when it surfaced this week that Seattle Pro Bowl cornerback Richard Sherman admitted he was wrong when called Green "overrated," after their first meeting four years ago, Green offered his patented shrug.
"I don't," said Green before Friday's practice, when asked if he had any kind of a reaction. "He's a great corner. One of the best. He's long, he can run, and he plays the ball."
According to profootballfocus.com, Sherman covered him on eight targets and held him to two catches for 11 yards in a showdown of rookies on Oct 30, 2011, when the Bengals rolled in Seattle, 34-12. The next day on a radio show Sherman said Green ran bad routes, but he changed his tune this week.
"I remember that," Sherman said as quoted by ESPN.com. "I remember that. That was my first game, wasn't it? I have a ton of respect for him. Obviously, I was hyped up that day, I'm always hyped up after the game. We've had conversations, and his resume speaks for itself. He's had a fantastic four or five years since we've played him, so you have to give him all the respect."
Green had a huge play in that game, a 43-yard TD pass that broke it open at 17-3 with 1:51 left in the first half, a play that PFF said was given up by Seahawks safety Earl Thomas.
Cary Williams, the other Seattle corner, faced Green twice while with Baltimore, once in 2011 and once in 2012, and held him to one catch in five targets for 14 yards. But Green has accomplished a lot since then and is second in the AFC with 417 receiving yards.
"They play hard and they play as a team and that's why they're (2013) Super Bowl champions. They've got a Super Bowl defense. We've got our hands full," Green said.
BRUCE ON LOOSE: Former Bengals head coach Bruce Coslet, one of the architects of the 6-0 run to open the 1988 season, visited practice Friday and couldn't say enough about his old team.
"I told Marvin (Lewis) that they won the first quarter. Now they've got three left,' said Coslet, in town from Florida to attend Sunday's game.
Coslet was head coach Sam Wyche's coordinator when they put six offensive players in the 1988 Pro Bowl on the way to the Super Bowl. He tipped his hat to offensive coordinator Hue Jackson and quarterback Andy Dalton.
"Andy Dalton has been a huge surprise to me," Coslet said. "Usually with a guy like that there's a big jump between his first and second year. He's made that leap three times already. He's a lot better than he was last year. More consistent , more confident."
And he knows why.
"Look at his skill players,' Coslet said. "They've got three or four receivers that can play for anyone, a big-time tight end. And I like the two running backs. They can scoot. The offensive line is solid. They're fun to watch. They know they're going to be consistent."
Coslet has also been watching the defense.
"It's hard to replace a darn good coordinator like Mike Zimmer," Coslet said. "But Paul Guenther has done a great job. He's come in and they haven't missed a beat. They play hard, they're long, they've got reach. They've got defensive backs who look like they're going to cut their wrists if they give up a catch. At least that's what it looks like on TV. They're quick and competitive. That's what you need on defense."
INJURY UPDATE: Before flying to Cincy Friday, the Seahawks ruled out Pro Bowl running back Marshawn Lynch (hamstring).
Bengals starting cornerback Adam Jones (groin) is probable after having a full practice Friday morning before Sunday's (1 p.m.-Cincinnati's Channel 19) game at sold-out Paul Brown Stadium against Seattle. The same with two other starters, running back Jeremy Hill (knee) and safety Reggie Nelson (hamstring).
Rotational DL Wallace Gilberry (calf), who has played in all of his 50 Bengals games dating back to when he signed on Sept. 18, 2012, is questionable. He didn't work Wednesday and Thursday, but was limited Friday. Safety George Iloka (ankle) also was questionable after being limited all week. He missed his first start in 35 games last week against the Chiefs.
Jones didn't work Wednesday after leaving last Sunday's game in the second half, but did go limited Thursday. Hill was limited during the two big days of the week, Wednesday and Thursday. Nelson (hamstring) went full Thursday and Friday.
PHILIP RIVERS WEATHER UPDATE: No Seattle weather Sunday. The National Weather Service in Wilmington, Ohio is calling for sunny skies with virtually no chance of rain and a kick-off temperature of 66 degrees rising to 72 by the end of the game. Barely any wind is also projected at five to 10 miles per hour out of the southwest.
