Updated: 2:05 p.m.
 Jones |
Meanwhile, the Bengals other bookend tackle, four time Pro Bowl right tackle Willie Anderson, said Monday he plans to play in the opener despite not playing any preseason games and practicing only once since camp started.
After the preseason finale against the Colts, Jones expressed displeasure that he wasn't getting enough snaps at left tackle during practice and that he played deep into the game with the third unit.
Jones, a year into a $40 million extension, said he was just trying to earn his paycheck.
"That's all I was trying to do; trying to prepare to handle that situation," Jones said. "Tempers flared. I want to apologize for any distraction I may have caused to the team. That definitely wasn't my intention and I apologize for that."
Jones, back working for the past two weeks since completing rehab for his surgically-repaired knee, doesn't seem pleased that it's taking this long for him to get back with the starters behind Andrew Whitworth, and head coach Marvin Lewis wouldn't say Jones would be the starter in the opener when asked this weekend.
Asked about agent Kenny Zuckerman's observation that Jones doesn't want to be a backup, Jones said, "He said it very well."
But Jones was quick to point out he's not trying to beat the subject to death.
"The situation is what it is and it will be what it will be. We'll just wait until Monday night and see what goes on," Jones said. "There are a lot more things to worry about than that situation ... we're all here to win. They feel this is a situation where if someone other than the starters can make the team better than that's what they're going to do; go with the best at the position."
SLANTS AND SCREENS
For the first time in the Bengals locker room, no doubt, there will be a friendly wager on Harvard-Yale.
When the Cutdown Day dust settled, the Bengals doubled their previous Harvard alumni list when they added quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and running back Clifton Dawson to a roster that already had Yale tight end Nate Lawrie.
Fitzpatrick gave a quick scouting report on Dawson.
Tough. Excellent pass protector. Should help on special teams right away.
"There was a knock on the door at my hotel last night at 9:30," said Fitzpatrick, who had arrived Saturday via trade from St. Louis. "It was him. So we're roommates now."
Asked if Harvard recruited him, Palmer laughed and said he barely got into USC,
Dawson, waived by the Colts and claimed Sunday, is getting a second shot of sorts with the Bengals. Running backs coach Jim Anderson went to Harvard to work him out exclusively before the draft and when he wasn't selected the Bengals offered him a free-agent contract. He turned it down, saying he thought he had a chance to display his skills in Indianapolis.
"It was still a good experience there," he said.
Wide receiver Glenn Holt is going to find out quickly just how well that hamstring has healed, given that it's been nearly a month since he injured it and didn't play in a preseason game.
With cornerbacks Ethan Kilmer hurt and Blue Adams cut, Holt may be the gunner on punt cover, where the Bengals are defending their NFL coverage title.
"It's the best it has felt," Holt said. "This is the first (practice) week I'll be able to go full-go."
