TRAINING CAMP 2008 INDEX: Features, news, notes, video, photos, schedule and more * * *
Updated: 9:55 p.m.
GEORGETOWN, Ky. - Both sides of the ball flexed their muscles in Wednesday night's five goal-line snaps that highlighted the Bengals' fifth practice of training camp.
The new and improved Rudi Johnson used his 18 pounds of new weight to bounce off linebackers Corey Mays and Ahmad Brooks for a touchdown before backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick flipped a play-action touchdown pass to new tight end Ben Utecht all alone in the corner.
But the defense won the war with three stops on the run, including rookie defensive tackle Jason Shirley's blowup of rookie running back James Johnson in the backfield.
The defense also did a nice job pursuing and cutting off the quickness of running back Chris Perry, stopping his dive over the middle on one snap.
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"Sometimes you get so high during goal line or short yardage, you can't the let the rest of practice fade," said middle linebacker Dhani Jones . "You have to have the same kind of consistent pace for yourself so that you practice with the same level of aggression."
Wide receiver Chad Johnson (ankle) joined in the past-practice sprints and seemed to go at a decent pace. He was taped, but not in pads, when he gave the crowd of about 400 some excitement when he plucked five-year-old Bryce Short of Lexington, Ky., wearing a No. 85 jersey, and took him along for some rehab work on another field. When Bryce showed up back on the big field, he waved a pair of autographed CJ shoes.
SLANTS AND SCREENS
In 86-degree temperatures the Bengals went at it in full pads without Keith Rivers, but with Perry and right tackle Willie Anderson after the duo didn't work in the morning practice.
Wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh sat again with a tight muscle and safety Herana-Daze Jones sat out the night practice after apparently suffering a muscle problem in the morning.
Defensive ends Robert Geathers and Antwan Odom also weren't dressed. Odom has a sprained foot but he showed up without a boot and Geathers' absence was unexplained.
It looked like running back Kenny Watson and left tackle Levi Jones were simply getting a rest for their knees.
Chad Johnson showed no signs of a limp as he jogged through some warmup drills.
Rivers and the man drafted ahead of him in Jacksonville, defensive end Derrick Harvey at No. 8, are the only first-rounders unsigned. The $19.4 million in guarantees for No. 7 Sedrick Ellis marks a huge gap in the slot to the $13.8 million guaranteed at No. 10 for New England's Jerod Mayo.
The defense supplied the big play in the first series of 11-on-11 when safety Kyries Hebert ranged to cause a fumble on a sweep after fighting off blockers.
