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NFL
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2009
ASSOCIATED PRESS
CINCINNATI - Another troubled player trying to revive his career? Nothing new for Cincinnati.
Johnson adds depth to Bengals backfield
Newly acquired Cincinnati Bengals running back Larry Johnson, right, sits next to head coach Marvin Lewis, left, as he speaks during a news conference at Paul Brown Stadium, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009 in Cincinnati.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Most Bengals players were unruffled Wednesday by the signing of running back Larry Johnson, brought in for the rest of the season in what's been described as a reserve role to AFC
help the AFC North leaders should they have an injury.
" We ' ve definitely got a history with picking up guys that other teams are going to shy away from and having success
"I really have no feelings about it. They made a move they felt they needed to do."
CEDRIC BENSON Bengals running back
with them, so hopefully it will be a success", quarterback Carson Palmer said, reflecting the sentiment in the locker room.
The most telling reaction came from the player who could be affected most. Running back Cedric Benson didn't have much to say.
After a light morning workout, Benson didn't have much to say about the team's decision. Told that he didn't appear to be thrilled with the move, he smiled.
"Oh. I didn't know I was supposed to be jumping out of my seat or anything." Benson said.
The Bengals signed Johnson for the rest of the season on Tuesday, giving them another running back in case Benson's injury lingers. He had to leave an 18-12 win in Pittsburgh on Sunday because of sprained hip muscles. He didn't practice Wednesday.
"I really have no feelings about it," he added. "They made a move they felt they needed to do, and that's fine with me, whatever decisions they make
in that area. It's not going to affect me in any kind of way. Whatever happens from here on, I can guarantee you I'll definitely be making the best of it"
It'll be one of the interesting subplots during their drive
for the playoffs.
By sweeping the Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens — the teams that played in the AFC title game last season — Cincinnati (7-2) put itself in control of the division. The Bengals lead the Steelers by a game, and have the important tiebreakers in their favor.
Plus, they've made it through the most challenging part of the schedule. The next three games are at Oakland (2-7), then home against Cleveland (1-8) and Detroit (1-8). There's also a home game against Kansas City (2-7) left.
NFL
Broncos quarterback injures ankle
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton throws during warmups prior to a game against the San Diego Chargers in San Diego. Four quarterbacks have led their teams to unbeaten records through the first six weeks of the season.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ENGLEWOOD. Colo. — The ligaments in Kyle Orton's left ankle are torn. He certainly isn't.
Orton adamantly wants to start Sunday against San Diego and help the Denver Broncos snap out of a monthlong funk that has wiped out their $3-\frac{1}{2}$-game cushion over the Chargers in the AFC West.
Plus, how can he convince the front office that he should be in the team's long-term plans if he's standing on the sideline sending in signals instead of running Josh McDaniels' offense?
Orton, in the final year of a contract that pays him a relatively paltry $1 million, has played through enough leg injuries to know it's not wise to rush back into action before he's healthy.
He just wasn't the same quarterback in Chicago after spraining his other ankle midway through last season. His interceptions piled up, his passer ratings plummeted and he never rediscovered the touch he had early in the season after he was carted off the field with a sprained ankle against Detroit on Nov. 2.
Eventually, the Bears soured on Orton and sent him and a bevy of draft picks to Denver for Jay Cutler.
Still, his defiance was palpable Wednesday before he sat out practice.
"I came back last year as soon as I could and I'll do the same thing this year." Orton said.
He acknowledged, however, that he rushed back into action last season after sitting out one game. He suffered through a 37-3 loss at Green Bay upon his hasty return, commencing a spiral that ended his tenure in Chicago.
"I wasn't even close for the Green Bay game," Orton admitted. "That's just how it is. I don't know
So, his mindset is he's the starter unless and until McDaniels decides by week's end that Simms is
and try to lead the football team and try to be in the huddle just like everybody else". Orton said.
"I don't know if anybody is feeling 100 percent right now on our team. It's been a physical season."
"I'll come back as fast as I can
KYLE ORTON Broncos quarterback
"In this sport you've got to play when you are dinged up and the quarterback is no different."
So, it's different" he insisted. "It's not the same foot or the same type
"A different foot
of thing. I played with leg injuries in the past. I hope I can do it this time.
"You know, last year was so tough because it was pushing off and that was my back leg, so that was tough. This will present a different challenge, I'm sure, but we'll see if I can play through it."
The Broncos, trying to avoid become just the third team in the Super Bowl era to miss the playoffs after winning its first six games, will either send out a quarterback with a puffy ankle against the Chargers or one who hasn't started a game since 2006.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Connecticut defeats No.10 Texas with ease
ASSOCIATED PRESS
But from the looks of it, the top-ranked Huskies are already playing like it's April.
SAN ANTONIO — Defending champion Connecticut arrived in San Antonio five months before the Final Four begins here.
Maya Moore had 20 points and 11 rebounds and Connecticut had no trouble with what was supposed to be its first real test of the season, easily easing No. 10
Texas 83-58 on Tuesday night in yet another blowout during the Huskies' 41-game winning streak.
Against ranked or unranked teams, whether in November or April, it hasn't mattered in a long time for the Huskies. After winning by an average of 30 points last season, UConn dominated Texas after demolishing Northeastern 105-35 in its season opener.
"There are a lot of things that came out of tonight that were good for our team, things you'd like to know about your team but you wouldn't find out unless you played a pretty good team on the road," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
University of Texas' Kristen Nash, left, drives past Connecticut Meghan Garder during the first half of a game in San Antonio, Tuesday. Texas defeated Connecticut 83-58.
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