CINCINNATI - Two big goals are still out there for the Cincinnati Bengals: Shine in prime time, win in the playoffs.
[b]JK Scott Super Bowl Jersey[/b] .The AFC North leaders have a chance to put a dent in the first one on Monday night when they host Denver (11-3), which has already clinched the AFC West. Throughout their history, the Bengals (9-4-1) have been at their worst at nighttime.Cincinnati is 18-41 all-time in prime time, including 10-20 on Monday night. The Bengals have been beaten badly by New England and Cleveland in their two night games this season, reinforcing their reputation as a team that withers under the brightest lights.Its a label theyd love to eliminate.Its annoying and its our job to make it unannoying, safety George Iloka said on Thursday. If we lose this game, the talk will come back again.And if we want to silence the critics, so to say, weve got to put up or shut up. Thats how it goes. It might be annoying, but thats on us.For now, thats how theyre known.A loss at home to San Diego in the first round of the playoffs last season cemented their reputation as a team that cant handle the toughest pressure. Cincinnati has lost in the opening round each of the last three postseasons and hasnt won a playoff game since the 1990 season.And then there are those high-profile games at night.The Bengals went to New England determined to shake their reputation in a Sunday night game, but got pushed around throughout a 43-17 loss. Their next chance in prime time came in a Thursday night game at home against Cleveland, a 24-3 loss that only made matters worse.Defensive end Wallace Gilberry said he has no idea why playing in prime time bothers the team.I guess were afraid of the dark. I have no idea, he said. But I can tell you this: Were going to come out Monday and were going to put our best foot forward.That would be a first. And in order for it to happen, Andy Dalton is going to have to play well.The fourth-year quarterback is 0-3 in the playoffs and 2-6 in prime time games. During the Thursday night loss to Cleveland, he completed only 10 passes, threw three interceptions and finished with a career-low passer rating of 2.0.A lot of it is on the quarterback.Its well documented whatever the record is, 2-6. Ive heard all kinds of stuff. Trust me, I get enough emails, letters, cards, advice, all kinds of stuff, offensive co-ordinator Hue Jackson said. I do understand whats at stake, and I think he does, too.In the big games, Dalton has made the biggest mistakes, losing the ball on fumbles and interceptions. That has to change.We cant make mistakes, we cant turn the ball over, weve got to be sound in our execution, Dalton said. And if we do that, well put ourselves in a lot better position than we did in the other ones.Notes: Receiver A.J. Green did his conference call with media in Denver on Thursday, then was excused from practice because he was sick. ... Cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick (Achilles tendon) and defensive end Carlos Dunlap (calf) were held out of practice as well. ... Tight end Jermaine Gresham missed a victory over Cleveland on Sunday with a sore toe, but practiced fully on Thursday. So did defensive end Margus Hunt (ankle) and cornerback Terence Newman (ankle).___Online: AP NFL website:
www.pro32.ap.org and
www.twitter.com/AP_NFL [b]Kenny Clark Super Bowl Jersey[/b] . The 10-year deal the league and players agreed to that ended the 2011 lockout gave either side the right to opt out after six years. With the league projecting financial growth, there has been speculation that players will take that option in three years, especially since a new national TV contract will be in place by then.
[b]Tramon Williams Super Bowl Jersey[/b] . Louis Cardinals. He was 48. The commissioners office said Bell died in his home state of Ohio. Bell had not been feeling well over the weekend and had been scheduled to see doctors later Monday at the Cleveland Clinic.NEW YORK -- Manny Pacquiao is out to show Timothy Bradley that he still has a "killer instinct." Pacquiao was in New York on Wednesday as part of a media tour to promote his rematch with Bradley on April 12 in Las Vegas. Bradley beat Pacquiao in 2012 in a hotly disputed split decision. At a news conference on Tuesday in southern California, Bradley said the 35-year-old Pacquiao still has skills, but the former welterweight champions "killer instinct is gone." In an interview with The Associated Press, Pacquiao said he takes that as a challenge. "The aggressiveness and killer extinct, I have that, but sometimes Im too nice with my opponent," Pacquiao said. "But this fight he challenged me to do that. But this fight, hell get it." Pacquiao (55-5-2, 38 KOs) was scheduled to attend the New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden later in the day, and then appear on Keith Olbermanns ESPN show. Pacquiao, who is a congressman back home in the Philippines, lost to Bradley and was knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez siix months later in 2012.
[b]Jamaal Williams Super Bowl Jersey[/b]. He didnt fight again for almost a year before beating Brandon Rio in a decisive unanimous decision in November. During that time he ran for re-election -- unopposed -- and he helped his wife run for office, too. "I dont lose my passion or my desire to fight," Pacquiao said. "Its part of boxing. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose." Pacquiao said at 35 years old he has changed his training routine to allow himself more time off, but his workouts are as intense as ever. Still, he said he plans to retire in two or three more years. "I feel in my body I can still fight, by Gods grace," he said. That doesnt leave much time for the match fight fans have longed for: Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather. The two have never been able to come to an agreement and each fighters camp has blamed the other for it not getting done. Pacquiao said he suggested the two fight for charity. "My line (open) is 24/7," he said. "He can contact us to say, Yes, Id love to fight." ' ' '
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