Dead center on a pillar in the middle of Cincinnati's expansive locker room is an elaborate console that holds the room's stereo controls. It's a large black metal box, encased in tinted glass with several state-of-the-art components and a stack of controls that flash and flicker in red and green lights. It looks like something straight out of "Pimp My Locker Room." And what I've found is that most of the time, if you want to locate Chad Johnson or the pulse of the Bengals on any given day, this is the best place to find both.

Sure enough, during a recent trip to Cincinnati, Chad and I were chatting about a range of topics when I suddenly found myself in the middle of a full-fledged music, um, debate between Johnson and Bengals guard Bobbie Williams.

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Bengals linebacker David Pollack will know in a couple of months whether the cracked bone in his neck is healing properly or whether he'll need career-ending surgery to fix it.

In his first interview since the injury, Pollack said that he has to wear a halo brace for two more months. If the cracked vertebra has healed by then, he can start rehabilitation and eventually resume his career.

{mosimage}The Bengals are not practicing for an opponent this week, which might make sense even if it wasn’t their bye week.

They have been their own worst enemy lately, so it’s probably good timing. Cincinnati can take this week to focus on itself rather than concentrating on another team.

"You try to get a chance to self-scout," linebacker Brian Simmons said. "You look at the things you’ve done well and the things you haven’t done well and the things you’ve kind of done well and get better in every category."

{mosimage}Its time for Coach Lewis to break out the “Do Your Job” campaign again.  The Bengals suffered their first defeat on Sunday against the Patriots.  A big part of that loss was due to players pushing too hard.  Give a guy credit when he goes above and beyond his job duties to do everything he can for the team, but in the game of football, this is not always a good thing.  It is this exact approach that may be hurting the Bengals right now.   

Well now that Sunday’s game is finally over, it is time for some reflection.  Not to use that old jaded football expression, but this loss could not come at a better time.  Who is kidding who?  No loss ever comes at a good time, but in this case maybe an opportune time.  With two weeks before their next game the Bengals do get the extra time to make it right.  

The Bengals have had two major issues hanging over their teams head for some time now, other wise known as the Thurman and Henry show.  One of those issues has now been resolved by the NFL.  Simply put, it’s been cancelled.  The other issue sat out of the game on Sunday and most likely will see the same fate his counterpart did when things are all said and done.  Rumor has it that the Bengals were not that sorry to see Thurman go, and Coach Lewis seems to be at ease with his decision to sit Henry against the Patriots.  As these issues work themselves out, it may help the team to get back on track mentally, but what it does not due is cover the run in the middle of the field nor does it catch jump ball touchdowns in the end zone.  Nor does it give defenses one less player to cover Chad or TJ. 

Cincy coach makes it clear the players he activates will be the ones he 'can count on.'

CINCINNATI — Are the Cincinnati Bengals preparing for life without wide receiver Chris Henry?

From the look of things Sunday and the sound of things Monday, it sure appears that way.

NFL teams consist of 53 players, but only 45 are activated for games. Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis selected four wideouts — starters Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and backups Kelley Washington and Antonio Chatman — to play in Sunday's 38-13 home loss to New England.

Maroney runs for 125 yards, two scores in Patriots' win

CINCINNATI (AP) -- Rookie running back Laurence Maroney got New England's offense rolling like old times.

Scouts Inc.'s take ...
The Patriots were without their starting right tackle, free safety and best cornerback, but their pass protection was outstanding and their makeshift defensive backfield limited Cincinnati's high-powered attack.
The Bengals featured Chad Johnson to begin the game and moved the ball with a balanced attack, but they couldn't capitalize with touchdowns. Tom Brady found Doug Gabriel for 25 yard touchdown with less than two minutes left in the first half to take a 14-6 lead, putting New England in the driver's seat.