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When Southern Cal linebacker Keith Rivers slipped on a Cincinnati Bengals cap just after 4 p.m. Saturday, April 26, it was a perfect match of team need and player talent. Celebrating with his family in a suite at the Orlando Marriott in Lake Mary, Fla., Rivers was overcome with emotion. "I'm so happy," he said, "I'm at the point where I don't know what to do — jump around or cry. I'm definitely ready to come in, help the team out and do everything possible to bring this defense up and get us to the playoffs."
The 6-foot-2, 241-pound All-American gives the Bengals a desperately needed linebacker to bolster the league's 27th-ranked defense. Rivers will get the chance to showcase his ability as a superb run defender and skilled pass defender. "He just has great physical traits," head coach Marvin Lewis said. "He's played at a very high level and has great leadership abilities. He's somebody to mold a group around, and him be the front-runner and leader of the group." Lewis called Rivers "extremely sudden as a player. The things you look for in a guy that has an opportunity to be an outstanding All-Pro linebacker for a long time in the NFL and make a difference, he's got that. He's somebody we can look forward to and count on for a long time." Rivers said he's most comfortable at weakside linebacker — the side of the field away from the tight end — but can play all three spots in the 4-3 scheme. "As a lot of people have seen, I was able to move right in to middle linebacker, and the strong side, and play well at the Senior Bowl," he said. Just as important, Rivers is considered a high-character guy who won't get into trouble off the field. "I bring a hard work ethic, a ton of speed and just a good attitude, and a coachable player," he said. "The leadership I'm bringing is just my hard work in the weight room and on the field, staying after practice, watching film and making myself the best player, so I can make the players around me better. "As a linebacker, you're the quarterback of the defense. You're a leader, making all the calls and the checks. That's what I'm coming in to do. By being a leader, it makes you stay long hours working to be the best, so I can make all the right calls so nobody's confused, and everything operates smoothly on the defense." Dayton Daily News http://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/content/oh/story/sports/pro/bengals/2008/04/27/ddn042708spbengals.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=25 |
