Bengals Banter: Geno Atkins Working Harder than Ever During Offseason
By Jason Marcum
Dec 23, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) is sacked by Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins (97) during the second half of the game at Heinz Field. The Bengals won the game, 13-10. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins is a relentless worker on and off the field, and spends most of the offseason in the weight room working to ensure he’s constantly improving while in the prime of his career. He’s been training with Clif Marshall, the Performance Director at Ignition, which trains many of the world’s top athletes, and Marshall recently spoke about how impressed he is with Atkins’ work ethic:
"“What you need to know about Geno is when I look at my attendance sheet over the past three years his name is at the top,” Marshall said. “He’s been here more than any other NFL player we have in the program. Geno is consistent and has a blue-collar approach every day he comes in to work out.“More importantly, I think the transition and the way he uses the strength and power of training on the football field is what’s most impressive to me.”"
Andrew Fox Miller over at Cincy Jungle did his player preview of James Harrison, whom he believes is the 15h-best player on the Bengals roster. I liked what he said about Harrison’s leadership, and how it could help Maualuga develop that mentality:
"Perhaps one of Harrison’s greatest strengths for the Bengals in 2013 will be the attitude he will bring both on the field and in the locker room. The defense was missing some leadership in 2012, which was further confirmed when Marvin Lewis named Rey Maualuga as a player he needed to see leadership out of. Maualuga may not be afforded a tentative mindset on the field with Harrison in the fold. Vontaze Burfict may learn a few things from Harrison as well, as the second-year linebacker has the opportunity to continue his unexpected maturation both as a player and teammate."
Speaking of Harrison, in order to get his #92 jersey with the Bengals, he had to negotiate for it with then-Bengals DE Jamaal Anderson, who has since been cut, but still hopes their agreement is on:
"“There was a small negotiation. You treat it like any other business deal. You weigh the pros and cons and you make a decision,” Anderson said. “We know what it is. It’s a gentlemen’s agreement so hopefully both parties go about their ways in getting it complete.”"
In that same article, The Bengals released a statement regarding the decision by an NFL arbitrator to award former TE Ben Utecht $900k after the team cut him following his concussion during the 2009 season:
"“The substantive issue involved in Ben’s case was when we could release him from his contract. Ben was placed on the Reserve/Injured list on Aug. 31, ending any chance for him to play for us in 2009, so there was never a question of the Club attempting to get him ‘cleared to play,’ ” the club said in a statement released Wednesday afternoon.“He was not released until Nov. 17, so he was carried on the payroll for more than three months after the Aug. 5 injury, and he was then released, on the advice of an independent neurologist that the timing was proper. Ben received excellent medical care throughout the process. This is simply a CBA and contract case. We disagree with the finding that the release should have occurred at a later point, but at this point we must accept it and move on.”"
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