Bengals Open Camp. Pep Rally Schedule Set. Latest on Andre Smith
By Jason Marcum
Jul 28, 2012; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) signs autographs for fans during training camp at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports
The Cincinnati Bengals open up the 2013 season today in a fast and furious manner as the team endures the pre-camp media circus, then holds it’s first training camp practice, and ends the day with a pep rally for the fans.
Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer will be on-site for all of the action, and revealed the schedule for today’s events:
"The first day of practice. An open locker room session will occur late in the morning, including a press conference with Andy Dalton. Practice will take place from 3-5 p.m. The session is NOT open to the public. At 7 p.m., there will be a team pep rally at Paul Brown Stadium which will be free and open to the public. Current and former players will be introduced sandwiched between a performance by the Rusty Griswolds and Fireworks show."
While fans and media won’t get to see the first training camp practice, they will have the opportunity to attend the second annual Season Kickoff Pep Rally at Paul Brown Stadium. It’s a free event open to all fans. Gates to PBS will open at 7 p.m., and the highlight film from the 2012 Bengals playoff season will be broadcast on the video boards. Bengals mascot Who Dey, the Ben-Gals cheerleaders and the Reds Rally Team will all make appearances.
Here is the schedule of tonight’s pep rally:
7:00 – Gates open
7:30 – Welcome & Alumni Introductions
7:45 – Band Performance (Rusty Griswolds) and Alumni Autograph Session
8:30 – Commentary with Dave Lapham, Dan Hoard and Artrell Hawkins
8:45 – Marvin Lewis/Team Introduction
9:30 – Fireworks
Bengals alumni will be on hand to sign autographs, and here’s the current list of alumni that is expected for tonight’s pep rally:
Ken Anderson, Louis Breeden, James Brooks, Barney Bussey, Glenn Bujnoch, Ron Carpenter, Brad Cousino, Larry Ely, M.L. Harris, Ira Hillary, Robert Jackson, Stanford Jennings, Joe Kelly, Dave Lapham, Mike Martin, Tim McGee, Max Montoya, Rick Razzano, Lamar Rogers, Brian Simmons, John Simmons, John Stofa, David Verser, Joe Walter
And in case you missed it, offensive tackle Andre Smith will open the camp on the NFI list due to a calf injury. Given Smith’s history of maintaining a healthy playing weight, the immediate concern was how out-of-shape he might be, and would it cause a dip in his performance in 2013.
Geoff Hobson reports that won’t be the case:
"But the word is that Smith looked in good shape and he reportedly appeared to be at around his playing weight"
Smith could easily come off of NFI by this weekend, and Marvin Lewis typically likes to give some of his veterans af ew days of rest before camp really kicks into gear in order to give rookies more reps and gauge where they’re at, and how much they could potentially contribute in the upcoming season.
In other words, don’t worry about Smith just yet.
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