European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 15, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Sunday april 15, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 25 Holman s bengals catch on after super year by Walt Morrissette staff writer Wiesbaden West Germany a what was the difference Between Cincinnati s Suner bowl bengals of 1988 and the 8-8 bengals of 1989? tight end Rodney Holman Rode that wild two season trip stopping at the pro bowl along the Way. On thursday he stopped in Wiesbaden along with three other pros on a joint nil department of the army tour and he explained that the �?T89 bengals never completely recovered from the �?T88 super bowl season. A we had the same players this year most of the teams we played were playoff teams a said Holman. A you get that kind of schedule. But All the players were Kinda fatigued out. A by the time you got done with All the hoopla from the super bowl from travelling the endorsement things that come from the super bowl by the time we finished All that it was february a he said. A that Only gives you a month off if you take that month and that cuts into your recovery time. Quot we have minicams at the end of april first week in May so that gives you Only a couple of months to get ready a Holman said. He also said the bengals never really rebounded from key Early season injuries plus everyone was getting up for the super bowl team. A Indianapolis was a prime example. They did no to have a Good season. But their owner said that was the Best game he had seen his Guys play and they beat us in Cincinnati. Miami did the same thing. A we can sit Back and look at the things we did and the mistakes we made a Holman said. A you play and you play hard but after a season like that the Clicks just Arentt there. I mean that was a Long season. We played like 20-some games if you count the preseason regular season and the playoffs. Plus we had contract holdouts including Holman so being in the super bowl a the thrilling Fo-16 loss to san Francisco in january 1989 a a is something i Hope i done to have j a not Ler seven years for a Holman said. A some Guys have gone their whole career without a super bowl. You mentioned Kellen Winslow he told me he would have traded anything to have played m a super bowl. A a lot of great Guys in the Hall of Fame never played in the super bowl. I did get to compete in the super bowl and i think we gave the fans their Money a a 1990, guard Max Montoya a sign no with the raiders shocked bengals in Germany mondays schedule for the nil group of Cincinnati a Rodney Holman new England a Garin Veris Minnesota Joey Browner and san Diego a Leslie of Neal 8 30-9 45 . A Assembly at Wiesbaden High school and Junior High. 11-11 30 . A lunch with bad Kreuz Nach Junior High students. 11 30 .-12 20 . A bad Kreuz Nach High school . Class and football players. 1-2 15 . A 520th pc and 8th finance. 4-4 45 . A bad Kreuz Nach youth services. 5-6 . A co of 708th dining facility at Hospital Cavern. 7 . A Century club. A it shocked everybody a Holman agreed. A i think they left him unprotected because of his social ties in Cincinnati the restaurants the new Home he just built. A the could have stayed if the bengals had met his financial obligations. I Don t think they were willing to do it. So he shopped around and found someone the raiders willing to meet the How does the departure of offensive coordinator Bruce Coslet to coach the jets affect the bengals a a everyone a had an input on the team a said Holman. A from an offensive standpoint All the offensive coaches had an input in the offensive plays. Bruce was the receivers coach and was the offensive coordinator by title. But everyone contributed. A Bruce took the passing plays and diagrammed those and said a which ones work the Best against this team a then our line coach and tight ends coach got together to say a this running play would work a or something like that. Those three Guys had a lot of input in it along with the other to what degree did head coach Sam Wyche a an offensive minded coach a have an effect on the play selection a Sam is a very offensive minded coach but the thing about a head coach is you want to get to the Point where you can Delegate the authority to someone else a the tight end said. A a it a not that he can to thrust himself into a position and know exactly what a going on. That a Why you like to have a head coach that knows every facet of the game. I imagine he could work in any capacity almost but you hire these Guys for their expertise in what they be been doing the As Holman gets ready for his ninth sea Rodney Holman says the loss of Max Montoya to the raiders a amps Dave Didio a shocked son he says special teams were a key to getting his pro career off the ground and keeping him in the league. He played on Kickoff coverage and return teams for three years before earning a starting spot. He said some rookies get Cut after not applying themselves if they done to Start and done to play on special teams. A some rookies look Down on special teams because they were an All american i top dog where they came from a Holman said. A then they come Here where everyone a been drafted and they re just like everyone else. A if a Young Guy that s playing and he a a backup but he a not on any special teams then you la have Guys that Are upset because he a not contributing to the team any More than just going through the motions in practice presenting something for the of Ense or defense will be a priority for the bengals draft. A the play of the Middle linebackers has been poor lately a Holman said. The bengals will also need to draft to fill Montoya a void on the offensive line. Keith Mccants can still be a top player despite his poor showing in the recent pro tryout at Alabama Holman said. A but he a got to realize As a first Rounder that he a going to get the hell beat out of him. A a he a got raw Talent but hell be going up against Guys with Talent and experience a Holman said. A until he gets that experience he a going to stick out like a sore thumb. Once he gets that experience he can be the phenomenal player the Impact player. be going on his raw Talent and Hope he can gel within a year or of players shooting for a bad a map by Bill Barnard. A basketball writer a sit magic or sir Charles i of Michael the Admiral Akeem Larry Patrick Hyde or Karl whenever a couple of writers get together at an Pia,�8e�?T11 does no to take Long for the most valuable a layer discussions to Start. Tom reel Media members from each of the 27 Aba a a i up. National writers make up the 92-person by Fern to wll vote Tor the map in the next few Days re the regular season ends next sunday. Ria for ague fe�?~8hts in the idea that there is no Crite very a a v0, which creates discussion and he Winner win a a a. Is to Lere Little agreement about who should it out there also is Little agreement about what a player has to do to win. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird who have combined to win five of the last six maps impress the segment of voters who believe in a a intangibles and a players who make their teammates better. A Johnson also benefits from playing for the los Angeles lakers who have the leagues Best record while Karl Malone of Utah and Charles Barkley of Philadelphia Are the stars on probable division winners. Barkley is finishing strongly recording season highs in scoring in three of four recent games. Jordan might lose support because Chicago always seems to be chasing Detroit but he has Charisma and the statistical Hook a the a bad a leading scorer a that attracts voters. Akeem Olajuwon leads the Aba in rebounding and blocked shots and his Houston supporters remind everyone that he has map Quality numbers despite a blood disorder that hampered his off season conditioning. Patrick Ewing has the Best of both worlds getting High Marks for leadership and scoring statistics that earn him the Label of a unstoppable but the new York a Nicks late season slide will Cost him votes. David Robinson after a two year Layoff in the Navy needed no time to be mentioned with Ewing and Olajuwon in the front rank of big men. Clyde Drexler of Portland is another dark horse candidate who gets support from the coaching fraternity because of the Way he has helped turn around his team s fortunes. Karl Malone has been spectacular for Utah trailing Only Jordan in scoring but he has the same problem that Johnson had before finally winning the map in 1987 a having a teammate who a almost As Good. John Stockton of the jazz is leading the Aba in assists by a wide margin
