Cowboys will play Hall of Fame exhibition game against Bengals

On Aug. 8 in Canton, Ohio, there will be 2010’s first game to be played between the Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals. The exhibition game will be played one day after the Cowboys star Emmitt Smith and longtime Bengals coach Dick LeBeau are inducted into the 2010 Hall of Fame.

“More importantly, I really believe that having our players share in Emmitt Smith’s Hall of Fame enshrinement should serve as an inspiration to every man on our roster, whether it be a 10-year vet or a rookie that’s never played in an NFL game,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in a statement. “I can’t think of a better way to start the season from a motivational perspective than wearing the same uniform as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher.”

Smith, who played as a running back in Cowboys jersey from 1990 to 2002, has been NFL’s career leader in yards rushing and was elected along with Jerry Rice, John Randle, Rickey Jackson, Russ Grimm and Floyd Little.

LeBeau entered the Hall of Fame as a Detroit Lions cornerback. He continued NFL career by doing coaching job after retiring as an NFL player. He worked with the Bengals as a coach for 18 years and is currently a defensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Bengals are focusing on improving passing game

The Cincinnati Bengals did good job in running game last season but they ranked 26th in the league in passing offense, averaging only 180.6 yards per contest. Thus their advantage on running game has been out of necessity and the focus has changed to be on the passing game.

"We have to make sure we continue to put good people around (quarterback Carson Palmer)," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "We have a big-time player. He’s a great leader. I thought he did a great job managing our game."

Palmer passed for 146 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the Bengals’ playoff loss to the New York Jets. But in order to improve the passing team, the Bengals still have to prepare to figure out someone that could offer help in the NFL scouting combine.

Lewis also commented on signing wide receiver Matt Jones for the first time, saying that the team signed Jones to give him an opportunity. Considering Jones to be a good athlete, Lewis said Jones will soon put on Bengals jersey to work with new teammates.

Steelers safety Polamalu reinjured left knee and left Sunday game

The Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu did not finish Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals because of injury on left knee. While his teammates were facing 18-12 loss to the Bengals, he was undergoing tests on his reinjured knee without wearing his NO.43 Steelers jersey.

A previous injury on the same knee had caused Polamalu to miss four games before he returned on Oct. 18 to play against the Cleveland Browns. Hopefully this time the injury is less serious and won’t hold him out for long, as he was escorted to the locker room by physician James Bradley instead of a team trainer.

The five-time Pro Bowl player was injured while tackling Cedric Benson during Cincinnati’s opening possession. Flexing his knee after coming off the field, Polamalu left for the locker room shortly later. Undergoing an MRI exam while the game was ending, the safety even did not watch how his team Sunday’s game.

Benson tries to be first RB running for 100 yards against Steelers

For this season, no NFL running back has managed to run for 100 yards against the Pittsburgh Steers’ Steel Curtain defense. But that won’t stop the Cincinnati Bengals running back Cedric Benson making the latest attempt to be the first in doing so.

Running backs failing to achieve the goal included: Adrian Peterson, LaDainian Tomlinson, Chris Johnson, Jamal Lewis, Steve Slaton, Brandon Jacobs, Steve Jackson and Clinton Portis. And Benson himself also failed once in Week 3’s game.

But different from the running backs in other teams' NFL jerseys, Benson has been supposed to be one of the biggest challengers to the Steelers’ streak. Having 837 yards on a league-high 198 carries, Benson is second to Johnson in yardage. For this season, he has had three 100-yard games, including 120 yards against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5, 189 yards against the Chicago Bears in Week 7 and 117 yards against the Baltimore Ravens again in Week 9. He was also the first running back to break Ravens’ 100-yard streak.