Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

Dallas          3   3   3   7   — 16
Cincinnati    0   0   0   7   –   7

* Jordan Palmer’s 1-yard touchdown toss to Darius Hill with 51 seconds left averted a shutout. Dave Rayner’s PAT made the final score: Dallas 16, Cincinnati 7.

* With the two-minute warning approaching — the time when media heads to the locker room — Dallas continues to lead 16-0.

* Mat McBriar’s punt to the Cincinnati 1-yard line led to the first touchdown of the season. With Jordan Palmer trying to connect from his own end zone with Jordan Shipley, Dallas linebacker Brandon Sharpe stepped in to intercept and return the ball 6 yard to the end zone. Buehler’s PAT gave Dallas a 16-0 lead with 9:23 left in the game.

* After an exchange of punts and the end of the third quarter, the Bengals finally mounted a drive. It ended, though, when Cordera Eason fumbled. Josh Brent recovered for the Cowboys on the Dallas 11, 13 seconds into the fourth quarter.

* Fifty-six seconds after missing a 49-yard field-goal attempt, David Buehler has nailed a 23-yarder to give Dallas a 9-0 lead. The Cowboys got the ball back when Jordan Palmer’s pass for Maurice Purify was intercepted by Brandon Williams near midfield and returned to the Cincinnati 9-yard line.

* Dallas kicker David Buehler was wide left on a 49-yard field goal with 9:59 left in the third quarter. The Cowboys still lead 6-0.

* Jordan Palmer has taken over at QB for the Bengals to start the second half, only to go three-and-out. FB Brian Leonard, injured late in the first half, is out for the rest of the game due to an injured left foot.

Bengals LB Michael Johnson (93) gets a second-quarter sack of Stephen McGee.

* Another exchange of punts and an interception concluded a lackluster first half. The interception, with 18 seconds left, went to Dallas S Danny McCray on his own 14, grabbing a desperation J.T. O’Sullivan bomb intended for Andre Caldwell.

* Since Buehler’s second field goal, the teams have exchanged punts. The Bengals have just taken over on their 5-yard line with 2:33 left in the half.

* Official attendance at Fawcett Stadium is 22,364, a sellout.

* Several Cowboys are hurting: WR Titus Ryan (broken left thumb) is done for the night; the return(s) of TE Kevin Brock (left ankle sprain) and T Alex Barron (right ankle sprain) are questionable; TE John Phillips (right knee) has been taken to the locker room for further evaluation.

* Dallas has doubled its lead to 6-0, getting a 34-yard field goal by David Buehler. His kick capped an eight-play, 39-yard drive and came with 6:11 left in the half. Dallas used its third QB of the game to engineer the drive, Stephen McGee.

* After an exchange of punts, the Bengals have come up with the first turnover of the game. Dallas RB Herb Donaldson coughed the ball up and MLB Abdul Hodge recovered for the Bengals on the Cincinnati 24-yard line. However, the Bengals went backwards to the 4 and punted with 10:34 left in the half.

* The Bengals “skills” players apparently are done for the night. QB Carson Palmer, who has been replaced by J.T. O’Sullivan, finishes 2-for-5 for 18 yards. Both receptions were made by Terrell Owens. RB Cedric Johnson carried two times for 7 yards.

* Jonathan Fanene got the Bengals’ first sack, a 7-yard drop of Jon Kitna, and forced a fumble. C Travis Bright recovered for the Cowboys. At the end of one quarter, Dallas in possession at its 41-yard line: Cowboys 3, Bengals 0.

* The Bengals’ second possession began with an 11-yard Palmer-to-Owens pass. However, Cincinnati then went 1-2-3 kick, with Palmer getting sacked.

* Kitna went 2-for-4 on the Cowboys’ second drvie, which ended with a punt.

* Bengals S Chris Crocker suffered an injury to his right ankle when the Bengals punted to end their first possession. He will not return.

* The Cowboys opened their second possession with a new quarterback — former Bengals passer Jon Kitna.

* Nothing doing on the Bengals’ first possession. They did pick up a first down on Carson Palmer’s first pass attempt, good for 7 yards to Terrell Owens. The Bengals soon punted.

* Dallas took the opening kickoff and drove 63 yards in 14 plays to score the game’s first points, a 20-yard field goal by David Buehler. The Cowboys were fortunate to get the points and the Bengals were just as fortunate to hold Dallas to only three points. On first-and-goal from the 5, Dallas running back Felix Jones fumbled. Leon Hall recovered for the Bengals in the end zone, but Jonathan Fanene had lined up offsides. Given another chance, first-and-goal from the 2, Cowboys QB Tony Romo threw three incompletions before Buehler came in. Dallas 3, Cincinnati 0 (9:25 left in first quarter).

The Cincinnati Bengals warm up at Fawcett Stadium. (Photo by Mark Maloney)

Awaiting kickoff for the exhibition-season opener — the Hall of Fame Game at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio — between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Dallas Cowboys.

• Cincinnati’s inactives: WR Antonio Bryant (knee); OT Andre Smith (foot); S Tom Nelson (knee); LB Rashad Jeanty (leg); FB Fui Vakapuna (shoulder); K Mike Nugent (groin/leg); CB Johnathan Joseph (thigh); RB Cedric Peerman (not specified); LB Rey Maualuga (hamstring); and DE Carlos Dunlap (concussion).in

With Vakapuna out, Louisville rookie Joe Tronzo will get the start at fullback. Adam “Pacman” Jones will start at cornerback in place of Joseph. And Michael Johnson will start at SAM linebacker in place of Maualuga.

• Dallas inactives will include DE Marcus Spears (knee); WR and No. draft pick Dez Bryant (ankle).

The Dallas Cowboys prepare for Sunday

Jerome Simpson laid out to make a long "touchdown catch" during Thursday morning's drills. (Maloney photo)

The Cincinnati Bengals opened training camp at Georgetown College on Thursday morning, missing the most talked-about player on the squad.

Six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Terrell Owens, who agreed to terms with the team Tuesday, had been scheduled to piggy-back with Coach Marvin Lewis’ mid-day press conference. However, Owens had flight problems and is not expected to arrive at the Greater Cincinnati Airport in Northern Kentucky until about 2 p.m.

Chad Ochocino grabs a pass under the watchful eye of receivers coach Mike Sheppard. (Maloney photo)

“He should arrive some point later today and we’ll have to go through some of the things we have to do administratively with him,” Lewis said at his press conference. “Hopefully, we’ll get him on the field this evening (a 7 p.m. workout). But, may not be, so we’ll have to see how it works — if he gets here in time to take care of the things we need to take care of.”

Lewis gave a thumbs up to the defending AFC North champions’ first workout in shorts and helmets.

“As a football team, we reported in outstanding shape,” he said. “I thought we had good work today on the field. A good start, good kickoff to things.”

Lewis said five players have been listed on “active PUP” (physically unable to perform):

* Rashad Jeanty (LB), who is recovering from off-season leg surgery;

* Leon Hall (CB), due to “slight tightness in his back” that could limit his participation for a few days;

* Evan Mathis (OG), who is day-to-day as he recovers from a calf strain suffered in June;

* Andre Smith (OT), foot rehab, who could be ready in two-to-three weeks;

* Tom Nelson (S), who had recent surgery to clean out his knee and could be out two-to-four weeks.

No need for injury alarm, though. Lewis described the active PUP moves as precautionary.

“We just took the ability to do this right now, and that’s the best way to do it, is put these guys on the active PUP,” he said.

Michael Johnson led the way in a defensive agility drill. (Maloney photo)

After a Thursday night and Friday afternoon practice, the Bengals will don pads for the first time Saturday. They begin exhibition play the following weekend, Aug. 8 (Sunday) against Dallas in the Hall of Fame Game at Canton, Ohio.

Chad Ochocinco, who has dubbed himself Robin to Owens’ Batman, reiterated Thursday that he thinks the Bengals are armed to win a Super Bowl.

Talking about Owens, Lewis brought Ochocinco’s comment into the conversation.

Owens is, Lewis said, “a guy who has got some skins on the wall, an accomplished player and is looking goal-wise to match up with the same things we are. He’s done everything else. … But simply us just talking about it, as my favorite wide receiver seems to want to do, that doesn’t get you there. You’ve got to do the work and you’ve got to make the plays.”

* Antonio Bryant, like Owens an off-season free-agent acquisition at wide receiver, practiced in his assigned No. 81. However, he reportedly has agreed to give up the number to Owens in exchange for a donation to the Overtown Optimists, a youth football team in his hometown of Miami.

“I don’t need anything. He’s had that number. He’s got the legacy with that and I’ve had a lot numbers,” Bryant told Geoff Hobson of bengals.com. “I just told them to give those kids something. At least $8,000 for all the uniforms and registration and all the equipment they need.  They’re trying to get where we are.”

Take a good look: Antonio Bryant looks for the ball while wearing No. 81 -- the number he has ceded to Terrell Owens. Receivers coach Mike Sheppard checks out the play. (Maloney photo)

The Cincinnati Bengals announced Friday that they and Georgetown College have agreed to a one-year extension of the team’s contract to hold training camp at the school’s East Campus Athletic Complex. The agreement now runs through 2011, which will be the Bengals’ 15 consecutive year at Georgetown.

“The length of the relationship is reflective of the college’s excellent facilities and professional staff,” Troy Blackburn, Bengals vice president, said in a press release issued by the team. “We remain convinced of the benefits of starting our season in a camp situation and Georgetown provides us with exactly what we need, including a location (an hour from Cincinnati) that makes camp visits possible for many of our fans.”

Last season, Cincinnati’s seventh with Marvin Lewis as head coach, the Bengals went 6-0 in divisional play and won the AFC North title with a 10-6 regular-season record. The New York Jets knocked off the Bengals in the first round of the playoffs, 24-14.

Before coming to Georgetown, the Bengals held pre-season camp at Wilmington (Ohio) College for 29 years. Players report to this season’s camp Wednesday, with first drills scheduled Thursday.

Said Eric Ward, Georgetown athletic director: “It will be our goal, just as it has been for the past 13 years, to create a suitable environment for the Bengals to prepare for a Super Bowl and the fans to enjoy a unique training camp experience.”

The Bengals begin exhibition play Aug. 8, facing the Dallas Cowboys in the Hall of Fame Game at Canton, Ohio. The exhibition home opener will be Aug. 15 against the Denver Broncos.  Cincinnati will open the regular season Sept. 12, visiting the New England Patriots, with the home opener Sept. 19 against the Baltimore Ravens.

For the full schedule, visit: Bengals schedule