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Home > Blogs > Big C's NFL Blitz > Archives > 2009 > October > 07
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Bengals’ Rivers and Maualuga fueled by competition
For years the Cincinnati Bengals have been criticized for having players with questionable character. However, I can tell you this from being around the team this season: That’s all changed.
Ask any player who has been around during those tough times what the biggest change is from in years past, and you’ll receive a unanimous vote for camaraderie.
The Bengals are to be commended for the way they have restructured their locker room. The team is made up of quality veteran leaders such as Dhani Jones, Bobby Williams, Roy Williams and Carson Palmer. Then you sprinkle in some young players cut from the same cloth.
The way I see it, championship teams are built on trust and having the right people with talent, not necessarily the best talent. I believe the Bengals have the right components in place to become champions.
In talking with two of the team’s brightest stars, linebackers Keith Rivers and Rey Maualuga, I learned how their friendship is helping build a solid foundation on defense. It all starts with their “sibling” rivalry.
“I love having Rey out there on the field with me,” Rivers said. “But what I don’t like is him taking my plays. I have to start getting some of my plays back.”
Rivers, of course, was joking about his former USC teammate stealing his plays, but apparently that’s what gets the competitive juices flowing.
I learned quickly that Rivers is a man of few words, so I turned to Maualuga for more info on their competition.
“Yeah, Keith and I go way back,” Maualuga said with a huge grin. “We like to see who will get the most Gangstas. That’s what we called it at SC; tackles, sacks, tackles for loss, etc. Before every game we go through our own little USC routine and that’s what it is out there for us.”
During the game Maualuga loves to keep his football brother updated on his productivity. When he makes a tackle or two he likes to seek out Rivers to discuss numbers. If Maualuga is up on Rivers, he’ll stick it to him. Then it’s on.
The players use this tactic to fire up each other because they hold one another to a higher standard.
“It’s like we compete out there all the time,” Maualuga said. “This friendly competition helps us to feed off one another and makes us hungrier. I believe us playing hungry will help our team win games.”
Rivers and Maualuga sometimes place a friendly wager on who will cause the first turnover or things of that nature.
During my conversation with Maualuga, I could see Rivers a few lockers away giving him the eye and smiling. He knew what was being said. The whole thing was pretty funny and, for me, very enjoyable.
So, who is winning the battle?
According to Maualuga, Rivers owes him a dollar. ;)
As a side note: Maualuga did not participate in practice on Wednesday, recovering from a sprained knee sustained against Pittsburgh.
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