--Willie Anderson seriously considered retiring from the NFL after 12 years with the Bengals when the organization terminated his contract before the start of the season and released him to free agency. It didn't take long for Anderson to sign with Baltimore, but the emotions of his sudden good-bye with the Bengals lingered.
"I was mad at Mr. (Mike) Brown when he made the decision, for about the first month," Anderson told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "I was in a hotel and trying to find a place to live. My teammates welcomed me, but it was one of the toughest things I've done. It was difficult for me to start over."
Anderson seriously thought about quitting after 12 seasons and 181 games.
"I was not going to go to a new place," he said. "I was tired."
But he quickly signed with Baltimore and is glad he did. He is sniffing the postseason for what would be just the second time in an esteemed 13-year NFL career.
The Ravens are 7-4, just a game out of first place in the AFC North behind 8-3 Pittsburgh. Baltimore makes its annual visit Sunday to Cincinnati for a 1 p.m. game.
Anderson has started six of nine games played for the Ravens at right tackle.
--Bengals wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco had his 113-games played streak snapped Thursday night when head coach Marvin Lewis de-activated him for the game at Pittsburgh.
His 41 receptions put him on pace for 62, which would be his worst number since his rookie year in 2001 -- and the unhappy offseason that preceded his sub-par performance.
About the incident in Pittsburgh, Ocho Cinco said, "I put (head coach Marvin Lewis) in a tough position, and he made a call he had to make. It is what it is. I've never been deactivated all year. I didn't get a chance to play. My dad deactivated me, punishment for his son. Other than that I'm back this week, ready to have some fun against some very good friends of mine. I'm looking forward to spoiling their playoff chances or whatever we have the chance to spoil."
--The Bengals have won three games in a row in Cincinnati against the Ravens.
--The Bengals waived former starting fullback Jeremi Johnson off the injured reserve list. They also waived fullback Reagan Maui'a off IR with an injury settlement.
BY THE NUMBERS: 3 -- The Bengals are one of three NFL teams eliminated before Thanksgiving for postseason contention. The others are Detroit and St. Louis in the NFC.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I follow the Bengals and root for them every week, but I won't be rooting for them this week." -- Ravens RT Willie Anderson, who spent the first 12 years of his NFL career with the Bengals.
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