WR Ochocinco Mulling Cleveland Plans

CINCINNATI -- Leap? Or just look? Chad Ochocinco is still deciding.

Two years ago in Cleveland, the Cincinnati Bengals receiver made good on his promise to jump into the Dawg Pound after he scored. He was greeted by profane gestures and a cold shower of sticky beer. As he prepares for the return trip, Ochocinco isn't likely to risk another Pounding.

"I've done that already," he said Wednesday. "I doubt if I do that again. It will be something different. I really haven't thought about it. Right now, my focus is just making sure we get the 'W' this week. As we continue to win, the fun will continue to creep back in."

So far, so fun.

The Bengals (2-1) are coming off a home victory over Pittsburgh - their first since 2001 - and find themselves alone in second place in the AFC North, a game behind the Ravens. They play at Baltimore in two weeks, a game that potentially could be for first place.

The Bengals and first place. Those two haven't been together very much over the last 18 years, which is one reason why coach Marvin Lewis tried something new on Wednesday.

The coach ordered plain practice jerseys for his team this week. The defense put on black mesh jerseys void of any name, number or marking; the offense has spotless white ones. Lewis came up with the idea on Sunday night, following that 23-20 win over Pittsburgh.

"It just says it doesn't matter what your name is or what your number is, play football," Lewis said after practice Wednesday. "Focus on what your assignment is and the other team and so forth. It's just where we are right now and what we have left ahead of us."

As they walked off the practice field, crossed a street and headed for the locker room at Paul Brown Stadium, they looked like an up-sized high school team with their humble duds.

Even Ochocinco, who likes to wear colorful pants or cleats that set him apart during practice, conformed to the plan, sporting a plain white jersey and standard sweat pants. The only things that set him apart during practice were his flashy moves on pass patterns and his incessant chatter with teammates.

He was careful not to say anything inflammatory, another significant change for the chatty receiver who once sent Pepto-Bismol to Browns defensive backs before a game. Instead of a stomach remedy, Ochocinco gave cornerbacks Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald courtesy titles.

"Mr. Wright and Mr. McDonald - pretty good corners, man," Ochocinco said. "Two good corners. What I've seen defensively from them is they're very good. They've got some great players across the board. They just haven't seemed to be able to put it together. By no means will we take them lightly."

From the bland jerseys to the bland talk, the Bengals seemed to be on message. Lewis doesn't want them getting too full of themselves or looking past winless Cleveland, given the intrastate rivalry's history of upsets and tight games.

Lewis didn't have to go very far back to prove his point. Two years ago, the Bengals opened the season with a pulsating 27-20 win over Baltimore that seemed to be one of those turning-point games. The next week, they went to Cleveland and lost 51-45 to a team that had struggled in its opener. Ochocinco's leap into the Dawg Pound after a touchdown wound up as nothing more than a beer-soaked diversion.

"I remember," Ochocinco said. "But that's the past. New year. New team. New attitude. New mindset. Just new everything."