July 31, 2018 9:11 AM EEST
CINCINNATI -- For a few days, the Bengals defense gets to remind Mike Zimmer of what he built. Thomas Hickey Jersey .Zimmers Minnesota Vikings were in town Wednesday for the first of two joint practices leading up to their preseason opener Friday night at Paul Brown Stadium. Zimmer was the Bengals defensive coordinator from 2008-13, developing one of the NFLs top defenses.The defense hasnt changed a whole lot -- most of the same players, most of the same schemes -- while Zimmer has turned the Vikings back into a winner. And the Bengals defenders were looking forward to reminding Zimmer of why theyve been so good.He changed the culture around here, and I have much love and much respect for coach Zimmer, defensive lineman Domata Peko said before their first combined practice. I cant wait to go out and hit some of his players.Zimmer has been friends with the Bengals Marvin Lewis since their days as college coaches. Lewis likes to work out against opposing teams during training camp; its more of a challenge. Last year, the New York Giants practiced in Cincinnati for a couple of days before their preseason game.The Vikings were a natural preseason matchup for practice, given the links between the teams. Zimmer and Lewis worked out the practice schedule together, allowing both teams to work on what they need the most.Its pretty easy, Lewis said. Its simple when you do it with people youre friends with and respect that way.The Bengals were eager facing Teddy Bridgewater in practice. A year ago, they were excited to go against Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr., and they got the better of the matchup.Oh yeah, we were very dominant last year in the practices, cornerback Adam Pacman Jones said. But this is a new year. Weve got a lot of new guys in the locker room. Itll be fun, though.Bridgewater had an easier time of it on Wednesday, completing passes early in 11-on-11 drills. George Iloka picked off one of his passes in a later drill. Early in the session, one of the Vikings got knocked to the ground and players formed a scrum and did a little pushing, but order was quickly restored.Paul Guenther, who succeeded Zimmer as the defensive coordinator, made it clear there were boundaries that shouldnt be crossed during practice. The Bengals gave up the second-fewest points in the league last season, but had their worst moments in an 18-16 playoff loss to the Steelers. Personal fouls on Jones and linebacker Vontaze Burfict moved the Steelers into range for their winning field goal in the closing minute.Guenther has been emphasizing that the defense must be smart, and that goes for the two days of practices with Minnesota.Dont get near the quarterback, Guenther said. We dont want anybody getting hurt here.Game notes Andy Dalton had a tough time in the first 11-on-11 drill. The first time he dropped back to pass, he wound up having to scramble. The next two times, he would have been sacked -- players arent allowed to touch the quarterback, so the play gets ruled dead when pass rushers close in. Dalton threw the ball at the ground in frustration after the second one. ... Bengals DT Andrew Billings, a fourth-round pick, suffered a leg injury during a line drill and was taken off the field on a cart.---Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL href="http://www.cheapislandersjerseys.com/?tag=adidas-denis-potvin-jersey" target="_blank">Denis Potvin Jersey . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. Brock Nelson Jersey . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. http://www.cheapislandersjerseys.com/ ;. Bradwell was scheduled to become a free agent Tuesday. Born and raised in Toronto, Bradwell is entering his sixth CFL season, with all six played for his hometown Argonauts.MILWAUKEE -- The San Diego Padres have a winning streak a month in the making. Tyson Ross had a reason to celebrate, too, after he earned a victory for the first time in more than a year. Nick Hundley and Will Venable homered, and Ross pitched the Padres to a 6-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night. Hundley was 3 for 4 with three runs batted in for San Diego, which won back-to-back games for the first time since June 20-21. "Theres no doubt there was a struggle," San Diego manager Bud Black said. "We didnt hit and we didnt pitch. Now youre seeing better offensive outputs. Youre seeing two good starts from our (pitchers) the last two nights, and thats what it takes. "Its no secret. Its good to see guys performing like theyre capable of." Ross (1-4), recalled from Triple-A Tucson earlier Tuesday, earned his first win since May 14, 2012. The right-hander, who had lost 12 straight decisions -- including seven as a starter -- gave up just two hits and one run. He struck out six and walked two in a season-high six innings in his first start since April 17. "I think I was just kind of grinding through it," said Ross, who retired the final nine batters he faced. "I just kept my head up, kept battling trying to get better every time out. It was nice to get that first win in a while." Milwaukee starter Donovan Hand (0-2) lasted four innings before he left with a bruised right hand after being hit by a pitch. X-rays of his pitching hand were negative, and Hand is listed as day-to-day. He allowed two earned runs and seven hits to go with one strikeout and a walk. "I went back out for the fourth and everything was still good; a little swelling on the pinky side, but nothing major," Hand said. "Then after the fourth, I just really couldnt grip the ball anymore." Just before the first pitch, the Brewers announced they traded right-handed reliever Francisco Rodriguez to Baltimore for minor league third baseman Nick Delmonico. Rodriguez is 21st on the career saves list with 304. On Monday, the Brewers lost 2011 NL MVP Ryan Braun for the rest of the season after he was suspended for violating the Major League Baseball drug program. "We havent really hammered the ball for a while," Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke said. "Some of it is personnel, but I still exxpect a lot of these guys to have better at-bats. Johnny Boychuk Jersey. . I think theyre disappointed in the way theyre swinging the bat, and thats a good thing. "I still expect the guys that we have out there to produce, to scrap and battle and see if we can get some runs across." Mark Kotsay, who halted an 0-for-25 slump with a single in the second, led off the sixth with a single. Hundley followed with his seventh homer of the season for a 4-1 lead. Kotsay also singled home a run in the seventh to finish 3 for 4. Hundley added a run-scoring single to make it 6-1 later in the inning. Venable, Kotsay and Hundley, San Diegos Nos. 6-8 hitters, were a combined 9 for 13 with five RBIs and four runs. "I know they say hitting is contagious or whatever, but its just the ability to string together good at-bats," said Venable, who shares the team lead of 12 homers with Carlos Quentin. "Obviously you set out to do that every night. Sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesnt." Milwaukees Khris Davis, called up from Triple-A Nashville on Monday to replace Braun, hit a solo shot in the eighth against Colt Hynes for his first major league homer. San Diego took a 1-0 lead in the first on a single by Yonder Alonso. Milwaukee got the run back in the third when Jeff Bianchi scored from third after an errant pickoff attempt to first by Ross. Venables solo homer gave the Padres a 2-1 lead in the fourth. NOTES: To make room on the roster for Ross, right-hander Miles Mikolas was optioned to Triple-A Tucson. ... Rodriguez, 31, was 1-1 with a 1.09 ERA in 25 games with Milwaukee this season and was 10 for 10 in save opportunities. Alfredo Figaro will rejoin the team Wednesday to take his roster spot. The right-hander had been on the disabled list with an oblique strain. Delmonico, 21, played for Class-A Frederick this season and had a team-high 13 home runs to go with a .244 batting average. ... Padres pitcher Jason Marquis sustained a complete tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and will soon undergo Tommy John surgery. "As of right now, he plans on pitching again. Hes going to give it a go, hes going to rehab and I think he wants to come back and compete," Black said. The 34-year-old Marquis (9-5, 4.05) had lost three straight decisions over six starts. He went on the disabled list Sunday. 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