Failed Play Was Called By Player

Eric Bieniemy still declined to talk about the play, but Cincinnati Bengals coach Bruce Coslet was a little more forthcoming Monday about a fake punt that helped decide Sunday’s game with Jacksonville.

The explanation: It never should have been called.

Bieniemy, the blocking back on punts, called for a direct snap on fourth-and-16 from the Bengals’ 14-yard line midway through the first quarter.

He took the snap, ran into congestion at the line and was stopped for a 6-yard gain, giving Jacksonville the ball at the 20. Four plays later, the Jaguars scored their first touchdown in a 21-13 win.

After the game, both Coslet and Bieniemy characterized it as a miscommunication but declined to go into detail.

Coslet said Monday that Bieniemy called for the fake without permission from the sideline, and half of the punt team didn’t get the call.

“Obviously, you don’t do it that far backed up, you don’t do it with that yardage to be made,” Coslet said. “That was a major blunder. It should not have been attempted.”

Mirer goes to bench

One loss from matching their worst start ever, the winless Chicago Bears admitted what has been obvious the last three weeks - Rick Mirer is not the quarterback to lead them to victory.

Coach Dave Wannstedt switched starters again, replacing the Mirer with veteran Erik Kramer for Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers.

“We have to do what gives this team the best chance to win,” Wannstedt said.

Knees plague Smith

Buffalo Bills defensive end Bruce Smith is uncertain whether he will be able to finish out the season because of aching in his knees.

The NFL defensive player of the year has been advised to have surgery to remove bone spurs and repair cartilage in both knees.

League claims bias

The NFL’s belief it can’t get a fair hearing in St. Louis over the city’s multimillion-dollar antitrust lawsuit was a recurring theme as lawyers selected a jury.

Lead counsel Frank Rothman tried to drive that point home to 116 potential jurors in U.S. District Court, and around a dozen agreed.

Testimony was set to begin this afternoon in the case, which is expected to last six to eight weeks.

Parcells knows strategy

Ten years ago, Sam Wyche elected to have James Brooks run on a fourth down with 7 seconds left and his Bengals leading the 49ers by six.

Brooks couldn’t run out the clock, the 49ers got one play and Joe Montana found Jerry Rice for the game-winning touchdown.

Sunday, Bill Parcells took a leaf from Wyche’s book and did it the right way.

His Jets were leading the Colts 16-10 in the waning seconds. Instead of risking a blocked punt, he had Neil O’Donnell drop back, then turn and fling the ball out of his own end zone for a safety.

Then he got a free kick. The Colts got the ball deep and had only two desperation passes. Final: Jets 16, Colts 12.

Maybe that’s why Parcells has won two Super Bowls and Wyche is a TV analyst.