Cincinnati Bengals 2009 Media Guide.indb - Bengals Home

STADIUM , NFL & MEDIA RECORDS HISTORY 2008 REVIEW COLLEGE FREE AGENTS 2009 DRAFT CHOICES VETERANS ROSTERS STAFF
KEITH RIVERS
55
Linebacker
Ht: 6-2
Wt: 240
2nd year in NFL
Bengals’ first-round draft pick in 2008, Rivers is seen
as a key cog in continuing improvement by the defense
… Had a shortened but successful rookie season …
Earned starting WLB job out of preseason, and his 50
tackles through Week 7 ranked second on the team …
However, Rivers was sidelined for the fi nal nine games
due to jaw fracture suffered in Week 7 vs. Pittsburgh
… Also in ’08, had one INT, with a 39-yard return, and
a forced fumble … Recovered from the jaw fracture in
time for all 2009 offseason activities.
2008 PARTICIPATION: Drafted by Bengals in first
round (ninth overall) … Signed Aug. 5 after missing
fi rst week of training camp due to contract negotiations
… Started Games 1-7, but suffered jaw fracture on
third scrimmage play of Game 7, Oct. 19 vs. Pittsburgh
… Sustained the injury in collision with Steelers WR
Hines Ward … Was placed on Reserve/Injured list on
Oct. 21.
2008 HIGHLIGHTS: Opened pro career with a
pair of 11-tackle games, leading team in NFL debut
Sept. 7 at Baltimore, and including two tackles-for-loss
on Sept. 14 vs. Tennessee … Had another 11-tackle
effort on Sept. 28 vs. Cleveland, leading team in solos
(nine) … On Oct. 5 at Dallas, led LBs in tackles (eight),
forced a fumble and recorded his first INT … Late in third
quarter at Dallas, with Bengals trailing 17-13, Rivers
College: Southern California
2008 Games-Starts: 7-7
Career Games-Starts: 7-7
KEITH RIVERS’ STATISTICS
Acquired: D1’08
(9th overall)
Born: 5-5-86
forced a Marion Barber fumble (Cowboys recovered),
and two plays later Rivers picked off Tony Romo pass
and returned it 39 yards to Dallas’ 41, setting up FG drive
… Posted four tackles and one special teams tackle Oct.
12 at N.Y. Jets.
COLLEGE: Played four seasons (2004-07) at USC,
capped by earning fi rst-team All-America honors in
2007 from Sports Illustrated and Pro Football Weekly
… Played 49 games with 36 starts, and helped USC
to a 47-5 record over his four seasons … As a senior,
fi nished second in tackles (78) on a defense that ranked
second in nation in fewest points allowed (16.0 avg.) and
fewest yards allowed (273.2 avg.) … Played in all 13
games as a freshman for 2004 club that claimed national
championship with a 55-19 dismantling of Oklahoma
in FedEx Orange Bowl … Career totals included 240
tackles, 5.5 sacks, 18.5 tackles-for-loss, six fumble
recoveries, fi ve forced fumbles and two INTs.
PERSONAL: Hometown is Lake Mary, Fla. …
Attended Lake Mary High School, where his multiple
All-America football honors included nods from USA
Today and Parade … Named Gatorade Florida Football
Player of the Year as a senior … Born in Riverside, Calif.,
and lived in nearby San Bernardino for eight years before
his family moved to Florida … Majored in public policy,
management and planning at Southern Cal.
Defense Interceptions Scoring
SKS- FR- TD TD
YEAR TEAM G-S ST AT TT YDS PD FF YDS NO YDS AVG LG TD TD IntRt FRRt S PTS
2008 Cincinnati 7-7 31 19 50 0-0 1 1 0-0 1 39 39.0 39 0 — — — — —
CAREER 7-7 31 19 50 0-0 1 1 0-0 1 39 39.0 39 0 — — — — —
Special Teams Kickoff Returns Punt Returns
FR-
YEAR TEAM ST AT TT FF YDS BP BFG BXP NO YDS AVG FC LG TD NO YDS AVG FC LG TD
2008 Cincinnati 1 0 1 0 0-0 0 0 0 — — — — — — — — — — — —
CAREER 1 0 1 0 0-0 0 0 0 — — — — — — — — — — — —
100 X 3 = TEAM FIRST
The Bengals’ 27-10 win over Oakland on Dec. 10, 2006 at Paul Brown Stadium was the team’s only game
ever with a 100-yard rusher (Rudi Johnson, 117 yards) and two 100-yard receivers (T.J. Houshmandzadeh,
118; Chad Ochocinco, 101).
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