WestChesterBuzz.com

Kevin Kelly reports:

After getting cut by the New York Jets in October, John Conner was at home in Cincinnati, working out and waiting by the phone. The Lakota West grad didn’t have to wait long. After Bengals fullback Chris Pressley was injured against the Eagles, Conner joined the team he grew up rooting for. In his first game in stripes, the Bengals will have a chance to clinch a playoff spot.

After losing Chris Pressley to a season-ending knee injury in Thursday’s victory against the Eagles, the Bengals addressed their sudden need for a bruising fullback by signing John Conner over the weekend.

The former Lakota West standout played in 54 games at the University of Kentucky and was selected by the Jets in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft.

Conner did not miss a game in his first two NFL seasons and was on the Jets’ roster for the first six games this season. Injuries limited him to three games on the field, and on Oct. 18 the Jets waived him after 35 career games with the team.

Conner returned home and had been working out at Ignition in Mason. A Bengals fan growing up, he joins the team at a pivotal time. The Bengals can clinch a playoff spot with a victory against the Steelers on Sunday at Heinz Field.

Earlier this week, Conner answered five questions from The Enquirer’s Kevin Kelly.

QUESTION: From an individual standpoint, is this as close to an ideal situation to walk into at this point in the season?

CONNER: Absolutely. It’s a great situation to come in to. I see a team that has a lot of talent and has a chance to go far in the playoffs. I’m happy to be here to help us out.

Q: What have you been up to for the past couple of months?

CONNER: I’ve just been training, getting healthy and rehabbing. Just trying to get fresh and waiting on that call. And I got that call from the Bengals. It couldn’t be a better place.

Q: What injuries were you dealing with?

CONNER: I had a sprained MCL, and then I also had a pulled hamstring. All that’s healthy. I’ve had plenty of time to heal.

Q: A lot of fans around here have followed your career from Lakota West to UK to the Jets, but what should they expect to see from you with the Bengals?

CONNER: Just the same guy. Nothing’s changed. I’m here. I’m just going to do what I do to the best of my ability to help this team out.

Q: As a Bengals fan growing up, who was your favorite player?

CONNER: Since I’m a running back, I would probably say Corey Dillon. I liked him back in the day.

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Cincinnati Bengals, Cincinnati Bengals college free agents, John Conner, John Conner Bengals, John Conner Cincinnati Bengals, John Conner Jets, John Conner Kentucky, John Conner Lakota West, Lakota West, Lakota West football, Lakota West sports, New York Jets

Joe Reedy reports:

When Chris Pressley suffered a season-ending knee injury on Thursday night, the Bengals did not have to look far to find someone to come in.

The team signed West Chester native and former Jet John Conner to a two-year deal after a Saturday morning workout involving three players. Conner moves into Pressley’s roster spot after the Bengals placed him on injured reserve. Pressley suffered the injury during the first quarter of the 34-13 win over the Eagles.

“I feel great about getting the opportunity, and I’m ready to go,” Conner said after the workout and signing his contract. “I hope to bring a lot to the running game and feel like I can block well.”

Conner, a former Lakota West and University of Kentucky standout, said being released took him by surprise. Conner was a fifth-round pick in 2010 before being waived on Oct. 18 due to injuries, an MCL sprain and hamstring. At the time of the move, the New York Daily News wrote that the Jets had hoped to re-sign Conner later in the season. Conner was on the roster for the first six games and played in three, including two starts.

Since being released, Conner has been working out at Ignition in Mason. His style does fit with what offensive coordinator Jay Gruden wants in a fullback.

“You want to be a banger up in there, and that’s not for everybody. That’s a special breed of guy, and the breed is dying,” Gruden said on Friday. “There’s not many fullbacks in college football anymore, there’s not many in pro football really.”

The Bengals use a fullback on only 19.5 percent of their offensive plays, but Conner does bring some added versatility on special teams.

Due to his blocking on returns and getting down there on coverage teams, Conner’s nickname of “The Terminator” was used often on Hard Knocks in 2010 by Jets head coach Rex Ryan.

Conner’s career totals are 21 carries for 88 yards (4.2) and two touchdowns, along with four receptions for 18 yards. He played in every game in 2010-11.

The good thing for Conner is that he has experience from this season facing the Steelers. He was with the Jets when they visited Pittsburgh in Week 2.

At worst, the Bengals will go into next Sunday’s game tied for the final playoff spot, but they could lead by a game if Dallas beats Pittsburgh today.

“What a game to come back for. That should make it a little more exciting,” he said.

Pressley, who is signed through 2013, played in all of this season’s games with seven starts.

His only offensive touch was a 1-yard touchdown catch in Week 4 at Jacksonville.

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Cincinnati Bengals, Cincinnati Bengals college free agents, John Conner, John Conner Bengals, John Conner Cincinnati Bengals, John Conner Jets, John Conner Kentucky, John Conner Lakota West, Lakota West, Lakota West football, Lakota West sports, New York Jets