First Dunta back to Houston, Now Joseph back to Cincy....

[Rey]

Lets hope the results are the complete opposite in every way.

Johnathan Joseph returns to Cincinnati on Sunday as a leader and stalwart of the league's top-ranked defense. When asked though if there was anything special or bigger about making his first trip back as a member of an opposing team, the former Bengals cornerback is trying to keep it strictly business.

"Absolutely. You guys know me. Everything is always the next game up. My main thing is just coming back to Cincinnati and playing good football and hopefully we come away with a win.

When Joseph made his decision on July 28, the Carson Palmer saga was still on the front burner of discussions and Chad Ochocinco was on his way to New England. Andy Dalton and A.J. Green had the potential for great rookie seasons but coming off a lockout and with a new offensive coordinator, making a longterm gamble on what many perceived to be a rebuilding situation was a lot to ask, especially with Houston offering $48.75 million over five years with $23 million guaranteed.

"When you have a chance to make a decision, you have to react based on what's in front of you right now, present, at the moment.," Joseph said. "(Houston had) A lot of other things that they had in place at the moment that didn't look so well in Cincinnati at the time."

During the lockout, Joseph said he did keep his house in the area and didn't put it on the market until he signed with Houston. Joseph still keeps in touch with some of his former teammates including cornerback Leon Hall and safety Chris Crocker. Joseph said he talked to Hall shortly after he heard of Hall's season-ending Achilles injury and he remains close with Crocker.

In his five years with the Bengals, Joseph, who was a first-round draft pick in 2006, had 14 interceptions, including three that were run back for touchdowns. This season, as the leader of the Texans secondary, he is tied for fourth among AFC cornerbacks with 14 passes defensed and is tied for the team lead with four interceptions (all on the road).

Joseph came to Houston the same time as defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. Joseph did say that there are some similarities between the two defenses in how they play their man and zone coverages.

Joseph will be part of one of the more eagerly anticipated matchups on Sunday when he goes against Green. Joseph is one of the more athletic corners that Green will face, but Green will have a five-inch height advantage on Joseph.

Green said he has already seen plenty of film on Joseph and he compared him to Cleveland's Joe Haden.

Said Green of Joseph: "He wasn't real physical (on tape) but he does like to read the keys, your hips and motions. I think he's one of the best corners in the league."

Joseph said he has been following Green since he played high school in South Carolina and that the success he is having now isn't surprising. He also isn't surprised over the play of Andy Dalton, comparing his poise to that of a four- or five-year veteran.

One person who is also anticipating the matchup is Crocker, who said he didn't know how it would turn out.

"I hope that A.J. beats him down, but I don't know," Crocker said. "A.J. is a very, very good receiver. I don't know how it is going to pan out because I don't know how J-Joe is going to play him. J-Joe going to play off on him? J-Joe going to press him? Are they going to double him? You never know."

Houston comes into the game with a 9-3 record and has won six straight despite having three different quarterbacks. They can also clinch their first AFC South title and playoff berth with a win and a Tennessee loss.

The Bengals (7-5) need a win if they want to control their own destiny and keep their postseason hopes in tact.

Said Joseph of the Bengals turnaround: "For me, the same thing done this year could have been done the past four or five years, to be honest. For whatever reason that didn't happen. It can be a number of different reasons.

"I can't point to one main thing. For whatever reason it was it was it didn't happen the way we thought things were going to happen last year in Cincinnati. Now you guys can see kind of clean house a little bit and things got turned around."

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/2...s|text|Bengals

I'd like to see Joseph come out and get all in Green's chest...

[Redbluebull]

I'm just glad he's on our side.

[Kthx]

I just hope that JJ makes fans miss him instead of making fans thank their lord for being on the other team and costing touchdowns by making dumb fouls.

[chicagotexan2]

Yeah and last week our rookie QB played his hometown team and now Cincy's rookie QB is going to play his hometown team.

[Texan_Bill]

Reading the Bengals message boards, some posters think that AJ Green is going to smoke JoJo on a regular basis.

We shall see.

[TimeKiller]

I'm just glad we got the guy who lets his play do the talking instead of his shoes.

[CloakNNNdagger]

Originally Posted by Texan_Bill

Reading the Bengals message boards, some posters think that AJ Green is going to smoke JoJo on a regular basis.

We shall see.

In order to smoke, don't you need to suck first?

[Double Barrel]

Originally Posted by Texan_Bill

Reading the Bengals message boards, some posters think that AJ Green is going to smoke JoJo on a regular basis.

We shall see.

yep, we shall see. Hopefully Dalton is on his butt for much of the game when our front 7 get after him. Tough to make plays when you're running for your life!

[Redbluebull]

I predict a pick for JJ on an under thrown jump ball to AJ Green.

[Hardcore Texan]

Wow, Green said JJo isn't very physical on tape? Does he not know JJo's jersey number? That was a dumb statement. I hope JJo lights his azz up.

[Texecutioner]

Originally Posted by Texan_Bill

Reading the Bengals message boards, some posters think that AJ Green is going to smoke JoJo on a regular basis.

We shall see.

Green is freaking awsome, but he's not about to smoke Joseph. Not with the Bulls on Parade in full form. Lol!!

[ChampionTexan]

Originally Posted by Texan_Bill

... AJ Green is going to smoke JoJo on a regular basis.

That sounds like the type of thing that would get him a 4-game suspension real quick.

[Texan_Bill]

Originally Posted by CloakNNNdagger

In order to smoke, don't you need to suck first?

HA!! Touche Doc!!

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

yep, we shall see. Hopefully Dalton is on his butt for much of the game when our front 7 get after him. Tough to make plays when you're running for your life!

One can hope. I'm not feeling as good now about this game as I did earlier in the week, tho.

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by Texan_Bill

Reading the Bengals message boards, some posters think that AJ Green is going to smoke JoJo on a regular basis.

We shall see.

Well he's not going to have a lot of time to do it. Country Hulk & them boys on Kirby are going to make sure of it.

[Texan_Bill]

Originally Posted by ChampionTexan

That sounds like the type of thing that would get him a 4-game suspension real quick.

[Texan_Bill]

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

Well he's not going to have a lot of time to do it. Country Hulk & them boys on Kirby are going to make sure of it.

Yeah, I hear ya. Hopefully we can rattle Dalton early and often.

[Norg]

Kevin walters home coming. .......... Yeah its thur

[Hervoyel]

Originally Posted by Texan_Bill

Reading the Bengals message boards, some posters think that AJ Green is going to smoke JoJo on a regular basis.

We shall see.

In order for Green to smoke Joseph Dalton has to have time to take advantage of the situation.

I think our line and linebackers are going to have a big effect on that.

[Rey]

Originally Posted by Norg

Kevin walters home coming. .......... Yeah its thur

I forgot about that...although he's played in Cincy since then...

But yeah...I had forgotten he came from the Bengals..

[EllisUnit]

Originally Posted by Texan_Bill

Reading the Bengals message boards, some posters think that AJ Green is going to smoke JoJo on a regular basis.

We shall see.

i have watched A.J green quite a bit this season, and he is good, but not beat down JoJo good, and no where near A.Js calibur.