The open locker room period for media at noon today at Paul Brown Stadium was punctuated by a physical altercation involving two Bengals players.
Defensive lineman Carl Powell picked up defensive back Reggie Myles and threw him down. The incident occurred in the equipment room, adjacent to the locker room, and touched off a 20-minute shouting match that spilled into the locker room and involved several other Bengals players.
The confrontation was believed to be the result of horse-play gone too far. Myles was restrained by teammates, including tight end Tony Stewart, the teams union representative.
A couple of players, led by defensive end Justin Smith, rushed into the equipment room to break up Powell and Myles. Powell is a 278-pound seventh-year player. Myles weighs 195 pounds.
This aint Chicago, one player yelled in reference to the incident in which Bears offensive lineman Olin Kreutz punched teammate Fred Miller and broke Millers jaw.
Myles, clutching the face mask of a helmet, was led out of the equipment room by a small group of players that included defensive tackle Bryan Robinson and offensive linemen Willie Anderson, Levi Jones and Bobbie Williams.
Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said through the teams media relations department that he had no comment on the incident and that it would be handled internally.
Myles broke away from the players and went back into the equipment room to pursue Powell. He again was led out by teammates.
Rookie linebacker Odell Thurman got into a shouting match with some of the veteran players who had led Myles out of the equipment room.
Linebackers coach Ricky Hunley entered the locker room and talked with Thurman and several other players.
Media are allowed into the locker for 45 minutes four times a week to interview players, an arrangement set by the NFL. Players often eat their lunches at their lockers over the noon hour, too.
