Cincinnati Bengals

BasketballRapid City Thrillers (CBA) -- Traded former Washington Bullets F Ed Horton to the Tulsa Zone, for a 1992 seventh-round draft pick and the rights to former Bullets G Wes Matthews.Sioux Falls Skyforce (CBA) -- Activated G Kurk Lee (Towson State) from injured list.CollegeMinnesota -- Named Jim Wacker (40-58-2 at TCU) football coach.FootballCincinnati Bengals -- Named David Shula coach.Seattle Seahawks -- Coach Chuck Knox resigned.Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- Fired coach Richard Williamson.

A day after their 26-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, the Ravens learned their advantage in the AFC North extends beyond a two-game lead. At the midway point of the NFL season, the Ravens have the easiest remaining schedule in the league. Ravens@Titans Sunday, 1 p.m., Ch. 13, 1090 AM, 97.9 FM Line: Ravens by 7

The Ravens formally placed linebacker Adalius Thomas on injured reserve Wednesday, ending the season for one of their most versatile players. Thomas suffered a fractured right elbow in the Ravens 31-13 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on December 7. Through 13 games, Thomas had 43 tackles and 4 sacks. The team signed free agent linebacker T.J. Slaughter to take Thomas' place on the roster. Slaughter (6-foot-3, 233 pounds) played in six games for the Jacksonville Jaguars and one for the Green Bay Packers this season, making 24 tackles and one sack.

Sunday's pivotal AFC North showdown between the Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals got more personal yesterday, courtesy of Chad Johnson. The Bengals' flamboyant receiver said he has added linebacker Ray Lewis to his pre-game list, which is usually reserved for cornerbacks that he's going against that week. Bengals@Ravens Sunday, 1 p.m., Ch. 13, 1090 AM, 97.9 FM Line: Ravens by 3

Riding a two-game winning streak and suddenly resurrected as a contender in the AFC playoff picture, the Cincinnati Bengals have not given up on their postseason plans. But according to coach Marvin Lewis, if the Bengals are to entertain any thought of making it to that stage, they must forget about victories over the New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns and concentrate on tackling the AFC North-leading Ravens. Ravens @Bengals Tomorrow, 8 p.m., Ch. 2, NFL Network, 1090 AM, 97.9 FM Line: Bengals by 3

Four days after the Ravens' 13-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, a brief from the NFL offices made it tougher to swallow: The Ravens went from being the first possible team to clinch a division last week to the only AFC division leader unable to do so this Sunday. Ravens@Chiefs Sunday, 1 p.m., Ch. 13, 1090 AM, 97.9 FM Line: Chiefs by 3

CINCINNATI -- A season filled with hope began with the Ravens grimacing in pain. The unsettling combination of injuries and turnovers was too much to overcome for the Ravens last night in a 27-20 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, a troubling first impression in front of a sold-out Paul Brown Stadium and a national television audience. JETS@RAVENS Sunday, 4:15p.m., Ch. 13, 1090 AM, 97.9 FM Line: Off the board

Ten men who distinguished themselves in sports at Mount St. Joseph were enshrined in the school's athletic Hall of Fame last night. It was the eighth annual induction ceremony.Named were Charles Chaney, Jim Creamer, Jim Dew, now head coach of football and baseball at Valley City (N.D.) State University, Timmy Druzgala, the late John Fick, Frank Kozel, Kevin Kreis, Jose Prado, Jack Roberts and Paul Triplett.Mike Brennan, class of 1985, who played three years of varsity football at Notre Dame and was drafted in the fourth round by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1990, was the guest speaker.

In a fitting tribute to one of the best speed rushers of his generation, Peter Boulware will become a permanent part of Ravens history only 10 months after leaving the field for the last time. During a touching and light-hearted news conference yesterday, the Ravens officially announced that they will induct Boulware into their Ring of Honor during halftime of the Nov. 5 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Ravens@Saints Oct. 29, 1 p.m., Ch. 13, 1090 AM, 97.9 FM

You don't need to trust me on this anymore. Ravens coach John Harbaugh has announced that Joe Flacco will be the starting quarterback for Sunday's regular-season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals ... not that he had much choice in the matter. Troy Smith showed up for camp yesterday but has lost so much weight from his nasty bout with tonsillitis that he'll need more time to build up his strength. The jury remains out on Kyle Boller. The team will decide Friday whether to place him on injured reserve.