Bengals react to London trip

The Cincinnati Bengals will be joining the growing list of teams headed to Europe to play in the National Football League’s International Series in 2016, as they will host Washington on Oct. 30 at Wembley Stadium in London.

It’s a first for the franchise, and the trip will be the first to England for many players on the team.

“I’m happy just for a one time thing, take the family and make it a fun experience for your family and your football team to go out there and play a game,” said left tackle Andrew Whitworth, who will be in the midst of his 11th season at that point and making his first visit across the pond.

“I think that’d be something really cool to do and something fun for me, especially at the end of my career to have something like that be an opportunity.”

In an in-depth report on the Bengals trip, The Enquirer learned Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis elected to have his team fly over on Thursday evening in order to keep the week as close to normal as possible.

After all, they are there to play a game.

“I’m all for them trying to keep us on schedule as possible,” guard Kevin Zeitler said. “That’s great. Just the way I am, it is going to be such a business trip that I’m not going to be able to enjoy anything the way everyone else will be able to. It is what it is. Trying to spread the game, that’s great, it’ll be a business trip for me and I’m just going to go there and do what I have to do.”

As the only current Bengal with Super Bowl experience – the atmosphere of which league sources told The Enquirer the London games rival – veteran linebacker A.J. Hawk said keeping the week as routine will be an ideal scenario for the team to succeed in.

“I’m sure every coach and every team tries to keep it as normal as possible with your schedule – you’re just in a different spot doing it,” said Hawk, who has been to Ireland and England with his family. “I like that schedule where you go the Thursday before because I just think regardless of where you are, staying in a hotel for six or seven days before a game is just not my ideal scenario. It doesn’t sound like a great time for me. I’d much rather be home for a couple of those days for sure. I’d like to try and keep it as normal as possible.”

Chris Carter isn't as sure about that however.

As the only player on the roster who has played in England (with Pittsburgh in 2013), he said it was a tough to turn around.

"There was nothing normal about our week when we did that that year," Carter said. "We had a full day of practice on Thursday, flew up, and when we landed there it was time to practice again. So we just got off the plane and went right to practice again and just started a whole 'nother day. That's really what it was. and before you knew it we're playing the game."

The players knew the time was coming for the franchise to eventually go over and participate in the International Series, but they are a bit disappointed that they will be giving up a home game to do so.

“I think anyone would tell you from owners down they would rather give up a road game, but for us as players it kind of is a shame we get one of those opportunities taken away to play in your home stadium in front of your home fans,” Hawk said. “But I think it’s a unique experience any player is fortunate to be a part of.”

Added Zeitler: “Obviously I wish that we were giving up an away game instead of a home game, but you know, it is what it is. It’s an NFL initiative – they want to expand the game across the globe – and so be it. We’ll go over there and do what we have to do.”

Hawk, who grew up in Centerville and whose family has had season tickets to the Bengals for years, definitely relates to any disappointment from fans that now will only have seven regular season games to attend.

“I can understand fans being upset with it for sure if you have season tickets or you’re a Bengals fan and you want to catch as many games as possible, it’s one less game you get to see them at home,” he said. “That’s something where I can really understand the frustration that may come from fans.”

But as players, Hawk and Whitworth haven’t heard any negative comments from players around the league about the trip, and it’s one they look forward to.

“You always hate to give up a home game – we love playing at Paul Brown Stadium –but I think that will be a really cool experience for our football team to be able to go out there and do something like that,” Whitworth said. “As you see more and more teams being more willing to do it, I think it’s just something the league’s starting to do more of and it seems to be people over there are enjoying the games.”

That includes Carter, even though he would vote for a weeklong stay if he could.

"I was fortunate to play in that game," Carter said. "It was a great experience."

Whitworth has been with the franchise since the league began the International Series in 2007, and the left tackle figured it was just a matter of time before the Bengals would wind up on the schedule.

“I think it’s one of those things that once you realize it’s a possibility and it’s going to happen, you’re kind of like, man, I think it’ll be a cool experience to have an opportunity to play a game over there,” he said. “It’s one you can take the family and all that kind of stuff and it’ll be a cool experience for our team and not only that but to just kind of branch out a little bit and do something the team hasn’t done.”

Mobile users can vote here.