This and that

• The only Bengals-Chiefs preview I could find (maybe because it's early in the week?) was about the Chiefs seeking to close out the regular season on a winning note from kcchiefs.com. It points out that the Chiefs haven't won in Cincinnati since 1984. But what's fresher in the minds of Bengals' fans is Larry Johnson running roughshod in the Chiefs' 37-3 thrashing of the Bengals at Arrowhead on Jan. 1, 2006.

AND keep in mind that the Bengals haven't won a regular season finale at home since 1997. That being said, I'm picking the Bengals.

One thing's for sure: It can't be easy learning that you're going to be up against reigning AFC Defensive Player of the Week Leon Hall.

• The latest on the fracas between former Bengal Shaun Smith and Browns QB Brady Quinn (mentioned in yesterday's Pick 6): ProFootballTalk.com says the altercation started because Smith was giving Quinn a hard time about Notre Dame football.

• Nice piece in the South Bend Tribune about new RedHawks head coach Mike Haywood. Apparently he is thought to be the next Turner Gill. And who knew former NFL running back Allen Pinkett is Haywood's best friend?!

• Your Wednesday UC-Orange-Bowl-preview link is from the Columbus Dispatch about Columbus natives reunited on the Bearcats.

• Big ouch for the Dayton Dragons: Jamie Dismuke, who was named in October as the team's new manager, has instead taken a job as hitting coach for the Class AAA Gwinnett (Ga.) Braves, according to the daytondailynews.com. Wha?? Gets better.

Leon Roberts, a former minor-league hitting coordinator with the Reds, was announced as the Dragons manager for 2007. However, before the season, he took the same job with the Braves that Dismuke is taking, when the franchise's AAA team was in Richmond, Va. Now Roberts is the Braves' minor-league coordinator, and he helped pry Dismuke away from the Reds.

• It's a shame Dismuke left because he'll miss being a part of the organization that could be next year's surprise, according to MLB.com.

• Non-local link of interest: Mike Tomlin apparently was just a little annoyed by the Santa who poked fun at him during a press conference (ProFootballTalk.com link includes the video).