CINCINNATI (Nov. 17, 2005) -- The Bengals have increased security for their game against the Colts, the first one at Paul Brown Stadium since a fan ran onto the field and took the ball out of Brett Favre's hand.
"We're going to have a lot more security," stadium managing director Eric Brown said. "It's going to be as heavy as it is anywhere in the NFL. It will definitely be noticeable, let's put it that way."
A fan from Cincinnati ran onto the field in the closing seconds of a 21-14 victory over Green Bay on Oct. 30, forcing officials to whistle a play dead after Favre took a snap. The man snatched the ball from Favre's hand and ran to the other end of the field, where he was tackled by security guards and arrested.
Gregory Gall, 31, was charged with resisting arrest, trespass and disorderly conduct while intoxicated. Security tapes showed that he jumped over a wall and landed on a cart on the sideline, then went onto the field.
The Bengals will keep carts away from the stands as part of their tightened security. Brown declined to say how many more security guards will be on the field.
The Colts are the only unbeaten team left in the league, and the game was moved from 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. EST for television. Linebacker Brian Simmons hopes the crowd behaves.
"Hopefully they don't get too crazy," Simmons said. "They've got a little extra time on their hands to get prepared for the game."
Brown noted it's difficult to make sure no fan can get onto the field. A man got onto the field after halftime of the Super Bowl in Houston two seasons ago despite all the security.
"The only way to make it absolutely impossible for somebody to come on the field would be to use razor wire," Brown said. "We don't want to do that. We're trying to make it a fun event."
