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Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2009 > April > 30 > Entry
Bengals rookie minicamp: Heads will roll, but first they’ll spin — extremely fast
LOTS OF PRESSURE,
LOTS TO ABSORB
IN FIVE PRACTICES
OVER THREE DAYS
===LUDWIG AT LARGE can’t see the look on the rookies’ faces following their first NFL practice. Their heads are spinning to fast.===
Andre Smith toured Paul Brown Stadium in a business suit the day after the Bengals made him their No. 1 draft pick.
Today, May 1, he wears a football uniform.
The 6-foot-4, 332-pound offensive tackle from Alabama joins 44 other players for the club’s annual rookie minicamp at Paul Brown Stadium today through Sunday, May 1-3.
Eleven draft picks, nine college free agents, 12 tryout players with local and regional ties to Cincinnati and a handful of 2008 practice-squad players will compete in the minicamp, which features five practices compressed into three pressure-filled days.
Head coach Marvin Lewis and his staff are looking for poise and performance. Players who don’t measure up will be weeded out. Some could be sent home early.
QUICK HITTERS
• Kicker Shayne Graham, who was designated the club’s franchise player on Feb. 16, signed a one-year contract for $2.483 million — a salary equal to the average of the top five NFL kickers in 2008.
“This does not preclude our continuing to talk to Shayne and his representatives about reaching a longer-term agreement,” Lewis said.
If a long-term deal can’t be reached, Graham will become an unrestricted free agent again in February 2010.
• Purdue wide receiver Greg Orton (Wayne High School) is among four notable signed college free agents in camp. The others are Nebraska tailback Marlon Lucky, Wisconsin fullback Chris Pressley and Colorado State quarterback Billy Farris.
• Texas wide receiver Quan Cosby — who burned Ohio State in the 2009 Fiesta Bowl with 14 catches for 171 yards and two TDs, including the game-winner with :16 remaining for a 24-21 Longhorns victory — is expected to sign a free agent contract with the Bengals today.
• Local tryout players are Ohio State quarterback Todd Boeckman (St. Henry), Western Kentucky defensive end Dan Cline (Centerville), Miami offensive tackle Steve Sutter (St. Henry), Central State defensive tackle Pernell Phillips and Ohio State guard Steve Rehring (Lakota West).
• Players who did not earn an accrued year of experience toward NFL free agency in 2008 because they were not on a 53-man roster for the required minimum of six games are designated “first-year” players in 2009.
2009 CINCINNATI BENGALS
COLLEGE FREE AGENT SIGNINGS
NAME, POSITION, HEIGHT, WEIGHT, COLLEGE; HOMETOWN
Colin Dow, G, 6-5, 310; Montana; Billings, Mont.
Billy Farris, QB, 6-3, 234; Colorado State; Baton Rouge, La.
Marlon Lucky, HB, 5-11, 216; Nebraska; North Hollywood, Calif.
Rico Murray, CB, 5-11, 191; Kent State; Cincinnati, Ohio
Tom Nelson, S, 5-11, 200; Illinois State; Arlington Heights, Ill.
Greg Orton, WR, 6-3, 207; Purdue; Dayton, Ohio
Chris Pressley, FB, 5-11, 257; Wisconsin; Woodbury, N.J.
David Richmond, WR, 6-2, 197; San Jose State; Anaheim, Calif.
Dan Skuta, LB, 6-2, 251; Grand Valley State; Flint, Mich.
TRYOUT PLAYERS
QB Todd Boeckman played at Ohio State and is from St. Henry, Ohio.
DE Dan Cline played at Western Kentucky and is from Centerville, Ohio (Centerville High School).
LB Torry Cornett played at the University of Cincinnati and is from Columbus, Ohio (Independence High School).
S Brandon Gathof played at Eastern Kentucky and is from LaGrange, Ky.
LB Ryan Manalac played at the University of Cincinnati and is from Pickerington, Ohio (Pickerington High School).
TE Andrew Mooney played at Ohio University.
G/OT Will Nolte, from Davidson University, is from Cincinnati (Indian Hill High School).
DT Pernell Phillips played at Central State (OH) and is from Cincinnati (Taft High School).
G/OT Steve Rehring played at Ohio State and is from West Chester, Ohio (Lakota West High School).
OT Steve Sutter played at Miami University and is from St. Henry, Ohio.
LB Curtis Terry played at Ohio State.
CB Eric Thatcher, from the University of Pittsburgh, is from Cincinnati (Moeller High School).
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Comments
By Football21
May 5, 2009 9:22 PM | Link to this
Billy Farris brings class, a cannon arm and can win a Super Bowl. He’s exactly what we need!!! Way to go Coach!