Smith heads list of players at camp

Flyers connect in crunch time
New 11 min. ago
Breakdown of Dayton's matchup with Charlotte
New 14 min. ago
Garvey featured at Boy Scouts event
New 14 min. ago
RedHawks coach sticking with what works
New 18 min. ago
Snow cancels basketball games, many already rescheduled
New 20 min. ago
> More sports headlines

By Chick Ludwig, Staff Writer 12:11 AM Friday, May 1, 2009

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 hits

• 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 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 seconds 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).

Contact this reporter at  (937) 225-2253 or cludwig@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Bengals rookie minicamp

When: Today through Sunday, May 1-3.

Where: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati.

Players: 45 (Draft picks, college free agents, tryout players and players with fewer than six games of NFL experience).

Practices: Five (2 today; 2 Saturday; 1 Sunday).

Workouts: Closed to the public.

Share this article

ADD COMMENT

Comments feed

B Yo,

I would like nothing more than to receive Andre Smith's number. I am sure that he is much more well-endowed than you with your eraser for a johnson. The only thing you could please with that would be a *** mouse. Try again.

J
2:08 PM, 5/1/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Hey B,

How many Bengals players killed people? How about Donte Stallworth? It just sounds like you are overcompensating for a small *****. Now time to think about your sister. Maybe I will give her number to Andre Smith, I bet he would like that.

B Yo
1:54 PM, 5/1/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Andre- I know B's address. if you want to come over here and kick his a$$ be my guest. by the way, B is not so much of a physical specimen himself.

yohey
12:28 PM, 5/1/2009

REPORT ABUSE

oooooo.. big Andre Smith is now in a Bengal uniform. Just make sure to keep him away from those Cincinnati area bars and buffet lines. Don't want his "pecs" to get any jigglier. Get that guy a Bro.

B
12:25 PM, 5/1/2009

REPORT ABUSE

We welcome your comments. Please remember this is a public forum and behave appropriately. Your comments must conform to our visitor's agreement.