Once and for all, Thurman NOT practicing

GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- Finally, some resolution to the Odell Thurman question. Will he or won't he practice? He is not. Thurman is on the sideline and is weaking black shorts and an orange workout shirt. But no helmet, no cleats. Several other players are not participating tonight, such as wide receiver Antonio Chatman, linebackers Hannibal Navies and Marcus Wilkins and safeties Dexter Jackson and Dexter Jackson. Quarterback Carson Palmer came out of the locker room 10 minutes after the start or practice but was not in his practice uniform. He was in workout clothes and a ballcap without his helmet. It is the first time in four training camp practices he is not working fully. The first portion of the night practice was spent on punt coverage, with Keiwan Ratliff and T.J. Houshmandzadeh fielding punts. Chatman is the No. 1 punt return man on the depth chart.

Thurman eats at Subway, says he will practice

GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- In the "I'm-never-off-the-clock" category: I filed my main story for the Tuesday Enquirer print edition from the Toyota Stadium press box about 3:45 this afternoon and drove to the Subway restaurant inside the Shell station at Cherry Blossom Way and Outlet Center Drive for wrap and a salad. Walking in, I ran into Chad Johnson walking out. T.J. Houshmandzadeh was finishing his order. He left with Johnson in Johnson's truck. Then in walked receivers Chris Henry and I believe Glenn Holt (a rookie free agent from UK). They were followed closely by linebacker Odell Thurman, who had just arrived in camp this afternoon. Henry and Thurman are friends. I talked briefly with Thurman, who said he would practice tonight. It was clear he didn't want to say more and was relatively uncomfortable running into me outside of a controlled environment, such as the locker room or a press conference. His comments tonight will be brief. "I'll have a little something for you then," he said. I understand that reaction. I left with my dinner and shook his hand on the way out. I don't personally wish the kid ill, as some readers have emailed me since I broke the story July 13 about his four-game NFL suspension. I like Thurman. He's an outgoing, friendly young guy who faces family pressures in his life I can't imagine. Both of his parents are dead. Not that I'm making excuses for his behavior; a second failed drug test led to his NFL suspension. I'm just trying to understand where he's coming from. Oh, by the way, those Web site rumors that Odell had shrunk to 190 pounds because of alleged crystal meth use, not true. He is 240-245 pounds, easy, 10-15 pounds over his playing weight from 2005.

LB Thurman arrives at training camp

GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- Though suspended for the first four games and possibly to sit out the whole year, linebacker Odell Thurman has arrived at training camp and will be made available to the media after the practice from 7-9 tonight. Thurman is eligible to practice and play in preseason games by terms of his NFL suspension for the second violation of its substance abuse policy. It is not know whether Thurman will practice. Brian Simmons has been working as the starting middle linebacker in Thurman's place, with rookie Ahmad Brooks running with the second team.

Morning practice update: Chatman out

GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- The Bengals practiced this morning from 9-11 in the heat and humidity and direct sunlight. They were in full pads. ... Quarterback Carson Palmer participated in his third consecutive practice, so, evidently, his left knee is not too sore or stiff that it is keeping him off the field. He is showing some rust. Palmer and wide receiver Chad Johnson missed each other on three or four pass attempts against the defense. Some rust is to be expected, and that's why the team is in training camp. ... Wide receiver Antonio Chatman missed practice because of a hip contusion. His status is day-to-day. Chatman is a pleasant guy to talk with, very pleased to be with the Bengals and back in Cincinnati, from his days at UC. He has a real shot to be the No. 3 receiver. He's a poor man's Peter Warrick. ... Linebacker Marcus Wilkins has a stomach virus. ... Rookie free agent quarterback Erik Meyer is in a walking boot after spraining his ankle Sunday. ... Offensive lineman Adam Kieft, who tore his ACL in the mock game a year ago, could be on the field in about a week. He has a lot of promise and was playing well before his injury last August. ... So far, rookies Johnathan Joseph, Andrew Whitworth, Bennie Brazell and Ahmad Brooks have stood out. Joseph, a cornerback, closes extremely fast on passes you don't think he could get to. Whitworth knows what he is doing. Brazell is a football player who ran track, not a sprinter trying to be a football player. As exciting as he is to watch run, he blocks extremely well. And Brooks is as good as billed, if he can keep himself out of trouble away from the stadium.

Bengals finish practice in 98-degree heat

GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- With Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino watching from the sidelines, along with about 3,000 in the stands, the Bengals went through a second practice Sunday afternoon in 98-degree heat. ... Rookie quarterback Erik Meyer was carted off the field early in practice with an apparent right ankle injury. No official injury report was available. ... Carson Palmer practiced today after working last night, too. That's a positive sign. Palmer had said working on consecutive days would be a sign that his surgically reconstructed left knee is not too sore or swollen. Palmer threw several pretty balls today and looked to be more on target with his receivers than Saturday night. ... Wide receiver Chris Henry is being coached hard by Hue Jackson, his position coach, and offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski. And fans got on Henry when he dropped a pass on an out pattern. ... Linebacker Hannibal Navies did not practice Sunday. ... Defensive end Frostee Rucker practiced for the full two hours after signing his four-year contract. He was the team's last and only holdout of nine picks. The nine draftees missed only one combined practice; that's good work by the Bengals front office and negotiators. ... If linebacker Ahmad Brooks can stay out of trouble off the field, the Bengals might have pulled of a steal by getting him in the third round of the supplemental draft. He has great size at 6-4, 260 and moves extremely well. He looks as good as advertized.

Rucker signs 4-year deal; P Baugher waived

GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- The Bengals this afternoon announced they had signed third-round draft pick Frostee Rucker to a four-year contract and waived rookie punter Danny Baugher. Baugher was an undrafted player from the University of Arizona. Rucker's signing means all nine of the Bengals' regular and supplemental draft picks are in camp. Rucker missed just one practice, Saturday night.

Bengals: All picks except Rucker signed

The Bengals announced today the signings of four draft choices at the start of training camp, leaving only one of the team’s eight selections unsigned.
Signed today were cornerback Johnathan Joseph of South Carolina (first round, 24th overall), guard Andrew Whitworth of Louisiana State (second round, 55th overall), linebacker Ahmad Brooks of Virginia (third round of supplemental draft) and wide receiver Reggie McNeal of Texas A&M (sixth round, 193rd overall).
Joseph signed a five-year contract, and the other three players signed four-year deals.
The only Bengals' 2006 draft pick still unsigned is third-round choice Frostee Rucker, defensive end from Southern California.
Signed previously and also in camp are defensive tackle Domata Peko of Michigan State (fourth round), safety Ethan Kilmer of Penn State (seventh round) and wide receiver Bennie Brazell of Louisiana State (seventh round).

Palmer cleared to practice

Quarterback Carson Palmer was medically cleared Saturday to practice at training camp. He will take 40 percent of the practice snaps tonight. Five players were designated by coach Marvin Lewis for the active physically unable to perform (PUP) list, and they will be able to return to practice once cleared. The five are: tailback Chris Perry, defensive tackle Sam Adams, defensive end Jonathan Fanene, wide receiver Kelley Washington and offensive tackle Adam Kieft. Offensive lineman Kyle Takavitz (UC) was designated on the non-football injury list. He suffered a non-football injury and had surgery a week ago, Lewis said. Lewis also said linebacker Odell Thurman (four-game NFL suspension) would not be in Georgetown, Ky., today and had been excused for an undisclosed period of time to tend to family business.

Joseph gets $8.2 contract over five years

Bengals first-round pick Johnathan Joseph's five-year contract is worth $8.2 million with escalators that could add another $2.5 million in value over the life of the deal. He gets $5.6 million in guaranteed money, a source close to the negotiations confirmed this afternoon. Joseph is expected to practice tonight at Georgetown College.

Agent: Bengals have 5-year deal with Joseph

The Bengals have reached agreement on a five-year contract with first-round pick Johnathan Joseph, a cornerback from South Carolina. Agent Jason Chayut confirmed the contract and said Joseph was en route to Georgetown College and would practice tonight. Terms of the deal were not available. Chayut said he agreed with the Bengals to not discuss financial details.

First-rounder Joseph expected to sign today

First-round pick Johnathan Joseph, the cornerback from South Carolina, will sign a five-year contract by the end of today and could practice tonight at 7, a source told The Enquirer early this afternoon. Joseph was the No. 24 overall pick in the draft. He would be the first Bengals first-round pick since quarterback Carson Palmer in 2003 to sign before the start of camp. Palmer, the first overall pick that year, signed with the Bengals two days before the draft.

Second-round OL Whitworth signs

GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- Second-round offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth checked into Bengals training camp early this morning and said he had signed his contract.

He is the fourth Bengals draft pick to sign, joining seventh-rounders Bennie Brazell and
Ethan Kilmer and fourth-rounder Domata Peko.

The Bengals are said to have verbal agreements on deals with sixth-rounder Reggie McNeal and fifth-rounder A.J. Nicholson.
Remaining unsigned are first-rounder Johnathan Joseph and third-rounders Frostee Rucker and Ahmad Brooks.

Players were to report between 8-11 a.m. this morning.

Quarterback Carson Palmer drove in with running back Chris Perry.

Palmer, coming off reconstructive knee surgery Jan. 10, said he has never looked forward so
much to training camp -- his fourth in the NFL.
"I'm excited to get going," Palmer said. "I'm excited to see how the knee holds up after 12
practices."

The Bengals will practice tonight from 7-9.

Peko gets $407,000 to sign; Thurman at camp

By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer

GEORGETOWN, Ky. – The Bengals will open training camp today amid a flurry of contract talks they hope will prevent any drafted rookies from missing a practice.

Two more picks signed tonight. The club announced a pair of four-year deals: fourth-round defensive tackle Domata Peko and seventh-round safety Ethan Kilmer.

Peko received $407,000 to sign a deal worth $2.017 million. Kilmer received a $62,000 signing bonus on a contract worth $1.672 over the four years; he is expected to make an immediate impact on special teams.

The team previously had signed its second seventh-round pick in wide receiver Bennie Brazell.

The Bengals also appear to have reached deals with second-round offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth and sixth-round wide receiver Reggie McNeal, believed to be receiving about $86,500 to sign. Whitworth vowed not to miss any work.

Talks were scheduled for tonight night with Jason Chayut, agent for first-round pick Johnathan Joseph, a cornerback from South Carolina. The Bengals’ two previous first-round picks, tailback Chris Perry and linebacker David Pollack, each had lengthy holdouts that delayed their development as rookies.

Unlike a year ago, first-round picks are signing in bunches. As of 8 o'clock tonight, 22 of 32 of the first-round selections had signed or agreed to terms with their teams.

A deal reportedly was close with between the Bengals and linebacker Ahmad Brooks, taken July 13 in the third round of the supplemental draft.

Brooks is forecast to play inside linebacker with Odell Thurman in a revamped four-linebacker defensive scheme in 2007. Thurman, suspended for the first four games of the 2006 season because of a second violation of the NFL substance abuse policy, will be in Georgetown today and able to practice, if allowed by coach Marvin Lewis. Lewis is said to want to meet personally Saturday with Thurman, who was excused from June mini-camp and has been in Atlanta since, and have a stern talk with the second-year linebacker.

The first practice is 7-9 p.m. Saturday at Georgetown College near Lexington.

Contrary to Internet rumors, Thurman’s weight is about 240 pounds, slightly heavier than his playing weight.
E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

Two more picks sign; other deals close

GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- As the club continues to negotiate with other unsigned draft picks, including a conversation tonight with Johnathan Joseph's agent, the Bengals have announced the signings of fourth-round defensive tackle Domata Peko of Michigan State and seventh-round safety Ethan Kilmer of Penn State.

Each player signed a four-year contract, the maximum allowed for players chosen in Rounds 2-7.

The Bengals have now signed three draft picks; previously signed was seventh-round WR Bennie Brazell of Louisiana State.

Other players who have reached verbal agreements on contracts are second-round offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth (also of LSU) and sixth-round wide receiver Reggie McNeal (Texas A&M).

As of the dinner hour today, 21 of 32 first-round picks had signed. On July 28 a year ago, only two had signed.

-- Mark Curnutte

Ex-Bengal Kitna is Lions No. 1 QB

The Detroit News reported today that former Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna will be the Lions starter. The chance to start again in the NFL is exactly what Kitna wanted when he decided to leave the Bengals after five seasons. The on-again, off-again starter during 2001 and 2002, Kitna had his finest NFL season in 2003, leading the Bengals to a six-game improvement.

But he had been Carson Palmer's backup the past two seasons.

This from the Detroit News: Coach Rod Marinelli designated Jon Kitna the starter in his precamp news conference Thursday. Josh McCown will be the backup, with Dan Orlovsky, a rookie in 2005, in the No. 3 spot.

There was little doubt Kitna would go to camp as the starter, based on his performance in the offseason workouts, but Marinelli quashed any questions or controversy.

"I think there were three things that really went through my mind," Marinelli said. "I thought the time was right. He really had an exceptional offseason. The competition was there.
"I think this team really needs veteran leadership. He really brings something special to the table in a leadership role, too. I want to move away from distractions. The team doesn't need distractions."

Work continues on signing draft picks

(updated 2:15 p.m.)

GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- More than half of the first-round draft picks have agreed to terms or signed with their teams. The number reached 17 earlier this afternoon, but the Bengals still had not come to terms with first-round pick Johnathan Joseph, a cornerback from South Carolina.

There is still time to have Joseph signed in time to avoid a holdout. The two previous first-round picks, tailback Chris Perry and linebacker David Pollack, missed significant amounts of training camp because of contract holdouts. Pollack, in fact, missed all of camp last year.

Joseph was the 24th overall pick in the first round.

Today, alone, San Francisco (Vernon Davis), Dallas (Bobby Carpenter), Tennessee (Vince Young), Denver (Jay Cutler) and Carolina (Jimmy Williams) all came to terms with first-round draft picks.

With just one of nine draft picks signed, wide receiver Bennie Brazell, the Bengals continue to negotiate and expect to have at least one more signed later this afternoon.

It is not expected to be one of the first three picks from the draft but rather another second-day pick.

-- Mark Curnutte

Bengals season officially sold-out

Looks like Bengals fans aren't too worried about the character of some of the team's players. Fans are voting with their wallets.

Bengals ticket sales for 2006 have met NFL requirements to declare a sellout for the entire season at Paul Brown Stadium, the club’s ticket office reported today, repeating what team president Mike Brown told reporters Wednesday at the team's annual pre-training camp luncheon.

All 10 home games, including both preseason games, will be televised live in the Cincinnati home market (including Dayton, Ohio and Lexington, Ky.).

Though the club has met the threshold set by the NFL for lifting local TV blackouts, approximately 350 season tickets remain available for sale. The ticket office reports it expects that supply to be exhausted within a week.

The Bengals have sold out their last 20 regular season and postseason games at Paul Brown Stadium (official capacity, 65,500). The streak dates back to the last three games of the 2003 season.

The franchise’s longest streak of regular and postseason sellouts was 43 straight, at Riverfront Stadium. The streak began with the 1988 season opener and ran through the 1992 home finale.

The current regular and postseason sellout streak will stand at 28 at the conclusion of the 2006 regular season.

Fans interested in purchasing season tickets from the limited quantities remaining should contact the Bengals Ticket Hotline at (513) 621-8383 or (866) 621-8383.
-- Mark Curnutte

Bengals sign WR Brazell

The Bengals signed their first of nine draft picks this afternoon, announcing a four-year contract with wide receiver Bennie Brazell. Brazell was the second of two seventh-round picks in April, and he had 13 receptions for a 22.5-yard average and three touchdowns in 2005 for Louisiana State. A Bengals official said today at the media luncheon that the club expects to have all picks signed by this weekend. The team will open training camp Saturday.
-- Mark Curnutte

Curnutte on ESPN SportsCenter, NFL Live

I will be appearing on ESPN's SportsCenter and NFL Live tonight to discuss the Bengals and today's preseason media luncheon. The spots are filmed at WCET's studio, where I am interviewed by the anchor via an earpiece.

Marvin Lewis Q&A

By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis answered questions with The Enquirer late this morning before conducting an Online chat with Cincinnati.com.

Here is the text of The Enquirer’s interview with the fourth-year Bengals coach. It was done under the stipulation Lewis would not address questions of player character and off-field behavior – three players were arrested in the offseason – until the team’s pre-training camp luncheon Wednesday at Paul Brown Stadium.

Question: Are you looking forward to camp this year more than other years and just getting back to football?
Answer: Well, you always look forward to training camp. It’s no different this year. I think every year you look forward to doing football, no more this year than the first year (2003). I’ve always said you look forward to the part of the year that’s football.

Q: How trying has this been offseason been to you?
A: It’s not been any more trying other than the questions about (quarterback) Carson’s (Palmer) health. I don’t think anything else has been different than we’ve dealt with the other offseasons. I think time and time again. it’s part of the NFL; it’s part of the overall fact that people want to know. There are a lot of ways to gather information these days. There are a lot of competitive groups gathering information. Sometimes, the perception is not always good for my job. Or their need for information, and the perceived message isn’t necessarily consistent with what’s going on.

Q: You are the face and voice of the Bengals organization. You’ve taken a lot of heat this year. Is that blame deserved?
A: I’ve not done anything wrong. But if I am (taking blame), then it’s deserved. Being the one who is the head coach, that’s fine. You take the good and the bad, it’s all part of it.”

Q: Do you and team president Mike Brown agree on every draft pick. Word is out there among people in the league that Mike made the selection of linebacker Ahmad Brooks in the supplemental draft. True or false?
A: Ahmad has been great to work with. We’ve spent 10 days with him, whatever it has been. He has been fabulous to have, and he has the opportunity to prove that he can be an outstanding NFL player.

Q: So you agreed with Mike Brown and are happy to have Brooks here?
A: “Very happy to have him here.”

Q: Will Chris Henry be with the team when he is medically cleared from his knee injury?
A: Yeah, he should have no problems once he is medically cleared. But he has some things pending. We’ll see how that all comes down for him. As I said earlier, with these guys, they’re facing some things bigger than what I have to worry about. They have a long road to cover and a chance to see what happens from there.

Q: With Chris Henry specifically, and the number of problems he has had (four arrests in seven months), is one player worth that much trouble?
A: It’s not clear … let’s see what trouble he is in. Don’t prejudge him. You can’t prejudge him.

Q: Have you heard anything from the league about Odell Thurman’s four-game suspension for the second violation of the substance abuse policy?
A: There has been no correspondence about Odell, so you guys (media) are way ahead of us.

Q: The most recent arrest over the weekend of Matthias Askew (resisting arrest, obstruction of police business, two traffic violations), you and your team and organization are taking a lot of heat nationally. Is that deserved? Does that bother you? Does it diminish what you’ve tried to do?
A: I don’t think it …
(Here, Bengals PR director Jack Brennan interrupts and says, “I think we pretty much said we weren’t going to do interviews on this subject until Wednesday, to be even-handed with the media.”
A: What it comes down to is Matthias feels he was wronged. He’ll have his day.

Q: Will the off-field problems of some of your players negatively affect your team on the field?
A: Do you think it affects your drop in the 3 Technique?

Q: Will it affect your team on the field?
A: C’mon, that would be an excuse. What off-field problems? Has Willie (Anderson) had a problem? Has Carson (Palmer) had a problem? Huh? Has Chad Johnson had a problem? Rudi (Johnson)? John Thornton? Bryan Robinson? C’mon, that would be an excuse. It has nothing to do with any of these guys.
These (other) people are on the periphery. They don’t even matter. They’re not part of our football team. They haven’t made our football team. The core of our football team has not changed nor will it. Nor will any of this stuff ever. Every team is going through this stuff, some bigger than these. There are bigger issues out there. It’s just what we’re in. It’s the age we’re in. Guys have to make their decision, but you’ve just got to let it play out.

Q: Can you say anything about the injured players – Chris Perry, Chris Henry, Adam Kieft – have any of them been medically cleared to practice Saturday night at training camp?
A: We won’t do anything about that until Saturday.

Q: Are efforts ongoing to get one or two or anything of those offensive linemen (whose contracts will expire after the 2006 season: Eric Steinbach, Levi Jones, Willie Anderson, Rich Braham)?
A: Yes, they are.

Q: Any updates on signing any of the draft picks?
A: I think things are moving along. There has been a little bit of slowness for everybody to make sure how the CBA read. Some teams have a couple guys signed. I do think it’s import in Katie’s mind (Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn) to make sure she understands. She’s not one to act until we understand what we’re acting on. I don’t think we’ll have any problems. We’ll have everybody ready to go. If we don’t, they’re losing time.”

Q: Is this the best Bengals team of your four that you are taking to camp?
A: Yes, by far. This is our best team, from what we’ve began with. But it really doesn’t matter how good your team is on paper. It’s how good you go play, prepare and play.

Q: What encourages you the most about the team you’re taking to training camp later this week?
A: We return basically our whole football team, every starter. We’ve improved in areas through maturity, through new players, the depth with the new guys. We’re a team that knows now you have to play your best football each and every Sunday, or you get whupped. I think that’s important.
E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

Correction in a Sunday Enquirer story

Antonio Bryant is no longer with the Cleveland Browns. The wide receiver is now with the San Francisco 49ers. His team was reported incorrectly this morning in an Enquirer story.

Cincinnati Police arrest DT Askew

By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer

Bengals defensive tackle Matthias Askew was arrested overnight by Cincinnati Police, charged with three misdemeanors and held for more than two hours at the Hamilton County Justice Center.

Askew, 24, was charged with obstruction of police business, resisting arrest and two parking violations. The incident took place at 7:57 Saturday night in the 3700 block of Beekman Street in South Cumminsville.

The arrest report starts that Cincinnati Police approached Askew, who had parked his vehicle, a 2004 Cadillac Escalade, on the sidewalk outside a business. Police asked Askew to move his vehicle, but he continued to shop for audio CDs.

Police then told Askew he would receive a parking ticket. He got into his vehicle and attempted to drive away. Police told Askew he was not free to leave and instructed him to park his vehicle.

The police report then states that Askew – who is 6-feet-5, 302 pounds – exited his vehicle and immediately took a “fighting stance.” He was arrested at Taser point, and when police attempted to handcuff Askew, he struggled and attempted to get away. At that point, police used their Tasers on Askew, shooting small dart-like electrodes with attached metal into his body, to subdue him.

Askew was brought into the justice center at 2:08 a.m. Bond of $248 was posted, and Askew was released at 4:45 a.m. He is to appear in court at 12:30 p.m. Monday in Room A, Hamilton County Common Pleas, according to county records.

Askew was one of the Bengals’ fourth-round draft picks in 2004. He played at Michigan State and had played in only six games his first two seasons with the Bengals. Teammates said that Askew had an outstanding spring on the field.

Askew becomes the latest in a series of Bengals players to have legal problems. Wide receiver Chris Henry was arrested four times in seven months (December to June). Rookie linebacker A.J. Nicholson was charged with grand theft, theft and vandalism, stemming from a May incident in Tallahassee, Fla. Rookie defensive end Frostee Rucker faces spousal abuse and vandalism charges in Los Angeles, stemming from an August 2005 incident involving an ex-girlfriend.

Second-year middle linebacker Odell Thurman will be suspended for the first four games of the season for a second violation of the NFL’s substance abuse policy. And rookie linebacker Ahmad Brooks, selected earlier this month in the supplemental draft, was dismissed from the University of Virginia team in March and has a history of drug abuse issues.

The Bengals’ policy is not to comment on ongoing legal issues of their players before legal resolution.
E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

Curnutte radio, TV appearances

Enquirer Bengals beat reporter Mark Curnutte will appear Thursday from 3-4 p.m. on the Lance McAlister show on 1530 HOMER-WCKY. On Sunday, Curnutte will appear on "Cincinnati Edition" on WVXU-FM at approximately 7:10 a.m. and again Sunday night at 11:30 on WCPO's "Sports of All Sorts."

Bengals waive rookie CB

The Bengals today waived rookie CB DeMarcus Rideaux of Mayville (N.D.) State. Rideaux had signed with Cincinnati as a college free agent on May 15

Curnutte guest on ESPN2's `Quite Frankly'

Enquirer Bengals beat writer Mark Curnutte will be a guest on "Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith" at 11 p.m. today on ESPN2. Curnutte will discuss the suspension of linebacker Odell Thurman and its effect on the Bengals heading into the 2006 season.

How much will `character' affect 2006 Bengals?

Just finished an hour on "Sports of All Sorts" on WCPO-TV; it's difficult to come down and get to sleep right away. So it’s a perfect time to blog.

Bengals news the past few days has been dominated by the character question because several of their players have ongoing legal problems, and now linebacker Odell Thurman will be unavailable for the first four games. He will be suspended for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy for the second time.

While on the air, I found the perspective I had been looking for: Will off-field issues of some Bengals’ players cause the team to lose? Or how much will those individuals’ problems affect the team?

There will be some effect. There has to be.

But the fortunes of the 2006 Bengals will turn more on the health of Carson Palmer’s left knee and the strength of schedule, tied with the Giants for most difficult in the NFL.

Mike Brown: Bengals share character concerns

By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer

Bengals president Mike Brown has heard concerns expressed by the team’s fans regarding off-field conduct by some of the players.

"We want our fans to know that we share their concerns regarding the recent off-field conduct of several Bengals players," Brown said this afternoon in a statement released by the club's media relations department.

"We expect our players to be good citizens, as most are, and we hold them accountable for their conduct under team and league rules."

Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry was arrested four times in a seven-month span. Rookie linebacker A.J. Nicholson and rookie defensive end Frostee Rucker are facing court dates for theft and domestic violence charges, respectively.

"We are closely monitoring these matters," Brown said. "All are currently pending and they will be addressed in accordance with the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, including possible disciplinary action."

On Thursday, the Bengals selected former Virginia linebacker Ahmad Brooks in the league’s supplemental draft. He was dismissed from the college team and has failed drug tests.

"Regarding this week’s selection of Ahmad Brooks in the supplemental draft, we are aware of no pending allegations of any kind against Ahmad," Brown said. "The club’s judgment is that any past transgressions were insufficient to deny him an opportunity to prove himself as a responsible NFL player."

The Bengals have yet to receive word from the NFL that middle linebacker Odell Thurman will be suspended for four games for a second violation of the league’s substance abuse policy. A source told the Enquirer on Thursday that Thurman would be suspended by the NFL within the next two weeks.

The Bengals will hold their annual pre-training camp luncheon July 26 at Paul Brown Stadium. Brown said he and coach Marvin Lewis would address further questions about player character and conduct at that time.

The Bengals will open training camp July 29 at Georgetown College.
E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

Rucker case continued; Moore released

By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer

If the Bengals sign him, linebacker Ahmad Brooks will become another talented player with a checkered past on the roster.

Brooks, dismissed from the University of Virginia team in March, has a history of marijuana use and has failed several drug tests.

He joins the Bengals, who have seen some of their players face off-field legal issues in the past few months:

Wide receiver Chris Henry, though not yet medically cleared from a sprained knee, was arrested four times in less than seven months from December through June.

Third-round rookie defensive end Frostee Rucker faces two spousal abuse and two vandalism charges in Los Angeles County, stemming from an alleged incident in August 2005 with a now ex-girlfriend. Rucker’s case was continued Thursday to Aug. 11, the Los Angeles City attorney’s office said.

And fifth-round rookie linebacker A.J. Nicholson was arrested for theft charges in Tallahassee, Fla., and was dismissed from the Florida State team for an alleged sexual misconduct before the Orange Bowl.

MOORE RELEASED: The Bengals terminated the contract today of backup guard-center Larry Moore. He is now a free agent.

Moore, an eighth-year NFL player, appeared in just four games in 2005. He missed the final 12 after suffering a right knee dislocation during the Houston game Oct. 2.

He had played in 13 games for the Bengals in 2004 and had played previously for Washington and Indianapolis.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

LB Thurman suspended for four games

By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer

Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman will be suspended for the first four games of the NFL season for violation of the league’s substance abuse policy, a source close to the situation told the Enquirer this afternoon.

The source said it was not necessarily a positive drug test that led to Thurman’s suspension. A missed test also counts the same as a positive test.

Thurman, who turned 23 on July 9, was one of the NFL’s top defensive rookies in 2005. He had a team-high 148 tackles and tied for the team lead with four forced fumbles. He returned one of his five interceptions for a touchdown. He started 15 games at middle linebacker and did not start the 16th for violation of a team rule.

Questions about Thurman’s health or status for the upcoming season surfaced during the mandatory June mini-camp. He was excused for personal reasons, coach Marvin Lewis said at the time.

Questions about Thurman’s situation again surfaced today when the Bengals selected former University of Virginia linebacker Ahmad Brooks in the NFL’s Supplemental Draft. The Bengals also used their fifth-round pick in the April 29-30 draft on former Florida State linebacker A.J. Nicholson.

Depth is no problem at linebacker for the Bengals. They also have returning second-year pro David Pollack, their first-round pick in 2005. They also drafted a pair of linebackers in the third round in 2004, Caleb Miller and Landon Johnson. Johnson started 11 games at middle linebacker as a rookie in place of injured starter Nate Webster. Johnson led the Bengals with 133 tackles as a rookie and appears to be the likely candidate to start in place of Thurman during the first month.

Pollack figures to be the starter at strong-side linebacker, and veteran Brian Simmons is likely to again start at weak-side linebacker.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

Bengals take LB Brooks in Supplemental Draft

By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer

The Bengals today selected former University of Virginia linebacker Ahmad Brooks in the third round of the NFL Supplemental Draft.

Once considered first-round NFL talent, Brooks’ stock dropped dramatically after a poor 2005 season. Arrested for marijuana possession in March 2003, Brooks failed multiple drug tests in college, the Miami Herald reported earlier this year. His substance abuse issues led to his dismissal from the UVA squad in March 2006.

Brooks’ weight has dropped in recent months to near his playing weight of 260 pounds. Concerns about his weight are another red flag on Brooks, one of the top players in prep football history in Virginia. He played at 6-feet 4, 259 pounds.

If the Bengals sign him, Brooks will become another talented player with a checkered past on the roster. Wide receiver Chris Henry, though not yet medically cleared, was arrested four times in less than seven months from December through June.

Third-round rookie defensive end Frostee Rucker faces spousal abuse and vandalism charges in Los Angeles County, stemming from an alleged incident in August 2005 with a now ex-girlfriend. And fifth-round rookie linebacker A.J. Nicholson was arrested for theft charges in Tallahassee, Fla., and was dismissed from the Florida State team for an alleged sexual misconduct before the Orange Bowl.

According to the Washington Post, Brooks’ dismissal from the University of Virginia squad ended a college career that started quickly but fizzled fast. His father, Perry Brooks, was a defensive tackle for the Washington Redskins.

The Bengals did confirm Brooks' selection this afternoon but did not have immediate comment about adding another player with a troubled past to their roster.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com