Lewis golf event raises more than $500,000

This release just in from the Marvin Lewis Community Fund:

The Marvin Lewis Community Fund raised more than $500,000 at the Marvin Lewis Golf Classic presented by Cincinnati Bell on May 20.

"While the weekend had many stars, plenty of birdies and lots of great tastes on the golf course, it was really about fulfilling the mission of the Marvin Lewis Community Fund: to empower, educate, and inspire individuals in the Greater Cincinnati region.

"Eight individuals in particular felt the influence of the Community Fund as they were each awarded four- year, $20,000 college scholarships. Cherrell Albertson of Little Miami High School (Xavier University), Anna Donovan of Ursuline Academy (Ohio State University), Heather Kunze of Seton High School (Ohio Dominican University), Tyler Oehlman of East Central High School (Purdue University), Sibongile Sithe of Summit Country Day (Yale University), Jerald Stuckey of Purcell Marian High School (Johnson C. Smith University), Alexandra Warner of Roger Bacon High School (University of Cincinnati), and Robin Wright of Walnut Hills High School (Kent State University) were each awarded scholarships. The eight recipients this year increases the Fund's total number of scholarships awarded to 16 in three years."

CB Joseph has successful surgery

Cornerback Johnathan Joseph had surgery this morning on the left foot he injured Saturday in a mandatory minicamp practice.

Coach Marvin Lewis said that Joseph will be ready for the start of training camp when players report July 26 to Georgetown (Ky.) College.

"The prognosis is just as Marvin said,"agent Jason Chayut said this afternoon. "He’s doing well."

O'Neal, Houshmandzadeh miss voluntary practice

Cornerback Deltha O'Neal and wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, both projected starters, missed the Organized Team Activity practice today. They were the only two players who had missed previous OTA practices prior to the mandatory minicamp during the weekend, which they both had attended.

OTA practices are voluntary.

Head coach Marvin Lewis said after practice that a theme of the offseason is that all Bengals players and coaches "have something to prove."

"We've had a good offseason, as much as you can do football without pads," Lewis said. "We have little bit of time before training camp and the preseason games. Those are things you build upon."

Safety John Busing, who had missed on-field time with a hamstring injury, was back on the field today.

Latest on Odell Thurman situation in Georgia

A Georgia magistrate court will hear testimony on Friday to determine if charges should be filed against Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman, who is accused of kicking and hitting two men in Monticello, Ga., over the weekend.

David Martin, one of Thurman’s Atlanta-based lawyers, emphasized Tuesday that no charges had been filed against Thurman and said he was confident his client would be exonerated.

“Right now we’re conducting our own investigation,” said Martin, who will meet Wednesday with Thurman. “We’ll get this all straightened out.”

Two Monticello men allege in the complaint that Thurman committed acts of criminal trespass, aggravated assault and pointing a gun in the early morning hours Sunday at a house party in Monticello.

Thurman, under suspension for one season by the NFL for three violations of its substance-abuse policy, is a Monticello native.

No charges can be filed with Monticello Police because it was not called to the scene, said Chrissy Pitts, deputy clerk of Juvenile and Magistrate Civil Court for Jasper County.

“Monticello Police would not take out a warrant because the parties who are accusing (Thurman) did not call the police,” Pitts said. “They called the police the next day.”

She added that anybody can file a complaint.

“This can happen to anyone,” she said of the pre-warrant hearing application.

Thurman will have the hearing at 11 a.m. Friday before Judge Kenneth Jackson, Chief Magistrate of Jasper County. Both sides will explain details of the alleged event to the judge.

The complaint was filed by Brett Thomaston and Chad Cannon, both of Monticello.

Paper: DT Adams to sign with Broncos

CB Joseph suffers foot injury

Projected starting cornerback Johnathan Joseph is out until the start of training camp with what coach Marvin Lewis described today as a foot injury that will be "surgically set" Monday.

"He will be in a cast or a boot for a little bit," Lewis said this afternoon, following the Bengals' completion of their fifth and final practice of mandatory minicamp. "He should be ready to go at the start of minicamp without his shoe."

Lightning halts Bengals practice

Coach Marvin Lewis blew the whistle at 3:24 this afternoon, bringing to a halt the afternoon minicamp practice that had started at 3 o'clock.

Lightning was visible to the immediate northwest of the practice field.

Lewis got the team back on the field in the stadium at 4 p.m.

Former LSU Bengals attend funeral in New Orleans

Six Bengals players, who played college ball at LSU, were excused from minicamp Saturday to attend the funeral of Marquise Hill in New Orleans.

Hill, a defensive end with the New England Patriots, died from accidental drowning in Lake Pontchartrain on Monday. Hill played his college football at Louisiana State.

Excused from Bengals practices today are offensive linemen Andrew Whitworth, Ben Wilkerson and Nate Livings, wide receivers Skyler Green and Bennie Brazell and defensive tackle Kenderick Allen.

CB O'Neal at minicamp

The Bengals opened their first full-squad minicamp this morning on the practice fields adjacent to Paul Brown Stadium.

Cornerback Deltha O'Neal is participating in practice, after having missed most of the offseason program. Wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh is back, too.

"It felt good, a little rusty, especially going up against eighty-five," O'Neal said after practice, referring to Chad Johnson.

O'Neal said knee and shoulder injuries slowed him during a disappointing 2006 and that he was "very healthy" and looking ahead to a "big" 2007 season.

O'Neal said he was disappointed that he did not get a new contract from the Bengals after the 2005 season, when he was a Pro Bowl player and tied for the NFL lead with 10 interceptions.

Coach Marvin Lewis answered several questions about O'Neal during his afternoon news conference.

"He's a guy that's got good ability. And he has a lot, like we all do -- I told everyone of our players -- we all have a lot to prove, players and coaches," Lewis said. "He has the ability to play at a very, very high level in the NFL. So this is an important season for all of us."

O'Neal had said Lewis is a harsh critic and said Lewis wants him to be more consistent.

"I think that's fair," Lewis said of the analysis. "I wouldn't say it's frustrating. That's what the challenge of coaching is. You want to have a talented player at that position. To have a guy of his talents and abilities and his intellect is important because he has it all. He has the speed, the athleticism, the intellect, the ball skills. He's got the total package, and he's right.

"For his career, for him to sit back 10 years from now and look at his career, I would think that he and I both would agree we'd like to see it be more consistent when he looks back at his career. That it not be the spike-ups, but the consistency of a continual perennial Pro Bowl cornerback, and Pro Bowl caliber. Because the Pro Bowl comes to guys sometimes because of interceptions that maybe aren't due that, and they don't have that kind of ability but yet they're voted in because of their statistics not necesssarily because their play backs it up. And I think he has the ability to be a guy that has the caliber to be that type of impact player all the time."

Featured tailback Rudi Johnson is on the field in street clothes. He is not practicing. He said after practice he got sick with food poisoning on his last day of a trip to the Dominican Republic. Tight end Reggie Kelly (stomach ailment) did not practice.

Left tackle Levi Jones (knee), offensive lineman Adam Kieft (stress fracture, foot), defensive end Frostee Rucker (knee, shoulder), fullback Jeremi Johnson (hamstring), cornerback Greg Brooks (knee) and safeties Madieu Williams (quadriceps) and John Busing (hamstring) did not practice. Williams received treatment in the trainer's room.

Wide receiver Chad Johnson appears to be favoring a hamstring. He pulled up short on a deep pass.

Linebacker Ed Hartwell looks fast and quick in pass coverage drills. He knocked down a pass intended for a running back.

The Bengals will practice again this afternoon. Lewis and quarterback Carson Palmer held conferences during the break practices.