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.