Team holds pre-camp luncheon

The Bengals have yet to hear from the NFL on whether linebacker Odell Thurman has been or will be reinstated, coach Marvin Lewis and team president Mike Brown said this afternoon.

Speaking at the Bengals’ annual pre-training camp luncheon at Paul Brown Stadium, Lewis, when asked about Thurman, said, "I have no idea, nor do I lose sleep or thought over it."

Brown said he hoped Thurman would be reinstated and said the linebacker was a good player who could help the team.

Players will report Thursday to Georgetown College near Lexington for the start of camp. The first practice will begin at 3 p.m. Friday.

Two projected starters nursing injuries are left tackle Levi Jones (knee) and cornerback Johnathan Joseph (foot).

Lewis, typically, did not want to discuss injuries but said, “Our health status is good. We’ll have more updates on Friday (after players take their physicals). Both of the guys you mentioned are mending well.”

Jones’ iffy status affected the initial depth chart, published in the team’s 2007 media guide.

In it, Stacy Andrews is listed as the pre-camp starter at left guard – a position opened by the free agency departure of Eric Steinbach to the Cleveland Browns.

Andrew Whitworth is expected to battle Andrews for the job at left guard, but Whitworth – who started 10 games at left tackle as a rookie in place of the injured Jones – might be forced to play left tackle again, depending on Jones’ health.

Also on the media guide depth chart, Rashad Jeanty, Ahmad Brooks and Landon Johnson are listed as the starting trio of linebackers.

Antonio Chatman is the No. 1 kickoff and punt return man.

Lewis said he was “eager,” not anxious for the season to start.

“We have a very, very fine football team, centered on (quarterback Carson Palmer),” Lewis said.

He also said the team does not anticipate any problems signing its seven draft picks, none of whom have yet to agree to contract terms.

The three coordinators – Chuck Bresnahan (defense), Bob Bratkowski (offense) and Darrin Simmons (special teams) – also were on hand at the luncheon.

Bratkowski said the offense needs to play more consistently well and play its best – not fade – at the end of the season.

Simmons said he has several key spots to fill in the kicking game because of the departure of solid veterans via free agency and listed safeties Ethan Kilmer and John Busing and linebackers Andre Frazier and Eric Henderson as players who could win those jobs.

Bresnahan said the defense will look to return to leading the NFL in takeaways, which it did in 2005 with 44. He also said the challenge for coaches is to allow the defense to “play fast” and “keep it simple.”

Bresnahan, in a series of media interviews, offered the benediction for the day.

“It’s our time,” he said. “Everybody knows what’s at stake.”

Also this afternoon, the Bengals presented Sycamore High School football coach Scott Datillo with the Paul Brown Excellence in Coaching Award. Datillo led the Aviators to a 10-2 record in his first season at the school.

The Bengals presented him with a plaque and a $5,000 check for the Sycamore High School athletic department.