Lewis: Robertson deal not dead

Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said this morning that the possible trade for Jets defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson is not completely dead yet.

"I wouldn't say that. You know, I don't think that would be true at all," Lewis said when asked if the door has been slammed shut on the deal.

Asked for his comments on the near-miss efforts to trade for Lions defensive tackle Shaun Rogers and Robertson, Lewis said, "I guess you see why we don't say too much about things until they're done. The only thing I'll say is that neither one of those things had to do with dollars and sense. It had nothing to do with money. ... There are a lot of variables."

Lewis spoke this morning at a news conference introducing defensive end Antwan Odom, signed by the Bengals to a five-year, $29.5 million deal after four seasons with the Tennessee Titans. Was there a sense of urgency to get the Odom deal done after missing on Rogers and Robertson?

"They were kind of running on parallel tracks, basically," Lewis said. "At the same time we had Antwan set to come in, we were running on parallel tracks and see what happens and how things fit together. There is still some flexibility if things fall into place."

Lewis said the snag on Robertson was not money. Robertson agent Hadley Engelhard told the New York Daily News late Monday that the problem was re-negotiating a new contract to replace the final two years of Robertson's existing deal, which calls for base salaries totaling more than $18 million.

Odom essentially replaces Justin Smith, who signed as a free agent with the 49ers.

"Antwan's ability to rush the passer is big," Lewis said of Odom, who had eight sacks last season and is considered to be entering his prime.

Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer said he liked Odom's ability to rush the passer and was still pushing for more defensive players to be signed in free agency.

Zimmer said he was struck by a comment Odom made at lunch Monday when he said, "I just love to play football."