BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
James Francis
David Dunn
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The Bengals' minicamp ended quickly Saturday for linebacker James Francis and wide receiver David Dunn, who coach Bruce Coslet sent home for being noticeably overweight.
Coslet said both players, who have a history of weight problems, will be re-evaluated when training camp opens July 23.
"We'll see then what the consequences bring," Coslet said before the team's first workout at its Spinney Field headquarters. "I'm not putting up with this anymore. I'm tired of it. It's not fair to me and it's not fair to their teammates. We'll play with somebody else there unless they straighten themselves out."
Both Bengals occupy key roles. Francis, the team's first-round draft pick in 1990, has started for eight seasons. Dunn is the No. 3 wide receiver and a leading kickoff returner.
But their status afforded them no special privileges with Coslet, who couldn't recall ejecting players from camp for being in "poor" physical condition in his seven years as a head coach with Cincinnati and the New York Jets.
"It wasn't something I did lightly, for sure," he said.
Insiders said Francis, whose listed playing weight is 257 pounds, weighed 275 pounds. Dunn, listed at 220, was said to weigh 240.
Bengals President and General Manager Mike Brown supported Coslet.
"It may help to be less tolerant of this kind of thing," Brown said. "We're trying to work with guys in all kinds of ways to improve their conditioning. . . . Maybe it's time to say we won't accept that any longer."
Neither player could immediately be reached for comment. Asked if they had any reaction, Coslet said, "I didn't give them a chance to react."
Francis, who turns 30 on Aug. 4, reported to minicamps in 1993 and 1997 at 270 pounds. But the Bengals signed him to a four-year, $8 million contract extension in November 1995, after he broke his left leg. They also gave him a $250,000 incentive clause that required him to work out 13 weeks in Cincinnati during the offseason. Brown said that deal was adjusted to allow Francis to train in his offseason home of Houston.
Brown said that Francis will forfeit this year's $250,000. "We've worked hard to make James improve himself in this area," Brown said. "Maybe this will jolt him enough."
Dunn, 25, has reported to the last two training camps 20-25 pounds overweight. He also skipped the team's voluntary minicamp for offensive skill-position performers last month in Orlando, Fla. A three-year veteran, Dunn was a restricted free agent this offseason but received no offers and had to settle for Cincinnati's tender of $397,000.
Both players are coming off below-average years. Francis made 57 tackles in 1997, his lowest total for a season in which he played 16 games. Dunn caught 27 passes for 414 yards, five receptions down from 1996. He had only 14 catches in last year's first 12 games.
Canute Curtis, who appeared in three games last year as a rookie, is listed behind Francis on the minicamp depth chart at left outside linebacker, followed by third-round draft choice Steve Foley and rookie free agent Adrian Ross.
The Bengals have a plethora of receivers behind Dunn, including holdovers Mike Jenkins and James Hundon, waiver pickup Chris Doering, sixth-round draft pick Jason Tucker and rookie free agents Alonzo Clayton, Damon Gibson and Daryle Heidelburg.
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