Sunday, April 18, 1999

1. AKILI SMITH, QB, OREGON

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Newest Bengal already has grudge with Browns

BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Akili Smith ESPN profile

        The instant Akili Smith became a Bengal on Saturday, he had a common bond with the late founder of the franchise, Paul Brown.

        Both were rejected by the Cleveland Browns.

        Hours after the Browns made an offer to Smith and then signed a seven-year, $48 million deal with Kentucky quarterback Tim Couch, making him the NFL draft's No. 1 pick, the Bengals chose Smith with the third pick.

        And a rivalry in the AFC Central was born.

        “I was leveraged all the way,” Smith said from New York. “I guess I was the middle man in the whole deal. I don't think it was fair of them to do that, but they did that. It's just part of big business. That's a motivation factor. We're going to be competing for the rest of our lives.”

Akili Smith joins his grandmother, Alberta Smith, other family members and Rev. George Stevens in a prayer. Smith took 40 people to New York for the draft. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Still, Smith bubbled with excitement, vowing to be a leader on and off the field “immediately.” He even offered to try to talk disgruntled wide receiver Carl Pickens into signing a new contract.

        “I'm happy to be a Bengal. I really am,” said Smith. “I basically came out of nowhere. We've got a new stadium that's going to happen next year, and I'm going to try and get the franchise turned around as quickly as possible.”

        The Bengals thought Smith was good enough to turn down the Saints' offer because of his size, his arm strength and accuracy. Plus, he is the most charismatic and wordly of the three quarterbacks grouped at the top.

        A sampling of his first interview as a Bengal:

        • On leading in the locker room: “I want to get the veteran players to kind of rally around me because I'm just a rookie franchise player. Let's just work hard on and off the field day in and day out, get some camaraderie all the way through.”

        • On his knowledge of Cincinnati's skill players: “I booked Cincinnati down (before the draft). If we can get Carl Pickens signed, Darnay Scott's a vertical threat and a great receiver, (Tony) McGee at tight end, two good running backs and get the offensive line squared away, we should be ready to roll.”

Smith hopes to quickly win the starting job from Jeff Blake. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Smith's biggest down side is he had only 13 career starts at Oregon. But the Bengals feel his seamless throwing motion and mobility make him a high-echelon player. Offensive coordinator Ken Anderson has no plans to tinker with Smith's quick release.

        “His throwing motion is fine. We have to work on his footwork, but that's just technique, not mechanics,” Anderson said.

        “I like his release. I like the tightness of his spiral. I like his accuracy, his arm strength. I like his size and his ability to move around, make people miss him and create plays. The way he throws a football, he's fine.”

        Smith said he can't wait to “pick Ken Anderson's brain.” He also said he wanted to pick Neil O'Donnell's brain, but told the Bengals plan to cut O'Donnell this week, Smith made a nice cutback and said, “Then I'll pick Jeff Blake's brain.”

        Smith wants to play (“I want to learn on the job, not on the sidelines,”), but Coslet made no promises. He advised a reporter not to play up the Cleveland angle because he might not even play this year against the Browns.

        Blake is the clear starter. Plus, except for the April 30-May 2 mini-camp, Smith can't begin working out until Oregon ends its classes June 11.

        “I'm not going to answer that, each guy is different,” said Coslet when asked how soon Smith will play. “He'll miss some time and we'll have to catch him up.”

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