Tuesday, June 15, 1999
Smith at camp without a contract
QB doesn't want incentive deal
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Akili Smith and his shaved head returned to Cincinnati sprouting hair.
But he might end up tearing it out today when the Bengals open their voluntary three-day minicamp as he tries to catch up on the playbook.
In the six weeks since Smith worked out at Spinney Field, the Bengals have gone through enough workouts to install about 80 percent of the offense. Smith, the Oregon quarterback who was the team's first-round pick, had only the weekend of April 30-May 3 to absorb on-site training.
The NFL prevents college players from working out with their new teams until their class graduates and Oregon didn't hold ceremonies until June 12. Miami of Florida students graduated last month, so rookie quarterback Scott Covington has been here since May14.
Before this season, the rule was no rookies before June 1 or before the class graduates. This year, the date was moved to May 16.
“This young guy is in the catch-up mode even before he starts, and it's too bad,” Bengals President Mike Brown said. “It's an unfair rule. It doesn't make a lot of sense. Why should Cleveland get to have Tim Couch a month before and Couch isn't graduating?
“I don't mean to single out Couch, but it shows the disparity,” Brown said. “It was done to appease the college coaches and administrators who want their graduation rates as high as possible. The problem with it as a practical matter in today's world, unfortunately, is too many football players don't go through school.”
Couch and Covington, who signed a three-year deal Monday, are also ahead of Smith in the contract department. And don't look for Smith to join them anytime soon.
Smith has insisted he won't hold out, yet he also said his agent doesn't want him to take the incentive-based Ricky Williams' contract the Bengals offered. But he also said he'll call agent Leigh Steinberg and tell him to do the best he can quickly.
“I don't understand any of that stuff. That's why I'm paying that guy three percent to make the right decision,” said Smith after Monday's skull session and workout with offensive coordinator Ken Anderson.
“Mr. Brown kind of patterned the contract offer they made me around Ricky's (deal). From what I understand, Ricky's contract is absolutely terrible. That's what my agent told me, so I guess we won't be signing anything Ricky did.”
But at the moment, Smith and the Bengals are more concerned with blitz protections than buy-back protections. Which is why Anderson called Smith on Friday and told him, “Akili, I want you in my office 9a.m. Monday morning.”
“If they've got 80 percent of the offense in, I'm definitely behind,” Smith said. “But I'm going to work hard ... I told my agent they need to cut back on the things they arranged for me, and he's done that. I really don't have anything planned until the season starts but football.”
Anderson has been a faithful pen pal. After each of the 18 workouts without Smith, Anderson has Federal Expressed him care packages of the practice videos with the coaches' scripts, plus drawings of new runs, passes and pass protections.
Anderson is getting married in July, but the joke around Spinney Field is he'll be spending his summer with Smith. Smith, who has talked with Anderson several times a week on the phone, admits it's easier to pick up an offense in person than through the mail.
Smith is showing gumption about learning and faith in Anderson. He's also showing the same faith in Steinberg.
“I guess Mr. Brown wanted me for seven or eight years with no voidable years,” said Smith, showing knowledge beyond the playbook. “And Leigh said that's not what he's looking for and when he thinks the contract is sufficient, I'm ready to sign.”
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