Although the Bengals can't say anything until free agency begins Friday, the team apparently is interested in Seattle quarterback Jon Kitna (NFL.com profile).

        Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski, who was the Seahawks' coordinator earlier in Kitna's career, has been asking around about Kitna.

        Bratkowski has talked to his former Washington State teammate and former Bengals quarterback Jack Thompson, who lives in the Northwest, about Kitna.

        “We've heard the talk, and Jon and I have talked about Cincinnati,” said Carl A. Taylor Lopez, Kitna's Seattle-based agent, who also represents Thompson. Kitna “is open to talking to the Bengals.”

        The Bengals want to bring in a rookie and possibly two veterans — one is expected to be Scott Mitchell — to compete with franchise quarterback Akili Smith for the starting job.

        “The Bengals have done nothing improper,” the agent said. “Talking to Jack Thompson makes a lot of sense.”

        Kitna, 28, started 15 games in 1999 and threw for more than 3,300 yards and 23 touchdowns. He lost the job to Brock Huard last season, but after Huard was injured, Kitna led the Seahawks to a 2-2 record and an average of 26 points in their final four games.

        The Bengals are interested in Kitna and other free agent veterans Brad Johnson, Rob Johnson, Gus Frerotte and Scott Mitchell. Mitchell was 2-3 in five starts for the Bengals last year after Smith lost the job.

        Jim Lippincott, the Bengals' director of pro/college personnel, declined comment about Kitna because current teams — in this case, the Seahawks — have exclusive negotiating rights with their unrestricted free agents through Thursday.

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