Thursday, May 31, 2001
Scott arrives at Bengals' workouts
WR in good shape but is held out of scrimmages
By Malcolm C. Knox
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Bengals wide receiver Darnay Scott was swarmed by reporters with cameras, microphones and tape recorders Wednesday, his first day at this spring's voluntary workouts.
What do you all want? he said as he was followed off the field.
Scott had missed more than two weeks of workouts, which end today. Summer training camp in Georgetown, Ky., begins July 20.
Scott said he had planned to be in camp May 21 but attended the funeral of a close friend, Alphonso Smith. Scott said Smith, 27, was like a little brother to him.
Smith was shot and killed May 18, according to a report in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
I'm just relaxing taking it one day at a time Scott said. I was planning to get here that Monday. It was a hard loss for me.
The eight-year veteran did calisthenics and ran sprints, passing routes and drills Wednesday and didn't appear to favor the left leg he broke last August.
But during seven-on-seven and full-team scrimmages, Scott watched, wearing a baseball cap instead of an orange-and-black helmet.
Scott, who at 205 pounds is about five pounds more than his usual playing weight, said he could have run through the plays.
They're the ones saying, "Stop,' he said of the Bengals.
Scott had been working out in St. Louis and thinks he should still get a $150,000 workout bonus.
I don't feel like I need an eye over me, watching me when I work out, he said. I'm here. I did what they asked me to do.
Receivers coach Steve Mooshagian had been trying to reach Scott and was one of the most vocal about his absence. He heard of Scott's friend's death when he talked to Scott Monday.
It was good to see Darnay back; that's for sure, Mooshagian said. He looked good to me. ... He ran his sprints well. ... He actually looked a little lighter now than he was at the minicamp.
Mooshagian said it's more important that Scott work on learning new offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski's system than on getting back on the field.
The mental part will be enough for now, Mooshagian said. We want to get some good classroom time.
Mooshagian and Scott said it may take time for Scott to really forget about his injury.
The only way to get over that fear is to go out there with them, Scott said.
Scott's teammates seemed happy to see him. Quarterback Jon Kitna, who signed with the Bengals in the offseason and is one of three competing for the starting job, shook hands with Scott, and they talked between drills.
He's a vet, Kitna said. He knows what he needs to do to get ready. Maybe he felt like he could get more work done at home. I don't care where he's been.
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