Not more than an hour had passed Thursday between the time Rod Jones finished his last workout with the Bengals and the time equipment managers had packed the contents of his locker and removed his nameplate.

        Jones, who started 11 games in 2000, was released by the Bengals after five seasons.

        The 1996 seventh-round draft pick started the first six games on the offensive line last season but was replaced by veteran John Jackson in Game 7, the same game in which Corey Dillon rushed for a single-game-record 278 yards in an upset of Denver.

        Jones started five more games in place of Jackson, who suffered a hamstring injury.

        Jones was one of several players benched by Dick LeBeau after LeBeau replaced Bruce Coslet as coach in Game 4.

        “Rod's a good, hard-working guy, and we wish him the best,” LeBeau said. “But we feel we have good depth now at the tackle positions.”

        Richmond Webb and Willie Anderson are the projected starters and left and right tackles. Jackson and Jamain Stephens are the backups.

        Jones was blamed for much of the problems surrounding the Bengals' NFL-worst pass offense. He was beaten consistently by speed rushers who sacked quarterback Akili Smith from the blind side.

        The Bengals signed former Dolphins left tackle Webb on April 30.

        Jones signed a three-year, $9 million contract after starting 15 games in 1999. The team will save about $1.2 million against the cap by letting him go.

        Jones was scheduled to earn $2.187 million in 2001, but he received an estimated $3 million to sign his three-year contract.

Bengals cut Jones

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