The Bengals have reached an agreement on a three-year contract with running back Rudi Johnson, their fourth-round draft pick from Auburn.

        He will try to get playing time behind starter Corey Dillon.

        “I'm going to go in (to training camp) and do the things I can control, do the best I can do, do my part,” Johnson said Tuesday.

        He'll have to leap over three other running backs to be Dillon's top backup. Johnson is listed fifth on the Bengals' July 1 depth chart behind Dillon, Brandon Bennett, Michael Basnight and Curtis Keaton.

        The 5-foot-10, 227-pound Johnson might lack a step (4.55 seconds in the 40), which is one reason he lasted until the fourth round. But his productivity in the tough Southeastern Conference caught the Bengals' attention.

        He led the SEC with 1,567 rushing yards last season and scored 13 touchdowns. He left school with one year of eligibility left.

        Johnson becomes the third of seven Bengals draft picks to agree or sign a contract. The top three picks — defensive end Justin Smith, wide receiver Chad Johnson and tight end Sean Brewer — remain unsigned, as does seventh-round choice T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

        Smith, reached at his Missouri home Tuesday, said, “I'm not really talking about that situation.”

        Asked if he plans to keep his promise of not missing a day of training camp, Smith also said, “Time will tell.”

        Training camp will open Friday, and the Bengals' first practice is scheduled for Saturday.

        Smith, the No.4 overall draft pick, also has said both sides have to bend a little and that he isn't looking for a huge contract, just a fair one.

        Johnson's deal is believed to be worth the three-year league minimum for a rookie, $896,000, plus an undisclosed signing bonus.

        Johnson joins fifth-round pick Victor Leyva (guard, Arizona State) and sixth-rounder Riall Johnson (linebacker, Stanford) in the rookie fold.

        REHBERG RE-UPS: Bengals guard Scott Rehberg signed a new two-year contract. Rehberg had been signed for 2001, but that contract was renegotiated and extended for another year.

        The 27-year-old Rehberg played in 10 games with six starts for the Bengals last season.

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