New QB Jon Kitna moves his TV into his suite at Georgetown College. (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

        GEORGETOWN, Ky. — The note on the door of Georgetown College Conference Center told players the day of reckoning — like the first day of training camp — was at hand.

        “Att. all Bengals players. Weigh in before 6 p.m., per coach (Tim) Krumrie,” the note read.

        The scale would tell what players had done in the seven weeks since voluntary workouts ended in May. The Bengals will practice for the first time at 11 a.m. and again at 3 p.m. today.

        Football players' bodies are their livelihoods, and they can be as particular about what they eat and what they weigh as a fashion model or high school wrestler trying to stay in a weight class.

        The nature of training camp and the offseason conditioning and diet has changed in the NFL. Bengals trainer Paul Sparling has seen the evolution since he started working in pro football in 1978.

        “Training camp used to be a place to get in shape,” he said. “If you do that now, it's too late. Nobody's guaranteed a position.”

        A player's weight can be so tied to performance that clubs will fine him for missing weight or reward him with a bonus for making weight or a contract incentive for working out in the offseason.

        Wide receiver Peter Warrick arrived at camp with three teammates, saw veteran receiver Darnay Scott walk across the parking lot, and asked, “Who's the fat guy in the red shirt?”

        Warrick worked with a personal trainer to come in at 199 pounds and promised he would be lighter and quicker in 2001 than he was as a rookie when he had 51 receptions.

        Scott, who missed the 2000 season with a broken leg, worked out under the eyes of Bob Kersey and his wife, Jackie Joyner-Kersey.

        “It's been cool,” Scott said. “I got on the track with them. They helped me get my stride. We ran 100s and 200s and did a little chain thing where a dude got 50 yards in front of me and I had to catch him. Then you got to catch the next guy. Just crazy stuff to help you get your legs back.”

        Scott, who lives in St. Louis in the offseason, also caught 100 passes a day. He displayed a swollen finger that he jammed catching one ball.

        Running back Michael Basnight, coming off minor arthroscopic knee surgery in June, missed last season because of a broken wrist. He reported to camp at 231 pounds, down four pounds from his reporting weight of a year ago.

        Basnight worked out twice a day to get ready for camp, including once with Bengals trainers who had him running stadium steps.

        “Can I play fullback? I will play fullback,” said Basnight, who ran sprints on a practice field after checking into his dorm room.

        Strong safety Cory Hall, who ate what he wanted and concentrated on lifting weights, bulked up to 225 before losing 14 pounds by concentrating on running and aerobic conditioning.

        He stopped taking a diet supplment and eating bread and reduced his red meat intake to cut the weight.

        “More fish and noodles,” Hall said. “I was working out, but I was just lifting. I was getting top-heavy, like a prison body builder. I feel good now. I got my speed back.”

        Hall is friends with Tennessee Titans rookie cornerback Dante Marsh, who had never defeated him in a 40-yard dash. They ran in the street one night, and Hall lost.

        “I said, "This ain't right,”' Hall said. “Next morning, I was up getting back at it. We raced again, and I blazed him.”

        Quarterback Scott Mitchell, who earned $50,000 last season by reporting to camp at 242 pounds, came in at 239 pounds after working out with teammate Tony McGee near their homes in Orlando, Fla.

        Kicker Neil Rackers, who will be challenged by former Cowboys kicker Richie Cunningham, played indoor soccer in his hometown of St. Louis and ran to get into better shape.

        JoJuan Armour played eight games, including the World Bowl, in NFL Europe. He's down to 220 pounds after bouncing between safety and linebacker last season.

        “I'm in the best game-shape since I was at Miami,” said Armour, a former Mid-American Conference defensive player of the year for the RedHawks.

        He played at 230 at linebacker.

        “It depends on what I eat, not quantity,” he said. “The late-night snacks, candy — I have a sweet tooth — if I stay away from those, I'm fine.”

        Today, players will suffer if they haven't trained hard on their own. Coach Dick LeBeau has promised that his team will run a great deal in training camp so it will be well-conditioned in the fourth quarter of games.

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