GEORGETOWN, Ky. — Vaughn Booker and Tom Barndt signed free-agent contracts three weeks apart before the 2000 season. They were supposed to bolster the Bengals' defensive line, stop the run and put some pressure on the quarterback. It didn't happen.

        The Bengals' 26 sacks were second-fewest in the NFL.

        Barndt, a 300-pound tackle, tore a pectoral muscle in the 2000 intrasquad scimmage — this year's scrimmage is today — and played in 14 games with only one healthy arm.

        Booker started nine games, but he missed almost half of the season because of a fainting spell in Game 2 and a ruptured cyst in his left knee that required season-ending surgery Dec.5.

        The Bengals added more pieces to the defensive line this offseason, including top pick Justin Smith and three free agents, but Barndt and Booker remain key players in a group whose whole could be greater than its parts. The Bengals plan to keep eight defensive linemen and run them in fresh waves at opposing offenses.

        Booker is listed on the depth chart as the starter at left end. Barndt is No.2 behind Oliver Gibson at left tackle. Newcomer Tony Williams, Booker and Smith are the other projected starters.

        Free-agent signee Bernard Whittington and holdover John Copeland are expected to be the top two reserves, with Reinard Wilson, Glen Steele, Jevon Langford and Kevin Henry battling for the final slot.

        Barndt and Booker are looking forward to a second chance in Cincinnati.

        “It was a difficult year,” said Barndt, who started five games last season. “I didn't take the easy way out. I tried to do what I could.”

        Dr. Timothy Kremchek performed surgery on Barndt in January. It was supposed to be a two-hour operation. It lasted almost six. They expected to reattach the pectoral muscle and fix a cartilage tear.

        They found three cartilage tears and a ruptured biceps in addition to the pectoral muscle that was loose.

        “With the cartilage tears, they put six screws in to take care of that,” Barndt said. “They took the biceps and reattached that. Then with the pec, they pulled it all up, sewed it all together, and up in the humerus (upper arm bone), they dug a little trench and jammed it in there with these two metal anchors to keep it in place.”

        The result? Six months later, he's playing without pain and with only a slight bit of strength loss on his left side.

        Bengals coaches say Barndt, 29, can replicate his 1999 season in Kansas City, when he started 13 games and had 48 tackles, 2 1/2 sacks and two passes defensed.

        They're also looking for a bigger year from Booker, who's now 33. He had 6 1/2 sacks in his two previous seasons in Green Bay, but none for the Bengals in 2000.

        He wants to contribute sacks to a defensive line that's much deeper.

        “I want to be part of that,” Booker said. “I want to be one of the leaders people can count on. I think we're going to complement each other.

        “I've been known as a run stopper my whole career. I would like to retire with a few more sacks under my belt. I went to be in there on third down; that's the fame down for a D-lineman. I want to be a guy they go to in crunch time.”

        Coach Dick LeBeau, who was defensive coordinator last season, likes what he has seen from Barndt and Booker.

        “That's another reason for an optimistic first week of camp,” he said. “You would hope that both of those players would come back and look good, and they have. The strength of Tom and the condition of Vaughn — again, we're guardedly optimistic.”

Bengals' concession doesn't satisfy Smith Booker, Barndt attack 2nd season Kitna up first in today's scrimmage

Frustrated Griffey mulls retiring
Reds 10, Marlins 5
SULLIVAN: Welcome home, Tony
Perez doesn't carry grudge
Rijo to pitch again Sunday
Harnisch doesn't make much progress
Reese 2nd on Rockies' shopping list
Deion retires from NFL
Reds box, runs
UC, Vegas tourney won't play in casino
Crowe's cut leads to draw with Moorer
Dusing's relay places 3rd at worlds
Bonds hits 45th homer
Peckskamps advance in father-son tennis
National Father-Son tennis schedule, results
Metro Softball scores

• Return to Bengals front page...