Former Colts cornerback Jeff Burris (20) intercepts a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens running back Moe Williams (23) on Dec. 2, 2001, at PSINet Stadium in Baltimore. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Four weeks into free agency, the Bengals have addressed one of their biggest needs by adding two cornerbacks.

        With Jeff Burris agreeing to a three-year, $4.5 million deal late Tuesday, the Bengals now have secured the services of their most experienced pair of cornerbacks in several seasons. Burris will team with Artrell Hawkins, an unrestricted free agent who re-signed last week with the Bengals.

        “We signed two players who should start for us,” Bengals president Mike Brown said Wednesday. “That's good when you can get that done in free agency. It's no easier to get one of your own guys back once he's out there than it is to get another guy from another team.”

        Burris, who will be 30 in June, has 99 NFL starts in eight seasons. Hawkins has 48 starts in four seasons and said he is determined to become a shut-down cornerback.

        The consistent quarterback pressure by the Bengals' front seven last year masked problems in a secondary carved up by injuries.

        In spite of the additions of Hawkins and Burris, the Bengals aren't done in free agency.

        “There are still other things we're going to get done,” said Brown, who declined to be more specific.

        Still, it's relatively clear the Bengals' other priority before the April 20-21 draft is to re-sign their other top unrestricted free agent, pass-rush specialist Reinard Wilson. Wilson, a former linebacker-turned-defensive end who led the team with nine sacks in 2001, might be in the fold by the end of the week.

        David Levine, Wilson's agent, has been in constant negotiations with Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn.

        By reaching terms with Burris, the Bengals are now an estimated $6 million under the NFL salary cap. They have set aside $3.5million in a rookie pool, leaving enough to sign Wilson and maintain an injury reserve. Burris will receive $1 million to sign.

        The Bengals had two other major areas of interest in free agency, tight end and quarterback.

        They entertained two free agent tight ends, former Colt Ken Dilger and former Charger Freddie Jones, who signed with Arizona. There's still mutual interest between Dilger and the Bengals, but the Bengals probably won't do anything in that area until after the draft. There are an estimated six or seven tight ends in the draft who could start as rookies.

        “My expectation is we will come out in good shape,” Brown said. “It's a balancing act. You do a little in free agency. You do a little in the draft. There are a number of areas on the team we know we have to bring in help. We want to get better.”

        The Bengals are almost desperate to improve production at tight end. They had just 29 receptions, 281 receiving yards and one touchdown from their tight ends in 2001, and they need more from that position to realize the potential of coordinator Bob Bratkowski's offense and returning starter Jon Kitna's passing skills.

        Like tight end, the Bengals came up empty at quarterback, although it's where they made their most news in free agency. They tried to sign Trent Dilfer, who re-signed with Seattle. And Elvis Grbac, after being released by Baltimore, chose retirement over the Bengals' $10 million, four-year offer.

        Then New England quarterback Drew Bledsoe — expendable because of the emergence of Tom Brady as the Patriots' starter — said he didn't want to be traded to Cincinnati. The Bengals had been holding back cap room to try to handle Bledsoe's contract, but after getting word from agent David Dunn of Bledsoe's wishes, the Bengals decided to spend on other players.

        The Bengals also weren't willing to meet New England's asking price of two first-round draft picks.

        “People around here seem to clamor for quarterbacks,” Brown said. “If I were to get into that discussion about the pluses and minuses, the cap count and what you have to give up in a trade ...”

        “We went fishing in those waters and didn't catch anything. When things didn't work out, we decided not to stay in that part of the pond. We moved to another spot and caught something.”

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