Matt Schobel thought he was on his way to the Detroit Lions. Schobel, a tight end from Texas Christian University, was on the phone with a Lions team representative when his future changed.

        “Detroit was going to take me with the next pick (at No.68),” he said Saturday night from Dallas. “Then my girlfriend said, "Cincinnati just took you.'”

        Schobel said a few curse words from the Detroit representative ended the conversation as his career with the Bengals began.

WHO IS MATT SCHOBEL?

More info about the Bengals' third-round pick at: • ESPN • NFL • USA Today

        To get Schobel, the Bengals traded their 73rd pick (in the third round) and 145th pick (fifth round) for the Carolina Panthers' third-round 67th pick.

        “He was a guy we all agreed would fit from a quality and ability standpoint and from a receiving standpoint,” Bengals head coach Dick LeBeau said. “We thought the opportunity was there to go up and take away the "what if' about whether he would get down there (to our original third-round draft position).”

        The Bengals didn't take the chance.

        “I don't know a whole lot about it,” Schobel said, regarding the Bengals' tight end situation. “I'll just figure it out when I get there, I guess.”

        In 2002, the Bengals need better production out of their tight ends. Starter Tony McGee caught a career-low 14 passes last season for 148 yards and one touchdown. He had only three games with more than one catch, and one with more than two (four catches against Tennessee on Nov.18).

        McGee missed the final five games of the season after injuring his knee.

        Sean Brewer, last year's third-round selection, missed all of 2001 with a groin injury.

        Nick Williams played H-back — half fullback, half tight end — after McGee's injury. He played in four games and started in two. He had no catches.

        And Brad St. Louis was primarily the long snapper.

        Draft analyst Jerry Jones ranked Schobel fifth on his list of college tight ends. Pro Football Weekly's Joel Buchsbaum ranked him third.

        Schobel, 6 feet 4 and 263 pounds, is considered a stronger pass-catching tight end than a blocker.

        “I try to be complete,” he said. “I guess some people feel that is my strength. I think I can get better in a lot of areas.”

        Schobel, who began his college football career as a quarterback at Texas A&M, played for the Horned Frogs for three seasons. Last season, he caught a career-high 19 passes for 310 yards and five touchdowns.

        His brother, Aaron, was a standout defensive end for TCU before the Buffalo Bills made him their second-round pick in the 2001 draft.

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