Sean Brewer (left) looks over play charts with fellow tight end Kirk McMullen Thursday. (Thomas E. Witte photo) | ZOOM |

        Sean Brewer came into the NFL under the cloud of a scouting report that said he had poor training and eating habits and a “gangsta” mentality. A year after the Bengals made Brewer their No.3 pick in the 2001 draft, the first knock has given way to a second one — that he is prone to injury.

        A sports hernia/groin injury landed him on the injured reserve list for his entire rookie season, although Brewer said he could have played in September. A hamstring injury suffered a few days before he reported to minicamp has put him on the shelf again. He appears ready to return to the field Tuesday.

        Along the way, the Bengals cut veteran starter Tony McGee and promoted Brewer
to the top of the depth chart at tight end.

        “They saw something in the limited amount of (practice repetitions) I did get last year to put so much faith in me,” Brewer said Thursday. “There's that much more of a sense of urgency to do that much more rehab. But at the same time, I have to be smart and selective about what I do because, if I pop a wheelie the next two weeks, it sets me back for training camp.”

        Brewer came out of college with a less-than-flattering scouting report by NFLmedia.com, an official league Web site. It said Brewer was “a poorly conditioned athlete” who “has a tough-guy attitude that has gotten him into confrontations with the coaching staff in the past.”

        The report said Brewer was a “spoiled kid who has to give up his pack-a-day cigarette habit.”

        Brewer said he didn't smoke but had chewed tobacco.

        On Thursday, Brewer was philosophical.

        “At the time now, it hurt, because I was brand-new to the league,” he said. “But now I've got a year of league experience of seeing how it works, even though I didn't play.”

        The report contained some positive notes about Brewer. He was an aggressive blocker with the speed to get open quickly.

        Those skills are what he wants to bring to the forefront these days.

        The Bengals had 29 receptions and one touchdown from tight ends in 2001, a season in which they lost four tight ends to season-ending injury. Brewer had 56 receptions and five touchdowns as a three-year starter at San Jose State, including 29 catches and four touchdowns as MVP in 2000.

        “He's doing the right things to get back on the field in a hurry, but what he does when he gets there, we'll have to wait and see,” Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Brat kowski said of Brewer. “High hopes and potential don't do much for you.”

        Backing up Brewer is rookie Matt Schobel, this year's third-round pick. Then there are Kirk McMullen, Nick Williams, Brad St. Louis and Chris Edmonds, moving from linebacker.

        Brewer has been diligent about his treatment regimen, getting ice on his hamstring after watching Thursday morning's practice. He struck an all-too-familiar pose for the workout, reading a script of plays while watching action unfold without him.

        Quarterback Jon Kitna, who started 15 games in 2001, said the Bengals need production from the tight ends — whether it's Brewer, Schobel or McMullen.

        “The position is huge,” Kitna said. “We need someone to step up and take control of that. ... The more consistent time we can get out of that person, the better we will be.”

        Brewer said he would like nothing more than to stabilize the position. It would help lay to rest the label with which he came into the league and the label put on him since he arrived.

        “For what this offense calls for from the tight end, and what I have envisioned for myself, it's going to open up so many more things,” said the 6-foot-4, 255-pound Brewer. “If all goes as planned, I'll catch me a couple balls and just help open up the offense for everybody.”

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