Friday, May 17, 2002
Bengals Notebook:
Schobel, Manuel debut at practice
By Mark Curnutte mcurnutte@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Rookies Matt Schobel and Marquand Manuel practiced Thursday for the first time as signed NFL players.
They participated in the Bengals' voluntary veteran workout at Paul Brown Stadium, and both said they were happy to have the business side of football behind them.
Tight end Schobel, the third-round pick, signed Friday. Sixth-rounder Manuel signed Monday.
Schobel is being treated for a nagging hamstring injury left over from his playing days at Texas Christian.
“I don't know if I'm ready to open wide up, but everything went well,” he said.
Manuel, a three-year starting strong safety at Florida, said: “It's a blessing to be here. It's a little slower than it was at minicamp. I'm trying to get back in the groove, get the rust off, get out there and learn what to do.”
ATTENDANCE: Thursday was the first day rookie draft picks and undrafted free agents could practice with the team since minicamp, and attendance at the morning practice swelled to the mid-60s. That was about 20 more than practiced Wednesday, when linebacker and defensive captain Takeo Spikes voiced his displeasure with veteran teammates absent from the workout.
New rules agreed upon by the NFL and the players' union allow teams to hold 14-week offseason programs, down from 16 weeks in previous years. A team can require attendance for only a three-day minicamp, which the Bengals did from May 3-6.
Teams also are limited to 14 “coaching” sessions, which covers the current stretch of voluntary veteran workouts. The Bengals will have their third practice of the week today and sixth overall this month, and they have four more scheduled in each of the next two weeks.
GETTING CLOSE: The Bengals are closing in on deals with two more of their draft choices, kicker Travis Dorsch and defensive end Joey Evans Jr.
Steve Dorsch, Travis Dorsch's father and agent, said Thursday morning that he and Bengals executive Duke Tobin have exchanged proposals on signing bonus and base salaries on a multiyear deal.
“We're encouraged that the Bengals have their third and sixth picks signed,” Dorsch said. “It gives us a good benchmark.”
Dorsch was picked in the fourth round from Purdue and is expected to take Neil Rackers' job as the team's kicker, although Rackers had an outstanding minicamp.
Evans, who is working out with the Bengals though he remains unsigned, also could be in the fold soon. His agent, Mike Toliver, said he and the Bengals have traded proposals.
“We don't expect to go on much longer,” Toliver said.
Left tackle Levi Jones, the first-round pick, did participate Thursday in voluntary veteran workouts. He has received written injury protection from the Bengals, which the team did not extend to second-round pick Lamont Thompson.
NEW GUY: The Bengals on Thursday signed wide receiver Chris Archie, an undrafted college free agent from Eastern Michigan, to a two-year contract.
Archie, 6 feet 4, 207 pounds, had 22 receptions for 207 yards and two touchdowns last year for Eastern. A native of Detroit, he played at the University of Cincinnati in 1998, making 11 catches for 176 yards and one touchdown.
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Bengals Notebook: Schobel, Manuel debut at practice
