Levi Jones was the Bengals' number one draft pick. (Michael E. Keating photo) | ZOOM |

        Levi Jones will wrap up his first month of work today as a member of the Bengals.

        And the first-round draft pick said Thursday he is hopeful his contract will be completed in time for him to report for the start of training camp July 26 at Georgetown College.

        “Everybody seems to think I'll be in on time and it won't be a problem this year, that it has been in the past,” said Jones, a left tackle from Arizona State who was the 10th overall pick in the draft. “But it's something that's out of my hands. Me and my agent (Ken Zuckerman), we know what we have to do. The most inefficient thing for me is not to be in camp. It will do me no good to be sitting down in Arizona watching TV and watching these guys.”

        Two of the Bengals' last three No. 1 picks — quarterback Akili Smith (1999) and defensive end Justin Smith (2001) — had long holdouts.

        Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn said she has not started to negotiate seriously with Zuckerman.

        “It's not something that's going to get done in one phone call,” Blackburn said while watching practice.”

        Jones has impressed his teammates and coaches.

        “He's so humble and down to earth and he wants to be good,” said right tackle Willie Anderson, one of Jones' tutors, along with veteran left tackles Richmond Webb and John Jackson.

        “The main thing is, when he gets into the lineup, his confidence is going to be there. We need confident guys on the field,” Anderson said. “His ability is top-notch. When you can combine a guy who wants to learn with the athletic ability, you come up with a good tackle.”

        Said Jones: “I got on top of the game mentally. I picked up the offense real fast.”

        Two of the Bengals' six draft picks — sixth-round safety Marquand Manuel and third-round tight end Matt Schobel — have signed. Bengals personnel director Jim Lippincott negotiated both deals.

        Bengals vice president Paul Brown is handling talks for second-rounder Lamont Thompson, a free safety from Washington State. And Duke Tobin, co-director of pro/college personnel, is negotiating with agents from fourth-round kicker Travis Dorsch and seventh-round defensive end Joey Evans Jr.

        SUMMER SCHOOL: In a limited role, second-round pick Thompson also has been impressive.

        Thompson, a free safety who will not practice because of a disagreement with the Bengals over injury protection, has been attending meetings and practices for two weeks.

        “He's a bright kid,” safeties coach Darren Perry said. “He knows what's going on, on paper.

        Thompson said he will stay in Cincinnati for the first two weeks of June to continue working on the playbook and defensive scheme with coaches.

        BLAME IT ON RIO: Linebacker Takeo Spikes, who criticized teammates two weeks ago for missing voluntary veteran workouts, missed his third consecutive practice Thursday because travel problems have forced him to stay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

        Linebackers coach Mark Duffner said Spikes left a 6 a.m. message on his voice mail saying he still couldn't get a flight out of Brazil. Duffner wouldn't say why Spikes was out of the country.

        OLD SCHOOL: Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel and his entire staff were guests of Bengals coach Dick LeBeau for Thursday morning meetings and the 90-minute voluntary workout.

        LeBeau is a 1959 graduate of Ohio State and played on a national championship team coached by Woody Hayes.

        “He's a Buckeye and proud of it,” Tressel said of LeBeau. “We've picked up some little things being here. It gets your blood flowing a little bit.”
       Tressel and his staff also have visited the Indianapolis Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers to observe how those teams conduct practices and meetings.

        SEEING CLEARLY NOW: Wide receiver Peter Warrick practiced Thursday for the first time wearing contact lenses to correct his astigmatism. Warrick said he fielded punts and caught passes from wide receivers coach Steve Mooshagian.

        Mooshagian said Warrick has had some trouble with balls coming straight at him but that Warrick's peripheral vision is outstanding.

        SCARE: Linebacker Armegis Spearman went down toward the end of Thursday morning's practice and had to have his left knee examined by trainers.

        “I just tweaked it,” Spearman said. “It's nothing.”

        Spearman is returning from a shoulder injury that forced him to miss all of last season. He is a top reserve.

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