Sean Brewer hopes this is his year. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

        GEORGETOWN, Ky. — Every time Sean Brewer throws a good block or catches a pass, running through a gauntlet of defenders swatting at the ball before sprinting into the open field, he hopes to affirm the decision made by Bengals management and coaches.

        They promoted him to No.1 tight end on April 25 when nine-year starter Tony McGee was released, even though Brewer has yet to play a single down in the NFL.

        “I want to reassure them why they took me in 2001,” said Brewer, who was drafted in the third round, 66th overall, from San Jose State. “I want to let everyone on this side of the country, who don't know anything about me, what I'm all about. That includes taking it down the middle, catching a 5-yarder, making the block.”

        It was a year ago Friday that Brewer's rookie season started to crumble.

        He injured his groin on Aug. 2, 2001, two days before the preseason opener at Chicago. Exactly a month later, on Sept. 2, he was placed on the injured reserve list. His season was over.

        He also was held out of minicamp and May workouts because of a hamstring injury, suffered in late April while working out on his own.

        This training camp, Brewer could be the happiest Bengals player of them all.

        “Happier than hell,” he said. “I'm doing the thing I love best, playing ball. I'm a long way from home (Riverside, Calif.) and this is all I have. I mean, I do have my old lady back in Cincinnati.

        “Yeah, camp sucks. It's hot. It's long. But as sick as this sounds, I love it. I don't necessarily like getting up at 7 in the morning to lift (weights), but I love putting the pads on and playing ball.”

        The Bengals will love it if Brewer can better the production of the 2001 tight ends — McGee, the departed Marco Battaglia and Kirk McMullen. They combined for 29 receptions, 281 yards and one touchdown.

        “We want (Brewer) to be a good, starting tight end,” Bengals president Mike Brown said. “And I think he can do that if he stays at it diligently. He's going to have to work hard, consistently hard. If he does, good things can happen to us and him.”

        Brewer would like nothing more than to deliver on his promise. As a senior at San Jose State in 2000, he was the team's most valuable player, catching 29 balls for 372 yards and registering 72 knockdown blocks.

        McMullen, currently third on the depth chart behind Brewer and rookie Matt Schobel — the third-round pick in 2002 — is the only one of the

        Bengals' six tight ends with an NFL catch as a tight end, two. McMullen started two games in 2001.

        Brad St. Louis played in two games as a tight end, but he is primarily a long snapper. Nick Williams is listed as an H-back, a combination fullback and tight end. Chris Edmonds is a converted linebacker. Schobel, the second-stringer, is hurt now with an injured rib-cage muscle. He's expected back on Monday.

        “I've got a ways to go,” Schobel said. “This isn't helping any, sitting out. My (blocking) technique is sloppy. If your technique is bad and the game is faster, it makes it that much harder to adjust.”

        As long as Brewer stays healthy, the starting job appears to his.

        “I'm getting real comfortable with the offense again,” he said. “I'm not thinking as much, like I did on the first day. I'm doing what comes naturally, catching the ball and making some blocks.”

        Coach Dick LeBeau said he likes what he has seen so far in camp from the 6-foot-4, 255-pound Brewer.

        “You like his size,” LeBeau said. “He's a good target. I've seen him every day getting better and better at catching the ball.”

        Brewer works every day against the defense that was ranked ninth in the league, which, he said, will help him get ready for the season.

        “I still feel a little rusty,” he said. “I don't feel like I'm in my prime right now. I'm getting my wind and my legs. I don't want to come out.”

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        “(Camp's) hot. It's long. But as sick as this sounds, I love it. I don't necessarily like getting up at 7 in the morning to lift, but I love putting the pads on and playing ball.”

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