Ask Mark

        INDIANAPOLIS — It's becoming the Bengals' incantation: kickers and quarterbacks, kickers and quarterbacks, kickers and quarterbacks.

        Question, from Seth in O'Fallon, Ill.: When Neil Rackers was drafted out of Illinois, it seemed he was going to be the kicker regardless of training camp performance. It was mentioned then that the Bengals rarely draft a kicker, and the fact that they did signaled that Doug Pelfrey's days in stripes were over. This year, we drafted Travis Dorsch with a fourth-round pick, but I've heard that Neil Rackers has the upper hand in the competition.

        Have the Bengals changed their philosophy with regard to drafting kickers? I figured Rackers was out regardless of what transpired in training camp and the preseason.

        Answer: The Bengals' selection of Dorsch in the fourth round might have been fouled up from the beginning. They and Jacksonville were the only two teams that were interested in Dorsch as a kicker; the rest of the NFL considered him a punter.

        On draft weekend, the Bengals said Dorsch would be a kicker. Then, in training camp, coach Dick LeBeau said the team also would look at Dorsch as a punter. Then Dorsch was held out of punting drills to concentrate on kicking.

        He is confused and was angry in Buffalo, when LeBeau skipped Dorsch's turn to use Rackers on a 34-yard field goal for a seven-point lead.

        The Bengals wanted Dorsch to concentrate on kicking so he would look good enough to justify cutting Rackers. The plan appears to have backfired.

        Rackers is pulling a Corey Dillon, who runs angry. Rackers is kicking angry, and he wears that emotion well.

        Punter Nick Harris is having an outstanding camp and looks to have his job locked up. So Dorsch can't punt here.

        True, the Bengals don't like to waste draft picks. But as they evolve into a winning team and attempt to leave the past 11 years behind them, they should keep Rackers if they think he is their best kicker, and let Dorsch go.

        Good teams let go of high draft picks. Denver cut Harris before the start of last season, and he was their fourth-round pick in 2001.

        It's hard to say who has the kicking edge at Bengals camp. Dorsch looked good Thursday night in practice, but so did Rackers.

        But the Bengals do need to have a kicker who makes the league average of 75 percent on field goals if they are serious about making the playoffs.

        Q, from Christopher in Mount Healthy: If Akili Smith has looked the best of the three quarterbacks in camp, then why hasn't he been named the starter, which is why he was drafted third overall in 1999?

        A: The Bengals are thrilled with Smith's performance so far this preseason. But coaches and management do not have faith in Smith's ability to win games. They have more trust in the talent of Jon Kitna and Gus Frerotte.

        Smith is a talented quarterback, and he deserves credit for his professionalism during his freefall to No.3 on the depth chart.

        Smith might be compared to Rackers and another 2000 draft pick, running back Curtis Keaton. They all probably could use a change of scenery to achieve their NFL potential.

        From John in Westerville: I have to respond to your article regarding the QB situation. Akili Smith, in my opinion, did nothing to put himself in the race. He played against the Bills' third string and had the benefit of Rudi Johnson ripping off 9-yard gains every other play. The offense is building something under Kitna, and Frerotte is clearly a more poised and professional quarterback if called upon. I'm glad Smith wasn't entirely overmatched. It just seems that Bengals writers are enamored with Smith when he really hasn't done anything to justify his hype.

        A: There wasn't a question in there, but I have an answer anyway.

        First-round picks, especially a quarterback taken third overall, can't be ignored. The Bengals have a $10.8 million signing bonus invested in Smith, and they would like to get something back.

        And, finally, here's more information for a question asked last week by Susie in London, Ohio. She is Dick LeBeau's sister-in-law and wanted to know if a Dick LeBeau bobblehead doll was yet available.

        Roger, who owns The Bleachers sports card shop, wrote to say that a company is coming out with LeBeau and Dillon bobbleheads, and that a Dillon doll already is available from another manufacturer.

Bengals 22, Colts 10 Bengals-Colts Stats DAUGHERTY: Bengals QBs Akili making a pass at QB job Bengals Q&A Booker's career enters last years, but he's not done Colts' Rhodes will miss season with torn ACL Broncos' Davis to retire after latest knee injury Browns WR stays after all Browns 24, Lions 23 Chiefs 19, Texans 9 Cowboys 19, Panthers 16 Falcons 36, Giants 24 Packers 29, Cardinals 21 Patriots 16, Eagles 15

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