Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks (2) gets a pass off under pressure from Bengals defenders Tony Williams, right, and Reinard Wilson. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Defensive tackle Tony Williams was the best free agent signing the Bengals made during their shopping spree prior to the 2001 season.

        Though he missed three games because of a right foot sprain, Williams tied career highs with 13 starts and five sacks. He teamed with the underrated Oliver Gibson in the middle of the Bengals' defensive line and helped the team rank 11th in rush defense, its highest mark since 1994.

        With the emergence of rookie Justin Smith and veteran Reinard Wilson as pass-rush threats, and the play of ageless Vaughn Booker at left end, the Bengals' defensive line turned into one of the team's strongest units.

        Williams said he expects even better production this season.

        “The starters, we've learned to work together,” he said. “We're going to be as good as we want to be.

        “Any time you can get a year under your belt in any type of situation, it's going to be better. Another year of working in the same system will always help.”

        BRANDON'S BACK: Younger draft picks Rudi Johnson and Curtis Keaton have been getting all the attention in preseason games while substituting for starter Corey Dillon.

        But Dillon's top backup for the past two seasons, Brandon Bennett, is healthy again. He had been bothered by an injured toe.

        “They're going to forget about me,” Bennett said. “These boys are doing too good. I've got to get in there and make something happen. I've got to make a good showing, so they're not like, "What happened to Mr. Bennett?”'

        Bennett, 29, has played in every game the past two seasons, and he has worked with Dillon to provide a one-two punch in a running game that has been difficult to stop.

        Bennett had a career-high 4.6-yard average last season, when he ran for 232 yards. He had three rushing touchdowns and 324 yards on the ground in 2000 for a more run-oriented Bengals offense.

        He is happy for Johnson and Keaton.

        “They're my boys. We play the same position, but we're friends more than anything,” Bennett said. “We always want the running back corps to do good, period. When we get in the game we're all trying to excel and make things happen.”

        REBOUNDING: One of the players who makes the linebacker corps the Bengals' deepest position is third-year pro Armegis Spearman.

        In 2000, Spearman stepped into the spot vacated by the injured Brian Simmons and made 11 starts. His 46 tackles made Spearman the only undrafted player to make Football News' all-rookie team.

        Spearman missed the 2001 season after tearing a pectoral muscle in the preseason finale. This year, he missed some camp time because of a strained groin, but he's looking to get back on the field.

        “It's been lingering and lingering,” Spearman said of the injury. “I've been in the training room all day, every day, doing everything I can do to get back. It's nothing major like last year. I'm thankful for that.”

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