Akili Smith said Wednesday that he wants out of Cincinnati. When told that coach Dick LeBeau said Smith has a future with the Bengals, the fourth-year quarterback said, “Next question.”

        Minutes earlier, LeBeau had named Jon Kitna the starter for Sunday's game at Indianapolis. Smith returns to the bench as what appears to be the emergency third quarterback behind Gus Frerotte.

        “I just need an opportunity. I need to get myself in a situation where I can start in camp somewhere, get comfortable and get going,” said Smith, who started Sunday in the 35-7 loss to Tampa Bay. “The only time I had the opportunity here was my second year. And I didn't perform well, and the rest is history.”

        LeBeau said he talked with Smith and doesn't blame him for the loss. Smith said he saw no signs of hope in the conversation.

        “I'm just going to sit down at the end of the year with my agent and evaluate things and see what the heck is going on,” Smith said.

        Smith received $10.8 million to sign a seven-year contract in August 1999. The Bengals are absorbing about $1.54 million of Smith's signing bonus each season in their salary cap and still have $4.6 million to count after this year.

        “I know the cap hit is a lot less this year,” Smith said. “Those are some of the things we're going to talk about.”

        Smith threw for 117 yards and one interception against Tampa Bay.

        “I'm not really taking Akili out because of his performance, and I want him to understand that,” LeBeau said.

        Smith was the third overall pick of the 1999 draft. He is 3-14 as a starter.

        The Bengals are 0-4, and with a career record of 10-23, LeBeau is trying to save his job.

        “This is a business. They don't care about being fair around here,” Smith said. “There are guys on this team who are fighting for jobs. There are coaches on the team who are fighting for jobs. So it's not about being fair.”

RADEL: Fans should sue Bengals Bengals are back to Kitna Akili wants out of here Bengals are road kill Agent: Jackson would have come back Colts' Morris has Bengal-itis NFL Notebook: Steelers bench Stewart NFL Injury Report

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