By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The weeks of the Bengals' two games with the Cleveland Browns are two of the toughest of each season for Akili Smith.

They remind the fourth-year Bengals quarterback of happier times, of the personal rivalry that should have been between him and Browns quarterback Tim Couch.

Couch was the first overall pick of the 1999 draft, Smith the third. Then-Cleveland coach Chris Palmer liked Smith and for a while wanted to draft him.

After some early-season trials, Couch has regained his status as the Browns' franchise quarterback. His start Sunday against the Bengals will be the 45th of his career.

Smith has made 17 starts and will be watching as the Bengals' emergency third quarterback, behind Jon Kitna and Gus Frerotte.

"I'm 1-1 against him. I won one there. He won one here," Smith said. "I wish I was in there to play. Like I said, they stuck with him. They didn't stick with me here, and I'm on the sidelines."

Two of Smith's three victories as a starter are against Cleveland, and those are the only two victories of Smith's career in which he finished the game. He started and won against the Denver Broncos in 2000 but was injured and replaced by Scott Mitchell.

Smith started one game in 2001 but tore his hamstring in the second quarter. He started one game this season, a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and was demoted to third-string the next week.

"It's extremely tough, but every week you're on the sidelines is extremely tough because you know you can play ball," Smith said. "They don't give me any reps. Nothing."

ROSTER MOVE: Defensive tackle Mario Monds, formerly of the University of Cincinnati, was released Thursday, and defensive tackle Ron Smith was signed to a two-year contract.

Smith was with the Seattle Seahawks during training camp before his release. The Bengals acquired him off waivers Aug. 27, waived him Sept. 1 and signed him to their practice squad Sept. 2.

VERBAL FALLOUT: Browns players had a subdued response to Chad Johnson's guarantee of a Bengals' victory Sunday. Johnson, a second-year wide receiver, promised a victory in large part because of the performance of the offense and Kitna.

Cleveland cornerback Corey Fuller was asked several times by Browns beat reporters for his reaction before he finally said, "What sense does it make for me to take shots at a team that's 1-8?"

Cleveland wide receiver Kevin Johnson likes guarantees. He made one as a rookie in 1999 when he guaranteed the 0-6 Browns would beat 6-0 St. Louis. The Rams won 34-3 in St.Louis.

"You got to like a guy like that, " Kevin said of Chad. "What's the sense in coming out and saying you're going to lose? It's just good talk."

INJURY UPDATE: Running back Brandon Bennett is probable for Sunday's game after missing Thursday's practice because of a sore big toe. He is the Bengals' top kickoff returner.

Safety Mark Roman (knee) will be downgraded today to doubtful. Defensive end Vaughn Booker (knee) didn't finish practice because he is being saved for Sunday. Doctors cleared cornerback Artrell Hawkins (headaches) to play.

E-mail: mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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