By Ryan Ernst
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Bengals running back Corey Dillon drives a 2001 blue Tour de France Ferrari Spider. His teammate, linebacker Tito Rodriguez, doesn't own a car and bums rides to practice.

Dillon's five-year contract is in the neighborhood of $32 million. Rodriquez picks up a paycheck for $4,000 per week during the season.

Dillon is a two-time Pro Bowler. Then there is Rodriguez, a practice-squad player.

The Bengals practice, or what head coach Dick LeBeau refers to as the "developmental," squad consists of five young players trying to make the active roster.

Every week, Rodriguez, Dwayne Levels, Joe Germaine, Derek Smith and Mario Monds run the upcoming opposition's offense and defense - a practice commonly referred to as scout teaming.

"They play a very integral part in our practice preparation and they're going all the time out there," LeBeau said. "They're constantly out there, and the concept is that you're training these guys in the event that something happens and you have a spot open on the roster."

That's what happened to Chris Edmunds, who was called up last year and eventually switched from linebacker to tight end in order to stay on the Bengals' active roster. With the transition came a $157,000 raise to meet the NFL's minimum salary.

"That's a real big difference," Edmunds said with a smile. "But I know for myself, personally, I worked real hard. So I know how it feels to be at the bottom. I've done a lot to prove to people I can play.

"But I'm still focused and hungry because I know that I won't ever go back to the bottom again. That was it for me - not even going on the (road) trips, sitting in the stands instead of on the field on Sunday. No matter how much of a man you are, that hurts."

Despite the fact that practice players don't travel with the team or suit up on game days, LeBeau insists they are treated no differently.

"We try to make it feel like home here," he said. "How their future careers evolve, there are a lot of ramifications to that. But most of them are going to end up playing right here on the active squad, most of them in the same year."

That is why most practice-squad members compare the experience not so much to an extended tryout, but to a redshirt season in college.

"It's just like that. I got redshirted in college," Rodriguez said. "You just have to work hard and get yourself better. Make a name for yourself, then progress from there."

Levels, an All-Big 12 performer at Oklahoma State and Rodriquez's ride to practice most days, agreed.

"You play with these guys every day and you practice just as hard as they do, so it's hard not being out there on Sunday," Levels said. "But it's just like my freshman year. You do everything but play in the games."

Then there's Smith.

"It's nothing like that," the former Highlands and University of Kentucky standout said. "My first year at UK, I played. I've never had to do this before. My entire life, I played against the scout team. It's something new, but it's an opportunity."

When the NFL developed the five-man practice squad in 1989, it was designed to develop young talent while helping teams prepare for games. Some NFL players have made the most of that opportunity.

Starters Bob Christian (fullback, Atlanta Falcons) and Chris Liwienski (offensive tackle, Minnesota Vikings) were once members of practice squads, as was two-time Pro Bowler Keenan McCardell (wide receiver, Tampa Bay Buccaneers).

LeBeau said such success isn't a coincidence.

"They can only be on the squad for two years, so they're almost always young guys," he said. "And they're avidly involved in what we're doing and eager to learn, and absolute joys to coach."

It's not the work most practice-squad players are concerned with; it's the lack of it. They can be claimed by another team, or released, at any time.

"That can make you anxious, it can make you worry," Rodriquez said. "You want to get called up here, but you don't really know how to feel. Me, I try not to even think about it. I just take it day by day and do what I can about today because that's all I can control."

Bengals practice squad

Player	No.	Ht.	Wt.	Pos.	Exp.	College
Dwayne Levels	47	6-2	259	LB	R	Oklahoma State
Tito Rodriquez	46	6-0	245	LB	R	Central Florida
Joe Germaine	7	6-0	200	QB	4	Ohio State
Derek Smith	43	6-4	263	TE	R	Kentucky
Mario Monds	93	6-3	325	DT	2	Cincinnati

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