By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Ex-Bengal Michael Westbrook. (Ernest Coleman file photo) | ZOOM |

Michael Westbrook's time with the Bengals didn't last even five months. The Bengals waived the eighth-year receiver Wednesday night and reinstated rookie offensive tackle Reggie Coleman from the Reserve/Suspended by Club list.

Coleman was suspended for one week for hitting fellow offensive lineman Thatcher Szalay after Friday's practice.

Westbrook started four games and played in five more. He had eight receptions for 94 yards and two touchdowns, both against Houston. He agreed to terms on a three-year, $4.5 million contract July 2 and signed the deal July 9, the same day the Bengals released veteran receiver Darnay Scott.

Westbrook was supposed to be a solid possession receiver. Cincinnati was supposed to be the place where Westbrook, the fourth overall pick of the 1995 draft by the Redskins, resurrected his career.

Though he made a positive impression on the first two days of training camp, he broke a bone in his left wrist July 28 and never seemed to get back into the flow of the offense.

He becomes a $1.3 million investment gone bad.

Westbrook received $350,000 to sign, a $250,000 roster bonus and a $700,000 salary. His release accelerates the Bengals' payment of his signing bonus; they will take a $233,000 salary cap hit this year.

Westbrook became expendable because of his lack of production and the development of the team's young receivers.

Second-year receiver Chad Johnson has emerged as the biggest threat, with three consecutive 100-yard receiving games. Third-year receivers Peter Warrick and Ron Dugans are improving.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh, another second-year player, is a key special teams performer. Third-year receiver Danny Farmer appears fully healed from a partial tear of a knee ligament and will be the fifth active receiver on game day.

"We decided to go with the other five (receivers), which allows us to get Danny Farmer on the field," offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said.

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