By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

INDIANAPOLIS - Three former Greater Cincinnati prep football stars and one former UC player are participating in the annual NFL scouting combine at the RCA Dome.

UC defensive end Antwan Peek, Michigan fullback B.J. Askew (Colerain), Northwestern center Austin King (Purcell Marian) and Vanderbilt wide receiver Dan Stricker (Elder) are the local contingent.

Askew, considered the fourth-best fullback available, is a projected fifth-round pick by draft analysts.

"I can do it all. I can run, I can block, I can catch," the 241-pound Askew said.

Askew rushed for 566 yards and six touchdowns and had another 280 yards and one touchdown on 36 receptions last season.

CAP ROOM: The Bengals have the 12th-most salary cap room in 2003, slightly more than $9 million, according to ESPN.

The cap is projected to be $74.8 million. The Bengals are $9.02 million under, not counting incentive bonuses earned last season.

FISH STORY: The Miami Dolphins reportedly are interested in Bengals linebacker Takeo Spikes, who will become an unrestricted free agent Feb. 28.

The Bengals designated Spikes as their transition player last week, meaning they can match any offer sheet Spikes might receive. They will have to pay him a tender offer of $4.85 million.

The Dolphins might be willing to spend big on Spikes, as much as the six-year, $36 million contract signed by Jeremiah Trotter last season with the Redskins.

DINNER GUEST: Bengals coach Marvin Lewis had dinner Wednesday night with NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue.

They were joined by Indianapolis' Tony Dungy and the New York Jets' Herman Edwards - the NFL's three African-American head coaches - and discussed the state of minority coaching and front-office opportunities in the league.

DETERMINED: Former Miami Hurricanes tailback Willis McGahee attracted a large pack of reporters.

McGahee had surgery to repair an ACL injury to his left knee suffered in the Fiesta Bowl loss to Ohio State. He declared for the draft following the operation. He rushed for 1,686 yards and 27 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2002.

"Right now, things are going real good," McGahee said. "I'm rehabbing six days a week, two hours a day. I'm riding the bike and doing body squats and feeling real good. The doctor said everything is looking real good."

McGahee also said he anticipates that he can begin jogging next week and will play in 2003. He will be re-evaluated by doctors in April, prior to the draft.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

Return to Bengals front page...