By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis. (AP file photo) | ZOOM |

The Bengals lost another potential starter Saturday, when free agent fullback Nicolas Luchey agreed to terms with Green Bay.

He was expected to replace fullback Lorenzo Neal, the Bengals' only 2002 Pro Bowl player, who signed a three-year contract Feb. 28 with San Diego.

The Bengals also have let go of one defensive starter, safety Cory Hall, who signed with Atlanta, and may lose their defensive captain, linebacker Takeo Spikes. Spikes signed an offer sheet on a six-year, $32 million deal with Buffalo on Friday, and the Bengals probably will not exercise their right to match.

Do these moves add up to a bad first week of free agency for the Bengals? First-year head coach Marvin Lewis says no.

Lewis, the ultra-confident Super Bowl defensive coordinator, radiates an attitude suggesting he's right where he wants to be two months after taking the job. He points to the three signings the team has made since free agency started Feb. 28.

First there was versatile defensive lineman Carl Powell, who played for Lewis last season in Washington.

Then, Friday night, as if in response to the Bills' movement on Spikes, the Bengals signed former All Pro linebacker Kevin Hardy and reached an agreement with John Thornton, another defensive lineman who can play any of the four positions.

Besides being likely starters, Powell, Hardy and Thornton share another trait. They wanted to play for Lewis and his staff - even though this is Cincinnati.

"The perception that the Cincinnati Bengals could not go out and lure the top free agents is gone," Lewis said. "It's gone."

Of Hardy and Thornton, Lewis said: "We got the top two guys at their positions, the guys we targeted. They are the best fit for us."

While saying the Bengals have yet to decide whether to match Spikes' offer sheet, Lewis said Hardy and Thornton were players he wanted all along.

"You don't get to fourth down and panic," Lewis said. "You don't flinch on fourth down. You don't flinch. We stayed the course and got the people we wanted from the beginning."

The acquisition of Hardy allows the Bengals "to go to a 3-4 defense tomorrow if we want to," Lewis said of Hardy, who could be a pass-rushing end on third down. "Kevin is the ultimate pro. He's a specimen. He can play inside or outside. He is the type of quality person coaches can count on to uplift the young players in the building.

"These are the type of people that teams that win have. You have to have these kinds of people to win."

Thornton is a four-year veteran who wanted to come to Cincinnati. He was not interested in another team besides the Bengals, even though he visited Minnesota and Arizona.

"He's a fine athlete for a defensive lineman," Lewis said of Thornton. "He can stay on his feet. He has the opportunity to be explosive. He wants to be held up in the same standards as the top players in the league. Our job is to help get him there."

Lewis said he decided whom to acquire. He has said Lamont Thompson and Marquand Manuel, players the Bengals drafted last year, are candidates to replace Hall at safety.

"There's no loss of anyone so far," Lewis said. "It was a great day Friday, and it has continued to be a great day today."

The Bengals announced Saturday that Thornton signed his contract.

Lewis would not confirm Luchey's agreement with Green Bay.

There is a sense around the league that the Bengals are in the driver's seat in the effort to sign tight end Reggie Kelly, a dominant blocker who played the last four seasons for Atlanta. He was the Falcons' second-round pick in 1999 from Mississippi State.

Kelly is a starting player and would complement second-year tight end Matt Schobel, who is a better pass receiver than blocker.

Lewis said the Bengals still have room under the cap to pursue additional players and that the deals signed this weekend will allow the team financial flexibility in coming seasons.

If the Bengals choose to let Spikes leave, they will be relieved of the $4.85 million offer tendered when they designated him as their transition player.

Counting the three free agent deals, the Bengals will be an estimated $8 million-$9 million under the cap if Spikes goes to the Bills.

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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

ON THE 'NET - FREE AGENT SIGNINGS

Follow these links for a complete, up-to-date list of free agent signings from around the league:

AFC

http://www.nfl.com/freeagency/afc-signings

NFC

http://www.nfl.com/freeagency/nfc-signings

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