By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Beginning with the opening-game loss to San Diego last season, opposing players talked of how some Bengals players were out of shape and not physically prepared for the demands of an NFL game.

Of course, Bengals coaches, administrators and many players vehemently denied the accusations, but doubts nonetheless rose from the other sideline throughout the season.

This coming season, win or lose, the Bengals will be a well-conditioned team, says Chip Morton, the strength and conditioning coach brought from Washington by head coach Marvin Lewis.

The Bengals' physical makeover begins Monday when Lewis and Morton begin an extensive 14-week offseason program.

Some three dozen players are expected to start the week, which will alternate between weight lifting and running sessions - or a combination of the two. The schedule, released to the media Friday, offers five workouts this week and next, and four days the third week - followed by the first of three three-day minicamps.

In the past, only a handful of players - most of them with workout bonuses - attended. Players often complained to their position coaches about the previous strength and conditioning department and said coming to the Bengals from Division I college football programs was a step down. Position coaches and the strength coaches were not connected. The new program is tied directly to the goals of the new staff.

Under Lewis, everything except the June 9-11 minicamp is voluntary. But voluntary is only a word.

"When Coach Lewis is calling, when your position coach is calling and telling you to be there, unless you're really secure in your position, you better be there," defensive end Justin Smith said.

Smith, known for his thorough offseason workouts, is glad to see a comprehensive program brought to the Bengals.

"I've been in there for a couple of weeks," Smith said. "They kill you with weights. They want you to be able to win games physically in the fourth quarter."

The Bengals have invested $250,000 in remodeling their Paul Brown Stadium weight room.

The walls were painted white. Mirrors installed. Lighting improved. Over-sized photographs of past run-of-the-mill Bengals players were removed. Only photographs of original coach and founder Paul Brown and offensive tackle Anthony Munoz will be hung. That, Morton said, is the new standard.

Some of Lewis' favorite slogans are painted on the walls: "Finish," "Outwork, outrun, outhit," "Play every down."

"Those are the bedrock upon which (Lewis will) build a lot of what we do," Morton said.

The Bengals' pre-1990 history with division- and conference-championship teams will be commemorated on the walls.

"It's a rich history," Morton said. "These are things that bring out the pride of the organization as we change direction."

Additional cardiovascular equipment was purchased.

Morton had the similar position with four previous NFL teams, including the Super Bowl Baltimore Ravens of 2000.

Kurtis Shultz, the assistant strength coach, was strength and conditioning coach for University of Maryland's national championship basketball team in 2002.

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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

Mark your calendar

April 11-13: Bengals' voluntary veteran minicamp.

April 18: Signing period ends for restricted free agents.

April 25: Deadline for old club to exercise right of first refusal to restricted free agents.

April 26-27: NFL draft, New York.

May 2-4: Bengals' voluntary full-squad minicamp.

June 9-11: Bengals' mandatory full-squad minicamp.

July 27: Players report to training camp, Georgetown, Ky.

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