By Mark Curnutte and Bill Koch
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Bengals waived quarterback Joe Germaine on Monday, signaling the possible promotion of Akili Smith to No. 2 on the depth chart.

The Bengals signed Germaine, a former Ohio State star, to the practice squad in October and activated him to the 53-man roster for the final three games.

His release leaves the Bengals with three quarterbacks on their roster - starter Jon Kitna, No. 1 overall draft pick Carson Palmer and Smith, a former first-round pick.

Unless the Bengals sign a fourth quarterback, Germaine's release means Smith will remain with the Bengals for a fifth season. There had been speculation that the team would release Smith on June 1, when the Bengals could absorb the financial hit of his signing bonus both this year and next.

"It has nothing to do with Akili. It's about Joe," said coach Marvin Lewis.

Germaine's signing in October and comments by Bengals president Mike Brown touched off a quarterback controversy that never materialized. Brown had said he would be interested in seeing what Germaine or Smith could do with a start once the team fell from contention. Kitna started the final 12 games without interruption.

APPEARANCE: Lewis will speak from 8-9 a.m. May 7 at Albert B. Sabin Cincinnati Convention Center as part of The Office Depot Chamber Expo 2003. The cost of the day-long event is $20 for chamber members and $40 for non-members.

NEW BUC: Purcell-Marian High School graduate Austin King, selected in the fourth round of the NFL draft on Sunday by the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was one of three offensive linemen chosen by the Bucs on the second day of the draft.

The 6-3, 299-pound King, a three-time honorable mention All-Big Ten selection at center for Northwestern, was buying a new cell phone to replace the one he lost when his father called to inform him that Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden had phoned with the news.

"I didn't know what to expect," King said Monday. "I kind of hoped I would go sometime on the second day. I don't know if it was really a surprise, but I was excited just to be chosen."

King was a Verizon first-team academic all-district selection.

NEW BROWN: Georgetown College offensive lineman Reese Hicks signed a free-agent contract after the draft with Cleveland.

Hicks was a four-year letterman and two-year starting lineman for the Tiger football team, which advanced to an NAIA-record fourth consecutive NAIA national championship game this season.

The 6-foot-6, 318 Hicks is a Lebanon native. He will report May 2 to Browns minicamp.

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