By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Akili Smith's days with the Bengals might be dwindling to a few.

As of June 1, the Bengals can release Smith - or any other player - and count a share of their remaining amortized signing bonus against the salary cap in 2004.

Smith, the Bengals' first-round draft choice and the third overall in 1999, knows his time could be drawing to an end in Cincinnati.

"I have no idea what's going to happen," Smith said Wednesday after an on-field coaching session at Paul Brown Stadium. "I'm walking around here as lightly as heck.

"It's driving me crazy. I can't focus on what I need to focus on. I don't know what they're thinking, what they're looking at, and I'm putting a lot of pressure on myself because they're capable of cutting me. I'm here, I'm working hard, and the next thing you know, you're cut. It's hard."

At issue is whether coach Marvin Lewis and his staff are comfortable with Smith as the top backup to starter Jon Kitna. Lewis named Kitna the starter, and the organization invested the first overall pick in this year's draft in Carson Palmer.

If coaches think Palmer is capable of playing sooner than later this season, he could be the No. 2 quarterback, though the plan remains for him to sit this year.

The Bengals would like Smith to earn the No. 2 job, but they are not commenting directly on his future.

Lewis on Wednesday said he likes Palmer's effort so far.

"He's working really hard," Lewis said. "He's in before 7 in the morning. He's here late in the afternoon. Things happen real fast out there. Not only does he have to understand the offense but also what's going on on the other side of the ball."

Smith is due a $530,000 base salary, the league minimum for a fifth-year player. The Bengals would save that money this season. But releasing him provides no real savings for the organization.

The Bengals have to absorb another $3.39 million salary-cap hit on the $10.8 million signing bonus Smith received in August 1999. By cutting Smith after June 1, the Bengals would take a $1.85 million salary-cap hit in 2003 and another of $1.54 million in 2004.

"I truly wonder if my cap wasn't so big, would I be gone?" Smith said. "It's cheaper to keep me."

Smith has played in 22 games in four seasons with 17 starts. He has a 3-14 record as a starter and has thrown five touchdowns and 2,212 yards with 12 interceptions. His career passer rating is 52.8.

He lost the starting job after starting the first 10 games in 2000. He started one more game in 2000 and one each in 2001 and 2002.

Smith and his agent, Kennard McGuire, said they have a contingency plan if Smith is released.

The Bengals could keep Smith and release him during training camp if they want to let him go.

Smith would like to stay with the Bengals.

"Everything that they have communicated to us is that they want Akili to be No. 2," McGuire said Wednesday. "I believe Akili has shown he is capable of holding that job."

Smith has benefited from the staff Lewis has assembled, McGuire says, especially quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese.

"This is the first time that things are on Akili's side," McGuire said. "He's getting the coaching he has longed for. He was thrown into the fire with no tutoring."

As for Smith, he can't help but worry about his future.

"I've sat up and thought of some (other) teams, but right now I have a job," he said. "I'm happy. My situation is not what I want it to be. Some of it's my fault. Some of it's not my fault."

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com