By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

As advertised, Shane Matthews said - and apparently meant - all the right things on his first day with the Bengals.

The 10-year veteran quarterback, signed Saturday as a free agent, is expected to be the top backup to starter Jon Kitna.

Matthews' role has not been defined yet. But he already knows it. His intuition is part of the appeal.

"Being a guy in the league for as long as I have, you understand the situation," said Matthews, wearing jersey No. 6, after his first practice. "Obviously, Jon is the starter. He has played well. Carson (Palmer) is the No. 1 pick. They're getting him ready for the future. I'm going to help him out as much as I can."

The role of mentor is nothing new to Matthews. In Chicago, he worked with Cade McNown. Last season in Washington, Patrick Ramsey was the rookie first-round quarterback.

"It's something I enjoy doing," Matthews said of teaching. "I don't have a problem. Everybody wants to play, but you have to fill your role on the team. If they need me to play, I'll be ready."

Matthews is in and Akili Smith is out because coach Marvin Lewis - who knows Matthews from their season together in Washington in 2002 - is more comfortable with him than Smith.

The Bengals terminated Smith's contract Monday, releasing him into free agency.

Smith, as a former first-round pick, ultimately could not accept a backup role. Matthews will. Chemistry should improve. Locker-room tension should be reduced.

Matthews, although he finished fifth in Heisman Trophy balloting as a junior at Florida, was not drafted. Having turned 33 on Sunday, he said he appreciates the many years he has been in the NFL.

He's also a coach's son. His father, Bill Matthews, was Shane's high school coach in their native Pascagoula, Miss. Shane was Mississippi prep player of the year as a senior.

"I've been around (football) all my life and feel like I understand the game fairly well," Matthews said.

Kitna welcomes the arrival of Matthews.

Kitna said he remembers watching Matthews play on television in the Bears' comeback win in 2001 against Cleveland.

Matthews, playing for the injured Jim Miller, was 30-for-50 passing and had two touchdown passes in the final 28 seconds of regulation.

"I admire the way he plays the game, the toughness, doing what it takes to win, just the way he handles things, doesn't rock the boat," Kitna said of Matthews. "He understands that offenses aren't that different from team to team."

Matthews does not anticipate a long learning curve in Cincinnati.

"Everybody runs the same pass patterns," he said. "It's just the terminology. You just have to memorize things."

In 2001, his final season in Chicago, Matthews was NFC Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 28). He came off the bench to relieve the injured Miller and was 25-for-31 passing for 166 yards in an upset of San Francisco.

Matthews is used to going in and out of the lineup. It happened at Florida, where he went from fifth on the depth chart to starter in coach Steve Spurrier's first year with the Gators. Matthews alternated in Chicago with Miller. He was one of three Redskins starters in 2002.

Matthews - like free agents John Thornton, Kevin Hardy and Tory James - came to Cincinnati to play for Lewis.

"Marvin is a great football coach," Matthews said.

"I like the way he approaches the game. He's going to be a great fit here. He has kind of turned everything around, starting from scratch. They have a lot of playmakers on offense."

Said Lewis of Matthews: "He plays within himself and above his physical ability. He knows it. He really has a zest to win. He's not going to get unnerved."

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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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