By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Tuesday's practice

GEORGETOWN, Ky. - Shortly after Marvin Lewis was hired as Bengals coach in January, he summoned Chris Edmonds to his office.

When Edmonds, a third-year player, arrived at Lewis' office, director of football operations Jim Lippincott was there, too. Lippincott's presence usually indicates a transaction.

Was Edmonds going to be assigned to play in NFL Europe? No. Was he going to be released? No.

Lewis told Edmonds he was being moved to fullback, his third position in as many NFL seasons.

"In my head, I'm thinking, three positions in three years," Edmonds said. "How much longer can this keep up without me being out of a job?"

Edmonds isn't out of a job. He has worked his way to the position of starting fullback.

If he maintains his spot on the depth chart, he would replace Lorenzo Neal, who signed as a free agent with San Diego in the offseason, as Corey Dillon's lead blocker - one of the most important jobs on the squad.

Free agent Terry Witherspoon and rookie Jeremi Johnson are listed behind Edmonds.

Edmonds is wearing Neal's former number, 41, which Edmonds had as a college linebacker at West Virginia. He wore No. 53 as a linebacker and 87 as a tight end with the Bengals.

He and Lewis believe Edmonds has found a permanent position and number.

"We anticipated that he could compete and take that role over," Lewis said. "He's embraced it and done a good job."

At 6-feet-3, 250 pounds, Edmonds will be among the three or four biggest fullbacks in the NFL.

"He's put together like a rock," Lewis said.

Edmonds spent the 2001 season on the Bengals practice squad. Last year, he played in eight games (141 snaps) on special teams.

Neither former position will hurt Edmonds in his move to fullback.

"Having played linebacker, he has the defensive mentality, which is kind of a tougher mentality," offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said. "So that suits him well for the physical nature of the position."

On the first two days of camp, especially Tuesday, Edmonds noticed that he was standing up too much and needed to get his shoulder pads lower.

He sought out Eric Ball, a former big running back and now the Bengals director of player relations.

"He said, 'Just be like a linebacker,' " Edmonds said.

Work last year as a tight end helped Edmonds improve his pass catching. Now, he's working on carrying the ball as a running back.

The mental aspects of the transition have been more challenging than the physical elements.

"I've seen tight ends and fullbacks that are interchangeable, but I haven't seen one playing linebacker, too," Edmonds said. "It's been tough. Mentally, I have to keep my spirits high. It matters to me what my teammates think. Corey, Jon (Kitna), Brandon Bennett, all those guys are saying, 'You can do it.' "

He's the kind of player Lewis likes - Edmonds' road into the league has not been a smooth one.

And there are others like him who probably will be in a Bengals uniform for the Sept. 7 opener: running back Ray Jackson, defensive end Carl Powell, quarterback Shane Matthews, safety Kevin Kaesviharn and linebacker Armegis Spearman.

"Your best teams are made up by a bunch of guys like that, guys who have worked hard and are appreciative of the opportunity," Lewis said. "And their teammates around them are appreciative of how hard they've worked and know they can count on them."

Edmonds is that kind of player.

"I do take time to stop and think about it a lot," Edmonds said of his NFL odyssey. "This is my role here now. I want to stay grounded.

"I came from just waking up in the morning just happy to make it to practice that day to now competing for a starting job. I'm thankful now, thank God, the coaching staff, everybody, for putting me in this position."

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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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