By Kevin Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Tuesday's practice

GEORGETOWN, Ky. - Because the bottom half of the jersey was tucked under the shoulder pads, nobody could decipher the player's number.

But what many could see Tuesday morning at Bengals camp was linebacker Brian Simmons leaping to intercept a pass before sprinting down the far sideline and into the end zone.

The Bengals moved the 28-year-old to outside linebacker this season to fill a need and capitalize on the athleticism he showed Tuesday.

"I think it allows me to use my speed and athletic ability to cover the field, from sideline to sideline," Simmons said, "and hopefully make some big plays that can change some games."

While Takeo Spikes manned the weak-side outside linebacker position from 1998 through last season, Simmons worked the middle.

The departure of Spikes during the offseason opened the spot for Simmons.

"I don't know anything other than what I have seen here, and I think he's done fine," Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said. "I have been excited about what he's been doing. He gives us a fine athlete in a position where you need one."

Simmons consistently has been one of the Bengals' most productive defensive players since they selected him 17th in the 1998 draft.

"I think he's a natural fit for that position because of his athletic ability," linebackers coach Ricky Hunley said. "He's a guy who can handle all the responsibilities."

He has averaged 93 tackles per season and started 95 percent of the games he has played.

Simmons' 85 solo tackles and 130 total tackles were second on the team during a 2002 season that featured noteworthy performances against the Buccaneers and Panthers.

Simmons recorded nine solo and 10 total tackles in each game. Against Tampa Bay, he also returned an interception 51 yards for a touchdown.

"Brian is the type of guy who is willing to do whatever you ask him to for the benefit of the team," Hunley said. "He gets bumps and bruises, but you never hear him whine or complain or want to take a play off.

"He's a real pro. We need more guys like that."

And that's why the Bengals look for Simmons to do more than just compile healthy stats this season.

"I think he will give us another leader in the huddle, which is a good thing," Lewis said. "He's been somewhat a leader in the huddle already in the past here. But now he's able to complement Kevin (Hardy) in that fashion."

The new position, however, is really nothing new for Simmons.

He played outside linebacker while at North Carolina.

"This is the position I played in college and it's the position I was hoping to be playing once I got drafted," Simmons said.

"But things happen. You have to go on. I welcome the challenge of moving back out there."

And helping a Bengals defense that ranked 17th overall in 2002, well off the ninth ranking from the season before.

"Every day, guys have been coming here with a focus and knowing that any time we have a chance to get on the field or go into the classroom there's only one objective," Simmons said. "That's to get better as a person, as a player and as a unit and ultimately get better as a team.

"Everything that we do, that's what we're striving to get accomplished."

Brian Simmons file

Pos: OLB

Age: 28

Hometown: New Bern, N.C.

College: North Carolina

NFL experience: 5 seasons, 63 games

2002 STATISTICS

G-GS	16-15
Solo Tackles	85
Total Tackles	130
Sacks-Yards	3-12
Interceptions	1

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E-mail kkelly@enquirer.com

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