By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

WR Ron Dugans, a college teammate of Peter Warrick's at Florida State, was waived by the Bengals Tuesday. (Craig Ruttle/file photo) | ZOOM |

Marvin Lewis continued to tinker with the Bengals' wide receiver corps Tuesday, waiving Ron Dugans and bringing in a second new receiver in two days.

Dugans, a fourth-year player, was waived with an injury settlement. He had missed most of training camp and all three preseason games because of Achilles tendinitis.

"I didn't feel we could take the luxury of holding the spot and seeing where he's at," Lewis said of Dugans.

"It's unfortunate for Ron. If he could be out here, he would have been (on the team)."

The Bengals also terminated the contract of strong safety JoJuan Armour and picked up rookie wide receiver Kevin Walter off waivers from the Giants.

A rookie, Walter was New York's third pick of the seventh round and holds Eastern Michigan's career marks for receptions (211), receiving yards (2,838) and touchdowns (20). He is 6-feet-3, 218 pounds.

"This is a guy that we would have drafted late in the draft or signed him as a free agent had he not been drafted," Lewis said of Walter. "We had a liking for him."

On Monday, the Bengals picked up wide receiver Marquise Walker off waivers from Arizona. A 2002 third-round pick by Tampa Bay, Walker is 6-feet-2, 219 and holds several single-season receiving records at the University of Michigan.

"The guy has been released from two teams already this year," Lewis said of Walker. "It is what it is: We get a chance to take a look."

The Bengals have eight wide receivers on their 66-man roster.

The top three are Chad Johnson, Peter Warrick and rookie Kelley Washington.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh appears to be the fourth receiver, with fourth-year pro Danny Farmer in the fifth spot. Rookie Lawrence Hamilton, also picked up off waivers from Arizona, had a touchdown catch against Tennessee.

Then there are Walker and Walter.

Lewis wants more than catches from his receivers.

"You have to have guys who have to play in every area of the game," he said. "They have to block, catch, play on special teams. So we've got to make sure when we put together the 45, 46 guys on Sunday that they're put together with that in mind.

"Special teams (is) No. 1 and offensive and defense (are) No. 2."

In the past, the Bengals have kept six wide receivers. Lewis is not captive to numbers.

"I don't know if we keep three wide receivers or seven," he said. "We're going to keep the guys who help us most on our football team."

The irony of Dugans' release is he excelled as a special teams player.

He embraced the role as a second-year player in 2001 and led the specials teams with 23 tackles, earning the Bengals Pro Bowl nomination in the kicking game.

He had 18 special teams tackles in 2002 and was third on offense with 47 receptions and fourth with 421 yards. Dugans did not return a phone message Tuesday night.

Lewis held open the possibility that Dugans might be asked back if his heel improves.

"Let's get him healthy," Lewis said. "It gives him options. It gives us options to see what's best.

"He's had more pain. He played with this thing before. He tried his tail off to get out here. He just couldn't do it. There is varied opinion, and Ron feels like he could be healthy in a couple of weeks."

Dugans was the Bengals' third-round pick in 2000 from Florida State, joining college teammate Warrick in the starting lineup in the first game played in Paul Brown Stadium.

In three seasons, he had 89 receptions for 797 yards and three touchdowns - including the first scored by the Bengals in the new stadium. Dugans caught a 4-yard pass from quarterback Akili Smith in that inaugural game.

Warrick said Dugans' release hit him emotionally hard.

"I've know Ron since '94," said Warrick, who learned of the impending move Monday. "I was kind of salty yesterday at football practice, but I went out and worked my butt off and got better.

"He talked to me. He said it's a business, which I already knew. I know his feelings are hurt. He's like a brother to me. When he hurts, I hurt."

---

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

Return to Bengals front page...