By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Daryl Gardener is expected to arrive in Cincinnati today.

The free agent defensive tackle, released Wednesday by Denver, has agreed to a four-year contract with the Bengals and will sign it once he passes a physical.

There are some questions about the health of his back, but the Bengals are believed to have negotiated a deal that is low risk for a player of Gardener's high-end potential.

The agreed upon contract, worth $9.3 million, would pay Gardener $1.6 million in the first year if he earns playing time and statistical incentives. There is no signing bonus, and the remaining three years feature base salaries of roughly $2.5 million and are again laced with playing-time incentives.

Gardener played in Washington in 2002 when Bengals coach Marvin Lewis was Redskins defensive coordinator. Gardener posted a career-best 71 tackles and added four sacks that season. He was a Pro Bowl alternate.

BIG TICKET: The Bengals sold nearly 10 times as many ticket packs Wednesday as they did on the first day of ticket pack sales in 2003, the club said Thursday.

And the number of ticket packs sold Wednesday surpassed the entire number of ticket packs sold for the 2002 season.

"The response was significant (Wednesday) and again (Thursday)," Kevin Lane, director of ticket sales, said in the statement released by the media relations department. "We appreciate fans' patience and are excited about this major step toward selling out the entire 2004 season."

DATES: The Bengals will practice six times during the mandatory full-squad minicamp June 11-13 at Paul Brown Stadium. Practice times are 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

The Bengals wrapped up their 10th of 14 on-field coaching sessions Thursday and will hold their final four June 15-18.

SECONDARY ISSUES: Bengals onlookers continue to praise the footwork of cornerback Deltha O'Neal, acquired from the Broncos in a trade April 9.

Safety Marquand Manuel, recovered from a hamstring injury that slowed him during 2003, is healthy again and flashed his speed during practice Thursday in knocking down a pass intended for tight end Reggie Kelly. Manuel, a third-year player from Florida, is believed to be the odd-man out in a crowded secondary. But his work ethic continues to impress the team.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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