By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer

One down. Ten to go.

The Bengals on Tuesday reached agreement on terms for a three-year contract with sixth-round draft pick Greg Brooks. Terms were not yet available.

Brooks, a cornerback, is the first of the Bengals' 11 draft picks to come to terms with the team.

"I'm kind of excited," Brooks said Tuesday from his home in New Orleans. "Now I can concentrate on getting to camp."

Players are due to report to training camp July 30 at Georgetown (Ky.) College. The team will practice twice July 31.

Brooks, 23, from Southern Mississippi, was an All-Conference USA team member with three interceptions and 12 pass deflections as a senior. He started 11 games and had 29 tackles.

He was a three-year starter and had nine interceptions and a school-record 47 passes deflected.

Brooks, at 5 feet 10, 179 pounds, consistently held his ground against bigger receivers. He impressed Bengals coaches with his quickness and ability to play the ball in the air during spring practices and minicamps.

Brooks is considered a long-term project and could make a more immediate contribution on special teams.

"My thing is to come in and play my role," he said. "I want to help this team be better than it was last year. If it's in the defensive backfield or on special teams, I'll do what I'm told."

Second-day picks, such as Brooks, are the most likely to be the first to sign. The Bengals selected wide receiver Maurice Mann in the fifth round and quarterback Casey Bramlet in the seventh.

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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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