Bengals Sign First-Round Pick Andre Smith

[KoryMac5]

From Bengals.com:

Chad Ochocinco may have a future in the media.

He tweated Saturday night that the Bengals had reached a deal with No. 1 pick Andre Smith and it was picked up by the folks that never sleep at ProFootballTalk.com

And it looks like it may very well happen.

Although a deal isn't done, a league source said that agent Alvin Keels met with the team in another face-to-face meeting Saturday and are close enough to meet again Sunday morning. The hope is with the Bengals practicing at 3 p.m. Sunday that Smith will be on the field to end the holdout at 30 days.

On his own Twitter account Saturday night, Keels said there was no deal but the sides were working hard.

They are apparently close to a deal with a different structure that is going to be a compromise. Smith, at No. 6, sought a deal bigger than No. 7. The Bengals wanted a deal more in line with the rest of the first round. Indications are the structure would give Smith a bigger deal than what Jacksonville tackle Eugene Monroe signed at No. 8. That's a five-year deal that is somewhere between $28 and 32 million.

Couldn't see the big guy going back into the draft and risking the chance at losing millions. I guess over the next two episodes of Hard Knocks we will see how far behind and how big his behind is.

[Highlifeman21]

Can't wait to see this franchise OT on the field...

[CTA513]

Looks like hes in town now:

http://twitpic.com/fupw4

[GIDP]

Trey Wingo getting butt hurt over Chads Twitter made me laugh

[KoryMac5]

Trey Wingo getting butt hurt over Chads Twitter made me laugh

Wingo is a tool that brings no insight to ESPN at all, Child Please!

[CTA513]

Update: Smith in fold

GEOFF HOBSON
Posted Aug 30, 2009
Updated: 2:35 p.m.

The Bengals have signed first-round pick Andre Smith in a deal that could be as much as $42 million and the Alabama right tackle is expected to be on the field in Sunday's 3 p.m. practice at Paul Brown Stadium.

Smith, the sixth pick in the draft, is the next-to-last draft choice to sign in the NFL, ending a 30-day standoff that began at the Bengals' first practice on July 31 at Georgetown College. The club didn't release terms.

An industry source said that Alvin Keels, Smith's agent, came back to Cincinnati Saturday a week after his initial visit and finalized the deal with Bengals negotiators Katie and Troy Blackburn. It's believed to be a complex contract hinged on play time and options that gives Smith, the sixth pick, more money than Jacksonville tackle Eugene Monroe at No. 8 over five years at about $30 million.

The holdout grew out of the Raiders' deal at No. 7. The Bengals felt that was out whack with the rest of the first-round signings while Keels wanted the club to be true to the slotting system and wanted more than that seventh pick. The Bengals wanted something closer to Monroe and the deal for last year's sixth pick.

Smith started at right tackle during all of the spring workouts, a spot that has been taken by second-year player Anthony Collins. Collins has looked good protecting the passer and is trying to make his run play just as effective. Off a season he was named the nation's bets lineman, the 6-4, 335-pound Smith is known as a superior run blocker that is trying to make his protection skills just as effective.

What is unclear is how this affects the Bengals' final roster. Smith needs time to get acclimated and with just one preseason game and 15 days left before Opening Day, the Bengals may have to use a two-week roster exemption on Smith.

That means he can practice but not play in a game, including Thursday night's preseason finale against the Colts and the Sept. 13 opener against Denver, both at Paul Brown Stadium. If he does play in a game, they immediately lose the exemption so it would be hard to see activating him before the second game of the season Sept. 20 in Green Bay.

[Highlifeman21]

What are the odds we'll see Vick playing in a regular season game before we see Smith playing in a regular season game?

[Chip R]

Smith's stomach must have been rumbling. He probably signed so he could get money to buy some food.

[Highlifeman21]

Smith's stomach must have been rumbling. He probably signed so he could get money to buy some food.

Need a lot of money to feed that belly.

[KoryMac5]

Guess Smith's weight: I gotta believe Smith comes in at 355lbs.

[Highlifeman21]

Guess Smith's weight: I gotta believe Smith comes in at 355lbs.

Definitely above 350.

[GIDP]

Mike Brown wins again

[KoryMac5]

Mike Brown wins again

Probably depends on how long Smith plays as the contract is very complex and loaded with incentives.

[GIDP]

Probably depends on how long Smith plays as the contract is very complex and loaded with incentives.

If Smith is good then I dont see how the Bengals lose either way.

[SunDeck]

Definitely above 350.

The man is a boulder.