Bengals Ink Rookie T Andre Smith

From The Cincinnatian

CINCINNATI - And then there were zero. The Bengals finally signed their first round pick on Sunday, leaving only Michael Crabtree as the only unsigned rookie of this year's draft. Andre Smith ended his 30-day holdout by signing a deal that could be worth as much as 42 million.



The ongoig negotiation between Smith's agent Alvin Keels has been publically displayed through HBO's hit show, Hard Knocks: Training Camp With The Cinncinnati Bengals, where it looked as if a deal were never going to be agreed on. Katie Blackburn, daughter of owner and president of the Bengals Mike Brown, was in talks with Keels on a day to day basis and at times both sides seem irritated with one another. The show even showed one meeting in Cincinnati lasting 4 hours behind closed doors and emerging with no progress.



Thats all in the past now as the rookie was on the practice field just minutes after signing the deal. The contract is said to be a complex deal that is hinged on play time, which may actually hurt Smith, since the Bengals don't plan to start him right away. Offensive line coach Paul Alexander wants to move slow with him and make sure he learns the system before throwing him to the wolves in the AFC North. Smith will most likely rotate in as time goes on and then may start at some point in the season but he will have to earn that spot since second year T Anthony Collins has impressed so far in this young season.



The Bengals, who are notorious for having their first round picks hold out, can finally put this behind them and move on with the player they needed when they drafted him 6th overall. We all know the Bengals could definitely use the nation's best college offensive lineman a year ago since the team is dependent on the health of their franchise quarterback Carson Palmer. Smith will be a work in progress but hopefully Smith will be worth his 42 million dollar price tag.