First-round draft pick Jermaine Gresham agreed to a deal with the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, ending a holdout that kept the tight end away for six days of training camp.

GEORGETOWN, Ky.—First-round draft pick Jermaine Gresham agreed to a deal with the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, ending a holdout that kept the tight [...]]]> Associated Press

First-round draft pick Jermaine Gresham agreed to a deal with the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, ending a holdout that kept the tight end away for six days of training camp.

GEORGETOWN, Ky.—First-round draft pick Jermaine Gresham agreed to a deal with the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, ending a holdout that kept the tight end away for six days of training camp.

Gresham, the 21st overall pick, is expected to arrive in Georgetown, Ky., on Tuesday to sign his deal and participate in an afternoon practice. The former Oklahoma star has missed eight practices, but has plenty of time to win the starting job.

The Bengals open their preseason next Sunday in the annual Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio, against the Dallas Cowboys. Coach Marvin Lewis said after Monday night’s practice that Gresham could play in the first of Cincinnati’s five preseason games.

“We’ll get him in here, get him going and he’ll have an opportunity to get into the football game on Sunday,” Lewis said. “He has a chance to get off to a great start. He’ll get four good weeks of football and be ready for that first week (of the regular season).”

Gresham was expected to win the starting job during camp. The Bengals listed him as the starter even though he was missing practices during the holdout.

A few hours before Gresham reached an agreement, Lewis dropped Gresham lower on the depth chart at the position. Veteran Reggie Kelly has returned from a ruptured Achilles’ tendon in his left leg, but is expected to revert to Gresham’s backup again when the rookie arrives on Tuesday.

“I’m glad the signing will happen,” Lewis said. “He’ll work at it. We’ve got a lot of snaps for him to get accustomed and get back in. He’ll take 50 percent of the snaps.”

Tight end was a major problem last season after Kelly and backup Ben Utecht suffered season-ending injuries during camp. Utecht sustained a major concussion. The Bengals drafted Gresham to give Carson Palmer another over-the-middle target.

The Bengals managed to get their top pick in camp before the first preseason game, a major improvement over last season. Offensive tackle Andre Smith missed the first three preseason games in a holdout, then broke his left foot during practice two days later.

Smith never got up to speed. He appeared in six games and started only one, a disappointment for a team that expected him to take over at right tackle because of his ability to block for running plays. The foot is still bothering him, forcing him to work out separately from the practices so far.

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GEORGETOWN, Ky. —First-round draft pick Jermaine Gresham remains unsigned as the Cincinnati Bengals open training camp.

First-rounder Jermaine Gresham is the only unsigned player but he didn't look to be close enough to a deal get here by Thursday's morning practice.

The Bengals signed second-round pick Carlos Dunlap, a defensive end from Florida, and [...]]]> Associated Press

GEORGETOWN, Ky. —First-round draft pick Jermaine Gresham remains unsigned as the Cincinnati Bengals open training camp.

First-rounder Jermaine Gresham is the only unsigned player but he didn't look to be close enough to a deal get here by Thursday's morning practice.

The Bengals signed second-round pick Carlos Dunlap, a defensive end from Florida, and receiver Jordan Shipley, a third-round choice from Texas, shortly after the rest of the team reported Wednesday.

That left Gresham, a tight end from Oklahoma, as the Bengals’ only unsigned pick.

Last year, the Bengals got into an impasse with first-round pick Andre Smith. The offensive tackle didn’t sign until Aug. 30, missing the first three preseason games. He broke his left foot two days later. Smith ended up playing in six games, starting one of them.

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Cameron’s first season in Baltimore coincided with Flacco’s rookie year. The pair have worked together closely to form a bond of mutual respect.

WESTMINSTER, Md.—Cam Cameron might consider taking another crack at being an NFL head coach, if the right opportunity comes along.

For now, however, he’s content being Baltimore’s offensive coordinator—a job [...]]]> Associated Press

Cameron’s first season in Baltimore coincided with Flacco’s rookie year. The pair have worked together closely to form a bond of mutual respect.

WESTMINSTER, Md.—Cam Cameron might consider taking another crack at being an NFL head coach, if the right opportunity comes along.

For now, however, he’s content being Baltimore’s offensive coordinator—a job that became even more attractive after the Ravens’ signed standout wide receivers Anquan Boldin and Donte’ Stallworth.

But don’t look for the playbook to change much, just for pass plays to work better.

“You’re always tweaking what you do, especially when you add guys, but it won’t be drastically different,” Cameron said Tuesday after Baltimore completed its first training camp practice. “It may change a little from week to week, but execution is where we’re going to get better.”

After a successful five-year stint as offensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers, Cameron was hired in 2007 to be head coach of the Miami Dolphins. The team became depleted by injuries, most notably to starting quarterback Trent Green, and after the Dolphins stumbled to a 1-15 record Cameron was fired.

Miami’s loss became Baltimore’s gain: First-year head coach John Harbaugh quickly recruited Cameron to run the Ravens offense, and the team has reached the playoffs in each of the past years.

Last season the Ravens—long known for their defense—ranked ninth in the NFL in points (24.4) and set a franchise record for touchdowns (47). For the first time in history, Baltimore had a 3,000-yard passer (Joe Flacco, 3,613), a 1,000-yard rusher (Ray Rice, 1,339) and 1,000-yard receiver (Derrick Mason 1,028) in the same season.

That in itself is enough to keep Cameron happy.

“Head coaching was a great experience, but as a kid, I grew up wanting to be Roger Staubach. I wanted to be an NFL quarterback,” he said. “What I get to do right now is the next best thing.”

That doesn’t necessarily mean he wouldn’t listen to an offer to become a head coach, although Cameron has no intention of lobbying for the job.

“Head coaching is a different level, which I love,” he said. “I love them both, but right now I can’t imagine having a better time anywhere else than right here.”

Cameron’s first season in Baltimore coincided with Flacco’s rookie year. The pair have worked together closely to form a bond of mutual respect, one Ravens fans hope will culminate with a Super Bowl championship.

“He’s been a great teacher,” Flacco said. “Hopefully we can continue to grow and learn things from each other.”

A year ago, Rice was Baltimore’s leading receiver. This year, Mason will be joined by Boldin and Stallworth to give Flacco more options when he drops into the pocket.

“The creativity, that’s kind of the easy part,” Cameron said. “Execution and getting on the same page, that’s really what training camp is all about. We’ve just got to get Joe on the same page with these receivers, and they can take a play that’s been around 50 years and make it look like magic. That’s the important thing.”

Harbaugh is certain the 49-year-old Cameron can make it happen. They met when Cameron was an assistant at Michigan, coaching Harbaugh’s younger brother, quarterback Jim Harbaugh.

“I’ve known Cam for 26 years and have always respected him as a coach and person. So there’s a trust level there that runs deeper than what meets the eye. Yet what meets the eye would be enough,” Harbaugh said. “He’s got a proven track record as a coach. He’s a great game-day play caller, one of the best I’ve ever seen. He just has a real knack and a feel for calling plays. The Ravens fan-base should be very proud of the fact that he’s our offensive coordinator.”

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CINCINNATI—The Cincinnati Bengals and Roddrick Muckelroy have agreed to terms on a four-year, $2.21 million deal with the fourth-round rookie linebacker, according to FOX Sports.

Fourth-rounder Roddrick Muckelroy signed it a half hour before the Bengals agreed to terms with Terrell Owens.

Muckelroy signed a four-year deal [...]]]> By M.Bowman / Staff Contributor and Wire Reports

CINCINNATI—The Cincinnati Bengals and Roddrick Muckelroy have agreed to terms on a four-year, $2.21 million deal with the fourth-round rookie linebacker, according to FOX Sports.

Fourth-rounder Roddrick Muckelroy signed it a half hour before the Bengals agreed to terms with Terrell Owens.

Muckelroy signed a four-year deal worth $2.215 million.

A league source has confirmed the terms and the Bengals have now announced the deal.

For his career, Muckelroy registered 256 tackles, 20 1/2 for losses and 5 1/2 sacks.

The 6-foot-2, 246-pounder was a second-team All-Big 12 selection last season.

The Bengals are hoping to have a deal in place with second-round pick Carlos Dunlap, a defensive end, today.

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CINCINNATI—The Cincinnati Bengals and Jordan Shipley have agreed to terms on a four-year, $2.54 million deal with  third-round rookie wide receiver, according to a league source.

Bengals sign Jordan Shipley to four-year deal

The deal includes a signing bonus of nearly $757,000 as well as the standard base salaries [...]]]> By M.Bowman / Staff Contributor and Wire Reports

CINCINNATI—The Cincinnati Bengals and Jordan Shipley have agreed to terms on a four-year, $2.54 million deal with  third-round rookie wide receiver, according to a league source.

Bengals sign Jordan Shipley to four-year deal

The deal includes a signing bonus of nearly $757,000 as well as the standard base salaries of $320,000, $405,000, $490,000 and $575,000 as well as a fourth-year escalator clause that can significantly boost the maximum value of the contract.

Shipley, the former University of Texas star, was named All-Big 12 last year catching 116 passes for 1,485 yards. Shipley caught 248 career passes for 3,191 yards and 33 touchdowns.

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Jermaine Gresham, works out during rookie minicamp in Cincinnati.

CINCINNATI—The Cincinnati Bengals are hoping that rookie tight end Jermaine Gresham adds a new dimension to their offense.

Drafted in the first round out of the University of Oklahoma, through 12 on-field coaching sessions and the first installation of [...]]]> By M.Bowman / Staff Contributor and Wire Reports

Jermaine Gresham, works out during rookie minicamp in Cincinnati.

CINCINNATI—The Cincinnati Bengals are hoping that rookie tight end Jermaine Gresham adds a new dimension to their offense.

Drafted in the first round out of the University of Oklahoma, through 12 on-field coaching sessions and the first installation of the Bengals offense, Gresham is already making a big impression on quarterback Carson Palmer.

“I don’t know if I’ve seen a weakness yet. Not that he has everything down,” Palmer told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “I don’t know if there’s anything that any tight end does in this league that he can’t potentially do.

“If he had to play in Pittsburgh’s offense and block a guy every single time and run that little quick seam routes and out routes he could do that. If he played in Denver’s offense and run a lot of routes he could do that.”

Gresham is one of two rookies who have been working out with the first team.  Third-round pick Jordan Shipley being the other. Shipley and Andre Caldwell are expected to compete for the third receiver spot in what should be one of the more intriguing position battles of training camp.

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Leftwich likely to start for Big Ben

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PITTSBURGH—The competition to temporarily replace Ben Roethlisberger as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback is becoming a one-man race.

Byron Leftwich is handling nearly all of the first-team snaps in practice, a strong indicator he will be the starter while Roethlisberger serves his six-game suspension for violating the [...]]]> Associated Press

Leftwich likely to start for Big Ben

PITTSBURGH—The competition to temporarily replace Ben Roethlisberger as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback is becoming a one-man race.

Byron Leftwich is handling nearly all of the first-team snaps in practice, a strong indicator he will be the starter while Roethlisberger serves his six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin wants to go into training camp with what he calls a “pecking order” defined at quarterback. So far, that’s Leftwich, followed by third-year QB Dennis Dixon and longtime backup Charlie Batch.
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With the Steelers practicing only three days a week though June 10, Tomlin seemingly would give far more work to Dixon or Batch if either figured to go into camp as the designated replacement.

Still, Dixon—the least-experienced of the three—isn’t complaining.

“I have no idea,” Dixon said Tuesday when asked if he can win the temporary starting job. “I’ve just got to continue to do what I do best and hopefully that’s enough. Just go out there and get the trust of my teammates day in and day out.”

While Leftwich is running mostly with the starters, Dixon said he’s getting enough time with the top receivers to be comfortable.

“I feel like I’m getting better each and every day, which is a good thing for me,” said Dixon, who has started only one NFL game. “Focus on the little things and big things will follow as far as the playbook goes. As of right now, I feel real good.”

Tomlin doesn’t want players arriving at training camp questioning who will be filling various roles, if only because it will be even more difficult then to get meaningful work for all four quarterbacks.

Leftwich will need considerable work with the regulars during camp because he’ll likely be starting until October. However, Roethlisberger also needs time with the regulars because, once the season starts, he won’t practice with them again until his suspension ends.

“But I can’t be thinking about September in May,” Leftwich said. “I’ve got to take this month to month, day by day, and make sure I’m continually getting better. I’m quite sure they’ll do the right thing.”

The Steelers apparently signaled their plans by trading a seventh-round pick to Tampa Bay for Leftwich within hours of Roethlisberger being suspended on April 21.

Leftwich, formerly with the Bucs, Jaguars and Falcons, was the backup when the Steelers won the Super Bowl during the 2008 season. He signed with Tampa Bay last year for the chance to start, but wound up playing only three games.

While Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians tweaked the playbook some while Leftwich was gone, it apparently hasn’t taken much time for Leftwich to get caught up.

“When you like something, you never forget it and I never forgot his offense,” Leftwich said. “It changed some, but as a quarterback you’re so used to things changing here and there, you can pick up on it. Especially when he makes it as easy as he makes it. There’s always a rhyme or reason to what he does. I know the way he thinks.”

The Steelers also understand how Leftwich thinks, one reason why they hurried to reacquire him once they knew for certain that Roethlisberger would miss the start of the season.

They liked how Leftwich ran the offense in practice and during the minimal playing time he got in 2008, and how he easily settled into their locker room.

“I’ve got confidence in myself and I believe they have confidence in me,” Leftwich said. “I’m not new around these guys.”

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Mardy Gilyard Robbed at Gunpoint

CINCINNATI, OH—Mardy Gilyard, a senior at the University of Cincinnati, was robbed by more than one suspect with a gun in the 2600 block of Jefferson Avenue around 9:30 p.m. Monday night.  The location listed on the police report is a [...]]]> By Roger Hudson / Staff Writer and Wire Reports

Mardy Gilyard Robbed at Gunpoint

CINCINNATI, OH—Mardy Gilyard, a senior at the University of Cincinnati, was robbed by more than one suspect with a gun in the 2600 block of Jefferson Avenue around 9:30 p.m. Monday night.  The location listed on the police report is a BP gas station near West Corry street according to Cincinnati Police report.

According to Channel 12 News the gunman took two gold and diamond necklaces from Gilyard and his companion, 30 year old Terry Hobbs, worth $1000 total, and about $300 cash.  Neither Gilyard nor Hobbs were injured. The suspect is described as a black male in his 20′s, wearing all black clothing. He stands five feet seven inches all and weighs around 185 pounds.

Gilyard, a wide receiver, has been drafted by the Saint Louis Rams.  He lists home address on the police report as Ludlow, Kentucky.

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PITTSBURGH — Steelers wide receiver Limas Sweed has been placed on the injured reserve list because of a torn left Achilles tendon, a move that means he cannot play this season.

Steelers wide receiver Limas Sweed

Sweed was waived after he was hurt during a May 2 minicamp practice. He was placed on the [...]]]> Associated Press

PITTSBURGH — Steelers wide receiver Limas Sweed has been placed on the injured reserve list because of a torn left Achilles tendon, a move that means he cannot play this season.

Steelers wide receiver Limas Sweed

Sweed was waived after he was hurt during a May 2 minicamp practice. He was placed on the reserve/injury list after clearing waivers.

Sweed, a second-round draft pick from Texas in 2008, missed the final two games of last season for personal reasons. He finished the season with one catch.

To replace Sweed, the Steelers signed wide receiver Isaiah Williams, who signed with Baltimore as an undrafted rookie last year but was cut before the season began.

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Sergio Kindle backs off draft-day boast about the jump from college football to the NFL is no easy task.

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OWINGS MILLS, Md. —Sergio Kindle now realizes that making the jump from college football to the NFL is no easy task.

On the day he was drafted in the second round by the Baltimore [...]]]> Associated Press

Sergio Kindle backs off draft-day boast about the jump from college football to the NFL is no easy task.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. —Sergio Kindle now realizes that making the jump from college football to the NFL is no easy task.

On the day he was drafted in the second round by the Baltimore Ravens, Kindle boasted, “I’m getting Rookie of the Year.”

After taking a glance at the Baltimore playbook and taking a good-natured pop to the helmet from Ray Lewis during the team’s minicamp this weekend, the former University of Texas linebacker backed away from his draft-day assertion.

“When I said that, it was just an exciting moment for me, getting drafted. My head was in the clouds,” Kindle said. “First of all, you’ve got to learn the playbook, get on the field and then perform well to get Rookie of the Year.

“It will be a good goal for me to set for myself to try to strive to, but I’ve got to take it one step at a time. So if you can copy, paste and delete that, that would be nice.”

Drafted 43rd overall, Kindle certainly has the potential for greatness. He had 168 tackles and 16 1/2 sacks in four seasons with the Longhorns and helped Texas advance to the BCS title game against Alabama in January.

He was projected by many to be a first-round pick, but questions about a knee injury contributed to his drop. Without being asked, Kindle insisted at his first NFL minicamp that the knee is not an issue.

“My body felt good. No knee issues,” he said.

The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder did, however, acknowledge that the pace of coach John Harbaugh’s practices were enough to make his head ache.

“The tempo out here was about 10 times faster than college, especially when they were throwing plays at you like bullets,” Kindle said. “First of all, you’ve got to slow down your head spinning. Then you have to make your legs run as fast as your head is going, and you’re just crashing.”

Kindle did well enough to get a congratulatory bump from Lewis, who plays the position as well as anyone in the league.

“When he was coming out to the field and he slapped me on my head, he almost gave me a concussion,” Kindle said. “That’s when I knew he was intense 100 percent of the time when he’s on this green grass. That’s what I love about him.”

The rookie has already made a favorable impression on Lewis, who was in New York to announce Kindle as Baltimore’s first pick in the 2010 draft.

“I just think he’s a great kid. I told him that when I got ready to call his name at the draft,” Lewis said. “I watched him in college. I like his fire, the way he plays the game. Just to see the way he runs around now.”

If Kindle needs a mentor, he need look no farther than the middle of the Baltimore huddle.

“The bottom line is, whatever you need off the field, then let’s figure it out,” Lewis said. “Let’s stay after late if we’ve got to stay after (practice). Come over to my house. Whatever we’ve got to do, we’ll figure it out.”

They might want to start with the playbook, which Kindle said he studied until nearly midnight before the first minicamp practice Friday.

“I wanted to study more,” he said, “but I needed at least five hours of sleep coming into the day.”

Kindle hopes to improve a pass rush that was anything but spectacular last year.

“He can get off the ball. Very active; obviously an athletic kid,” linebacker Jarret Johnson said. “He should be able to help us out.”

NOTES: OT Jared Gaither did not practice Saturday, one day after being shifted to the right side. Oneil Cousins took the first-team snaps in his place. Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron said Gather was in the training room being treated for a variety of injuries. … Also, OT Ramon Harewood, Baltimore’s sixth-round pick, was carted off the field with a right knee injury. He described it as tissue damage and predicted he’d back in 3-4 weeks.

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