Rich Braham

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http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...020328/1066/spt

Monday, May 2, 2005

Bengals center their attention on signing Braham

By Mark Curnutte

Enquirer staff writer

Free-agent center Rich Braham might sign a contract this week, but if he and the Bengals cannot reach an agreement, the team is prepared to go in a different direction.

Coach Marvin Lewis addressed the Braham situation and other topics at the end of the team's three-day rookie mini-camp Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium. Lewis called the camp a success and said the team's seven draft picks - all of whom participated - showed why the Bengals selected them.

"None that I know of, the usual trade phone call stuff," Lewis said when asked about Braham, who suffered a small break to the fibula in the Dec. 12 game at New England.

"Hopefully, I think if it's going to happen, it's going to happen this week. If not, we'll move forward."

Braham, Lewis said, was cleared "out of the rehab mode last week" and was entering "the football conditioning and shape mode."

If the Bengals were to pass on Braham, veteran Larry Moore and rookie Eric Ghiaciuc, the team's fourth-round pick from Central Michigan, are healthy. The Bengals also signed former LSU center Ben Wilkerson as a free agent.

"We'd be very comfortable with Eric," Lewis said when asked for possible alternatives to Braham. "He's a big guy who's got a lot of strength, a lot of athleticism.

"He's got a great command for playing that position. He wasn't unnerved with movement and things like that. He's been there. Does he need to learn how we want to see things and call things? Yeah, and that will come. But as far as the naturalness, he's really impressive."

Lewis also sees room for Ghiaciuc and Wilkerson on the same roster.

"I don't think they need to start counting numbers," Lewis said. "Both guys are probably versatile enough to play and be good players for a long time and find their niche."

Wilkerson, recovering from a knee injury, attended meetings and practices through the weekend but could not participate on the field.

"He's still a little further away than I think he thought," Lewis said. "From our estimation, though, we've got a ways before he's got to do football. I don't think we're going to get much out of him before we get to training camp."

Lewis also revealed that wide receiver Kelley Washington had shoulder surgery in Florida to repair a dislocation.

"He's not clear from his doctor," Lewis said of Washington, who has not attended any of the team's offseason workouts, which started April 4. "These are voluntary workouts, and the guys who are here are volunteering to be here. Good thing for them."

Washington is entering the third season of a three-year contract that pays minimum annual salaries.

The Bengals drafted wide receivers Chad Henry in the third round and Tab Perry in the sixth. Lewis said both performed well over the weekend.

Lewis had no word on the seven rookie players who tried out and had not yet been offered contracts.

He did praise the work of first-round pick David Pollack and second-round pick Odell Thurman during the practices and classroom sessions. Pollack played defensive end at Georgia. Lewis is playing him at outside linebacker.

"I think David Pollack is going to be fine," Lewis said. "He's further ahead than any guy I've ever had playing that spot coming in, so I don't think there's going to be an issue."