--No NFL coach would ever day his team's minicamp was not a success, Marvin Lewis included. The end of minicamp closed the 12-week offseason program for veteran players, Lewis said. Rookies can be around for another two weeks, until the end of June, before attending the NFL Rookie Symposium. Lewis did not anticipate that there would be problems signing any of the team's 10 draft picks, including first-round linebacker Keith Rivers, who is expected to start at one of the two outside positions.
--The Bengals will next get on a practice field July 28 for training camp at Georgetown College near Lexington. Reporting day is July 27, a Sunday. The preseason opener is Monday night, Aug. 11, at Green Bay.
--Starting right guard Bobbie Williams worked as a backup center in team drills because, offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said, he was not happy with the camp performances of backup centers Dan Santucci and Kyle Cook.
"The other two centers have had exchange problems; the ball has been on the ground. We can't do that," Bratkowski said. "We're getting Bobbie ready in the event he has to be the backup center."
Eric Ghiaciuc is the starter. Williams said he remembered how former starting left guard Eric Steinbach, now with the Browns, could play tackle and center.
"No, I haven't," Williams said when asked if he had ever played center previously. "But the more you can do -- that's what I say. If it ever came down to it, I'd rather be prepared and go out there and knowing everything going on. It's just getting the ball to the quarterback is the biggest thing."
With Williams playing center, starting right tackle Stacy Andrews moved to right guard. Thirteenth-year lineman Willie Anderson, attempting a return from knee and heel injuries but currently working behind Andrews, took back his familiar position at right tackle. Bratkowski and head coach Marvin Lewis stressed Williams would only potentially be a backup center.
--The Bengals did not draft a running back. They apparently are not interested in signing Florence native Shaun Alexander. But the lineup is not set in their backfield.
Daniel Coats has been moved from tight end to fullback, where he is competing with incumbent starter Jeremi Johnson. Johnson is having what is becoming an annual battle with his weight. He looks to be significantly heavier than his listed 260 pounds and has been relegated to working on the sideline with strength and conditioning coaches during minicamp.
"We moved Dan to fullback to compete for the spot," head coach Marvin Lewis said of Coats, who weighs 255 pounds. "We think Jeremi will get himself in position to compete. If not, we'll have Dan and the other guys and whoever else we add."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "The exciting part is we're in a good spot. We've done a lot of football since we got started back on March 24." -- Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, on June 14, as mandatory minicamp ended the veteran portion of the offseason program.
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