Is it plain bad luck, being penny wise-pound foolish, or a sad blend of both? Over the years far too many Bengals' top draft picks signed late because of contract holdouts and left early with careers far short of what was projected for them.
Look at the roster of tardy top picks that missed some or all of training camp since 1984 or never signed at all:
Ricky Hunley, Joe Kelly, Jason Buck, Ricky Dixon, Alfred Williams, David Klingler, Dan Wilkinson, Ki-Jana Carter, Willie Anderson. (He's one of the rare exceptions who overcame a late start).
And there are more:
Akili Smith, Justin Smith, Chris Perry, David Pollack and now Andre Smith. In most instances, their holdouts led to an early professional demise.
Hopefully Andre Smith and his fractured foot will break the mold.
Smith signed Sunday, (so he gets $21 million come what may) practiced briefly telling reporters he was in good physical shape but not football shape. Tuesday in the course of getting there, he did something to his foot and will now do nothing for the next several weeks.
A statement from Head Coach Marvin Lewis explained:
"Andre suffered a small fracture in his left foot doing a non-contact drill. Our medical staff tells me the injury will not require surgery. It's too soon to predict how long it will be before he can return to practice, but it looks like he's going to miss a few weeks."
The Bengals insisted on language in Smith's contract, that calls for his salary to be cut if he's over 350 pounds or can't play, which might well be invoked if he sits long.
Maybe they can devote the money saved to next year’s top pick in order to get him to work on time.
