More photos » by Kathy Willens - AP

2 months ago: Carolina Panthers' Gerald Cadogan, left, chases New York Giants Tommie Hill as Hill scores a touchdown as time runs out in an NFL football preseason game at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Monday, Aug. 17, 2009. The Giants won 24-17. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed fullback Chris Pressley off the Bengals practice squad on October 28, it not only crushed our anticipation that the Bengals were grooming their next big-impact fullback to eventually replace Jeremi Johnson, but it also opened up a roster spot. There was some speculation that the Bengals could demote a player from the 53-man roster and sign him back to the practice squad. However, players that are generally eligible for the practice squad haven't put in their full four years of service, so they'd first have to go through waivers. And if any team during the waiver process ahead of the Cincinnati Bengals claimed that player, he'd be gone and couldn't sign on the practice squad. Since the Bengals didn't go that route, all of what I said is pretty much irrelevant.

However, with Pressley's departure last week, the team had an open practice squad spot.

During a day in which Fui Vakapuna, a rookie who hasn't played a regular season down in his young NFL career, took the headlines and generated the most discussion, the Bengals also filled their open spot on the practice squad signing Gerald Cadogan on Tuesday. Cadogan was an undrafted free agent who signed with the Carolina Panthers after the NFL draft. The Panthers waived him on August 31.

Cadogan, Penn State's offensive tackle who was named first team All-Big Ten in 2008, was projected as a third-round pick by NFL Draft Scout, NFL Draft Bible, and Sports Illustrated. ESPN ranked him as the 11th best offensive tackle (Insider) coming into the league during the 2009 NFL Draft. Cadogan, who stands six-foot-five and weighs approximately 315 pounds, started all 26 games as the Nittany Lions' left tackle. His academic achievements are just as impressive, winning Academic All-Big Ten three straight seasons and Academic All-American twice.

What's even more impressive is that we were able to write so much about a practice squad addition.

While the Bengals weren't happy enough to keep Fui Vakapuna on the team's 53-man roster in early September, they've signed him to the team's 53-man roster on Tuesday. However, that's yet to be announced as of this post, but his agent confirmed nonetheless. That left the Bengals with 54 guys on the roster, which is, you know, bad. To make room, the Bengals elected to terminated "the contract of long-time backup offensive lineman Scott Kooistra."

Here's where I think signing Fui Vakapuna makes sense.

Vakapuna brings you versatility. With Bernard Scott and Jeremi Johnson coming off injuries, the Bengals are in optimistic flux. If Jeremi Johnson can't go, throw Vakapuna in there. If Bernard Scott can't go, then Brian Leonard probably goes. But Vakapuna could be a second backup running back. If Bernard Scott and Jeremi Johnson can't go, wham. You have Vakapuna, who could play both spots. Not at the same time, of course. Someone like that would be drafted at least in the third round.

Along with being able to play fullback, Vakapuna is also an accomplished running back, scoring 18 touchdowns (14 on the ground) in four seasons (42 games) with the BYU Cougars. He averaged 4.7 yards-per-rush in his collegiate career. For the sake of a pointless (now) argument, Chris Pressley was a nasty fullback, and if we're looking to have a backup fullback in the category of "oh boy, Johnson is hurt", then Pressley is obviously your guy... if he wasn't already with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But Pressley carried the football 25 times in his career at Wisconsin and scored one touchdown. If the Bengals were in desperate need of a running back (ala against Chicago Bears), Pressley doesn't give you much. Vakapuna gives you more.

I would go so far as to say that even if Pressley were with the Bengals practice squad, Fui Vakapuna is still signed with the Bengals. If Marvin Lewis likes anything (besides busted garage gates at five in the morning), he loves versatility with his players. And since Vakapuna brings that by being able to play fullback and running back, it makes sense to have one guy to fill in both roles while guys work on recoverable injuries.

Even though Jeremi Johnson is working through a knee injury he suffered against the Chicago Bears, the Bengals signed fullback Fui Vakapuna off the Arizona Cardinals practice squad, Geoff Hobson writes. Vakapuna will go to the team's 53-man roster, which will require the team to either release/waive a player, or move them to an open spot on the practice squad.

Along with Jeremi Johnson and Chris Pressley, Vakapuna was featured on Hard Knocks as a major storyline of whom makes the squad as the team's fullback. And Vakapuna was generally the least impressive of the three. Johnson made the squad and Pressley was moved to the team's practice squad before he was signed away to Tampa Bay's 53-man roster.

Back in May, the Bengals did something rare in the National Football League. They traded a player for a player when they acquired Brian Leonard for the backup of backup defensive tackle Orien Harris. At this point, Leonard has already been more than worth the cost. After Harris was traded to St. Louis, he was traded to Detroit and then waived after the first game of the season.

Last Sunday against the Houston Texans, Antwan Odom suffered a season-ending injury and was placed on Injured Reserve on Monday, opening a spot on the 53-man roster.

Harris available. Open spot available. Why not sign him? Joe Reedy writes that the Bengals signed defensive tackle Harris to the 53-man roster on Tuesday. Our guess? The Bengals are rebuilding depth at defensive tackle so Jonathan Fanene can work more as a defensive end, rather than rotating with the tackles, as he was when Tank Johnson was recovering. Largely depending on Peko, Fanene could still be rotating with the defensive tackles, but with Harris, the Bengals could be back to a four-man rotation -- again, depending on Peko.

More photos » by David Kohl - AP

2 months ago: Cincinnati Bengals running back DeDe Dorsey (27) is congratulated by cornerback Geoffrey Pope (24) after recovering a blocked punt and returning it for a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts in the second half of a preseason NFL football game, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Kohl)

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Here's DeDe Dorsey's schedule in a nutshell. Be the focus of Hard Knocks in a grueling roster battle with Brian Leonard. Sit around on the final cutdown day whether you're going to get cut. When you hear that make the team, you should the emotional reaction as a rusty spoon. Practice hard the next week. Don't get dressed on Sunday because carrying four active running backs would be a bit much. Then, on Monday, get waived.

The Cincinnati Bengals announced, well Tweeted on Monday, that in order to make room for Andre Smith, whose roster exemption expires at 4 PM today, that DeDe Dorsey was placed on waivers.

UPDATE: For those of you wondering if Dorsey is eligible for the team's practice squad, he isn't, as per the eligibility requirements from the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Section 4. Eligibility:
(a) The practice squad shall consist of the following players, provided that they have not served more than two previous seasons on a Practice Squad: (i) players who do not have an Accrued Season of NFL experience; and (ii) free agent players who were on the Active List for fewer than nine regular season games during their only Accrued Season(s). An otherwise eligible player may be a practice squad player for a third season only if the Club by which he is employed that season has at least 53 players on its Active/Inactive List during the entire period of his employment.
(b) A player shall be deemed to have served on a Practice Squad in a season if he has passed the club’s physical and been a member of the club’s Practice Squad for at least three regular season or postseason games during his first two Practice Squad seasons, and for at least one regular season or postseason game during his third Practice Squad season. (A bye week counts as a game provided that the player is not terminated until after the regular season or postseason weekend in question.)

However don't be surprised if Dorsey returns. It's not unheard of that teams release/waive a guy to make room on the roster. Two years ago, the Bengals released Antonio Chatman heading into the 2007 opener against the Baltimore Ravens, anticipating more of a knock-down drag-em fight; they decided on bringing Dan Santucci back to bolster the offensive line depth. After beating the Ravens, the Bengals waived Nate Lawrie and re-signed Antonio Chatman the next day.

Contract details for Andre Smith are beginning to emerge. Joe Reedy tweets that the deal is four years worth "$26M with $21M guaranteed. There is an option after 2010 that would push the deal to $42M over 6 yrs. Max: $50M"

From all appearances, the pay is less than expected. However, if you factor in that Smith's deal is only four years -- he's the only first round draft pick to sign a four-year deal -- the contract is in-line with the slotting system when talking about guaranteed money.

Now it appears that there's a ton of money tied up the club option, which we think was the compromise that made Keels satisfied, while giving the Bengals the power to exercise the use of that money. If Smith hits his maximum $50 million, which we presume will include the club option fifth year, he'll get $10 million a year. That's still below Darrius Heyward-Bey's $54 maximum. But now we're just being picky. He's in camp. What else could we ask for?

UPDATE: I need to remind everyone that the specifics of the deal is still rolling in. We posted what Reedy posted above, however, there's seems to be more details. The overall four-year deal worth $26 million and $21 million guaranteed is accurate. However, Adam Schefter writes, the club option is for two seasons, which would, basically, make it a six-year deal for $42 million with $29.5 million guaranteed. The guaranteed money is still worth more than Darrius Heyward-Bey's deal, averaging out to $4.917 million a year.

A month after the Bengals kicked off Training Camp, the team and their first round draft pick came to an agreement, writes Geoff Hobson.

The Bengals have signed first-round pick Andre Smith in a deal that could be as much as $42 million and the Alabama right tackle is expected to be on the field in Sunday's 3 p.m. practice at Paul Brown Stadium.

Terms are still undisclosed, so we're not sure about the weight of the projected dollars. Most likely, the base contract is roughly in the $28-32 million range, as reported before, while a guaranteed number could be in the $20-25, with nearly $10 million in signing, roster, workout bonuses. We just don't know. Those numbers will come to light in the coming days. 

It took 30 days after the Bengals kicked off training camp, however the deal is signed and the team's first round draft pick is finally with us. Now that's out of the way, the issue becomes two-fold. How far away is Andre Smith from being in game shape and how up to speed is he with the playbook? Also, you have to wonder what Anthony Collins has to do to save his job -- if there's even remotely a chance that that happens.

Either way, this saga is over and we can finally close this chapter.

Last night we updated that the Bengals could be within 24-48 hours of signing a deal with the team's first round draft pick. Andre Smith is close to finalizing a deal with the Cincinnati Bengals, writes Geoff Hobson.

Although a deal isn't done, a league source said that agent Alvin Keels met with the team in another face-to-face meeting Saturday and are close enough to meet again Sunday morning. The hope is with the Bengals practicing at 3 p.m. Sunday that Smith will be on the field to end the holdout at 30 days.

Geoff Hobson writes that while the deal is less than DHB at number seven, it will be more than the deal Jacksonville's Eugene Monroe got. Monroe was the second offensive tackle in the draft, and the Bengals apparently are taking the position that Smith should get paid as highest offensive tackle drafted, not the sixth pick overall. "That's a five-year deal that is somewhere between $28 and 32 million."

Adam Schefter tweets that "Bengals 1st-round pick Andre Smith is on a plane headed to Cincy. If all goes as planned he will sign and could be at today's 3 pm practice."

The Bengals are reportedly hoping to have Smith in town before the 3 PM practice on Sunday.

[UPDATE: Joe Reedy writes that Andre Smith will compete for a spot at right tackle. This came in response to an early August interview in which Lewis said he'd be given every opportunity to start at right tackle. However, several weeks later Lewis said that Smith will play where he fits best. We're still not exactly sure what that means, if that means anything. But we got the feeling at the time that Smith isn't going to, if anything, have every opportunity to start at right tackle -- in other words, he'll have to beat out Anthony Collins (the way it should be anyway).

ORIGINAL POST BY JSL413: Twitter is abuzz with Andre Smith rumors. Hat tip to cinbengal_85 for the initial report of Chad Ochocinco's tweet that Smith signed. Since then, numerous twits have tweeted to ask whether or not Smith has signed. Agent Alvin Keels says no, calling internet reports premature. Does this mean that the Bengals and Smith are close? Or is Ochocinco just trying a new attention-grabbing scheme wherein he breaks news.

PFT reports that a source says "an agreement could be reached in the next 24 to 48 hours." The report also said that the deal will be very complex.]