Lynch will wear Bengal stripes

By Steve Behr

Corey Lynch has already been through two minicamps with the Cincinnati Bengals. Monday, he’ll begin training camp.

Lynch will sign a contract with the Bengals Saturday after he gets to Georgetown, Ky., the site of the team’s training camp. He and 79 of his newest teammates begin the 2008 season with two-a-day workouts Monday morning.

Terms of his contract were not released.

“I’m ready to start,” Lynch said. “I’ve already practiced a lot with them, so I’m ready to go.”

Lynch, the Bengals’ sixth-round draft pick, went through a rookie camp and then a more advanced camp with the veterans. He said the differences between what he has to learn with the Bengals opposed to what Appalachian State ran is formidable.

But he’s also comfortable with going through the learning process. “I couldn’t begin telling you the differences,” he said. 

But, he added that the veterans have been helpful by answering any questions he might have.
“If you ask the guys a question, they’ll answer it,” Lynch said. “It’s good to have that. Even if you ask a lot of questions, it’s good that they’ll get answered.”

Lynch said he was not necessarily glued to ESPN during the draft, but was relieved he was selected.
“I was waiting them to call me,” Lynch said. “It finally happened and I’m glad I didn’t have to pick a team. They picked me.”

It also did not bother him that the Bengals have had problems with players running into trouble with the law during recent years. Wide receiver Chris Henry was released by the team April 3 after five arrests, including assault and criminal damages charges stemming from a March 31 incident.

Linebacker Odell Thurman was waived by the Bengals on May 19 for brushes with the law and for substance abuse. He was suspended indefinitely by the NFL June 6 for substance abuse.

“They’ve got some bad guys and some good guys,” Lynch said. “I’ll try to hang around the good guys and try to make it better.”

Lynch also compared head coach Marvin Lewis to his Appalachian State coach Jerry Moore.

“He’s a good coach. He’s quiet like coach Moore. He puts his two cents in when you mess up, but he wants to correct mistakes like coach Moore.”

Lynch said there wasn’t any rookie hazing during the minicamps, but that is likely to change once training camp starts. Rookies often are asked to sign their college fight song during dinner, or a lot of times told to carry veteran’s gear after practice.

There is also another NFL tradition, the "Rookie Show," that the newbies perform during camp.

“There’s that rookie thing that I have to do,” Lynch admitted.

All of that is usually done willingly as long as they make the roster. Lynch is anxious to play football again.
“I’m just looking forward to starting,” Lynch said. “I’m ready to get going. I’ve been sitting around, doing nothing, so it’s exciting to get started.”

The Bengals have also come to terms with third-round pick, defensive tackle Pat Sims (Auburn) and fourth-rounder Kansas offensive tackle Anthony Collins. Their No. 1 pick, linebacker Keith Rivers (Southern Cal.), No. 2 pick, receiver Jerome Simpson (Coastal Carolina) and third-round pick receiver Andrew Caldwell (Florida) have not agreed to contracts, according to the Bengals’ Web site.