Inside Slant

First-round pick Keith Rivers, the projected starter at weak-side linebacker, ended his nine-day holdout by finally agreeing to terms Tuesday. In Rivers’ absence, journeyman Brandon Johnson was making the most of his opportunity.

Another major question entering camp was Chad Johnson. The five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver had a high-profile offseason, campaigning through the media for either a new contract or a trade from the Bengals, a team, he had said, which was not committed to winning.

Johnson, who had arthroscopic ankle surgery June 18, has behaved himself so far. No outbursts, though he continues to boycott most of the media, save ESPN. Johnson, who has been working with strength coaches on his own, returned to practice Monday.

Even after just a handful of training camp practices, the Bengals offense looks poised to move up in the top 10 of NFL rankings. It’s a machine with almost too many gadgets. It’s already purring like a sleek import with quarterback Carson Palmer at the wheel.

The defense, however, is a work in progress. It’s a used car to which coordinator Mike Zimmer and his staff are working to affix some spare parts from other teams. Its only imports are a couple of former Canadian League players, linebacker Rashad Jeanty and backup safety Kyries Hebert.

The offense, which ranked 10th last season at 348 yards a game, is loaded.  Palmer is among the league’s elite. The line, as long as it stays healthy, is deep; it’s in a position to weather an injury to a key player. Willie Anderson is a backup. They’re versatile.  The defense should be better under Zimmer’s direction. But it’s been a tough week.  “Some good, some bad,” was Zimmer’s assessment of

Week 1.  The stars defensively are young cornerbacks Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph, two former first-round picks. Unfortunately for Zimmer, the team’s two major offseason acquisitions to help the defense—rush end Antwan Odom and first-round linebacker Rivers—are not on the field, although Rivers was expected to report to camp Wednesday. Odom sprained his left foot in the first practice Monday morning but is expected to be back to full health for the opener Sept. 7 at Baltimore.

In the middle of the defense, New Orleans castoff Dhani Jones has found a home. He’ll be expected to direct traffic of a young defense. Of the projected 11 starters, seven have two or fewer years of NFL experience.

The two halves of the team have displayed different personalities so far in camp as well. The offense is cool and professional, almost corporate in its approach and execution. The defense has behaved decidedly more collegiate. Zimmer and defensive assistants have instilled a rah-rah spirit. A big play by a defender in an 11-on-11 drill is met by a bigger response from teammates and coaches.

Camp Calendar:  

The Bengals returned to practice Monday, and will work daily through Saturday. They will travel to Wisconsin for the preseason opener Aug. 11 (Monday night) against the Packers. Camp breaks Aug. 15.

Notes, Quotes

• Linebacker Keith Rivers ended his nine-day holdout by agreeing to a deal with the Bengals. Terms weren’t disclosed. Expected to start at one of the outside spots, Rivers has plenty of work to make up. “He’s behind, but we’ll work to get him up to speed, and we know he’s the kind of player who will get himself caught up,” coach Marvin Lewis said. “Right from the start, through the draft and minicamps, he has shown us things that are innate to successful NFL linebackers.”

• It’s a tradition under Marvin Lewis. The first day of full pads at training camp features the live-blocking drill known as Oklahoma, or the nutcracker. One offensive and one defensive player are pitted against each other in a narrow lane—the offensive player is to block the defender and allow the ball carrier to run through. Many of the matches were draws, with both players doing their jobs. Some were not.

Tight end Reggie Kelly pushed linebacker Rashad Jeanty to the outside. Rookie wide receiver Andre Caldwell impressively moved cornerback Johnathan Joseph out of the way.

Right tackle Stacy Andrews moved rookie defensive tackle Jason Shirley 15 yards downfield with a lightning-fast start. Most entertaining, though, was the enthusiastic response of first-year defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer when a defensive player performed well. Zimmer was all over them, slapping their backs and rear end and top of the helmet.

“Well, what I was trying to do, what I’m trying to do is build some spirit, some togetherness, if I have to do it, I’ll do it, I’ll do whatever, if I have to be the leader, I’ll be the leader,” he said. “If one of these guys wants to step up and be the leader, then they will. I want them to understand the emotion we want to play with and the tempo we want to play with and the expectations we play with.”

• Strong-side linebacker Rashad Jeanty stood out from his group of black-shirted teammates Thursday afternoon. He wore a numberless orange practice jersey, presented him by defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer.

“Kind of lead the defense, lead by example,” Jeanty said of the jersey’s meaning. “It’s not necessarily an honor. (Zimmer) just wants to find leaders. It could be anyone. It could be a (college) free agent. Hopefully I led by example.”

• The NFL has suspended wide receiver Chris Henry for the first four games of the season. But he is free to sign with any team at any time and could be eligible for the final 12 games. The Bengals waived him April 3 following his fifth arrest as their employee.

• Commissioner Roger Goodell wants a shorter preseason and a slotting system for rookie contracts to prevent holdouts. In a visit to Bengals training camp Saturday morning, Goodell met with the Bengals management team, including club president Mike Brown, and had a 20-minute session with the players. He then had lunch with six selected Bengals players: quarterback Carson Palmer, wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, cornerback Leon Hall, defensive tackle John Thornton, offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth and linebacker Dhani Jones. After his visit Saturday morning, Goodell jetted back to Canton, Ohio, for more Hall of Fame weekend events.

“It would have to be collectively bargained,” Goodell said of a system currently in place in the NBA, which prevents draft picks from holding out. “We have an issue here and something is wrong with the system, flawed with the system, and we have to address it,” Goodell said. “I think it’s better for the players, the teams and, most important, for the fans. I think it’s a disservice when players aren’t in camp. … My issue is it’s clearly having economic issues and it affects all of the players in a negative fashion. It has some non-football issues. Veteran leadership suffers when rookies are paid more than veterans. They are uncomfortable asserting the leadership they should in the locker room.”

Strategy And Personnel

• RG Bobbie Williams continues to get work on the sideline as a center. Coaches say he could be an emergency center or even the top backup to starter Eric Ghiaciuc.

• CB Johnathan Joseph, limited in camp last year because of surgery to correct a stress fracture, is playing on two healthy feet and appears poised to have a big season. He is emerging as the leader of a very young secondary.

• WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, slowed by sore legs toward the end of the first week of training camp, is entering the last year of a four-year deal. Coach Marvin Lewis said a contract extension for Houshmandzadeh, who will be 31 in September, is an organizational priority.

• RB Chris Perry, coming back from a 2007 season spent on the injured reserve list, is getting a lot of work in practice and was busy in the scrimmage and mock game. He appears to be handling the transition back into full contact well and regaining his football conditioning.

• DE Frostee Rucker, getting a lot of work because of the foot injury to starting RDE Antwan Odom, came to camp in much better shape than in his previous two NFL seasons. He said he stayed in Cincinnati and worked hard in the team’s offseason program. Even without Odom’s injury, the Bengals are counting on Rucker to contribute.

Battle Of The Week:  

No player has emerged as the favorite for the third-receiver spot behind starters T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson. Rookies Andre Caldwell and Jerome Simpson have flashed, as have veterans Marcus Maxwell, Antonio Chatman and Glenn Holt. But no one has stood out in a complete fashion.

Other Battle Fronts:   Though Stacy Andrews is the starter at right tackle, don’t count out 13th-year pro Willie Anderson. Anderson is as healthy as he has been for several seasons, and he is having a strong camp physically and mentally, focusing on what he can do to help the team win without complaining about his depth-chart status. … Starting FB Jeremi Johnson has yet to practice because he reported to camp much heavier than his listed 270 pounds. Converted TE Daniel Coats is having an impressive camp as the starter.

Player Of The Week:   LB Brandon Johnson—Filling in for unsigned rookie first-round pick Keith Rivers, the Arizona Cardinals reject is fitting perfectly into coordinator Mike Zimmer’s defense and responding well to the in-your-face coaching of linebackers boss Jeff FitzGerald. Johnson runs well and shoots gaps in the defense effectively. However, Rivers did sign on Tuesday and will immediately push Johnson.

Rookie Report:   Sixth-round S Corey Lynch has lived up to his college reputation in the first week of camp of making big plays. Lynch had a big weekend, capping his performance Friday night with another interception and two passes broken up in the mock game. Playing nickel for the first time, he was beaten on a touchdown pass. Then he picked off Carson Palmer. “I haven’t been comfortable on the field, but these past two days I have been more comfortable,” Lynch said. … Third-round WR Andre Caldwell is getting a ton of work at receiver and on special teams. He is an impressive blocker. … Fifth-round DT Jason Shirley has shown the ability to penetrate the middle of the offensive line.

Injury Report: 

•  WR Chad Johnson practiced for the first time Monday after sitting out the first week of training camp while rehabbing from ankle surgery. Offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski told Cincinnati radio station WLW-Radio that there’s a chance Johnson could play in the team’s preseason opener Aug. 11

• WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh and RBs Rudi Johnson, Kenny Watson and DeDe Dorsey were among the players who missed the scrimmage and mock game over the weekend. Dorsey was activated from the PUP list this week.

• LB Ahmad Brooks was out Saturday but should be back this week, Lewis said.

• No sign yet of FB Jeremi Johnson, who reported much heavier than his listed 270 pounds and has not been allowed to practice.