Gunzlingr
06-11-2003, 08:12 AM
By LORI NICKEL
lnickel@journalsentinel.com
Last Updated: June 10, 2003
Green Bay - The Green Bay Packers brought former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Akili Smith to town Tuesday and will work him out Wednesday after the team's final minicamp practice of the summer.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound veteran was cut by the Bengals last week after four lackluster seasons in the National Football League in which he amassed only 2,212 passing yards, five touchdowns and a 52.8 passer rating in 22 games.
The Bengals chose Carson Palmer with the No. 1 draft pick in April and also have Shane Matthews to back up expected starter Jon Kitna, making Smith expendable.
Smith will work out for the entire Packers offensive staff.
"We're just trying to get a feel for him, see what he's been taught, with the footwork, with the drops, with the reads," Packers director of pro personnel Reggie McKenzie said. "It's really getting a feel for what he's accustomed to, and trying to incorporate some of the options. That's why it's good not only to get it on the board, but it's better to see him put it on the field."
The Packers already have Craig Nall, Doug Pederson, Eric Crouch and Zak Kustok battling for the backup job behind Brett Favre, but the athletic Smith interests the staff
more (http://www.jsonline.com/packer/news/jun03/147271.asp)
lnickel@journalsentinel.com
Last Updated: June 10, 2003
Green Bay - The Green Bay Packers brought former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Akili Smith to town Tuesday and will work him out Wednesday after the team's final minicamp practice of the summer.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound veteran was cut by the Bengals last week after four lackluster seasons in the National Football League in which he amassed only 2,212 passing yards, five touchdowns and a 52.8 passer rating in 22 games.
The Bengals chose Carson Palmer with the No. 1 draft pick in April and also have Shane Matthews to back up expected starter Jon Kitna, making Smith expendable.
Smith will work out for the entire Packers offensive staff.
"We're just trying to get a feel for him, see what he's been taught, with the footwork, with the drops, with the reads," Packers director of pro personnel Reggie McKenzie said. "It's really getting a feel for what he's accustomed to, and trying to incorporate some of the options. That's why it's good not only to get it on the board, but it's better to see him put it on the field."
The Packers already have Craig Nall, Doug Pederson, Eric Crouch and Zak Kustok battling for the backup job behind Brett Favre, but the athletic Smith interests the staff
more (http://www.jsonline.com/packer/news/jun03/147271.asp)