It has been a year since the Bengals drafted offensive tackle Andre Smith with the sixth pick of the 2009 draft.
Before the draft Smith had a few bad marks that should have been put into consideration by the team, but yet again the Bengals overlooked it to draft him.
The trouble started during last years training camp when Smith was holding out on his contract and was unavailable for most of camp.
When he finally did sign and got himself into camp he broke his foot in only his second day of practice and didn't return until late in the season, but showed nothing. He hasn't started a single game for the Bengals yet.
This year he shows up to camp overweight and out of shape claiming that he still has problems from his foot injury a year ago. He currently is working out away from the team because he hasn't been cleared to practice by the team.
Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis wants him to be in practice as soon as possible. If Smith is put on the PUP list (Physically Unable to Perform) which would make him miss the first six games of this season it will cost him some of his salary.
Lewis said that he will be in practice when the coaches clear him. He is getting inpatient with Smith and called him an immature saying he needs to learn how to be a pro. The coach ended his statement with by saying he will not go through this year in and out.
Before last years draft Smith had draft bust written all over him and he didn't make a good impression in the NFL scouting combine. He came in out of shape and left early without telling anyone showing how immature he was.
The Bengals have been the second chance team in the NFL and if they would have taken a page out of the Patriots play book they would have traded the sixth pick went back in the draft and possibly got Michael Oher.
They had the best draft they've had in a while last season and a lot of those players drafted last season are seeing playing time, but the highest paid draft pick has been the biggest mistake.
Luckily their offensive line was pretty solid last season, but this season they need to be extra careful because they do not have a slid back up for quarterback Carson Palmer.
Smith was the one who told Palmer bring me to Cincinnati and I'll have your back. The quarterback helped him make the team but the overweight first round bust has done nothing to have Carson Palmer's back.
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