Monday, June 10 Can the Bengals get enough out of their QBs to be a playoff contender? Certainly the Bengals are becoming a darkhorse choice to advance to the postseason for the first time since 1990, with the QB position the key to their success. This is a roster that doesn't include many high-profile names, but it has most of the components in place to be a playoff contender. As was the case a year ago, Cincinnati doesn't need great play at QB, just consistent play. Despite a few strong outings in December, Jon Kitna demonstrated he is too careless with the ball to ever be more than a mediocre QB. The feeling is that Gus Frerotte will unseat Kitna. The Bengals like the fact Frerotte owns a career average of 7.02 yards per attempt. The past two seasons, Bengals QBs averaged only 5.47 and 4.89 yards. The locals like the team's young wide receiver talent, but none of the kids has stepped up as a playmaker and someone must, especially if the Bengals release Darnay Scott.

After a 2-0 start last season -- the wins coming over playoff-bound New England and Baltimore -- the Bengals' season went where most Bengals seasons go, downhill. They finished 6-10 for their fifth straight losing season. Cincinnati hasn't had a winning season since going 9-7 in 1990 (the Bengals were 8-8 in 1996), and has been a putrid 53-123 over the past 11 years. But things are looking up. A strong finish last season (wins over Pittsburgh and Tennessee) and one of the league's better defenses have fans thinking about a playoff birth. As crazy as that sounds, anyone who follows today's NFL knows that almost no team can be counted out of postseason consideration before the season begins.

Offensively, the biggest move the Bengals made was signing free-agent quarterback Gus Frerotte. There was speculation the Bengals would go after former Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe, but the price was too high. It's unclear if Frerotte will be an improvement over incumbent starter Jon Kitna. But what he will provide is competition in training camp and depth should Kitna falter or be injured. The signing of Frerotte was especially important given the injury status of former first-round pick Akili Smith, who won't be ready for the start of training camp.

Another interesting offseason development was the decision by Peter Warrick to get contact lenses, a move the Bengals hope will allow the wide receiver to finally blossom in his third year in the NFL. The team hopes contacts will help him follow the ball better out of the quarterback's hand and ease some of his problems dropping passes.

One player who appears poised for a big season is running back Corey Dillon, who is recovered from minor offseason knee surgery. Word out of Cincinnati is that Dillon has been a model citizen and has bought into being a team player.

	BENGALS AT A GLANCE
	Corey Dillon rushed for      1,315 yards last season.
	2001 record: 6-10 Team rank: Defense (9th); offense (23rd) Bengals team news

The Bengals made two important moves in their defensive backfield, re-signing starting cornerback Artrell Hawkins and signing free-agent cornerback Jeff Burris (Colts), to start alongside Hawkins. Neither player is a superstar, but they offer solid, dependable play at the cornerback spots. Cincinnati also re-signed defensive end Reinard Wilson, who recorded nine sacks last season. Wilson and second-year player Justin Smith will rotate at left end, with both on the field in passing situations.