The Cincinnati Bengals finally signed their first round pick ... and 9th overall ... Keith Rivers to a five-year deal. Rivers is expected to be the starting weak-side linebacker and has a lot of catching up to do:The linebacker, the ninth overall pick in the April draft, missed 10 days of camp and 12 on-field practices, which included the intra-squad scrimmage and mock game. The Bengals will practice twice today and once each Thursday, Friday and Saturday before flying to Green Bay for their preseason opener Monday night. It is not known whether Rivers will play against the Packers.
Rivers is the eighth linebacker Cincinnati has drafted since Marvin Lewis' arrival in 2003. Only Ahmad Brooks (a supplemental pick in 2006) is still around. He is also the fourth straight defensive player the Bengals have drafted in the first round.
Rivers' signing means that there is only one unsigned first round pick. Derrick Harvey (a defensive end picked one spot ahead of Rivers) has yet to agree to a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
