Professor

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.d...L04/803090413/

They tried to trade for Detroit tackle Shaun Rogers. And the Bengals had a trade in place with the Jets for Dewayne Robertson in exchange for fourth- and fifth-round draft picks.

The league scuttled the Rogers trade, buying the Browns a sliver of time and a second chance to sweep in and offer Detroit what it wanted in the first place, cornerback Leigh Bodden.

Robertson, a former University of Kentucky star, visited the Bengals on Monday. A deal had been struck to tear up the final two years of Robertson's existing contract with New York - calling for more than $18 million in base salaries.

The problem was Robertson's health, primarily the condition of a surgically repaired knee. He and the Bengals had agreed on a five-year contract worth about $28 million, including more than $10 million in the first year. But Robertson's knees made the deal too risky for the Bengals.

Without going into any detail whatsoever, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis on Tuesday - during a press conference to introduce defensive end Antwan Odom, who had signed a five-year free-agent contract with Cincinnati - said the problem with the Robertson trade was not money.

Robertson and the Jets are in a hard spot. New York's wild offseason spending spree includes a trade with Carolina for nose tackle Kris Jenkins, whom Jets head coach Eric Mangini considers a better fit at the center of his three-lineman defense than Robertson. The Jets gave Jenkins a new five-year contract for $35 million, including $20 million in bonuses and guaranteed money.

Robertson could be a post-June 1 salary-cap cut, which would allow the Jets to absorb the cap hit over two years. At that point, the Bengals - or another team - could get Robertson for a far less risky deal.

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