Andre Smith signed a contract Sunday with the Bengals, ending an impasse that dragged on a month into the preseason, according to an Associated Press report. The Bengals originally planned to have Smith start at right tackle, but he has missed all three preseason games. ?He has a lot of work to do, but he knows the challenge ahead of him to make an impact on our team as soon as possible,? coach Marvin Lewis said in a statement released as practice began.

The Bengals still don't have a deal in place with first-round pick Andre Smith. Cincinnati receiver Chad Ochocinco claimed early Saturday that the team had signed the offensive lineman to a contract. A league source told Pro Football Talk that Smith is "definitely" not signed.

Chad Ochocinco has been fined $5,000 by the NFL for wearing an orange chinstrap in Thursday's preseason game against the Rams. Ochocinco used his Twitter page to comment on the penalty. "I got a damn fine already, it's the damn preseason, this is some b------t," Ochocinco wrote.

Carson Palmer did some light tossing with the Bengals on Sunday, but did not practice with the team. Palmer, who has a sprained left ankle, is questionable for Thursday's preseason game against the Rams after missing much of last season with an elbow injury. "If last week had been a regular-season game, he probably would have played. But we are going to continue to be cautious, because it is just preseason," coach Marvin Lewis told the Associated Press. "We'd like him to get some more time with our first unit, and I think we will do that before the preseason is over. But the most important thing is to have him 100 percent for Denver [on Sept. 13]."

Chad Ochocinco kicked what turned out to be the game-winning extra point against the Patriots on Thursday night. The Bengals receiver was the emergency kicker for the club after they held out Shayne Graham because of a sore groin. "'Esteban' Ochocinco is back, the most interesting footballer in the world," Ochocinco told the Associated Press after the game. "Everyone has to remember, I've always said that soccer is my No. 1 sport. I think Ronaldinho would be proud of me right now." Cincinnati defeated New England 7-6 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.

The Bengals continue to negotiate with the agent for first-round pick Andre Smith. In the past few days, a number of fellow top-ten picks have signed with their teams. The Jaguars agreed to terms with Eugene Monroe on a five-year deal worth $35.4 million with about $19 million guaranteed on Friday. Cincinnati recently offered Smith a $33 million deal, which is about $5 million less Darrius Heyward-Bey got from Oakland.

The Bengals offered Michael Vick a two-year deal, according to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports. The contract was worth $2.3 million, but the quarterback opted to join the Eagles for a two-year deal worth $1.6 million in the only guaranteed season.

The Bengals released running back Kenny Watson and fullback J.D. Runnels on Monday morning. Watson had his contract termination by Cincinnati, which makes him an unrestricted free agent. The eight-year veteran had spent the last six years with the Bengals.

Carson Palmer sent a public warning to Tom Brady that recovery from major knee surgery isn't just physical. Palmer suffered an injury in 2006 that was very similar to what Brady incurred last fall. "The biggest part was the mental block of the confidence of following though on your throws," said Palmer, according to the Los Angeles Times. "Still to this day I'm trying to get over this mental block. There's just somebody somewhere near you -- because your eyes are so focused downfield and you're looking at five different things in one play -- that there's somebody two yards away from you, two inches away from you, eight yards away from you, and you feel that."

The Bengals and first-round pick Andre Smith remain far apart in their contract negotiations. Cincinnati has offered $33 million, according to sources close to the talks. The number is more than $5 million less than Darrius Heyward-Bey, the seventh pick, got from the Raiders. Smith was taken sixth by the Bengals.