The Bengals are filling in the blanks. That's what you have to do when you spend a second round draft pick on a player who's really a luxury, and you need help on defense.

Ed Hartwell, a linebacker, Blue Adams a cornerback and Kendrick Allen, a tackle, all signed free agent deals with the Bengals this week. Be still my beating heart.

While the Patriots load up on established super stars and mortgage the future to win now, the Bengals are bargain hunting.

That's the difference between the two franchises. One will take a mortgage out on their future, the other wants to pay bills with cash now.

Two weeks after the draft, I still contend that Kenny Irons, while gifted player who will be a star in the NFL, was a luxury pick. The Bengals defense was crying out for help and was neglected in this draft. Maybe the fourth, sixth and seventh round picks will pan out. But you rarely find impact players that low in the draft. Instead of Irons, the Bengals could have taken defensive tackle, Turk McBride out of Tennessee or defensive end Tim Crowder out of Texas, both excellent young players with tremendous upside. Irons, with Rudi Johnson, TJ Houshmandzadeh, Chad Johnson and other wide receivers, may only get on the field a handful of times during a game. Few teams use two man backfields anymore.

I hope I'm wrong. I'll admit it if I am. But I've seen nothing so far since the end of last season, that makes me believe this season the Bengals defense will be any better.

This weekend and next, NFL begin the spring ritual of mini camps. Most of the early camps are for rookies and undrafted college free agents. Here in Cincinnati, the Bengals open their on Friday. There is one player that should draw lot of interest.

Kenny Irons is a gifted running back. In this current draft, he was the best of all the senior runnings back available. In the middle of round two, Irons was considered a good 'get' for any team. But for the Bengals, it was a reach.

This is a team that has no shortage of fire power. It can score from just about anywhere on the field. That's the good news. The bad news is, any team playing the Bengals can score from just about anywhere on the field. The Bengals defense is, to put it gently, pourous. So why would a team so desperate for defensive help choose a running back with its second round pick? Simply put, the Bengals were seduced by Irons' break away speed.

They thought they had that a few years ago, when they drafted Chris Perry number one. But he has been nothing but hurt in his time in Cincinnati. So this choice of Irons was really a make up pick. The thinking is, Irons will be a great change up from Rudi Johnson and insurance should Johnson get hurt. But if you're going to apply that logic to whom you pick, why not take a quarterback in round one, just in case Carson Palmer gets hurt? You don't, because that philosophy is usually termed a luxury. And few NFL teams can afford luxury picks.

The Bengals think they can. If their defense isn't any better this year than last, look back to draft day for at least one reason why.

Check out my web site: www.kenbroo.com. Friday, I'll be posting my latest Broo View podcast!

You read the experts, and most of them give the Bengals a "C" for their draft. I'm not into giving out grades. But I am into some second guessing.

Like why they had to draft a running back in round two. Or a quarterback in round 5? I simply don't get it. This is a team that did not make the playoffs last season, largely because it couldn't tackle and had trouble defending the run.

I doubt seriously if running back Kenny Irons or quarterback Jeff Rowe have the ability to stuff the run.

Don't get me wrong. These two players are good and each will have a chance to craft a career in the NFL in Cincinnati. But....both have to be considered luxury picks. And for a team with needs, I'd rather see a big of a reach for a player who can help, then a slam dunk for a player they don't really need.

Other draft day observations....the Lions are certifiably stupid. Another wide receiver? I don't care if he's Jerry Rice in his prime....the Browns made the right call with Joe Thomas at number three and a better call spending next year's number one to get Brady Quinn later in the draft....The Dolphins are certifiably stupid...Ted Ginn, Junior? The actually took a specialist rather than a quarterback who could be their franchise player for years....

The Reds had an expensive meal over the weekend. They ate the contract of relief pitcher Rheal Cormier. They've been trying to deal him since spring training started. Nobody wanted him. Cormier appeared to be finished when the Reds traded for him last summer. It happens. But why did general manager then sign Cormier to a new $2 million dollar deal after seeing what he did (or didn't do) when Cormier got here? I'm guessing Bob Castellini is asking the same thing today...since it's his money Krivsky is playing with.

Check out my web site Tuesday mid day www.kenbroo.com for the latest Broo v. Broo podcast. It's simply the hottest show in cyber space and the opinion are flying again this week.

Check back...