CINCINNATI, June 1 (UPI) -- The agent for Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Akili Smith has been told that his client will be cut by the team on Monday.
The plan for Smith's release was made known on the Bengals' Web site, intimating that the signing of veteran Shane Matthews Saturday made Smith expendable.
Smith has had a rough ride as a pro.
He was the third overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft, but never regained the form that made him on of the nation's top quarterbacks in his senior season at Oregon.
According to the Web site, he made no bones about his elation.
"It's a great day," Smith said from San Diego. "I'm looking to get a fresh start on my career. There was a fresh group of coaches that came in this year, but I didn't really think it was like a fresh start and that's what I'm going to get now."
His struggles were so profound that he was the team's No. 3 signal-caller each of the last two seasons. With Jon Kitna the likely starter next season, and the selection of Carson Palmer of Southern California as the top overall pick in this year's draft, the ouster of Smith is not a surprise.
In fact, he admitted that he saw no future with the team under new coach Marvin Lewis, who told his agent, Steve Mandell, that Smith might be better off elsewhere.
"Marv was good about it, and the team has been good to the family," Mandell told the Web site. "I've got a good enough relationship with the Bengals that both of us were able to get Akili an opportunity to find something as on as possible. I think it came down to what we talked about when we met with them before the draft. Akili wasn't going to be comfortable being the No. 3."
Smith was benched after 10 games in 2000, after which he had the lowest passing rating in the AFC.
"I just don't know why they drafted me if all they were going to give me were those 10 games," Smith said. "To tell you the truth, when Brat came and then they brought in Kitna, I thought that was a wrap then."
The release of Smith also will be an economic move.
They have to wait until post-June 1 to cut Smith, else the pro-ration of his $10.8 million signing bonus would accelerate under this season's salary cap at about $4 million. On Monday, it will be just $1.8 million.
As is customary, the Bengals had no official comment before the cut is official.
As a starter, Smith was just 3-14. In his last 382 attempts, he had thrown just three touchdown passes. He has a career passer rating of just 52.8 with five touchdown passes, 13 interceptions, and a completion percentage of 46.6.
Matthews started seven games for the Washington Redskins last season. He was signed as a free agent by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in March, but after drafting quarterback Chris Simms of Texas in April, the Bucs waived Matthews.
Last season, he threw for 1,251 yards with 11 touchdowns with nine interceptions for a 72.6 rating. In his career, he has passed for 4,712 yards and 30 touchdowns with 27 interceptions for a rating of 74.4.
