GEORGETOWN, Ky. - Kenny Irons might be a high-round draft pick, but he's still a rookie. That means the running back is subject to the hazing rituals all rookies must endure at their first training camp. That includes carrying helmets for veterans off of the practice field and falling for practical jokes, like performing conditioning tests when he didn't need to all because an older player knew he would fall for it.

"It was No. 28, Dexter (Jackson)," said Kenny Irons, the Bengals second-round draft pick from Auburn who signed a four-year deal with the team Thursday evening and was able to report to camp in time for Friday's first practice. "He told me because I was a rookie that I had to do my conditioning test again even though most of us did it during the OTAs. We did it before so I just figured I had to watch everybody else, but he said I was a rookie and I had to do again. I was running them and running them and after about the sixth one he said he was just joking.

"I did a couple more just for the conditioning."

The Bengals drafted Kenny Irons with the idea that he would give the offense a different style of back than that of starter Rudi Johnson or backup Kenny Watson. Kenny Irons has the reputation of being a quicker back than either of those two and a player who could do more damage on the perimeter of the field.

He doesn't see himself as a scatback, though. During his days in youth football and into high school he played linebacker.

"I grew up playing linebacker and when I made the transition to running back my brother said I couldn't run the ball because I always wore a big neck roll," said Kenny Irons, whose brother David is a rookie defensive back with Atlanta. "He would tease me, but now I tease him because he used to be a running back and would be the fast one always cutting. He was the scatback."

The Bengals have had good success with running backs selected in the second round during their history. Corey Dillon, Pete Johnson and Harold Green all rank in the top five of the franchise's all-time rushing list, and Ickey Woods had a stellar rookie season in 1988 before knee injuries cut short his career.

Kenny Irons would like to carry on that tradition. He got off to a good start by reporting on time.

"I wanted to be in the first day and I told my agent that much," Kenny Irons said. "He told me to be patient, but it was one of those things where I wanted to be here on time and I was. It worked out well. As long as I got here on time that's all that counts. I wanted to give myself the opportunity to get some playing time in the preseason and on game day, and me missing days is not helping me further my opportunity to get on the field."

ONE TO GO - Top pick Leon Hall remained the lone draft choice absent from camp as his agent, Doug Hendrickson, continues to negotiate with the club on a contract. Hendrickson did not reply to an e-mail from The Post seeking comment, but head coach Marvin Lewis said in a Friday press conference he believed a deal for Hall was imminent.

Lewis also characterized the negotiations with fourth-round pick Marvin White as imminent and that proved true. White, a safety, signed a four-year deal Friday evening and he will be in Georgetown for both of today's practice sessions.

ON HOLD - Lewis announced that nine players would start camp on the active physically unable to perform list because of various ailments, some more serious than others.

It was previously announced that linebacker David Pollack would not be playing this season as he continues to rehab from neck surgery and he should be moved to the injured reserve list once the regular season begins. Running back Chris Perry is still recovering from ankle surgery and could begin the regular season on the reserve PUP list, meaning he would have to miss the first six weeks of the season for a second straight year.

Starting tackles Willie Anderson and Levi Jones are also on the list, as is starting cornerback Johnathan Joseph. Jones had offseason knee surgery, while Joseph had to have foot surgery after he was injured during the June minicamp. As for Anderson, there are considerations given to 12-year veterans.

"Various things," Lewis said about what was ailing Anderson. "Twelve years of being a starting offensive tackle in the NFL."

The other players on the training camp PUP list, with their injuries, if known, are: cornerback Blue Adams (herniated disc in neck), cornerback Greg Brooks, fullback Jeremi Johnson and offensive lineman Nate Livings.

The players will be allowed to start practicing once the medical staff has cleared them.

OPEN TRYOUTS - The Bengals know what kind of player they have in tight end Reggie Kelly. What they don't know is who will be backing Kelly up. After Tony Stewart signed with Oakland in the offseason as a free agent the Bengals began searching for players to fill his role.

"The fun part is working with them, coaching them and seeing the light bulb come on a lot," said tight ends coach Jonathan Hayes. "It's kind of like watching 'American Idol' where you know there are some good singers, some OK singers and then there are some really bad ones."

In the four seasons Hayes has been with the team his position group has been stable. He's had Kelly, Stewart and Matt Schobel to coach. Schobel signed with Philadelphia after the 2005 season and the Bengals went with just two tight ends last season. Whether they keep two or three on the roster this season remains to be seen and that only adds to the intensity of competition.

First-year player Tim Day and rookie free agent Daniel Coats head the list of candidates but neither is guaranteed a roster spot by any means. Sean Mulcahy and Bobby Blizzard are also competing.

"I don't think anybody is expecting a lot from me," said Coats, who caught 86 passes in 46 games at Brigham Young. "I came from a place where I was primarily a blocker but in the offseason I worked a lot in running routes and catching the ball. I hope to be a force in that way. I wanted to make my game all-around."

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