The Bengals are fining RT Andre Smith for his absence from mandatory minicamp. Smith is tending to a personal issue, but whatever it is, it's not tugging at coach Marvin Lewis' heartstrings. "You have to be fair. There have to be ramifications," Lewis told FOX Cincinnati. The issue is reportedly unrelated to Smith's January arrest on weapons charges. He can be fined a maximum of $66,150 if he misses all three days of minicamp. Worries about Smith's post-getting paid behavior are already coming true.

Bengals RT Andre Smith did not show up for the Bengals' mandatory minicamp that began Tuesday.

Coach Marvin Lewis expects RT Andre Smith back for next week's minicamp. Smith missed all of "voluntary" OTAs while dealing with some "personal issues." Anthony Collins has been taking all of the reps at right tackle in his absence. Smith was re-signed to a three-year, $18 million deal in late April.

Bengals RT Andre Smith has yet to appear at OTAs. The recently re-signed right tackle has told the club he's dealing with "personal issues." Smith may well have a valid excuse for missing the "voluntary" sessions, but it's not a coincidence that a player who has never been known for his work ethic is missing the first team functions since signing his three-year, $18 million deal. Keeping Smith on the straight and narrow now that he's been paid is going to be a daunting task for coach Marvin Lewis.

Recently re-signed RT Andre Smith was absent from the start of Bengals OTAs on Tuesday. "He's got to deal with some stuff that he has to take care of and when he gets it taken care of he will be back up here," coach Marvin Lewis said. The sessions are "voluntary," but it's not a good sign that Smith is a no-show for the Bengals' first workouts since he signed his three-year, $18 million deal. SI's Peter King reported before the start of free agency that teams were "scared" Smith would lose his motivation once signed to a long-term contract. Cincinnati can only hope Smith doesn't revert to his old ways, and stays in shape.

Bengals re-signed RT Andre Smith. Despite being only 26 years old and grading out as Pro Football Focus' No. 4 offensive tackle in 2012, Smith generated no interest on the free agent market. Penny-pinching Bengals owner Mike Brown waited out Smith and his agent and came away a winner. Cincinnati will again field one of the top lines in football with Andrew Whitworth on Andy Dalton's blindside, Clint Boling and Kevin Zeitler at guard, Kyle Cook at center, and Smith at right tackle.

According to the Bengals' official website, nothing appears imminent in talks with free agent RT Andre Smith. Although coach Marvin Lewis said Tuesday that the "sun is emerging" in negotiations, it doesn't look like the Bengals are going to get Smith under contract before the draft. If they use the No. 21 overall pick on a tackle like Florida State's Menelik Watson, we'll know there's concern that a deal won't get done.

Coach Marvin Lewis thinks the "sun is emerging" in talks with free agent RT Andre Smith. Talks have undoubtedly been stalled by the dampened market for right tackles and the Bengals' penchant for pinching pennies. It sounds like the two sides are finally making some progress, as Lewis remains "hopeful" a deal gets done before the draft. Either way, it remains unlikely that Smith will move on from the team that drafted him sixth overall in 2009.

Per the Cincinnati Enquirer's Joe Reedy, the Bengals talked with free agent RT Andre Smith over the weekend. Things are moving at a snail's pace between the Bengals and Smith -- if they're even moving at all. There's no question that it's a good sign the two sides are still talking, but they've been in contact all offseason and nothing has developed. Ideally, the Bengals would lock Smith up before the draft, but the 26-year-old will have to lower his asking price for that to happen.

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said Friday that he's hopeful free agent Andre Smith will be re-signed before the draft. "We're getting down to the time of that because we feel it's important," Lewis said. "He wants to get it done but he has to get his representation and our people to come to an agreement. He's anxious for it to occur and hopefully it happens quickly." Lewis wouldn't rule out drafting a new right tackle if Smith isn't signed before the draft. The Bengals clearly want his asking price to come down.