Ochocinco gets the boot

With Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco converting an extra point and kicking off Thursday night, he's inching close to territory where he can go soccer style and be known simply as "Ochocinco."

Good thing for coach Marvin Lewis that his star wideout didn't pull a groin while trying to tweet during his follow through. Sure, there's some validity to the argument of keeping the preseason fun, but Lewis can't afford to have Andre Caldwell lining up as a starter in Week 1.

If Ochocinco was playing for Bill Belichick or Andy Reid, there's zero possibility he could successfully lobby to take the place of a kicker for giggles. That's what you have 80-man rosters and training camp fodder like fourth-stringers Maurice Purify and David Richmond for. They tweak a hammy on an extra point, and all it costs the Bengals is an injury settlement.

Bengals sign Vakapuna to 4-year deal

FB Fui Vakapuna (7/215; 6-1, 253, Brigham Young) has signed a four-year deal that's worth $1.811 million, a source told ProFootballTalk.com. He started eight games at fullback last season with 291 yards on 54 carries and three touchdowns. The Bengals did not have a true fullback last year (Daniel Coats was more of a tight end). They consider him to be in the same mold as Fahu Tahi, who was on the Bengals practice squad in 2006, before being signed by Minnesota.