Bengals take a gamble by signing Owens

A year after they were featured on HBO's "Hard Knocks," the Cincinnati Bengals have scripted their own reality show.

T.O. and Ocho. Two self-conscious stars, one NFL team.

How will they fit? How will it work? Which receiver will provide most of the drama?

And, more importantly, will any of it help the Bengals get back to the playoffs?

The Bengals reached a contract agreement with receiver Terrell Owens on Tuesday, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. He's expected to report to training camp in a day or two.

The Bengals were his first choice, giving him a chance to team with close friend Chad Ochocinco, who has already dubbed the pair Batman and Robin. The Bengals made an offer on Monday, and Owens accepted a day later.

Players are required to report for the start of training camp on Wednesday in Georgetown, Ky. Owens is expected to show up when workouts begin on Thursday, said the person speaking on condition of anonymity because the team had made no announcement.

On his Twitter account, all Owens would say was, "Hoping 2 b a Bengal w/in the 24hrs!!" He's expected to sign his deal with he arrives in Georgetown.

Already, it's like something out of a reality show.

Ochocinco gushed about the matchup on his Twitter feed, welcoming Owens and joking that "all of our games have been moved to pay-per-view, you got to pay to see this."

When will Big Ben be back?The Pittsburgh Steelers expect to go through most or all of training camp without knowing the exact date when quarterback Ben Roethlisberger can play again.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell plans to visit the Steelers' camp on Aug. 5, but the stop is not specifically related to Roethlisberger's six-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. Goodell is visiting seven training camps during the first week of August.

Goodell said the suspension could be reduced by two games if Roethlisberger has no more behavioral issues and does all that is asked by the league. Roethlisberger was suspended April 21 after being accused of, but not charged with, sexually assaulting a Georgia college student in March.

Reality TV for Ryan, Jets: Rex Ryan's unpredictable mouth, Mark Sanchez's matinee idol looks and LaDainian Tomlinson's quest for a Super Bowl ring.

Must-see TV? Ross Greenburg certainly thinks so. And, that's just for starters.

The president of HBO Sports is convinced the New York Jets will be a huge hit on "Hard Knocks" this summer, and not just because he has rooted for them since he was a kid.

"I was out in LA a few weeks ago and people were talking about it, saying, 'Hey, the Jets are going to be great on this," Greenburg recently told The Associated Press at HBO's headquarters in Manhattan.

"The buzz is there."

Around the league: Star receiver Wes Welker was placed on the New England Patriots' active physically unable to perform list on Tuesday as he continued his strong recovery from knee surgery. ... Southern California coach Lane Kiffin says he was surprised by the lawsuit filed against him and USC by the Tennessee Titans after he hired Kennedy Pola, one of the NFL team's assistant coaches. ... Tim Tebow has agreed to a multiyear contract - not with the Denver Broncos, but with Jockey International, Inc., to be an underwear spokesman.