Mark Curnutte started covering the Bengals and the NFL for The Enquirer in 2000. He previously wrote about urban affairs and other social issues for the Enquirer. He won the prestigious 1994 Unity Award from Lincoln University (Missouri) for "A Polite Silence," a seven-day series about race relations in Greater Cincinnati. He also has worked as an assistant features editor and features writer at The News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C. Curnutte is second vice president and a three-year board member of the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA). He is a 1984 Miami University graduate.
|
|
Paper: Rogers ends up with Browns
The reason wasn't clear, but the trade today of defensive tackle Shaun Rogers from the Lions to the Bengals didn't happen. Theories ranged late tonight from the league stepping in because the trade violated a salary-cap rule to one that the trade was never reported to the NFL office, leaving the Lions free to negotiate another deal with another team. Another explanation was faulty language in the trade forced the NFL to void it. According to The Detroit News, Rogers ended up with the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a third-round pick in April’s draft and cornerback Leigh Bodden. The Bengals had no comment tonight on the situation. According to the Associated Press in Detroit, the Lions were aggressively trying to trade Rogers because he was due to make a $1 million roster bonus at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.
Rogers deal off?
The Bengals' trade this afternoon with the Lions for defensive tackle Shaun Rogers, confirmed by Rogers' agent, now appears to be falling apart. Neither the Bengals nor the Lions would confirm the trade, though the Lions told the Detroit News before 4 p.m. that it was official. Bengals public relations director Jack Brennan emphasized in a call to The Enquirer that widespread reporting of the trade did not come from the Bengals. The issues appear to be differences on compensation -- initial information was the Bengals would give the Lions third- and fifth-round picks in April's draft -- and knowledge of an incident involving Rogers and a dancer at a strip club last year.
Safety McCree to visit
Former Chargers safety Marlon McCree, released Thursday after two seasons with the team, will visit Carolina, Miami and the Bengals, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune Chargers blog. The Bengals chose to let former starting free safety Madieu Williams to sign a six-year contract Friday with the Vikings. The Bengals were interested in McCree, a former University of Kentucky star, following his 2005 season with the Carolina Panthers. He signed with the Chargers instead.
Bengals draft picks
In addition to their No. 9 overall pick in the first round, the Bengals unofficially will have the 46th and 77th selections in the second and third rounds. That third-round pick, of course, has been traded today to the Lions in exchange for defensive tackle Shaun Rogers. Detroit also gets the Bengals' fifth-round pick. Compensatory picks have yet to be figured into the draft order. Those picks are additional selections awarded by the NFL based on a team's losses in free agency, in terms of number and quality of players, the previous year. The departures of Eric Steinbach, Kevin Kaesviharn and Tony Stewart, among others, should yield the Bengals a few compensatory picks, including one possibly as high as the third round. Those picks will be announced in late March at the league meeting. The Bengals could get as many as three or four compensatory picks. Compensatory picks can't be traded. The draft will be April 26 and 27.
DE Odom to visit Sunday
The Bengals are apparently set on remaking their defensive line. While it appears that end Justin Smith will sign with the 49ers -- or the Vikings if he doesn't do a quick deal in San Francisco -- the Bengals will entertain a prized free agent Sunday in Tennessee Titans defensive end Antwan Odom. Odom, a four-year veteran from Alabama, is a 274-pound defensive end who had a career-high eight sacks last season for the Titans. He is an unrestricted free agent. The visit with the Bengals will be his first.
League stops Rogers trade to Bengals
UPDATED: 10:25 p.m. The NFL nixed the trade today of Lions defensive tackle Shaun Rogers to the Bengals for two draft picks because it ran afoul of league salary-cap rules. The Bengals had agreed to trade third- and fifth-round picks to Detroit in April’s draft in exchange for Rogers, who plays at more than 360 pounds and had seven sacks among his 66 tackles in 2007. The Bengals confirmed nothing today, even as reports swirled nationally that Lions officials had said they'd traded Rogers to the Bengals for third- and fifth-round picks in April's draft. The Bengals have the 77th overall pick in Round 3 but are expecting to gain compensatory draft picks in the third and fifth rounds for 2007 free agent defections. Kennard McGuire, Rogers' agent, told The Enquirer in an e-mail this afternoon that Rogers had been traded to the Bengals. Neither the Bengals nor Lions backed out. The league stepped in to prevent the trade. The Detroit News is reporting tonight on its Web site that Rogers was headed to Cleveland for a third-round pick and cornerback Leigh Bodden. Browns coach Romeo Crennel said last week at the scouting combine that their priority was to upgrade their front seven defensively. ORIGINAL POST: I'm working now to get details on what I have learned is a Bengals trade with the Detroit Lions for defensive tackle Shaun Rogers. Rogers' agent, Kennard McGuire, confirmed the trade in an e-mail to The Cincinnati Enquirer. The Bengals, though, as of 5:30 p.m., were not in a position to confirm it, public relations director Jack Brennan said. Rogers, at 340 pounds, could play nose tackle in a 3-4 defense. He will turn 29 next month and is a seven-year veteran. He had 66 tackles last season for the Lions, seven of them sacks. The Bengals are trading their third-and fifth-round picks to the Lions in exchange for Rogers. After the 2004 season, Rogers signed a six-year, $46 million contract extension that made him the league's highest paid defensive tackle at the time. He has three years remaining on a contract that will pay him $4.25 million in 2008. Rogers was suspended for four games during the 2006 season for violation of the substance abuse policy. He denied taking steroids and said the banned substance was in an appetite suppressant he was taking to control late-night cravings. The Bengals are apparently set on remaking their defensive line. While it appears that end Justin Smith will sign with the 49ers -- or the Vikings if he doesn't do a quick deal in San Francisco -- the Bengals will entertain a prized free agent Sunday in Tennessee Titans defensive end Antwan Odom. Odom, a four-year veteran from Alabama, is a 274-pound defensive end who had a career-high eight sacks last season for the Titans. He is an unrestricted free agent. The visit with the Bengals will be his first.
Dhani Jones to re-sign with Bengals
UPDATE: Agent Donald Yee's assistant has confirmed the Bengals and linebacker Dhani Jones have agreed on terms for a three-year contract. The Bengals appear to be close to finalizing a contract to re-sign outside linebacker Dhani Jones, who signed with them first as a street free agent in September after his release by New Orleans. Jones, who turned 30 on Feb. 22, played in 14 games and made nine starts for the Bengals. He started the final eight games at weak-side linebacker and was second on the team with 111 tackles. He added seven on special teams. The Bengals are waiting for the contract to come back via fax from Jones' Los Angeles-based agent, Donald Yee.
6-year deal for Madieu with Vikings
By Mark Curnuttemcurnutte@enquirer.comMadieu Williams is a former Bengal. The four-year veteran safety has agreed on parameters on a six-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings and is on a plane now headed to Minneapolis, agent Kenny Zuckerman said late this morning. The contract with worth a total of $33 million. "Leslie gave Minnesota the advantage," Zuckerman said of former Bengals defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, now with the Vikings. Frazier was Bengals coordinator in 2003 and 2004 before being fired by head coach Marvin Lewis and replaced with Chuck Bresnahan, who was fired in January and replaced with Mike Zimmer. Williams said Frazier is as good a coach as he ever had. The Bengals made no offer to Williams but asked Zuckerman to check back with them with information about any other offers he had received. As many as four other teams showed serious interest in Williams, Zuckerman said. Williams was the second of two Bengals second-round draft choices in 2004. He played in 13 games with 13 starts last season, finishing sixth on the defense with 73 total tackles, including two sacks. He had two interceptions. Williams finished the season on the injured reserve list after sustaining a thigh injury in the Pittsburgh game. The Bengals started two rookie safeties down the stretch in Marvin White and Chinedum Ndukwe and now appear comfortable moving forward with them as their starters. Veteran Dexter Jackson might be an offseason salary-cap casualty.
49ers target Justin Smith
Justin Smith, the Bengals unrestricted free agent defensive end, will make his first visit to the San Francisco 49ers and not the Minnesota Vikings, according to ESPN.com. Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, Bengals coordinator in 2003 and 2004, wanted Smith there first. Smith will not visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to PewterReport.com. Lines of communication will remain open between the Bengals and Jim Steiner, Smith's agent, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis has said. Smith told Lewis that he would give the Bengals the chance to re-sign him. UPDATE: Word is the 49ers are saying they won't let Smith get out of town without a contract. He is scheduled to fly to Minnesota later today or Saturday. The 49ers run a 3-4 (three linemen, four linebackers), a scheme in which Smith has not played as a pro. The Vikings play a 4-3 and have two dominating defensive tackles in Pat Williams and Kevin Williams. Frazier knows that Smith would not get double-teamed the way he was with the Bengals. Smith's sack totals would increase with a team like the Vikings, and he would benefit from playing alongside those tackles, who occupy blockers. During Frazier's two seasons as Bengals defensive coordinator, 2003 and 2004, Smith had five and eight sacks. Smith as 43.5 sacks in his career and has started an impressive 107 consecutive games.
Bengals tender exclusive rights players
The Bengals this afternoon announced that third-year players Glenn Holt, Rashad Jeanty and Corey Mays have been offered one-year tenders. Running back Dan Burks was not tendered. Holt is a wide receiver, and Jeanty and Mays linebackers. The tenders are for the one-year minimum of $445,000 for players with two credited seasons. Their contracts have expired, but they do not have enough credited seasons to gain free agency. The Bengals retain their exclusive rights for 2008 by making the offers. The players each have the option of signing the tender offer or negotiating a longer-term contract with the Bengals.
Changing teams
In 2007, 126 of 308 NFL unrestricted free agents signed with new teams, according to the league.
Bengals tender Fitzpatrick
The Bengals this morning announced they have offered a restricted free agent tender to quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. But the club did not offer tender contracts to wide receiver Tab Perry and offensive tackle Adam Kieft, releasing them to free agency. The Bengals are trying to reach a contract with Perry, though they did not tender him in free agency. Fitzpatrick received a "draft-status" tender, the team said without revealing the amount. It is $927,000. By making the tender, the Bengals gain the right to retain Fitzpatrick by matching any offer sheet he would sign from another team. Fitzpatrick could also remain with the Bengals by signing the tender offer, or by negotiating a longer-term contract with them. Fitzpatrick entered the NFL in 2005 as a seventh-round draft choice of St. Louis, and his Bengals tender is at a dollar amount which qualifies as his "draft-status level." If he signs elsewhere and the Bengals decline to match, the Bengals will be compensated his new team’s seventh-round choice in the 2008 draft. The deadline for a restricted free agent to sign an offer sheet from another team is April 19. Any restricted free agent who has not signed an offer sheet by that date will have his 2008 NFL rights revert exclusively to his 2007 club. Perry and Kieft remain unsigned. They will be eligible to negotiate with any NFL team, including the Bengals, as of Friday, when the NFL's veteran free agency signing period begins. Kieft has not played in a game since sustaining a serious knee injury in training camp as a rookie in 2005. Perry, because of hip and knee injuries, has played in only four games the past two seasons.
Free agency eve
The San Francisco 49ers are looking seriously at Bengals defensive end Justin Smith, according to The Sacramento Bee. End Bryant Young retired, and Marques Douglas is an unrestricted free agent. If the Bengals are indeed moving to the 3-4, Douglas might be a good fit. The Colts terminated the contract of defensive tackle Anthony "Booger" McFarland, who tore his patella tendon last year. His agent told The Indianapolis Star that McFarland's rehab is ahead of schedule. The New York Daily News reports that the Jets are poised to make a Steelers left guard Alan Faneca or Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel the richest player in franchise history.
Big plans for Fanene
Defensive end Jonathan Fanene has shown the Bengals something. Thanks to agents Andy Simms and Dave Lee of PlayersRep Sports, Fanene will earn $2 million in the first year of his three-year contract signed Tuesday. Fanene received $750,000 to sign and can earn a $50,000 workout bonus and $300,000 reporting bonus. His base salary for 2008 is $900,000. His size, 295 pounds, and quickness make his a potential end in the 3-4 defensive scheme that appears to be the future for the Bengals. In his second and third years, Fanene's base salaries will be $1,150,000 with $50,000 workout bonuses. Fanene, who will be a fourth-year player this season, played in 14 games (no starts) for the Bengals in 2007, recording six tackles, one sack, one fumble recovery and two passes broken-up. Slowed by hamstring injuries, Fanene had played in just seven games his first two seasons. He was the Bengals' seventh-round draft pick (233 overall) in 2005. Friday, during an interview at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said he is looking for Fanene and third-year end Frostee Rucker to compete for playing time and contribute in 2008. The money the Bengals have invested in Fanene suggests they're looking for a great deal of production from him. The other contract signed Tuesday by a Bengals player was wide receiver Antonio Chatman's two-year deal. He will get $620,000 base salaries in 2008 and 2009. His signing bonus is $200,000. Chatman's workout bonuses will be $20,000 this year and $25,000 in 2009.
Free-agency forecast
The free agency period will begin at midnight Friday morning, and, as the case has been in recent years, the Bengals are more likely to go slow at the start -- concentrating their efforts on retaining their own free agents and avoiding the first few days of action when prices are largely inflated. There will be visits to Cincinnati by some free agents early on, but the possibility of any quick deals by the Bengals is remote. This year, the Bengals' free agency focus is on bringing back a combination of these 2007 defensive starters: safety Madieu Williams, linebackers Landon Johnson and Dhani Jones and end Justin Smith. Jones might re-up this weekend. Still, if the Bengals don't re-sign any of their other free agents before midnight Friday morning, the club will let the market set the price for their players. As they've done in the past, Bengals executive will ask agents to come back to them with any offers their free agents might get from another team. The Bengals prefer to spend most of their salary cap money on players they've drafted or have had in their system. Toward that end of teams looking to retain their top talent, 12 clubs, including the Bengals, used the binding franchise (11 teams) and transition (one) designations on their top free agent. The Bengals' use of the franchise tag on offensive lineman Stacy Andrews and the possible departure of Smith as a sought-after free agent would suggest the Bengals will be seeking defensive linemen or linebackers with experience in the 3-4. The draft also is deep in defensive ends ready-made to play the in-between role of outside linebacker/pass rusher in a pro-style 3-4. Another chilling effect on free-agent activity could be the looming labor problem. The collective bargaining agreement, approved 30-2 two years ago (Bengals president Mike Brown was one of the two no votes), is up for re-examination by owners; 24 of 32 votes would be needed to keep it in place before the November deadline. Recently, even such large-market owners as Denver's Pat Bowlen and New England's Robert Kraft have suggested the CBA is bad for the league. Jerry Jones, Cowboys owner and general manager, told The Dallas Morning News this week that he thinks owners will opt out of the deal, which would mean the end of the salary cap after the 2009 season and could usher in the potential for small market-big market economic disparity similar to Major League Baseball.
Chatman, Fanene sign
The Bengals this afternoon announced that they've signed wide receiver Antonio Chatman and defensive end Jonathan Fanene to two- and three-year contracts, respectively. Chatman was eligible for unrestricted free agency, Fanene for restricted free agency. Chatman, who will be a sixth-year player in 2008, played in 13 games with one start for the Bengals in 2007 and was the team's primary punt returner. He had 19 catches for 149 yards and one touchdown receiving, and he averaged 5.2 yards on 18 punt returns with no fumbles. Fanene, who will be a fourth-year player this season, played in 14 games (no starts) for the Bengals in 2007, recording six tackles, one sack, one fumble recovery and two passes broken-up.
NFL calendar
The NFL this afternoon released its calendar through its kickoff weekend. Thursday: Deadline for submission of qualifying offers by clubs to their restricted free agents whose contracts have expired and to whom they desire to retain a right of first refusal/compensation. Thursday: Deadline for clubs to submit offer of minimum salary to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with fewer than three seasons of free agency credit whose contracts have expired. Friday: Veteran free agency signing period begins. Friday: Trading period begins. (March 24: Bengals' offseason strength and conditioning program begins.) March 30-April 3: NFL Annual Meeting, Palm Beach, Fla. April 18: Signing period ends for restricted free agents. April 25: Deadline for old club to exercise right of first refusal to restricted free agents. April 26-27: NFL Draft, New York City. May 19-21: NFL Spring Meeting, Buckhead, Ga. June 1: Deadline for old clubs to send tender to unsigned unrestricted free agents to receive exclusive negotiating rights for rest of season if player is not signed by another club by July 22. June 1: Deadline for old clubs to send tender to unsigned restricted free agents or to extend qualifying offer to retain exclusive negotiating rights. June 15: Deadline for old clubs to withdraw original qualifying offer to unsigned restricted free agents and still retain exclusive negotiating rights by substituting tender of 110 percent of previous year's salary. June 29-July 2: NFL Rookie Symposium, Carlsbad, Ca. Late July: Training camps open. July 22: Signing period ends at 4 p.m. for unrestricted free agents who received June 1 tender. Aug. 3: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, Canton, (Indianapolis vs. Washington). Aug. 7-11: First preseason weekend. Aug. 26: Roster cutdown to maximum of 75 players. Aug. 30: Roster cutdown to maximum of 53 players. Sept. 4-8: Kickoff 2008 Weekend.
What we learned at combine
The annual NFL scouting combine, bigger and more formal than ever, is closing down with final workouts today. Player availability to media has ended. Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said everything he has to say Friday. A lot of NFL coverage this time of year involves the reading of tea leaves and connecting dots. But here's what we know after five days in Indianapolis: 1. Bengals free agent defensive end Justin Smith is going to be a popular player when free agency opens Friday, with the 49ers and Browns reportedly the most recent teams to send signals that they are interested. Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, St. Louis and Minnesota are thought to be interested, too. Lewis said Smith, and Smith has agreed, to give the Bengals a chance to sign him. But efforts to reach a deal on a multi-year contract have not been successful over the past couple of years, and Smith will be very expensive. He has started 107 consecutive games and plays hard every down. 2. Speaking of Minnesota, the Vikings will aggressively pursue Bengals free agent safety Madieu Williams. 3. The draft is deep at defensive end, so if Smith does go, there are plenty of highly-regarded prospects available. 4. There also are a number of quality running backs, a class beefed-up by early-entry juniors, available should the Bengals be serious about spending another high-round pick on a ball carrier. 5. The decision to use their franchise tag to secure free agent offensive lineman Stacy Andrews was widely received as the right move by several Bengals assistant coaches. Andrews' reputation as a hard-worker and that his best years as a football player have yet to arrive are almost universally held inside the organization. Here's what we think: 1. If I'm drafting for the Bengals, I draft the best defensive lineman available at No. 9 in the first round, tackle or end. And I stay on that side of the ball in Round 2. 2. The re-signings of unrestricted free agent wide receiver Antonio Chatman and restricted free agent defensive lineman Jonathan Fanene are solid moves. I'd like to see what both Chatman and Fanene could do with completely healthy seasons. 3. With a three-year deal, and what I hear is pretty good money, the Bengals are planning for Fanane to play. Now if 2006 third-round pick Frostee Rucker, another defensive end, could come to training camp healthy and ready to play. ... 4. Though linebacker Ahmad Brooks' rehab from groin surgery was shut-down for a couple of weeks -- he is expected to return this week -- his effort is a positive sign for Bengals fans. The light truly has gone on for Brooks. He understands the opportunity in place. He has the look of a stopper in the middle of the defense. 5. Commissioner Roger Goodell said a decision on linebacker Odell Thurman's application for reinstatement will be made before training camp. Goodell didn't necessarily say immediately right before camp in June or July. But the Bengals, and Thurman, would seem to deserve a decision before free agency gets too old and definitely before the draft. At the league meetings last March, Goodell said his new personal conduct policy and decisions about suspensions -- including those of Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry (eight games) and Tennessee cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones (full season) would be made before the draft to allow teams to address potential needs. They were made in early April.
Inside the dome
INDIANAPOLIS -- As a member of the Pro Football Writers of America, I was allowed to watch a scouting combine workout early this afternoon in the RCA Dome. It featured quarterbacks and wide receivers. Kentucky quarterback Andre Woodson did not work out because of a hamstring injury suffered a couple of weeks ago. Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan did not throw. The rest of the quarterbacks were not impressive. Nebraska's Sam Keller is slow in his mechanics and was consistently inaccurate. Stanford's T.C. Ostrander wasn't much better. Wide receivers Mario Manningham (Michigan) and Marcus Monk (Arkansas) were most fluid. Manningham's hands are soft. When some receivers catch the ball, there is a louder smacking sound against the hands. The sound of the ball hitting Manningham's hands did not echo through the nearly-empty dome. The sound was absorbed. -- In the next session of the afternoon, Arkansas running back Darren McFadden ran his two 40-yard sprints in 4.27 and 4.33 seconds. -- A story broke today that LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, one of the top-rated players in the draft and the potential No. 1 overall pick by the Dolphins, has lingering problems related to a stress fracture from 2006 in his right tibia. NFLDraftScout.com reported today that Dorsey underwent a physical here Saturday and was sent to the hospital for additional tests. Dorsey just spoke here in the media room and answered questions about his leg. "I played every game at LSU. I'm fine," said Dorsey, who didn't workout here because his grandmother died recently, which caused him to suspend his training briefly. -- Word in the hallway, heavily traveled by NFL team personnel going from the dome to their hotel, is that the Minnesota Vikings will make a serious run at Bengals safety Madieu Williams in free agency beginning Friday.
Latest on Chad Johnson
INDIANAPOLIS -- Agent Drew Rosenhaus is currently holding court with dozens of reporters at the Indiana Convention Center. He is mainly discussing the signing of street free agent linebacker Zach Thomas, formerly of the Dolphins, with Thomas' hometown Dallas Cowboys. Rosenhaus also is the agent for Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson, who, in the past two months, has expressed his unhappiness with his situation in Cincinnati. Asked just minutes ago about Johnson -- quiet since the Pro Bowl -- Rosenhaus said, "There is nothing new to report about Chad Johnson. Status quo." On Friday, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, the object of much of Johnson's ire, declined to talk about the Johnson situation and said he had still not talked with Johnson since the regular-season finale Dec. 30 at Miami.
3-year deal for DE Fanene
By Mark Curnuttemcurnutte@enquirer.comINDIANAPOLIS -- High-energy defensive end Jonathan Fanene has reached agreement on a three-year contract to remain with the Bengals. Fanene, the team’s seventh-round draft pick in 2005, played in a career-high 14 games last season. He had six total tackles, including one sack in the season finale at Miami. He has played in 21 games with one start and has 14 career tackles. Fanene, slowed in his first two seasons by hamstring injuries, was eligible to be a restricted free agent. NFL teams have until Thursday to offer tenders to restricted free agents. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, offensive tackle Adam Kieft and wide receiver Tab Perry are the Bengals’ other restricted free agents. Coach Marvin Lewis was asked today about Fanene and fellow defensive end Frostee Rucker. "Both guys have ability to play," Lewis said. "Fanene got his opportunities last year and did a good job."
Coughlin: TE Matthews important
INDIANAPOLIS -- New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin, less than three weeks removed from winning Super Bowl XLII, met with the national media this morning at the scouting combine. Then, walking back to the Westin Hotel, Coughlin was asked by The Enquirer for his comments on back-up tight end Michael Matthews, a 2002 graduate of Sycamore High School. "He caught our attention right away with his ability to grasp what we were doing," Coughlin said of Matthews, a rookie free agent from Georgia Tech who signed with the Giants last May. "He gave great effort, blocked very, very well. Had a real good training camp, secured a position on our team in training camp. "He's another one of those young guys that just, it was never too big for him. He really performed in a role that we needed throughout the course of the season. We were very, very pleased to have him." -- In other news early this afternoon, Atlanta won the coin flip and will draft No. 3 in the draft. Oakland will draft fourth, and Kansas City fifth.
Lewis: `Disappointed' no deal with Stacy
INDIANAPOLIS -- Though he spoke positively about Stacy Andrews' performance, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis told Cincinnati-based media late this morning at the NFL scouting combine that he is disappointed that the team has yet to reach a long-term deal with offensive lineman Stacy Andrews. The Bengals used their franchise tag designation Monday on Andrews, severely limiting his ability to sign with another team. "It's up to both parties," Lewis said. "We have been more than fair. I feel good about that." Lewis anticipates that Andrews would compete for a starting job. He wouldn't be specific whether that would be at guard or tackle. Lewis also said the Bengals have not necessarily given up on the possibility of re-signing defensive end Justin Smith. Asked if the Bengals had resigned themselves that Smith would leave via unrestricted free agency, similar to their attitude last year about offensive lineman Eric Steinbach, Lewis said the Bengals remain hopeful Smith would come back. Lewis said Smith has more ties to Cincinnati, unlike Steinbach. Lewis said Smith, like rising free agents Landon Johnson at linebacker and Madieu Williams at safety, night need to get on the market and see what their value is. "It's still part of our plan, the ability to sign these guys," Lewis said of Williams and Johnson. "But it's got to work in the number of where the compensation would be. It might be where they need to go out and see what the market is for their services." In other news: -- Linebacker Ahmad Brooks was sent home for a couple of weeks after experiencing soreness in his abdomen. He is rehabbing from in-season groin surgery. -- Lewis confirmed that the offseason strength and conditioning program will begin March 24. -- The coach has not spoken in the past 10 days to disgruntled wide receiver Chad Johnson. -- Lewis is optimistic that tailback Rudi Johnson is going to come back a hungry player, determined to return to his form of 2004, after a nagging hamstring injury limited him in 2007. Lewis said Johnson also is adjusting his diet and might come back a heavier player, more like the powerful tailback from his 1,500-yard rushing seasons, not the leaner player of the past two seasons.
Three Buckeyes this year
INDIANAPOLIS -- Three Ohio State players are participating this year in the NFL scouting combine: offensive tackle Kirk Barton, defensive end Vernon Gholston and outside linebacker Larry Grant. Grant was not mentioned on the official list on NFL.com. Asked about the fact that just three Buckeyes were here this year, Barton said, "We'll make up for that next year. We'll have 25." Gholston, an early-entry junior, is the highest-rated Ohio State player. He is projected as a top-10 pick.
Two-year deal for WR Chatman
INDIANAPOLIS -- Wide receiver Antonio Chatman has agreed to terms on a two-year contract to return to the Bengals. Agent Mark Mersel said the Bengals, particularly head coach Marvin Lewis and wide receivers coach Mike Sheppard, have been very supportive of Chatman and are encouraged by his renewed health. Groin and hamstring injuries limited Chatman to 16 games and one start in the past two seasons. He has 22 receptions, 19 in 2007, with the Bengals. He also returned 18 punts last season for a 5.2-yard average. -- Mersel also represents former Bengals linebacker Marcus Wilkins, who signed last year with Atlanta. Wilkins was released by the Falcons last week and would be interested in returning to Cincinnati, where he was a leading special teams tackler. "It's a natural fit," Mersel said of a possible Wilkins return. -- Also today, agent Kennard McGuire met with Bengals negotiators about a contract extension for wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh. There was nothing to report, McGuire said. ... Meetings between the Bengals and agents for safety Madieu Williams (Friday) and linebacker Landon Johnson (Saturday) appear to be set. Both players can be unrestricted free agents a week from Friday.
List of franchise, transition players
From NFL PR: Franchise and transition players for the 2008 NFL free agency signing period that begins Feb. 29 were announced today by the league. A club can designate one franchise player or one transition player among its veteran free agents. The salary offer by a player's club determines what type of franchise player he is. An exclusive franchise player -- not free to sign with another club -- is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries at the player's position as of April 18, or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater. Oakland cornerback Nnamda Asomugha was designated by the Raiders this year as an exclusive franchise player. If the player is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries of last season at his position, or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, he becomes a non-exclusive franchise player and can negotiate with other clubs. His club can match a new club's offer, or receive two first-round draft choices if it decides not to match. The signing period for non-exclusive franchise players to sign with new clubs is Feb. 29 through the 10th week of the season (Nov. 11). A transition player receives a minimum offer of the average of the top 10 salaries of last season at the player's position or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater. A transition player designation gives the club a first-refusal right to match within seven days an offer sheet given to the player by another club after his contract expires. If the club matches, it retains the player. If it does not match, it receives no compensation. Franchise and transition players for 2008: 2008 FRANCHISE PLAYERS PLAYER ... POS. ... CLUB Jared Allen ... DE ... Kansas City Stacy Andrews ... OL ... Cincinnati *Nnamdi Asomugha ... CB ... Oakland Karlos Dansby ... LB ... Arizona Jordan Gross .... T ... Carolina Ken Hamlin ... S ... Dallas Albert Haynesworth ... DT ... Tennessee L.J. Smith ... TE ... Philadelphia Terrell Suggs ... LB ... Baltimore Marcus Truffant ... CB ... Seattle Corey Williams ... DT ... Green Bay 2008 TRANSITION PLAYER PLAYER ... POS. ... CLUB Max Starks ... T ... Pittsburgh
On Stacy Andrews
INDIANAPOLIS -- Kevin Colbert, director of football operations for the Pittsburgh Steelers, understands the importance of offensive linemen. The Steelers this week placed the transition tag -- another binding designation in free agency -- on offensive lineman Max Starks. Keeping an eye on the division rival Bengals, Colbert saw that they used their franchise tag on offensive lineman Stacy Andrews. "Stacy has had a great career for those guys. He's just starting to develop," Colbert said. "He played very well against us. He's not a surprise (tag)."
... is another man's treasure
INDIANAPOLIS -- Word around the NFL scouting combine this morning is that Bengals defensive end Justin Smith, now free of the binding franchise tag, will be a popular player on the market when free agency opens Feb. 29. One suitor might be Smith's home-state St. Louis Rams, who are in need of a defensive end. Tampa Bay is said to be interested in Smith, as well.
Bengals to talk with agents
INDIANAPOLIS -- Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, as a member of the NFL Competition Committee, had a meeting upstairs at the Westin Hotel. So did Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, as one of the players on NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's advisory committee. On a bench outside of the meeting rooms sat Kennard McGuire, Houshmandzadeh’s agent. After Lewis and Houshmandzadeh broke from their respective meetings this afternoon -- the eve of the annual NFL scouting combine -- the three men spoke. Houshmandzadeh, a first-time Pro Bowl player in 2007, is entering the last season of a four-year contract that pays a base salary of $2.525 million. Houshmandzadeh is looking for a extension. One of McGuire's selling points, besides his client's league-leading 112 receptions, is Houshmandzadeh's leadership in the locker room. The agent and Bengals management are expected to meet formally today to continue talks. Also scheduled for the combine are talks between the Bengals and agents for free agent linebacker Landon Johnson and free agent safety Madieu Williams.
Goodell: Thurman decision before camp
INDIANAPOLIS -- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said just a few minutes ago that a decision of suspended Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman would be made before the start of training camp, which opens in July. The NFL allowed Thurman, suspended for the past two years, basically, for repeated violations of the league substance abuse policy, to begin working out last month at Paul Brown Stadium with his teammates and meeting with coaches. "What we wanted to do was get him back in a structured environment," Goodell said on the eve of the NFL combine here. "He's in the program. He can make progress. If he can do that, we will make a decision prior to training camp." Goodell had emerged from a private meeting with NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw at the Westin Hotel in downtown Indianapolis. The annual NFL scouting combine starts Thursday, but league business was in full swing today.
Three Bengals back to school
This from Bengals PR: Three Bengals players -- tight end Nate Lawrie, safety Chinedum Ndukwe and wide receiver Tab Perry -- will participate in the 2008 NFL Business Management and Entrepreneurial Program. Ndukwe and Perry will attend sessions at the Harvard Business School from Feb. 24-27 and April 7-9. Lawrie will participate at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania from Feb. 24-27 and March 25-27. The program is part of an ongoing initiative by the NFL and the NFL Players Association, designed to assist players in preparing for their post-playing careers. Enrollment criteria includes level of education, professional business experience, interest in starting, owning, or managing a business, and leadership and community involvement. Under the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, players may be reimbursed for up to $15,000 this year for education expenses at an accredited institution of higher learning. During the breaks between the two sessions of their programs, players will work on projects which are outlined in the opening session. "This is a great opportunity that the NFL provides," said Ndukwe, a second-year player from Notre Dame. "It's basically free education from top professors, something that other people pay a lot of money to get. I have a strong interest in business and business strategy, and I know we'll be looking at a lot of things, like case studies, that should help me a great deal."
Andrews: OK with possible 6th-man role
If tackles Willie Anderson and Levi Jones are healthy next season, there's a chance that Stacy Andrews -- designated today as the team's franchise player -- could be the sixth man on the offensive line. He's OK with that. "I'm not worried about that at all," Andrews said late today of his potential role with the Bengals in 2008. He spoke by cell phone from him hometown of Camden, Ark. "They have something in store for me, whether it's at guard or tackle. Whatever is going to help the team I'll do." He is easy to coach. He works extremely hard. "Stacy, no question Stacy is a very important part of our football team," Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said last week. "We watch growth, whether it's been left guard or right tackle. You see a guy ascend. He has no bad habits. He's a good worker. He's a good studier. It's what you want." Andrews called the designation "an honor. I was hoping I was going to be able to get a (long-term) deal. I am excited, man. I've worked hard. I’m going to keep working hard."
The Bengals today placed the franchise tag on offensive lineman Stacy Andrews, severely limiting his ability to leave as an unrestricted free agent. He has been offered a one-year salary tender of $7.455 million, the average of the top five offensive lineman salaries in 2007. Andrews or defensive end Justin Smith, who received the tag last year, were the top candidates. Now Smith has no limitations on him once he hits the market Feb. 29. Another phone message left this afternoon for Smith's agent, Jim Steiner, has not yet been returned. The Bengals repeatedly had said they were trying to sign Smith to a long-term deal, but those efforts have not been successful. If Smith were to leave via free agency, that move could be part of a larger decision to move to a 3-4 defensive scheme in which three down linemen are used, not four.
Bengals plan meetings with agents
Bengals management will meet during the NFL scouting combine this week in Indianapolis with agents for linebacker Landon Johnson and free safety Madieu Williams, both eligible for unrestricted free agency beginning Feb. 29. Agents Andy Simms (Johnson) and Kenny Zuckerman (Williams) will meet with members of the Bengals front office during breaks at the combine, which will open Thursday. Last week, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said team negotiators had been in contact with all of the team's free agents. Lewis said an announcement of a franchise tag designation could come early this week. The deadline is Thursday. Defensive end Justin Smith and offensive lineman Stacy Andrews are the two unrestricted free agents most likely to get the designation. Tenders to restricted free agents are due by Feb. 28. Free agency and the new league year will begin the following day.
The Crumpler question
Your comments on the question of whether the Bengals should take a look at linebacker Zack Thomas (released by Miami) led to many of you wanting the Bengals to make a run at tight end Alge Crumpler, released Friday by the Falcons. Crumpler had the second highest salary cap number -- salaries, bonuses, etc. -- in the NFL last season at $4.7 million. He also has suffered injuries. Lost in the wave of big-name cuts was the termination of the contract of linebacker Marcus Wilkins, a productive member of the Bengals special teams before he signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Falcons a year ago. Here is more on Crumpler: By STEVE WYCHE The Atlanta Journal-Constitution The first jolt of change for the Falcons came Friday, when the team released seven players, including four former starters -- popular four-time Pro Bowl tight end Alge Crumpler among them. The cuts weren't that much of a surprise nor were they nearly as drastic as they could have been. Then again, more changes could be forthcoming. "Today we accomplished what we wanted to accomplish as far as refining this roster," general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. "Today, our salary cap is just shy of $17 million space. Will there be more moves in the near future or later? I can't answer that right now. I do know we will consider this process of evaluating the free-agent market as well as the draft dynamic and, at that time, we will re-evaluate if we need to make a move or not." Team owner Arthur Blank said projections are to have at least $23 million to spend in free agency, so more changes, either player cuts or salary restructuring, could be in order. Other than Crumpler, one of the team's longtime leaders and best players, former Pro Bowl defensive tackle Rod Coleman, left tackle Wayne Gandy, quarterback Byron Leftwich, linebacker Marcus Wilkins, wide receiver Jamin Elliott and cornerback Lewis Sanders were released. Among the tenured, high-salaried veterans spared in the initial wave of cuts: tailback Warrick Dunn, quarterback Joey Harrington, linebacker Keith Brooking, guard Kynan Forney, wide receivers Joe Horn and Brian Finneran, and safety Lawyer Milloy. The commonality of the higher profile cuts Friday -- medical issues. Crumpler, Gandy, Coleman and Leftwich were limited and missed playing time during the Falcons' 4-12 run last season because of injuries. "We looked at all the issues, weighed in all the factors, and it's not only age and injury," said Dimitroff, adding that scheme-fit and long-term contributions also were factors. Gandy (left knee), Coleman (right quadriceps, knee, triceps, pectoral) and Sanders (pectoral) finished the season on injured reserve. Crumpler, 30, never fully recovered from offseason knee surgery, missed two games and had his second-least productive season (42 catches, 444 yards, five touchdowns) of his stellar seven-year career. If healthy, Crumpler isn't expected to be out of work for long. Tampa Bay and Seattle are among teams in significant need of a tight end, especially one of Crumpler's stature.
Play GM: Do you pursue Zach Thomas
Dave Goldberg of the Associated Press is reporting that the Miami Dolphins will release linebacker Zach Thomas. If you are the Bengals, do you take a chance and sign him? By Dave Goldberg The Associated Press The Miami Dolphins will release seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker Zach Thomas, who plans to continue his career with another team. Thomas was told of the team's decision Thursday, a person close to the situation said on the condition of anonymity because the Dolphins have not announced anything. The decision was first reported on local newspaper Web sites. The Dolphins declined comment. The 34-year-old Thomas missed most of last season because of concussions and migraines and was placed on injured reserve against his wishes in December because of nagging migraines. He began suffering the migraines after he was involved in a car crash heading home following a loss to the New England Patriots on Oct. 21. He missed the final nine games as the Dolphins went 1-15. A fifth-round draft pick in 1996, Thomas has appeared in seven Pro Bowls. Until 2007, he started every game in which he played for Miami. His contract runs through the 2008 season.
Odell Thurman working out
Linebacker Odell Thurman, attempting to return to the Bengals and the NFL after what has amounted to a two-year league suspension for repeated violations of its substance abuse policy, continues to work out and has daily contact with head coach Marvin Lewis. "I see Odell daily," Lewis said Wednesday. "I think he is doing well, he's working extremely hard. He still has some hurdles to cross in terms of his league requirements. It gives him something to hang his hat on and look forward to. "It's a case of somebody who is a good man. He has meant nobody no harm. He has been his own worst (enemy). ... At some point he obviously didn't do something right. Unfortunately, early on, when he had the opportunity to turn this around, it didn't register. Now it has." Thurman was permitted late last month by the NFL to begin working out with teammates and strength coaches at Paul Brown Stadium. That decision was a positive indicator that Thurman would be reinstated by the NFL. Thurman will be just 25 on July 9. His rookie five-year contract, signed in 2005, was essentially frozen during his suspension. He has four years remaining on his deal with the Bengals. He has said in court that he is an alcoholic. "He's still a very young guy. I think he can (be productive)," Lewis said of Thurman. "This (working out with the team) enables him to get back to the baseline. If he is reinstated, his conditioning base line will be where most guys are probably at. He's not been able to be in a position to train. "If he can continue on this road, it will be a great story. It will be one where he can be a huge positive." Bengals policy is not to allow players under suspension to talk to the media. They didn't allow wide receiver Chris Henry to be interviewed during his suspension. The same goes for Thurman. Thurman's representatives have said they don't want to go against club protocol.
More from Lewis interview
In an interview late this afternoon in his Paul Brown Stadium office, where he discussed the upcoming NFL scouting combine next week, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said: -- The Bengals will use their franchise tag, though it would rather not. He would not say if defensive end Justin Smith, offensive lineman Stacy Andrews or safety Madieu Williams would be the recipient. -- Smith and Andrews, as the team's own unrestricted free agents, play key roles in the two major areas of need heading into free agency and the draft, and those are the defensive and offensive lines. -- Praised Andrews. "No question Stacy is a very important part of our football team," Lewis said. "We watch growth wherever we put him, left guard or right tackle." -- The defense remains a base four-lineman, three-linebacker scheme, though that setup could change in the next two months depending on personnel shifts. -- Injuries at running back make it an area where the team will investigate adding new players, though Lewis added that he is encouraged that Rudi Johnson will return as an invigorated, re-energized player after a 2007 season marred by a hamstring injury. Lewis called Johnson a "prideful young man." -- The Bengals are hopeful to get production from oft-injured Chris Perry but were "a little bit unsure" about Kenny Irons at running back. -- "(Pass) rushers on defense, that has to be a priority," Lewis said. "You have to be able to affect the football game by knocking the quarterback around." -- Tight end is an area that the team might finally act on, adding an athletic pass receiving tight end and teaching him how to block as he matures physically. Still, Lewis praised the trio of tight ends who ended the season on the roster, starter Reggie Kelly and backups Daniel Coats and Nate Lawrie. "We might take a lesser physical player at this point and get a better receiver," he said. -- The team would again, as it did in 2007, stay away from draft picks who have character issues. "You don't allow the discount (in where the player becomes available in the draft) to play a part in the decision," Lewis said. -- The offseason strength and conditioning program is likely to start March 24.
Lewis: Bengals will not trade Chad
By Mark Curnuttemcurnutte@enquirer.comIn his strongest statements to date about Chad Johnson, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis this afternoon said that the team will not trade the star wide receiver and has never even discussed it. "No. 1, the guy has a contract through 2011, OK," Lewis said in an interview with The Enquirer and the team Web site. "No one within the Bengals organization has ever spoken of or ever uttered anything about trading Chad Johnson, nor will he be traded. "There is no such thing as behind-the-door dealings in the NFL. That does not occur because the team in question (the Bengals) is not willing to trade their player nor have they thought about trading their player or discussed trading their player, or will they discuss trading their player. So I think that’s pretty clear. Things can move on. "Our player (Johnson), we know is very passionate about the game. He continues to play at a very, very high level. He has been very, very productive. He has been well-compensated and, unfortunately … " In the past month, Johnson has used the bully pulpit of the national media – primarily radio and the NFL’s own television channel, NFL Network – to criticize the Bengals and express his desire to play elsewhere. At one point, Johnson said Lewis stopped talking to him at mid-season. Lewis said this afternoon that he has not spoken to Johnson since the final regular-season game Dec. 30 at Miami. "People (in the building) talk to him," Lewis said. "It's unfortunate for Chad that he is being cast in this light because it’s not fair. So once again I will go on record in defense of him." The Washington Post reported Tuesday that the Redskins were interested in trading for Johnson because team owner Daniel Snyder wants an elite receiver. The NFL Players Association confirmed Tuesday what The Enquirer had reported a week ago, that the Bengals would take an $8.03 million salary cap hit if they traded or released Johnson before June 1. Lewis is confidence Johnson can return to the Bengals and fit in with his teammates. "We've had a great relationship," Lewis said of Johnson and the Bengals. "All I want to see is Chad continue to be a very, very productive NFL player and help us win a lot of football games. And that’s not going to change. "I think everybody in the NFL realizes, unfortunately, that contracts can be a very big part of what the game is all about. What you have to do as a football team is put some of that aside and not really worry about that and go back to work and work as a football team. That happens (across the league)." Lewis referenced the New York Giants, winners of Super Bowl XLII, though one of their top defensive players, end Michael Strahan, threatened to retire during training camp in a contract squabble. "He came back, he didn't get paid any more money, and he just played," Lewis said of Strahan.
Bengals sign S Jones to 1-year deal
Safety Herana-Daze Jones, an exclusive-rights free agent, signed a one-year contract today with the Bengals. He led special teams with 18 tackles in 2007, despite missing seven games with a knee injury that ended his season on the injured reserve list.
This tidbit from this morning's Washington Post: Numerous league sources have affirmed that the Redskins have interest in trading for Cincinnati wide receiver Chad Johnson, with two league sources saying Johnson is eager to land a hefty new contract from Washington. Acquiring an elite receiver is team owner Daniel Snyder's top priority, league sources said. The Bengals have said they have no intention of trading Johnson, but his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, is working quietly to broker a deal, the sources said. -- Question: Do you trade Johnson, and what would the requirements be for your trade?
Restricted free agency primer
The Bengals and other NFL teams will have until Feb. 28 to tender qualifying offers to their restricted free agents, players who have completed three seasons and whose contracts have expired. The Bengals' restricted free agents and their draft levels are defensive end Jonathan Fanene (seventh), quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (seventh), offensive lineman Adam Kieft (fifth) and wide receiver Tab Perry (sixth). Tenders for restricted free agents are expected to be announced by the NFL during the scouting combine, which begins Feb. 20. One-year tenders are expected to be $927,000 for draft-level compensation, $1.47 million for a second-round pick, $2.017 million for a first-round pick and $2.562 million for first- and third-round picks. Original teams can match an offer sheet the restricted free agent might sign with a new team. If the original team declines, it will receive draft pick compensation based on the tender it offered the player. Free agency starts Feb. 29.
Team waives LB Manning
The Bengals today waived linebacker Roy Manning. Manning, from the University of Michigan, is a fourth-year NFL player in 2008. He was acquired by the Bengals off waivers from Jacksonville on Nov. 13 and played in five games, with seven special teams tackles. The Bengals did not have to make a roster move to add another player. They are more than one but less than five under the offseason roster limit of 80. In other words, if linebacker Odell Thurman were about to be reinstated -- he has been allowed to return to workouts with the team -- the Bengals would not have had to waive Manning to put Thurman back on the roster.
T.J. ends up with four catches; NFC wins
By Mark Curnuttemcurnutte@enquirer.comT.J. Houshmandzadeh added two touchdown receptions in the Pro Bowl to go with the 12 he had in the regular season for the Bengals. Houshmandzadeh made his all-star debut a memorable one, grabbing four catches for 44 yards and the two touchdowns – from 16 yards and 1 yard – but the NFC defeated the AFC 42-30 tonight at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. Houshmandzadeh’s touchdown receptions came from Peyton Manning of the Colts and Ben Roethlisberger of the Steelers. He was shut out in the second half. But his first-half performance helped the AFC jump out to a 27-21 lead. Fellow wide receiver Chad Johnson was the only other Bengals player in Hawaii for the game. He had two receptions for 30 yards. Minnesota rookie running back Adrian Peterson was voted the game’s most valuable player after rushing for 129 yards – second most in Pro Bowl history – and two touchdowns. At the half, Houshmandzadeh looked to be the favorite to earn game MVP honors. Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer was MVP of the 2007 game. The NFC fared better in the red zone than the AFC. The NFC converted touchdowns on all six of its possessions inside the AFC 20-yard line. The AFC, on the other hand, was just three of five in scoring red-zone touchdowns. Houshmandzadeh, playing in his first Pro Bowl game in seven NFL seasons with the Bengals, told The Enquirer last week that he liked the offensive scheme of San Diego coach Norv Turner and was confident he would be used in a variety of ways. He was.
Big first half for T.J.
If you're not watching the Pro Bowl, Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh has had a big first half. He has two touchdown receptions for the AFC, which led 27-21 after two quarters. Houshmandzadeh, in his first Pro Bowl, had four first-half receptions for 44 yards. He caught a 16-yard touchdown from Peyton Manning and a 1-yard touchdown from Ben Roethlisberger. Fellow Bengals receiver Chad Johnson had one catch for 12 yards in the first half.
First NFL game next season Aug. 3
The National Football League will kick-off the 2008 preseason on Sunday, August 3, in Canton when the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins meet in the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, hall officials just announced this afternoon. It will begin at 8 p.m. on be telvised nationally on NBC's Sunday Night Football. The Hall of Fame Game, played the day after the induction of the hall’s newest class of enshrinees, caps a multi-day festival in Canton. The Class of 2008 – defensive end Fred Dean, cornerback Darrell Green, wide receiver Art Monk, cornerback Emmitt Thomas, linebacker Andre Tippett and tackle Gary Zimmerman – will be formally enshrined during a ceremony held the night before the game. Of course, the last game of the 2007 season is about to begin in Hawaii, the annual NFL Pro Bowl.
Chad and T.J. on NFL Network
Bengals wide receivers Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh with NFL Network analyst Jamie Dukes on "Put Up Your Dukes" today. Jamie: Let's talk about Madden (video game) for a minute. We're all Madden fans, you guys play Madden and my understanding is that one of the guys from the Cincinnati team wants to trade Madden teams. T.J. Houshmandzadeh: Uh ... I don't know if it works like that. We'll see … we'll see if they allow you to trade your team. Jamie: I think his rating wasn’t high enough in the Madden game and so the people weren't being appreciative of his Madden skill set. T.J.: Right. Jamie: And so I think he's feeling under appreciated. T.J.: If that’s the case, everybody knows how one feels so we'll see what happens. It's out of their control and we'll see. Wherever the ship takes you, that's where you go. Jamie: But you're not going to allow him to just change Madden teams, are you? T.J.: It's out of my control. I can't control that. I have no say-so, no control whatsoever, so you just to go out there and do what you do and whatever happens, happens. Jamie (to Chad): Let’s talk about your Madden game, the rating. Is it not high enough, or what's the deal? Chad Johnson: I think on Madden the ratings go up to a "99," am I correct? Jamie: Right. Chad: And as of last year I was a "98," so I'm one off of perfection, you know. That perfection has not been good enough in real life because I haven't gotten my team to the playoffs since 2005, I haven't gotten us to Super Bowl contention since 2001, so in other words … it is what it is. Jamie: Do you think that just the two of you and Carson (Palmer), is that enough? Chad: I don’t know if it's enough. I'm not sure if I'm really the solution to getting us there, you know? So far I've just really been the problem. But we have ample time to fix the problem and find a solution. Jamie (to T.J.): Are you surprised to hear that potentially (Chad) is the problem – in perception? T.J.: I'm not surprised by anything. Perception is reality so … I talk to Chad all the time, so I kind of know what's coming so it doesn’t surprise me. Again, whatever you can control, you can control. If it happens, it happens and will be the best for everybody and if it doesn’t, you go play. Jamie (to T.J.): But you go out on Sunday, you watch the film, you watch tape, you know what's going on, and to see and hear what's heard and the media reports talking about this and that and they don't make any sense … that's got to be frustrating. T.J.: I mean, you just wonder where it comes from. It has to start somewhere – Chad: A prominent source. T.J.: That's, that's the thing – Chad: A prominent source within the organization. Prominent. Jamie: You think, really? Chad: Prominent. T.J.: As for whoever has the "prominent source," I don’t know – Jamie (to Chad): You believe it's really coming from within? Chad: I think whatever happens in house gets out. That prominent source, you know. But the question will always remain, regardless … How do you stop 85? (said in Spanish). Always. (The question) will always remain. Just continue to replay it and let someone else translate it for you. Jamie: And you think they're stirring the pot within the organization? Chad: They've been stirring it for 16 weeks. Everybody had something to say for 16 weeks, in house, you know? I don’t know where all those voices are at now. I seem to be the only one speaking out. All those voices that talked for 16 weeks, where's all that man? Now’s the time to let it out. Jamie: How do you see it playing out? Chad: There's a man that sits high and there's a man that looks low. And I think he's going to take care of everything the way it's supposed to be taken care of. I've handled my business. I've done what I can do in my way … like Frank Sinatra, in my way. I've done it very well and I've done it consistently. I have not done it perfect, but I've done it consistently at a very high level. I have had a couple wrongs, I have gotten out of line every now and then, but what great one doesn't? What great one is not emotional about what he does, what great one does not have passion about what he does, what great one hates losing? Take those three, think about it, replay it and find me a great one that doesn’t do the same things that I've done in the past and I'll stop playing. Period. Jamie (to T.J.): Do you see a resolution in sight? T.J.: It's going to be a resolution whether somebody’s happy or not. A resolution is going to happen. The question is will it be a resolution that will make all parties happy. Of course they'll be a resolution, it has to be. Again, whatever happens, happens. You do what you do and whatever happens, you go with it.
After his first Pro Bowl practice Thursday in Hawaii, Bengals wide receiver allegedly shoved an NFL public relations official. Johnson also went on NFL Network, the league-owned TV station, and complained about the lack of support shown him by the Bengals and his teammates.
Catch up with Bengals Pro Bowl wide receiver in Hawaii as he prepares to play in the NFL's all-star game Sunday afternoon.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus on video discussing what he already has told The Enquirer about the Chad Johnson situation. Rosenhaus stressed that the matter will be handled professionally and privately.
Bengals sign punter
From Bengals PR: The Bengals today signed free agent punter Danny Baugher to a two-year deal. This is Baugher's second stint with Cincinnati. He signed with the Bengals as a college free agent out of Arizona in May 2006. He was waived shortly after training camp began later that year. He later was signed to New England’s practice squad, where he spent the last 11 games of the Patriots’ 2006 season. After being signed to the New England’s 2007 offseason roster last January, Baugher was waived by the Patriots on Aug. 30. He was not with an NFL team during the 2007 regular season. Baugher was the nation’s top college punter in 2005 until a knee injury caused him to miss the final four games. His 47.5-yard avg. (on 37 punts) was the best in NCAA Division I and qualified as a school record, but he did not qualify for the official NCAA rankings because he did not play in 75 percent of his team’s games. The Bengals' punter, Kyle Larson, is eligible for unrestricted free agency beginning Feb. 29.
The Bengals would have about $8 million in dead money on their salary cap in 2008 if they traded or released wide receiver Chad Johnson.
Jackson takes job as Ravens QB coach
Just got off the phone with Hue Jackson, the former Bengals wide receivers coach. He said he has taken the job as quarterbacks coach in Baltimore with new Ravens coach John Harbaugh. I missed it on the wires Monday night. My apologies. There had been talk of Jackson rejoining the Bengals as wide receivers coach, though Mike Sheppard produced two Pro Bowl players in T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson in 2007. The thought was Sheppard could move to quarterbacks coach, a job he had done in New Orleans from 2002-04, if Ken Zampese had landed a coordinator's job. Zampese interviewed with the Rams to be offensive coordinator, the third year in a row he has interviewed for a promotion with another team. He previously had talked to Carolina and the Jets.
Chad to Pro Bowl
Chad Johnson will play in his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl game. The Bengals learned this afternoon that Johnson will replace New England's Randy Moss, who withdrew after suffering an injury in the Super Bowl Sunday night. Johnson was voted to the four previous Pro Bowls. He was selected as a first alternative for the game this coming weekend. He will replace Moss and join fellow Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Indianapolis' Reggie Wayne and Cleveland's Braylon Edwards as the AFC's four wide receivers. Reached on his cell phone this afternoon, Johnson hung up when The Enquirer identified itself seeking comment on the honor. He has not spoken to the Cincinnati-based media since October. The game will be played Sunday in Honolulu. Together, Houshmandzadeh and Johnson become the first pair of Bengals wide receivers to be named to the Pro Bowl in the same season. Their collective 205 receptions and 2,583 receiving yards in 2007 are the most for any pair of Bengals' receivers in any single season. Johnson caught 93 passes for 1,440 yards and eight touchdowns in 2007. The 1,440 receiving yards broke his own franchise season record (1,432 in 2005), and he became the team’s all-time leader in receptions (559) and receiving yards (8,365). The 93 catches marked his fourth career 90-catch season. He now has at least one catch in 92 consecutive games, one short of Carl Pickens’ team-record streak of 93 games. Johnson had five 100-yard receiving games in 2007, tying the team record he already shares, and has extended to 26 his Bengals career record for 100-yard receiving games. His 209 receiving yards on Sept. 16 at Cleveland was the AFC high for the year.
Dillon at peace with life after NFL
In case you might have missed the wire story from The Boston Globe, former Bengals running back Corey Dillon talked about not looking back at his decision to leave the NFL. He said his attitude and performance in three years with the Patriots has allowed them to take chances on other "high-risk" players, including wide receiver Randy Moss. Of course, as it ended up, Dillon -- who asked for and received his release after the 2006 season -- would not have earned a second Super Bowl ring. The Giants upset New England 17-14 Sunday night. THE BOSTON GLOBE It's been a year since running back Corey Dillon closed the book on his NFL career, and as he watched the Patriots blaze through an undefeated regular season, he still felt as if he were contributing to the team's success. How so? Mainly, Dillon wonders whether the Patriots would have traded for receiver Randy Moss had Dillon not spent three years with the club, 2004-06. "In some ways, I probably redefined the way they think about acquiring players," Dillon said from his home in California. "I wouldn't call it an experiment, but there is a Patriot Way and in many ways I didn't fit that Patriot Way. But I came, did what was asked of me, was a stand-up guy, and didn't cause any problems. I think ultimately that probably opened the door for other `high-risk' players." Dillon kept tabs on the Patriots from California over the regular season and has watched more intently in the playoffs. He said he is not surprised by the team's historic run. "I'll always feel tied to them. They'll always be my favorite." (Dillon played for the Bengals from 1997 through 2003 before his trade in spring 2004 for a second-round draft pick.) As for Dillon himself, he said this is the first time in ages that his body doesn't ache. He carpools his children to school each morning and has been a regular on the golf course. Dillon added that he never considered a comeback this season. "During the season, I had no itch," he said. "I am at peace, I am comfortable. I am content with how my career started and ended. I have no regrets."
By Mark Curnutte mcurnutte@enquirer.comWill Chad Johnson sit out the 2008 season? ESPN.com reporting today that the Bengals wide receiver might not play this coming season if he is not traded. The Web site cited an unidentified source. Reached this afternoon by The Enquirer, Drew Rosenhaus, Johnson's agent, said he had not seen the report, had not talked to reporter Chris Mortensen and did not know the identity of the unnamed source. "Chad Johnson will play football in 2008," Rosenhaus said when told of the ESPN.com report. Will Johnson be playing for the Cincinnati Bengals? "Our plan is for Chad Johnson to play football in 2008," Rosenhaus said. "That is how I will respond to the report." The Bengals chose today not to respond to the ESPN.com report, said club public relations director Jack Brennan. The Bengals would be hurt significantly on the salary cap if they were to release Johnson. The Bengals signed Johnson to a six-year contract extension in April 2006. They tore up a deal that had four years remaining. Johnson is under contract with the Bengals through 2011. The total deal is worth $35.5 million, $16 million of which was paid in the past two years. If they were to trade Johnson, use the Corey Dillon situation as an example, I can't see the Bengals budging for less than a second-round pick. That's the round they took Dillon. That's the round they took Johnson. Dillon had just finished the 2003 season, during which he turned 29. Dillon turned 30 in October 2004, his first season with New England. Johnson turned 30 last month.
Super Bowl standings
In putting together some Super Bowl advance material for the Sunday Enquirer, I ran across the composite Super Bowl standings in the NFL Record & Fact Book. The Bengals are 0-2 but credit them for getting there twice. Both times they were in the game. Enjoy the game Sunday night. Again, my pick is New England 38, New York 24. (And, in spite of what a reader accused me of on this blog, I have no idea what the spread is.) I went by what the teams scored on average during the regular season and the feel of their regular-season game, won 38-35 by the Patriots. The week off will help New England and hurt New York. The mild Arizona weather conditions figure to help the Patriots' high-powered pass offense. Just my opinion. That's why they play the game. The list San Francisco has the only perfect Super Bowl record for teams with more than one victory. Super Bowl standings: Franchise / Record / PF-PA 49ers / 5-0 / 188-89 Ravens / 1-0 / 34-7 Jets / 1-0 / 16-7 Buccaneers / 1-0 / 48-21 Steelers / 5-1 / 141-110 Packers / 3-1 / 127-76 Colts / 2-1 / 52-46 Giants / 2-1 / 66-73 Cowboys / 5-3 / 221-132 Patriots / 3-2 / 107-148 Raiders / 3-2 / 132-114 Redskins / 3-2 / 122-103 Bears / 1-1 / 63-39 Chiefs / 1-1 / 33-42 Dolphins / 2-3 / 74-103 Broncos / 2-4 / 115-206 Rams / 1-2 / 59-67 Falcons / 0-1 / 19-34 Panthers / 0-1 / 29-32 Chargers / 0-1 / 26-49 Seahawks / 0-1 / 10-21 Titans / 0-1 / 16-23 Bengals / 0-2 / 37-46 Eagles / 0-2 / 31-51 Bills / 0-4 / 73-139 Vikings / 0-4 / 34-95
Linebacker Dhani Jones is one of the most interesting people in the NFL. Next up is rugby in England.
Read about 2002 Sycamore High School graduate Michael Matthews, a backup rookie tight end with the New York Giants who will play in Super Bowl XLII Sunday against New England.
Super pick: Perfect Patriots
I see New England winning its fourth Super Bowl in seven years. Final: Patriots 38, Giants 24. Too much offense, even against a good New York defense. My advance stories, including Edge breakdown, will be in the Sunday Enquirer. Because a couple of people asked, I did not cover the Super Bowl this year for the first time since taking the Bengals/NFL beat in 2000. The trip was eliminated by Enquirer editors.
|
