Though the Bengals continue to browse the aisles of the
free-agent market, they won't move to the checkout counter anytime soon.
Indications are that they're nowhere close to signing cornerback Corey Harris or linebacker Todd Collins, the unrestricted free agents who visited the team's facilities and met club representatives Tuesday.
Harris, who earned $785,000 last year with Seattle, may have priced himself out of Cincinnati's range.
''(Tuesday's visit) was a valid attempt on our part to get him here,'' said Jim Lippincott, the Bengals' director of pro personnel and scouting. ''But I think he has greener pastures somewhere else.''
Harris' agent, Brian Ransom, said that his client would like to settle on a team by Friday. Besides the Bengals, Harris has visited Atlanta, Detroit and Miami and St. Louis.
As for Collins, Lippincott characterized his talks with the player's agent, Frank Bauer, as ''not constructive Š We're far apart.'' Collins earned $385,000 with New England last year.
Cincinnati also hopes to extend another invitation to defensive tackle Tony Siragusa, who declined to make his scheduled visit Tuesday in apparent displeasure over his flight accommodations.
Unveiling will wait
The Bengals postponed the unveiling of their new uniforms until next week at the earliest. Given the widespread ravages of the flood, management felt that staging such festivities wouldn't be appropriate.
Free agency stories
MAP FAVORS BENGALS WITH FREE AGENTS March 5, 1997
3 FREE AGENTS VISIT TODAY March 4, 1997
CB HARRIS SETS FREE-AGENT VISIT Feb. 27, 1997
BENGALS MAKING HEADWAY WITH FREE AGENTS Feb. 25, 1997
BENGALS HAVE CAP ROOM FOR FREE AGENTS Feb. 15, 1997
BENGALS WON'T CHASE TOP FREE AGENTS Feb. 14, 1997
