Wayne Simmons has seen enough of the Bengals' defense to realize what it lacks.
''They're scary, and then at the end, they kind of falter,'' he said Tuesday. ''They just don't have that 'oomph.' ''
Simmons, 27, conceivably could provide that extra impetus. The four-year veteran, who's perhaps the best available outside linebacker on the free-agent market, toured
the Bengals' Spinney Field headquarters and talked with coaches and team officials.
Though money wasn't discussed and contract talks between Cincinnati and Simmons' agent, Tom Condon, haven't accelerated, finances appear to be less of a sticking point than they once were.
Simmons was expected to command about $3 million annually when the free-agency signing period began a month ago. But the league-wide reluctance to gamble
on free agents has dropped the asking price for numerous players.
Simmons is thought to be seeking between $2 million and $2.5 million annually - more than the Bengals want to pay, but far from what linebackers such as Chad Brown (six years, $24 million) and Micheal Barrow (five years, $18.75 million) received from Seattle and Carolina, respectively.
''Those teams needed marquee players who did things differently than what I did,'' said Simmons, whose modest statistics (67 tackles, 2.5 sacks, one interception) belied his actual value last season to the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers.
''I think I'm a solid player, a backbone player who has skills that haven't been seen as of yet,'' he said. ''But I assure you if I'm (used properly), those skills can be shown.''
The Bengals agree. Given their plans to switch to a 3-4 defensive alignment and rely on ''zone blitz'' concepts, Simmons might rush the passer on one play and play over the tight end on the next.
''He's versatile, and that's one of the things that intrigues us,'' coach Bruce Coslet said.
Following Simmons' selection process in the next few weeks also should be intriguing. Though he has visited Arizona, Kansas City, Houston and St. Louis, none of those teams is believed to be actively interested in him. His arrest for driving under the influence early this month near his South Carolina home may have scared off some clubs.
Simmons said that staying with Green Bay is a possibility - ''I would be a fool not to say I wouldn't mind being a factor again'' - and he openly courted Philadelphia, which he called ''the ideal place'' due to Eagles coach Ray Rhodes, formerly Green Bay's defensive coordinator.
He doesn't want to visit any other teams. ''Hopefully, this is the last stop,'' he said.
The Bengals hope it's also his next.
Free agency stories
BOOMER COULD BE BACK March 18, 1997
SARGENT SIGNS FOR 2 YEARS March 13, 1997
SUTTER SIGNS; SIMMONS TO VISIT March 12, 1997
HEARST HANDS BALL TO CARTER March 8, 1997
HARRIS, COLLINS LOOK ELSEWHERE March 6, 1997
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
