BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Bengals' courting of outside linebacker Wayne Simmons soon could end.

Jim Lippincott, the team's director of pro personnel and scouting, said that Simmons and his agent, Tom Condon, were given until ''the end of the week'' to respond to Cincinnati's contract offer. However, the Bengals had not spoken directly with Condon by early Friday evening.

A source close to Simmons said the Bengals' offer, described as a multiyear deal averaging slightly less than $2 million annually, was the only one on the table for the unrestricted free agent. The source added that Simmons likely was hoping for an offer from the Green Bay Packers, his employers for four NFL seasons.

Lippincott indicated that he would wait for an answer from Simmons through today and perhaps Sunday. Then, the club would shift its free-agent focus to other available players.

Linebacker Darrin Smith and defensive tackle Tony Siragusa are visiting Cincinnati on Tuesday, and the Bengals have interest in linebackers Lewis Bush and Darrien Gordon and cornerback Ryan McNeil.

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