When the sun sets today, the Bengals could know whether Wayne Simmons will help them begin the dawn of a defensive era.
Jim Lippincott, the Bengals' director of pro personnel and scouting, said Sunday that the club will withdraw its offer to Simmons, an unrestricted free agent, if it's not accepted by day's end.
Simmons' skills prompted the Bengals to extend their original weekend deadline at the request of the player's agent, Tom Condon. Simmons, an outside linebacker, could wreak havoc in the 3-4 defensive alignment being installed.
''You hate to lose a good player over a lack of patience,'' Lippincott said.
Lippincott noted that Condon would likely try to coax a competing offer from Simmons' former team, the Green Bay Packers.
But Green Bay sources doubt that the Packers will offer Simmons the multiyear deal worth close to $2 million a year Cincinnati supposedly has.
The Packers have strained their budget by re-signing another of their free agents, defensive tackle Gilbert Brown, to a three-year deal worth $2.75 million annually.
Lippincott also dismissed as ''speculation'' a Washington Post report citing the Bengals' interest in quarterback Jeff Hostetler.
Hostetler remains under contract to the Oakland Raiders for $2.2 million this year. But the Raiders' signing of Jeff George prompted them to let Hostetler shop himself around.
Hostetler, aware he's destined to be a backup, also has New Orleans, Philadelphia, Washington and the New York Jets on his list.
In addition, free-agent linebacker Todd Collins, who visited the Bengals on March 4, is expected to drop in on the Washington Redskins today. Collins, who earned $385,000 last year but is seeking much more, is believed to have received no other offers besides Cincinnati's, though Atlanta and St. Louis have expressed interest in him.
Free agency stories
OFFER TO SIMMONS EXPIRES THIS WEEKEND March 22, 1997
BRAHAM INTERESTS PATRIOTS March 21, 1997
SIMMONS MAY FIT IN BUDGET March 19, 1997
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
