Stallings re-signs
Ramondo Stallings, a backup defensive end entering his fourth season, has signed a two-year contract, Bengals director of pro personnel Jim Lippincott said. Terms were not disclosed. Stallings had been a restricted free agent.
The Oakland Raiders appear to be the front runner for defensive tackle Tony Siragusa. Siragusa, who visited the Bengals last week, has spent his seven-year
NFL career with Indianapolis. His price tag of $1.5 million is in Cincinnati's range.
Gus Sunseri, agent for Siragusa, spent Wednesday trying to finalize a deal with a team other than the Colts, the Indianapolis Star reported Thursday.
Lippincott said Thursday that the Bengals were not that team.
Most teams have tabled free agency to prepare for the annual NFL draft, April 19-20.
|
Bengals icon Boomer Esiason said Thursday that he will talk contract with his old team today at Spinney Field, having narrowed his free-agent choices to Cincinnati and NFL champion Green Bay.
''I'm down to those two, and I want to get it out of the way as quickly as possible,'' Esiason said Thursday night. ''I've got a two-year offer that I'm mulling from Green Bay, but I told the Bengals I'd come see them before I make a decision.''
The 35-year-old quarterback was released by the Arizona Cardinals on March 17. He visited the Packers on Monday.
Jim Lippincott, Bengals director of pro personnel, confirmed that Esiason will visit, but said the team is not close to making a contract offer.
''He's mainly coming by to see (head coach) Bruce (Coslet),'' Lippincott said. ''With the right conditions, we would look at him.''
Esiason, one of the most popular players in Bengals history, led Cincinnati to its last Super Bowl
appearance in the 1988 season. He is aware that he is destined to finish his career as a backup, and said he wants to find a team that will contend for a title plus have a quarterback/coach situation he favors.
The Bengals fit those categories, he said.
''The team has come full circle since I left,'' Esiason said.
The Bengals traded Esiason in March 1993, after drafting David Klingler in 1992 to be his successor. Klingler never panned out and lost his job to Jeff Blake in mid-1994.
Coslet, now the head coach, coordinated most of the offenses during Esiason's glory years with Cincinnati in the late 1980s, and also coached him on the Jets.
''I know why they want me here, to be a backup to Jeff Blake,'' Esiason said. ''Bruce and I are friends, I know his system, and I'm definitely intrigued.''
Esiason also likes the thought of backing up Brett Favre at Green Bay.
''I had a great meeting with their GM, Ron Wolf, and (coach) Mike Holmgren. I'm very flattered that they're interested in me,'' Esiason said.
Green Bay has an opening at backup quarterback, with Jim McMahon's recent retirement.
Esiason, who turns 36 on April 17, maintains a home in Northern Kentucky. The native of East Islip, N.Y., was a starter for most of his Bengals career (1984-92), and ranks second to Ken Anderson - now the Bengals offensive coordinator - in most franchise passing categories.
''The fire is still burning in my belly. I still want to play,'' Esiason said.
Free agency stories
ESIASON TALKS WITH GREEN BAY April 1, 1997
SIRAGUSA, SMITH ENCOURAGED; BORGELLA SIGNS March 26, 1997
SIMMONS SAYS NO TO BENGALS March 25, 1997
LAST DAY FOR SIMMONS March 24, 1997
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
