Justin's OK with QB picture Veteran isn't bothered by competition Tuesday, July 14, 1998
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Paul Justin's enthusiasm for being a Bengal remains as strong as the competition he'll face when training camp opens.
Cincinnati's acquisition of Neil O'Donnell last Tuesday threatens to push Justin back another rung on the quarterback depth chart. When the Bengals acquired Justin from Indianapolis in a March trade, Jeff Blake was the only quarterback ahead of him.
But Justin, echoing Blake, called O'Donnell's arrival "great" and added: "The bottom line in this business is winning. You get as many people around you as you can."
Justin, who has started seven regular-season NFL games compared to 81 for O'Donnell and 52 for Blake, is accustomed to battling for playing time.
"I can see the writing on the wall," he said. "As long as it stays fun, I don't mind."
Justin, 30, insisted that he's still glad to be a Bengal: "I wanted to come here. I played against them. I've seen them. I like the way they play. I like the talent around the offense."
Enduring stints in the World League and Arena Football League has provided Justin with a calm perspective.
"I take care of what I have to do; that's all that matters," he said. "Like with the Colts, I couldn't sit there and worry about Jim Harbaugh when I had a job to do."
President and General Manager Mike Brown and coach Bruce Coslet pointedly included Justin last week when discussing Cincinnati's quarterbacking outlook, indicating that he won't be ignored. "We have three players who are experienced and who have started in this league," Brown said. "It is something that will play out on the field."
CHAT ROOM
With signed rookies eligible to participate in the Bengals' three-day session of practices next Monday through Wednesday at Spinney Field, expect negotiations to accelerate this week between the team and linebackers Takeo Spikes and Brian Simmons, the unsigned first-round draft choices.
"We'll probably talk (today)," said James Sims, Spikes' agent. Brantley Evans and Ricky Lefft, who represent Simmons, could not be reached for comment.
Guidelines for the talks were set two weeks ago when Atlanta signed linebacker Keith Brooking to a six-year contract that can shrink to five years if he meets certain performance levels. Brooking, the No. 12 overall selection, received an average of $1.5 million per year with a $3.8 million signing bonus. The Bengals took Spikes 13th and Simmons 17th.
"We're hoping we can get ours done before training camp but I'm not going to worry about it," Brown said. "They will get done eventually."
