Talks stall for Bengals, Spikes Sides stuck on signing bonus for top pick Monday, July 20, 1998
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Bengals' efforts to sign their No. 1 draft choice, linebacker Takeo Spikes, stalled Sunday when the sides failed to agree on an appropriate signing bonus.
Cincinnati managed to sign Steve Foley, a third-round linebacker from Northeast Louisiana; Mike Goff, a third-round guard from Iowa and Jason Tucker, a sixth-round wide receiver from Texas Christian. All three reported to the team's Spinney Field headquarters for a three-day mini-camp beginning today for quarterbacks, signed rookies and veterans overcoming injuries. Players report to Georgetown (Ky.) College for training camp on Thursday.
But as for Spikes, his agent, James Sims, said "Right now it doesn't look like Takeo is going to be arriving anytime soon." Sims said the Bengals are balking at paying Spikes a bonus commensurate with being the draft's 13th overall selection.
Atlanta linebacker Keith Brooking, chosen one pick ahead of Spikes, received a $3.8 million bonus. Seattle gave linebacker Anthony Simmons, the 15th choice, a $3.6 million signing bonus Saturday night.
Though custom dictates that Spikes' bonus should fall
between the two, Sims said that the Bengals "haven't come close" to Simmons' figure.
"I don't want to say we're at an impasse, but we're kind of caught between a rock and a hard place," said Sims, who wasn't sure when talks would resume.
Said Bengals corporate secretary Katie Blackburn, who is handing the Spikes negotiations: "It's impossible to say until you reach an agreement whether you're there or not. Hopefully we'll get there soon."
Spikes and another first-round linebacker, Brian Simmons of North Carolina, are Cincinnati's only unsigned draft picks. Brian Simmons was selected 17th overall and is expected to command a bonus of around $3.2 million.
Such issues no longer concern Foley and Goff, who each received four-year contracts and $475,000 bonuses -- said to be the largest among third-rounders.
Foley's agent, Todd Newman, was delivering his client's car to Cincinnati and spent his free time finalizing the deal with Bengals pro and college personnel director Jim Lippincott.
"I think they got tired of seeing each other," Foley said. Foley already has gained notice for his diligence, having remained in town for the last seven weeks to work out at Spinney Field.
"Knowing the guys and what's expected of me play-wise is going to help me tremendously," he said.
So hasty was Goff's signing that he still clutched a copy of his contract while speaking with reporters.
"The money's just a bonus," he said. "There are a lot of people I played with who don't have this opportunity. I'm just looking forward to making the most of it."
Tucker, suspended during his senior season due to his involvement in a check-writing scam and sidelined by a hamstring injury during the Bengals' May mini-camp, had no intention of extending his football hiatus.
"I sort of pushed my agent (Joe Coletta), because I wanted to be here," said Tucker, who signed a three-year contract. "It's been quite a while. I'm itching to get back into it."
