BENGALS NOTEBOOK Bengals try to sign Pickens, Ambrose Sunday, August 16, 1998
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- The Kevin Sargent signing has put the Bengals close enough to the salary cap that they probably can't lock up both wide receiver Carl Pickens and cornerback Ashley Ambrose in long-term deals before the end of the season, but the club is going to try.
With Sargent agreeing to a three-year extension worth $12 million, it's believed the Bengals have in the range of $3 million left to spend.
"We can do one more, maybe a little more than that," said GM Mike Brown Saturday. "There's room for at least one more. We can structure our deals that would make them fit under the cap if we can get someone to do it with us. If we were allowed to draw up the deals, we would be able to have room (to sign both), but if they insist on certain aspects, maybe we wouldn't. It's going to be a stretch to sign two. We know when we signed Neil O'Donnell something would flow from that."
If they can sign one but not the other, they'll put the franchise tag on the unsigned player, giving him a one-year deal worth the average of the top paid five players at their positions. It's believed Pickens is looking at the $6 million average Cris Carter just got in Minnesota as a landmark and Ambrose is looking at Jeff Burris' $4 million average in Indianapolis.
Brown insisted the Bengals won't cut a player because of salary: "It will be because we think we have people who are better."
The Bengals' quarterbacks are going to be the subject of trade rumors from here until Halloween because they have three competent veterans (O'Donnell, Jeff Blake, Paul Justin), which is three more than half the NFL teams.
But Brown said Saturday no club has contacted him about a trade and he doesn't see giving up one of his quarterbacks until he gets a better feel for who is going to emerge. Which could take all season. At the moment, all three QB spots are up in the air.
If a move is to be made, Brown said it's more likely it would happen next year than this one.
"We haven't considered (a trade). We're still trying to figure out here how to work through this. Once we play a little more, it will be an easier decision, it's too early to make a call. We'll be in position to do something (if someone wins the job decisively), but it's more likely that's going to be off in the future . . . It may be even a full season to find out the answers we need."
Granville hurt
Linebacker Billy Granville, the free-agent rookie linebacker from Duke who went 4-0 as a starter at the end of last season, pulled his hamstring Saturday. He's out for Monday's game against the Colts and could be out one to two weeks. Granville is part of the massive battle with Steve Tovar, Tim Terry, Adrian Ross and Canute Curtis for two or three roster spots.
Tovar, in his sixth season, has seen the NFL from both sides now. He led the team in tackles as the team's starting middle linebacker in the 4-3 defense during 1994, 1995 and 1996 until he tore up his knee late in the season. Now he's trying to hang on in a reserve role as both inside and outside backer in a 3-4.
This and that
SS Lawrence Wright left Saturday's practice after injuring his left foot. X-Rays were negative, but he's doubtful for Monday's game . . . DE John Copeland (Achilles) got the good word from Dr. James Andrews that he can step up his rehab. He can increase his weight training, do some running in a pool and can be jogging in two weeks. He's still looking to return to the field Oct. 11 . . . With NG Kimo von Oelhoffen (groin) out Monday, fourth-round pick Glen Steele is going to get his first taste at the nose guard position. He will split playing time with Mike Thompson.
Today's schedule
The Bengals break training camp after today's final workout here at Georgetown College. The team is scheduled to work on skills from 11 a.m. to noon before practicing from 3 p.m. to 5:05.
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