BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
For the moment, the greatest day by a Cincinnati Bengal receiver is non-negotiable.
Carl Pickens made news even before he caught a team-record 13 passes Sunday and electrified the Cinergy Field crowd with two leaping catches for 75 yards and the winning touchdown in the final 72 seconds of a shocking 25-20 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pickens told CBS' Beasley Reece that unless he sees a major commitment toward winning and unspecified major changes before the end of the season, he'll entertain offers on the free-agent market.
Pickens didn't respond to a question about his CBS comments, but he made sure he phoned Steve Zucker, his agent, soon after the game.
"Carl is a straight shooter. He says what he believes," Zucker said. "I'm glad he backed up his words with his play. He was thrilled with the game and we'll see what happens. He'd like to stay in Cincinnati." Bengals President Mike Brown said Sunday he doubted the Bengals would attempt to lock up Pickens before the end of the season, but he wouldn't rule it out.
The sides attempted to work out a deal during the summer, but the $6 million per year extension Cris Carter signed with the Minnesota Vikings complicated matters. Zucker won't say Pickens is looking for Carter-like money, but if he goes on the market, he'll certainly be worth that much.
"He had a great day, maybe as great a day as a Bengal receiver has ever had," Brown said. "Certainly he's committed to winning. He's one of the major reasons we won (today). We tried to get something done, but we were so far apart we both agreed it wasn't productive to keep at it."
The Bengals have to choose which of their two most recent Pro Bowl players to make their franchise free agent. Either Pickens or cornerback Ashley Ambrose will be offered a one-year deal for the average of the top five paid NFL players at that position. The Bengals then have a right to match.
Brown would like to sign the non-franchise player as well, but he knows that will be hard. He said there won't be a decision until the end of the season.
Pickens seems to be reading management's mind. He turns 29 in March, and the Bengals have never been infatuated with signing receivers who are approaching 30 to five-year deals. But then, they've never had a receiver like Pickens, one week removed from becoming the team's all-time catcher.
The upcoming draft is rich in wideouts, an easier spot to fill than cornerback, but Brown knows Pickens is the Most Valuable Bengal of the '90s.
Brown: "We know what he means to us. A lot can happen between now and then."
"I want to stay, but this is just one game," Pickens said. "We have 11 more games. Anything could happen. I could fall off. Drop four or five balls a game. I just want to stay focused, play out the year and see what happens. I'll be 29 in March and historically they don't sign wide receivers near 30."
Bengals win one to grow on
Bengals' sure thing is Pickens
TD pass surprises everyone
O'Donnell gets last word
Carter at odds with Bengals
Steelers smoked on "D'
Notebook: No snap decision on replacing Truitt
Game statistics