Brown OK's offseason workouts Regimen would build unity, players say Tuesday, December 15, 1998
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Bengals are unified on one point: They need more unity.
Which is a major reason a group of players met with President Mike Brown last week and pushed the idea of an offseason conditioning program in Cincinnati.
Brown said Monday the Bengals plan to create a workout program in which players gather after the April 17-18 draft. While some players would like to see it begin in March, Brown said he's still looking into the scope of the project.
“I'm for that,” said safety Myron Bell, who participated in the Steelers' month-long program before training camp. “That builds unity for one thing and that's what we're missing here with young guys, old guys and guys in between. You need that extra time to jell.”
Rookie linebacker Takeo Spikes seconded the motion, citing winning franchises that have extra workouts.
“I don't think so,” said Spikes when asked if the Bengals were unified. “If we (were), when something bad happens we'd rally together as a whole. Coaches, players everybody (would) do something about it.”
Last week, Brown heard from eight players, including kicker Doug Pelfrey, special teams captain Eric Bieniemy and Michael Bankston, the team's representative to the NFL Players Association. The players gave their views on everything from getting more help for equipment manager Tom Gray to training-room treatment to having a better relationship with ownership.
A major issue: Some players said the club selectively hands out workout bonuses to players who don't earn them, while leaving some of the more committed players behind.
“Pay the guys that want to play, instead of paying the ones who don't,” Pelfrey said. “Hopefully, they'll pay people who want to be a part of it.”
Bell said he got $250 a week in Pittsburgh for working out.
“But I don't think it's the money all that much. Everywhere I've been we've had an offseason program and I've won. In Pittsburgh, we had 30 to 40 guys. For the young guys, it wasn't mandatory but it was best that you came,” Bell said.
Pelfrey said the group emphasized an offseason regimen can bond players going through adversity together.
“You create unity by spending time together and we're not doing that,” Pelfrey said. “We do (a three-day offensive camp in Orlando, Fla.) and a short mini-camp and then we don't see each other until training camp. Every year the team changes so much, and you need that time. A lot of the battles are won in the offseason. The stronger guys make the weaker guys stronger.”
But an offseason program might not mean Brown will hire more scouts so more coaches can supervise the workouts.
The Bengals use their assistant coaches to scout more than any other team in the NFL.
“With the weather, we really can't be outside until after the draft, and by then our coaches are back here off the road,” said Brown, who is considering building an indoor practice facility at the new stadium.
Bankston, who has two years left on his contract, welcomed the chance to speak to Brown and thinks it's just good business sense to communicate with management.
“I was a business major, so I'm looking at it from the aspect that everyone in the organization should be on the same page,” Bankston said. “Have the same mission statement with short-term, long-term plans. We all want to win.”
Pelfrey said there has been a wedge between ownership and players and said Brown admitted as much in the meeting.
"Mike's a quiet guy and I know he's a good guy because I've been here for six years,” Pelfrey said. “It might be a tough barrier for a rookie or free agent just coming in. I think it says a lot that eight guys went to that meeting because we've been hearing the players don't care. I think that shows we do.'
No reason to keep Pickens