Friday, February 26, 1999
Blake's the man at QB
Brown: 'This is another chance for him'
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
As they did in 1994, the Bengals turned to quarterback Jeff Blake Thursday in hopes he can transform frustration into victories.
Not only did the Bengals decide to keep the disgruntled Blake and pay him a $500,000 roster bonus, they answered his plea and virtually made him the No.1 quarterback heading into May mini-camp.
The fallout probably won't settle until after the April 17-18 NFL draft, but Neil O'Donnell is the leading candidate to be released when the Bengals choose a quarterback with their first or second pick.
O'Donnell, who unseated Blake as the starter during last training camp, is scheduled to cost $4.4 million against the salary cap. But he'll only account for about $2.8 million if he's cut before June 1.
Bengals President Mike Brown wouldn't comment on O'Donnell, but said the move with Blake wasn't made to put him on the trading block.
“It looks like he will be here,” Brown said. “This is another chance for him. He's a guy that can make things happen out there and a guy who has won for us. He's a hardened veteran who isn't scared of what he has to do.”
Coach Bruce Coslet, still livid about Blake's comments questioning the Bengals' loyalty to him, wouldn't give Blake the No.1 job publicly. But he called him a leading contender and said he would have started the season finale if he hadn't broken his throwing wrist.
“You have to prove you're the starter every year,” Coslet said. "If Jeff Blake proves he can lead this team, play with consistency and win games, he'll be the starter. If he proves otherwise, he won't be the guy.”
Blake couldn't be reached for comment Thursday. On Tuesday, he told The Enquirer he felt the Bengals had no loyalty to him and that they had given him no indication where he stood on the depth chart.
Coslet was still steaming Thursday. As head coach of the Jets, Coslet drafted Blake out of East Carolina in the sixth round of the 1992 draft.
When Blake got cut before the 1994 season, Coslet brought him to the Bengals. And when Blake slumped during the 1997 season, Coslet didn't replace him with Boomer Esiason until the Bengals were 3-8.
“I don't have to defend my loyalty to Jeff Blake,” Coslet said. “I gave him a job when he was cut and out on the street. He got his chance through injury and I've always told him this. He was ready, he was prepared, he met the challenge and it was great to watch. (In '97) I stuck with him longer than anyone thought I should have.”
Coslet believes Blake is
frustrated like everyone else who is a Bengal. He is heartened by Blake's play in the 25-24 victory over Pittsburgh, in which he passed for most of his 367 yards with a chipped bone in his wrist.
The Bengals were unhappy last season at O'Donnell's inability to throw the ball down the field, even as he compiled a 90.2 passing rating. In keeping Blake, they get a guy who has started 22 of their last 28 victories, has been known to make big plays running and passing, and who is heading into his free agent year anxious to prove he's an NFL starter.
While Blake, 28, plays his way out of Cincinnati, he can hand the reins over in the 2000 season to whichever quarterback the Bengals draft this year.
“The way he played late last year, I know he can still play,” Coslet said. “I'm going to tell you right now I know he's going to come into mini-camp in great shape and he's going to be ready to go. I don't care if he's mad. Maybe he'll play with a chip on his shoulder and do great.”
Blake did that once before. Frustrated while wallowing as the Bengals' No.3 quarterback in 1994, Blake jumped into the lineup because of injuries and didn't leave until he made the Pro Bowl after the 1995 season. He threw 74 touchdowns and 48 interceptions in three seasons.
Brown doesn't see any moves with O'Donnell and the other quarterbacks — Paul Justin and Eric Kresser — until after the draft.
“We're not going to do anything until we have to,” Brown said.
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