Friday, April 02, 1999DeMarco adds line depth
Bengals get insurance on offense
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati EnquirerWith Ken Blackman coming back from an injury, the Bengals went for insurance on the offensive line Thursday when they agreed to a three-year deal with Jaguars right guard- right tackle Brian DeMarco.
The deal, estimated in the $3.3 million range, is contingent on DeMarco passing a physical this morning.
Then he's expected to sign a contract that gives the Bengals a big (6-foot-7, 320 pounds), ex perienced (five playoff games) and strong (750-pound squat) player on an offensive line that has physical question marks.
The Bengals are expecting another free agent visitor Monday in Rams cornerback Ryan McNeil, who wants to meet with the team before making a decision. Since Cincinnati offered its own free-agent cornerback, Ashley Ambrose, a one-year, $2 million deal, the club hasn't heard from Ambrose's agent.
DeMarco grew up in Ohio.
“I think the Bengals are looking up,” he said. “The new stadium's up next year and I love the fact I'm going to be blocking for Corey Dillon. I think he's a fantastic running back.”
The DeMarco deal means center Darrick Brilz probably won't return, and the Bengals have pulled out of the bidding for Matt O'Dwyer.
Blackman, the starting right guard, expects to be ready for training camp, but the Bengals envision bringing him along slowly.
He underwent a tricky articular cartilage graft last November to repair the cartilage at the tip of the femur, but said Thursday he feels good enough that he might be able to do limited work at this month's mini camp.
Rod Payne, pencilled in as the starting center, had a bout with tendinitis, but feels better after treatments. Left guard Rich Braham is also recovering from a knee injury.
“Our interest (in DeMarco) stems from the physical condition of some of our guys,” said Bengals President Mike Brown. “We think Braham will be OK and we think Blackman will be OK, but we're not certain about him. If we don't have him, we've got problems.”
Although he hasn't played left guard in the pros, DeMarco and Bengals offensive line coach Paul Alexander think he can. That's a possibility, because if Payne can't handle the calls, Braham would move to center.
But DeMarco, who turns 27 a week from today, would love playing right tackle. He was drafted in the second round out of Michigan State as a bookend for Jags left tackle Tony Boselli.
The Jags ended up using DeMarco more as a guard, and he still wonders how he got benched last year after the Jags got off to a 5-0 start averaging 163 rushing yards per game. Yet Alexander reiterated Thursday he would like to keep Willie Anderson at right tackle.
“It adds to the talent we already have on the line and any time you do that, that's good,” said Blackman, who is heading into his free-agent season. “Each year they bring somebody in to replace you, but you just keep playing hard and use the competition to get better.”
DeMarco had ups-and-downs with Jacksonville coach Tom Coughlin, but he gives the Bengals' locker room something it lacks. The only players with more playoff experience are quarterback Neil O'Donnell and strong safety Myron Bell.
“It was time for a change of scenery,” DeMarco said. “... Coming from a winning organization, that's something I bring to the table.”
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