Thursday, June 03, 1999
Pickens for Irvin? Bengals say no
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Dallas Cowboys, hinting they want wide receiver Carl Pickens in return, have offered wide receiver Michael Irvin to the Bengals in a trade, an NFL source said Wednesday.
But Cincinnati, still holding a torch for the disgruntled Pickens, told Cowboys owner Jerry Jones the club wasn't interested.
The Cowboys also were looking to unload fullback Nick Sualua, the source said, but the Bengals wanted nothing to do with the player who was with former Cowboys tackle Mark Tuinei when he died of a drug overdose last month.
Bengals President Mike Brown has refused recently to comment about Pickens' situation, but he has low tolerance for aging wide receivers. Pickens is 29 years old, which is a major reason the Bengals didn't offer him the $5 million- to $6 million-a-year deal he sought last summer.
Irvin, a five-time Pro Bowler, is similar to Pickens as a receiver. Both are 6-foot-2 and rely on leaping ability and positioning rather than speed. The Bengals think the 33-year-old Irvin is slower than Pickens, and they aren't enamored with his off-field baggage.
Pickens led the Bengals with 82 catches for 1,023 yards and five touchdowns last season. Irvin led the Cowboys with 74 catches and 1,057 yards, but caught only one TD pass, a career low.
Irvin's agent, Steve Endicott, told the Dallas Morning News that Irvin “has not de manded a trade. But he has let the Cowboys know if something comes along that benefits the team and himself, he would be in favor it.”
Bengals insiders say Brown is standing firm on his desire to trade Pickens for nothing less than a No.1 draft pick. A source said Wednesday that at least two teams are willing to give Pickens the money he wants but aren't willing to give up a No.1.
Pickens, who was given the Bengals' franchise free agent tag, also is standing firm with his vow to sit out the season rather than play with the Bengals. He is in the process of selling his Cincinnati home and has spent most of the offseason out of town.
“Nothing has changed,” said Steve Zucker, Pickens' agent. “We can't make it be Aug.1 or Sept.1 or Oct.1. All I know is Carl is serious about not playing.”
Bengals Stories
 Pickens for Irvin? Bengals say no
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