Friday, July 23, 1999Bengals: Smith deal unlikely by camp
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati EnquirerStunned by the Bengals' admission they don't expect a deal with Akili Smith before training camp, agent Leigh Steinberg said Thursday he still hopes to have his client signed before the club reports to Georgetown College July 30.
“I just don't understand why they would unilaterally shut it down when there's still so much time,” Steinberg said. “How can I explain that to Akili and the Smith family when he's been (at Spinney Field) working out every weekday?”
Bengals President Mike Brown fired back, doubting a deal can be done in a week for the Oregon quarterback because of Steinberg's response to the team's proposal for an incentive-based, seven-year contract.
The agent seeks a deal voiding after three or four years with a buyback clause the club can trigger and a second signing bonus that locks up the player long-term.
“They said to us, "Accept our structure for the contract, and don't call back until you will,'” Brown said. “So we haven't called back and don't plan to until the start of camp.”
Citing the negative experiences of quarterbacks such as Kerry Collins and Ryan Leaf who signed such deals, Brown said the buyback concept fails.
“If he isn't brilliant at the buyback, teams don't buy back, and you may be forced to give up on him before you know he's good enough,” Brown said.
“It's a scheme that can work a hardship on a rookie quarterback, because it forces you to throw him into action immediately. The team can't develop him. Plus, we're in a zero-sum game. Whatever one player gets, another one doesn't get. Our proposal is fairer to the quarterback, the team and other players.”
Brown wouldn't divulge the club's proposal, but it figures to be worth about $50 million
if Smith reaches most of his incentives. That's what the Eagles offered Syracuse quarterback Donovan McNabb, the player chosen immediately ahead of Smith in the draft.
Steinberg is puzzled by Brown's stance after smooth negotiations with Dan Wilkinson in 1994, Ki-Jana Carter in 1995 and Neil O'Donnell last year.
But there is a rich history intertwining Steinberg and Brown stretching 15 years. Brown thought he had a deal with Steinberg client Steve Young in 1984 before Young bolted to the USFL. In 1987 and 1992, Steinberg and Brown battled over Jason Buck and David Klingler in two of the most painful holdouts in club history.
“It's almost like he's reverting back,” Steinberg said. “There's plenty of time for us to get a deal, and we're going to keep trying. We think Akili can contribute this year.”
Brown said his views have nothing to do with the past.
“This approach has been tried and hasn't worked,” Brown said. “I'm not against paying a lot of money, because he's going to get a lot of money. We want to try something that might work for the club, the player and other guys on the team. We think that's timely.”
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