Thursday, August 12, 1999
Tagliabue near Mack verdict
Commissioner says meeting was positive
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
GEORGETOWN, Ky. — Bengals safety Tremain Mack, one of the NFL's leading kickoff returners, should know his fate early next week from NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue.
Tagliabue revealed the timetable Wednesday at a Georgetown College news conference during his tour of Bengals training camp.
Mack, 24, facing a suspension for twice violating the NFL's alcohol policy, met with Tagliabue last month in New York. He didn't meet with the commissioner Wednesday, although Tagliabue briefly addressed the team and noted he previously had met quarterback Jeff Blake and tight end Tony McGee.
“If I run into (Tagliabue), I'll say hello,” Mack said. “But really, it's something I'm not thinking about.”
The Bengals and Mack's representatives said they hope Tagliabue takes into consideration Mack's jail time, hospital stay, counseling sessions and rehab program stemming from two DUI arrests during his first two seasons with the Bengals in 1997 and 1998.
“Tremain acquitted himself quite well when he came in,” Tagliabue said of their July 23 meeting. “He was serious, thoughtful. Like most players, he was a little nervous at the beginning, but he got over that. He spoke on his own behalf and where he felt he was, and he's been working hard to get himself on the straight and narrow.”
Tagliabue gave no hints to the Bengals if he'll suspend Mack or for how many games if he does. The thinking is that Tagliabue will count the four games Mack missed last season while in jail toward a suspension. Tagliabue already has indicated to the Bengals there won't be a yearlong suspension.
“I have to look at, under the collective bargainning agreement, two general things,” Tagliabue said. “First, what the player has done, and then, is he taking seriously the structure that the team can provide and (the NFL) can help through counseling and rehabilitation? Then my decision has to use a blend of those two consider ations.”
Bengals President Mike Brown said he believes Mack has a better chance at beating his problem if he stays in the weekly structure of a football team preparing for games.
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