Sunday, September 05, 1999Francis, Sargent might be waived
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati EnquirerThe Bengals picked through the debris Saturday in preparation for the final roster cut to 53 players today. There also will be plenty of activity Monday, when the Bengals scour the waiver wire for wide receivers, cornerbacks and punters.
The club appeared to send a message Friday night when 10th-year linebacker James Francis, eighth-year left tackle Kevin Sargent and third-year center Rod Payne didn't play against the Falcons.
Francis, a first-round pick in 1990; Sargent, who has played the most Bengal games at left tackle since Hall-of-Famer Anthony Munoz retired; and Payne, a third-round pick in 1997, are the leading candidates for the biggest-name cuts.
That could be a salary cap windfall. With Francis and Sargent combined, they would save $3.7 million, which should be diverted to the Corey Dillon Extension Fund.
A look at the roster:
QUARTERBACKS (3) — Locks: Jeff Blake, rookie Akili Smith. Looking good: rookie Scott Covington.
Bengals President Mike Brown has always liked backup quarterback Craig Erickson and still liked him Saturday after he was cut by Miami. They may pursue him, but he's got a bad arm and Brown liked the way Smith and Covington played Friday. Unless someone drops off the waiver wire into their laps, this should hold.
RUNNING BACKS (5) — Locks: RB Corey Dillon, RB Ki-Jana Carter, rookie FB Nick Williams, FB Brian Milne, FB Clif Groce. Practice squad: Rookie RB Michael Basnight.
It seems logical to keep three fullbacks, because Williams hasn't played since spraining his ankle in the Aug. 7 intrasquad scrimmage. Can anyone explain why the versatile Groce was cut last week and then re-signed three days later? Dillon has been in midseason form for a month; Carter still seeks a groove.
WIDE RECEIVERS (5) — Locks: Darnay Scott, Willie Jackson, rookie Craig Yeast, James Hundon. On the bubble: Stepfret Williams, rookies Quincy Jackson, Terry Murphy.
Quincy Jackson or Murphy appears headed to the practice squad, but Williams could be cut if they find anyone better on the waiver wire. They thought they had him last week, but former Bengal David Dunn turned down a two-year offer. It's going to be a long year if these guys continue to have trouble getting open. Dunn could still be an option if he calls them back.
TIGHT ENDS (4) — Locks: Tony McGee, Marco Battaglia, Steve Bush, Damian Vaughn.
A total of 12 Bengals made 19 catches Friday, one by the tight ends and that by No. 3 TE Bush for three yards. Vaughn may not be here long, as they seek to add a defensive back.
OFFENSIVE LINE (10) — Locks: Guards Brian DeMarco, Matt O'Dwyer, Mike Goff; Centers: Rich Braham, Jay Leeuwenburg, Brock Gutierrez. Tackles: Willie Anderson, Rod Jones, Mike Doughty, rookie guard/tackle Tony Coats. On the bubble: left tackle Kevin Sargent, center Rod Payne.
Does Sargent survive? Doubtful, even though they are suddenly thin at tackle with Doughty out at least a month with a foot injury and Jamain Stephens expected to be suspended for a month for violation of NFL policy.
They hope they solved the backup tackle problem with last week's signing of Leeuwenburg, who played both tackle spots for the Bears years ago and also can play guard. That would free up DeMarco for right tackle if Anderson has to move to left tackle. They just don't know if Sargent can play any more with the tingling in his hands from a shoulder injury.
DEFENSIVE LINE (7) — Locks: Ends John Copeland, Michael Bankston, Glen Steele; nose tackles Oliver Gibson, Kimo von Oelhoffen; end-tackle Jevon Langford, end-tackle Andre Purvis. Practice squad material: end-tackle Chad Pegues. On the bubble: NT Kelly Gregg.
Langford has started over Bankston the last two games as the Bengals hope their rotation and depth cools them off in the hothouses of Nashville, Cincinnati and Charlotte in a steamy September.
LINEBACKERS (8) — Locks: OLBs Steve Foley, Reinard Wilson, Adrian Ross, Canute Curtis; ILBs Takeo Spikes, Brian Simmons, Billy Granville, Jimmy Sprotte; On the bubble: James Francis; Practice squad: Rookie ILB Ben Peterson.
The curtain appears to be coming down on Francis. Make it 10-1 odds they see him Oct. 10 in Cleveland. Peterson had the team made as a backup long snapper, but Leeuwenburg can be the short snapper and an emergency long snapper.
DEFENSIVE BACKS: (9) — Locks: Corners Corey Sawyer, Artrell Hawkins, rookie Charles Fisher and safeties Myron Bell, Greg Myers, rookie Cory Hall; Could be replaced: Corners: Rodney Heath, Roosevelt Blackmon, Safety Lawrence Wright.
With safety Tremain Mack beginning his month's suspension, the Bengals have just nine DBs but will be adding — and maybe subtracting — off the waiver wire on the way to 10 DBs.
SPECIALISTS: (2) — Locks: Kicker Doug Pelfrey and the unknown punter. On the bubble: punter Eddie Howard. Could stick: punter Will Brice.
How messed up is special teams? Their two best teamers — Mack (suspension) and safety Kelvin Moore (broken neck) — are no factors. They have nobody who resembles a kick returner without Mack. And maybe you could be the punter standing in the Bengals' end zone Sept. 12 in Tennessee after Monday tryouts.
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