Monday, September 06, 1999
Bengals young, inexperienced
Half of team has been in NFL 3 years or fewer
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Bengals may have had a winless exhibition season, but at least they're young and rich.
After Sunday's final roster cutdown to 53, the Bengals had only one player born in the 1960s and an extra $3.7 million under the NFL's salary cap as they made a strong bid to become the youngest NFL team.
Coach Bruce Coslet, who has never been happy perennially having one of the NFL's most inexperienced teams, wasn't turning handstands. He has just a dozen players with at least six years of NFL experience and more than half the team — 30 — with three years or less.
“What's the alternative?” responded Coslet when asked if the annual youth movements hurt the team. “You guys come up with stuff and most of it I agree with. What's the alternative? There. You're stuck.”
The oldest Bengal is one of the newest. Jay “Woodstock,” Leeuwenburg, a former Colts center who turned 30 June 18, signed last Friday.
The roster is to be fine-tuned today when the Bengals go looking on the waiver wire, particularly for cornerbacks, safeties and wide receivers. But don't expect the team to get any older. If players with four years or more experience are cut, they are unrestricted free agents.
The Bengals don't rule out going after those veterans, but they are looking mainly at players with three or fewer years of experience.
“You can't keep a guy because he's young or old, you have to go on production,” said Bengals President Mike Brown. “If you've got veterans who are producing, you want to hold on to those guys. If they turn over, they haven't been doing the job. You lose some to free agency, but we've picked up guys, too. If you're struggling as you try to turn it around, I'd rather be young than old.”
Brown is attempting to sign those young veterans who are producing to long-term deals.
With Sunday's release of 10-year linebacker James Francis and eight-year tackle Kevin Sargent, the Bengals save about $3.7 million in salary. Before those cuts, Saturday's figures from the NFL had the Bengals with $3.9 million under the cap.
The Bengals say they are about $3 million under the salary cap after signing Leeuwenburg to a one-year deal that figures to be in the $1 million range.
If disgruntled wide receiver Carl Pickens doesn't join the Bengals after the 10th week, that's another $3.5 million they could use to sign running back Corey Dillon, left tackle Rod Jones or defensive lineman Jevon Langford.
“We're going to try and make deals with the guys we have,” Brown said. “It gives us some flexibility in dealing with those guys and we'll make an effort but we don't know how it will work.”
Coslet shook his head over a roster that is the NFL's version of the “Book of Lists.” Three players (cornerback Ric Mathias, safety Kelvin Moore, long snapper Greg Truitt) are on injured reserve and lost for the year. Two players (guard Ken Blackman and linebacker Tom Tumulty) are on the physically unable to perform list and will miss the first six games. Two more players (cornerback Tremain Mack and tackle Jamain Stephens) are suspended and will miss the first four games.
After analyzing the roster Sunday, one reporter asked the coach about job security.
“I'm going to do the best I can,” Coslet said. “And things like that are out of my control. I'm playing the hand I'm dealt. I'm going to work my (butt) off. My players are going to play their best. They're going to work their (butts) off and whatever happens, happens.”
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