Sunday, September 12, 1999Pickens set to go back to work
WR says he signed with winner
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincnnati EnquirerNASHVILLE, Tenn. — After signing up for five more years, a relieved Carl Pickens let it be known he thinks the Bengals can win and that those outside the locker room don't know him.
“I honestly believe we can win or else I wouldn't have come back for any amount of money,” Pickens said Saturday after coming back for $8 million this year and $15 million over the next four years.
“If we can control the three Ts in turnovers, time of possession and convert on third down, there's no reason why we can't win the the games we haven't won in the past,” he said.
After helping make him the second-highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL, agent Steve Zucker predicted Pickens is ready for a leadership role as the team's all-time leading receiver.
“What you heard is that I'm a cancer in the locker room,” Pickens said. “But what you didn't see was that two years ago when I tore my groin muscle, I was riding the bike at 7:30, 8 in the morning trying to come back in two weeks instead of four. People don't know.
“What about when I have the guys on the team over to my house during the week? Fifteen guys. Any of the guys can drop by. People don't see guys sitting around, laughing, having a good time.”
Pickens has had just two days to prepare for today's opener here against the Titans, but it looks like he'll have a fairly significant role on on third down and in the red zone. James Hundon has been the third receiver, but he's inactive for today's game after aggravating his injured toe in practice last week. The Bengals made room for Pickens on the roster by putting tackle Mike Doughty on injured reserve.
“We're looking to get him (Pickens) in the game, but it remains to be seen how much,” said receivers coach Steve Mooshagian. “We'll see how he warms up and how he's feeling. We've got a limited game plan for him and we'll (give it to him Saturday night).”
Pickens admits he's not in top shape with three extra pounds, but that shows how committed he was to sitting out the season unless the Bengals traded him.
“I'm still wearing what I wore Wednesday night,” said Pickens of his spur-of-the-moment trip to see Bengals President Mike Brown. “Coming back was the farthest thing from my mind. We had a game plan. Steve and I discussed it, and then Mike took us totally off guard ... I was prepared to sit out. Take the three-and-a-half (million) and give it to someone else. I was financially secure before Thursday. That wasn't an issue.”
Brown was surprised, too, when Pickens was cool to the first option — a one-year offer — and warmed up to the long-term numbers.
“I'm going to get a riding lawnmower and pickup truck,” said Pickens. “I'm happy. More than happy. I'm just relieved.
“I just don't know how the media can say the things they say about me without knowing, without being in the locker room,” Pickens said. “When we lose, people have to find somebody to blame. When we were winning seven and eight games, I was just another player, you didn't hear about that stuff.”
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