Wednesday, October 27, 1999
Bengals release injured Blackman
Team, guard couldn't reach contract terms
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Bengals released former starting guard Ken Blackman Tuesday when the sides couldn't agree on the length of a contract extension.
Blackman, who started 31 games for the Bengals until he tore up his left knee nearly a year ago against Denver, asked for a one-year deal that could pay him as much as $1 million next season if he hit certain playing-time milestones.
But the Bengals, who have three other offensive linemen in the last years of their contracts in 2000, sought a two-year extension that could pay him as much as $2.4 million if he played enough snaps. The club is concerned about his knee, which has required three surgeries and put him on the physically unable to perform list the entire season.
“I can certainly see where the Bengals are coming, from given Ken's situation,” said Craig Domann, Blackman's agent. “But their two-year offer basically doubled the one-year offer, and since they were both at injury prices, there was the possibility he could have been playing ahead of someone who was making more than him in '01.”
President Mike Brown didn't want to lose Blackman, the Bengals' third-round pick in 1996. But right tackle Willie Anderson, center Rich Braham and left guard Matt O'Dwyer also have contracts ending after 2000.
“We see that as a problem,” Brown said. “We're going to have to go out and get a guy who is going to be here beyond next season. We're going to try and sign those players, but it's been hard to get guys to re-sign.”
Blackman, who turns 27 next month, was believed to be the first NFL offensive lineman to undergo an articular knee cartilage graft. A remaining issue is who will pay for his $10,000 arthroscopic surgery on the knee three weeks ago. The Ben gals didn't authorize the procedure because their team doctors weren't consulted.
Domann said he didn't know why the authorization wasn't given.
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