Tuesday, February 15, 2000

Pickens still wants out

---

Agent asks to broker a trade

BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer

So, what else is new? | ZOOM |

        The Bengals denied Carl Pickens' agent permission to broker a trade Monday, but Steve Zucker said the team sounds willing to listen to offers for the disgruntled receiver.

        “Carl doesn't want to come back,” Zucker said after speaking with Bengals President Mike Brown. “Mike has said in the past if the price is right, he would trade anyone. We'll see what happens.”

        Zucker confirmed what everyone figured Dec. 29, when Pickens ripped Brown's decision to bring back coach Bruce Coslet for another year:

        Pickens wants out of Cincinnati, where he signed a five-year, $23.2 million contract three days before last season's opener.

        Bengal insiders say Pickens and Coslet can't stand each other, and the coaching staff has recommended Brown get rid of Pickens via trade or release. Brown said Zucker called Monday requesting “a similar role” to what he had last offseason, when Brown allowed Zucker to hunt for a trade.

        “We told (Zucker) that we didn't want him to get involved in trying to make such an arrangement,” Brown said Monday. “I don't want anyone to get revved up or race their motor over this. Trades rarely happen in this league.”

        Brown is hesitant to move Pickens for two reasons. He needs to find a big, physical receiver to replace Pickens in the starting lineup opposite speedy Darnay Scott. And he needs to find a mechanism that cushions a $2.8 million hit against the salary cap if the Bengals let Pickens go.

        Neither Brown nor Zuck er would discuss the possibility of Pickens giving back his $3.5 million signing bonus.

        The NFL said last week if Pickens gave back his bonus, only $700,000 would count against the cap in 2000 and none in the remaining three years.

        Last year, Brown wouldn't scale back his demands for Pickens from a first-round draft pick to the second- and fifth-rounders the Colts got for running back Marshall Faulk.

        Brown won't say what it will take this time, but won't rule out trading with a division rival. The Baltimore Ravens are interested in Pickens and have first-round picks at Nos. 5 and 15, but they probably will only go as high as a second-rounder.

        Meanwhile, the Bengals want to keep running back Corey Dillon.

        Although he's a restricted free agent, Dillon went to the top of the charts Monday when Jacksonville running back James Stewart signed with the Lions for five years at $25 million.

        But the Cleveland Browns appear to be cooling to Dillon because the price is first-and third-round picks, and their first rounder is the first pick in the draft. Contrary to Cleveland media reports, a Browns official said Monday Dillon isn't scheduled for a visit.

        Dillon is interested in his hometown Seahawks, but as of Monday the sides had yet to speak.

       

---

Bengals Stories

Pickens still wants out Von Oelhoffen bolts Bengals for $10M Booker likes muddy-carpet treatment Stadium overruns may pass $45M How change orders add to construction costs Stadium milestones

Spring more important for some Reds
Ticket frenzy for Reds rolls on
Griffey expected to boost ratings
Know Junior? Tell us your story
Reds on Fox Sports Net
Cameron gets 7-fold raise from Mariners
Xavier gets chance to pay back Duquesne
ATLANTIC-10 NOTEBOOK
Syracuse eager to atone for '99
CONFERENCE-USA NOTEBOOK
Norse women want return to Final Four
Cincinnati girls basketball roundup
Ohio girls basketball scores
Ohio boys basketball scores
N.Ky. girls basketball roundup
Kentucky boys basketball scores
Kentucky girls basketball scores
Hurt Lohr won't quit, shoots 98
Long Beach 4, Cyclones 1
Mighty Ducks 5, Louisville 1