Friday, February 25, 2000
Bengals leave Anderson waiting, wondering
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
While Carl Pickens complains and Corey Dillon moans, Willie Anderson wonders.
Anderson, who the Bengals say is among the elite right tackles in the game, wonders why the Bengals aren't responding to his six-year, $51 million proposal, especially when he keeps talking positively about his team in a wilderness of criticism.
“I don't want to be perceived as greedy,” Anderson said. “I'm a positive guy. I'm telling you I want to be here. Let me build this thing with Akili (Smith) and (left tackle) Rod Jones and Takeo (Spikes). But how long can I sing that song without getting mad?”
Anderson, coming off the best of his four seasons, feels the eyes of his teammates and potential teammates watching his next move.
“Key players are wondering, and other free agents are wondering, too, if they're going to keep (me),” Anderson said. “If we want to be in a position to show guys it's not that bad here, then we have to show them. Are they going to reward their own players?”
Bengals president Mike Brown said the club's situation has changed since Anderson's proposal, with the free-agent signings of defensive lineman Vaughn Booker and Tom Barndt. “Players and agents have to realize when they ask for the moon, the team is going to look elsewhere whenever those offers are unreasonable,” Brown said. “It was so out of the realm that we went and did other things. I don't know when we'll get back to them. It all depends.”
Anderson has been watching the news ticker on ESPN. One recent night, the five-year, $50 million extension for Jaguars right tackle Leon Searcy crawled across the screen and into Anderson's craw.
“Every week we watch film, my coach tells me I'm better than Leon Searcy,” Anderson said. “I think I'm better. ... Teams are starting to put their best rushers over the right tackle. Look who I played this year: Kevin Carter, Jevon Kearse, Michael Sinclair, Jason Gildon, Peter Boulware. There are 20 good left tackles and only about five good right ones.”
In the wake of the Searcy deal and the six-year, $30 million pact the Eagles gave Jon Runyan, Anderson said his offer was just a start.
“Let's meet in the middle, somewhere between 30 and 50,” he said.
The Bengals have extended new contracts to some key players but have hit a snag with Dillon, a restricted free agent. Anderson said he thinks the negativity is hurting the team's chances with free agents.
“But I'm ready to sign on,” he said.
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