Saturday, March 04, 2000
Bengals may sign QB Mitchell
Ex-Lion, Raven would return as Smith's backup
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
How's this for irony? Scott Mitchell, who quarterbacked the Lions to three playoffs, may be on the verge of reviving his career with the Bengals as Akili Smith's backup.
The Bengals engaged in negotiations Friday with Mitchell after he told club officials his workout and visit to Spinney Field were “first-class.”
Remember the last pass Mitchell ever threw as an established NFL starting quarterback?
It went to a Bengal for the winning touchdown. Unfortunately for Mitch ell, he threw it while playing for Detroit Sept.13, 1998. Even before Bengals cornerback Corey Sawyer finished his 58-yard return, Mitchell was in coach Bobby Ross' doghouse behind a rookie from Eastern Michigan named Charlie Batch.
Last year was more of the same when Ravens coach Brian Billick benched Mitchell after just two starts following a trade from Detroit.
“Probably nobody ever agrees with getting benched,” Mitchell said Friday.
“Against the Bengals, we had four touchdown drives over 80 yards. ... But I decided I was going to end my career on my terms, and I'm working hard to do it. I'm not going to let the Bobby Rosses and Brian Billicks end my career.”
With the NFL's musical chairs of backup quarterbacks grinding to a halt, the Bengals are in position to compete for Mitchell with the Cowboys. He's scheduled to visit Dallas and their quarterbacks coach, Jack Riley, his college coach at Utah.
But Bengals vice president Paul Brown started negotiations with Mitchell's agent Tony Agnone on Friday and plans to talk to him today in an effort to wrap up the deal before the weekend. The Bengals figure to be offering in the $800,000-a-year range, which is competitive with salary cap-strapped Dallas.
Dallas probably is looking to give him a seven-year deal voiding to one so they can offer about $800,000 with the lowest possible cap figure.
But a stumbling block could be the contract's length. Mitchell agreed to a one-year deal with Baltimore last season; the Bengals prefer multi-year deals. Still, Cincinnati went one year with Clyde Simmons because it needed a defensive end in the wake of John Copeland's Achilles injury before the 1998 season.
The Bengals may not be desperate for a backup yet, but they have to be close as the field dwindles.
They wouldn't give Eric Zeier $1million a year, and he went back to Tampa Bay. Gus Frerrote showed little interest before going to Denver. Jeff George wants a few million a year; Trent Dilfer hasn't returned the Bengals' calls; and 37-year-old Mike Tomczak was viewed as too old before going to Detroit.
“I don't care when (the signing) is, just as long as he's the right guy,” Bengals coach Bruce Coslet said. “What we're looking for is a backup quarterback with experience, and (Mitchell) fits the bill. He was pretty impressive. He has a good arm.”
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