Wednesday, March 08, 2000
Bengals await Mitchell's call
QB asks team to send contract
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Bengals appeared to secure the services of 10-year quarterback Scott Mitchell when he asked the club to overnight its one-year contract to him Tuesday night at his California home.
The gesture suggests Mitchell, 32, has agreed to back up Akili Smith for an estimated $800,000, but the Bengals won't say anything until Mitchell returns the contract signed.
The Bengals agreed to the deal in principle over the weekend but were surprised when Mitchell visited Dallas Monday and came home with an offer.
With the Bengals wanting an answer by the end of Tuesday, Mitchell had three long talks with his agent while debating Cincinnati or Dallas.
Tony Agnone, Mitchell's agent, said Tuesday afternoon he thought the quarterback would end up with the Bengals. But Agnone said Mitchell was having trouble coming up with a final decision. Agnone couldn't be reached for comment later Tuesday to be asked about the overnight request.
Mitchell already knows the Cowboys' offense, because his college quarterbacks coach, Jack Reilly, is their new offensive coordinator. But what may have been the most important factor is that Mitchell's chance to play is probably better in Cincinnati, where the Bengals have had five starting quarterbacks the last 29 games.
The Bengals spent Tuesday waiting for Mitchell's answer by crafting a new strategy. If he turned them down, they probably would make an offer to Giants cornerback Phillippi Sparks.
Sparks, who turns 31 next month, visited the Bengals Tuesday and went to lunch and on a stadium tour with defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau.
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