Wednesday, March 08, 2000
Brown: Pickens 'should plan to be back'
Ravens now turn attention to Jets' Johnson, not Bengal
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Bengals may have seen their best bid to trade wide receiver Carl Pickens disappear Tuesday when Baltimore zeroed in on a deal for Jets receiver Keyshawn Johnson.
Ravens coach Brian Billick spoke openly of a swap sending Johnson to Baltimore for at least the fifth pick in next month's draft.
The deal would end the Ravens' interest in Pickens, which was strong enough last month that the clubs talked informally of trading Pickens for first- or second-round draft picks.
The Bengals haven't ruled out taking a second-rounder from Baltimore for Pickens, but an NFL source said the Ravens never formally offered a No.2.
And they won't if Johnson becomes a Raven. Bengals President Mike Brown used the occasion to insist he's ready to keep Pickens no matter how much he demands a trade.
“I don't know that (the Ravens) are interested in Carl,” Brown said. “Carl should plan to be back. His best avenue would be to get serious playing for the Bengals with an attitude that would match that.”
Running back Corey Dillon, another disgruntled Bengal, isn't getting interest from the other New York team. Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi denied Tuesday an Internet report that said he was pondering signing Dillon instead of hoping Alabama's Shaun Alexander or Wisconsin's Ron Dayne is still available with the draft's 11th pick.
Giants cornerback Phillippi Sparks visited Tuesday and said he's not concerned about the gripes of Pickens and Dillon.
“You have to be realistic knowing what the problems (are) with those individuals,” Sparks said. “There are different players who have different views of Cincinnati. Some people have re-signed back here and they've brought in other free agents. You've got to know the facts. For Pickens and Dillon to leave, that's their pre rogative. I'm here for myself and my family and to learn about Cincinnati.”
Sparks, a starter for virtually all of his eight seasons in the NFL, is also trying to learn about Oakland, Dallas, and Kansas City.
He said he wants to make a decision in two weeks, and that could fit the Bengals' time frame. If quarterback Scott Mitchell signs, the Bengals plan to back off the free-agent market.
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