Friday, March 10, 2000Chance to play sealed Mitchell deal
Veteran hopes to get playing time as Akili's sub
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
From Reggie Rembert to Tremain Mack, Bengals President Mike Brown is well known for giving second chances to players who run into trouble off the field.
Mitchell
NFL.com profileOn Thursday, Brown gave a second chance to a player who has had trouble on the field and is looking to revive his career in Cincinnati when the Bengals gave quarterback Scott Mitchell $200,000 to sign a one-year contract for $600,000.
It's the least Brown could do.
The beginning of Mitchell's demise as a starting NFL quarterback began Sept.13, 1998, when the last pass he threw for the Detroit Lions was intercepted by Bengals cornerback Corey Sawyer in overtime for a touchdown. Mitchell's fall from grace culminated with just two starts in Baltimore last season.
“We put the nail in his coffin up in Detroit,” Brown said. “But we're going by what he's done in the past. He's taken teams to the playoffs. He's been productive. He fits us. He hasn't shown what he can do lately.”
The fit is as a backup quarterback to Akili Smith. But Mitchell, 32, made it clear Thursday he chose the Bengals over the Cowboys because he thinks he has a better chance to play behind Smith than a likely Hall-of-Famer in Troy Aikman.
“I just didn't feel like I was totally ready to be a backup,” said Mitchell, when asked why he passed on working in a familiar offense with his col lege quarterbacks coach. “I wasn't ready to say, "It's OK just to be a backup.' I think I have a lot of good years left.”
But Mitchell, who began his career sitting behind Dan Marino in Miami from 1990-93, understands Smith starts out No.1 this season. Yet he also knows there may be times coach Bruce Coslet has to sit Smith.
“This team has to win more games than a year ago,” Mitchell said. “I definitely think the Cincinnati Bengals think (Smith) is the long-term answer for them, and I'm sure they want to bring him along the right way.
“They know he'll be around for awhile. Bring him along slow, don't wreck his confidence, and really let him learn. I understand going in that they're going to give this guy every opportunity to play, and that's what they should do.”
The 6-foot-6 Mitchell admitted his weight hurt him last season with the Ravens, and he raised a few eyebrows when he registered 265 pounds during last week's Spinney Field workout.
But he also showed the Bengals he was committed to his conditioning program by jogging around the practice fields for an hour before leaving for the airport.
The Bengals put a clause in his contract saying he has to report to July 21 training camp at 245 pounds. His goal by May 16 is to be 242, nearly his ideal weight of 240.
Mitchell has gone to Dana Point, Calif., to work with a personal trainer who also works for the NHL's Mighty Ducks, as well as a flexibility coach.
But his biggest selling point for the Bengals is he didn't rock very rockable boats the past two seasons.
“He's a pro,” said Tony Agnone, Mitchell's agent. “He didn't complain. Last year, he saw what the situation was and he tried to help Tony (Banks) and Stoney (Case) get better and he stayed after practice to get his reps.”
Agnone kept saying this deal was never about money. Mitchell already has that after getting a $10 million bonus from the Lions after the 1996 season. Indeed, the Cowboys never spoke with Agnone, they just told Mitchell they would pay more than the Bengals.
“(Last season) I was getting sick and tired of (the benchings),” Mitchell said. “These past two seasons have not been too kind to me, and I just decided it was time to go out on my own terms and improve. I think I'm right on track. ...”
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