Thursday, August 17, 2000
Coslet sees no WR help on waivers
BENGALS NOTEBOOK
By Tom Groeschen
The Cincinnati Enquirer
GEORGETOWN, Ky. — Coach Bruce Coslet reiterated that the Bengals have no plans to pursue Andre Rison or Vincent Brisby, established receivers who were waived this week. Rison is 33 and Brisby 29, relatively old and expensive for teams to sign as backups.
Coslet challenged someone who asked about Rison on Wednesday.
“Andre Rison? He was a great player, but he can't run any more. He's 35 or 36 (actually 33),” Coslet said. “Who are you going to bring in? You tell me. We don't need a backup veteran wide receiver.”
With Carl Pickens gone and Darnay Scott out for the year, the Bengals have a total of 43 NFL receptions by their remaining receivers. That group is led by rookie Peter Warrick and fourth-year veteran James Hundon, a career backup. There are also second-year men Craig Yeast and Damon Griffin and rookie Ron Dugans.
“I'm pleased with our receivers,” Coslet said. “They're a good group, they're talented, but they're just green as grass ... But they'll be fine, they really will.”
Hundon and Dugans will split time at one wide receiver position in Saturday's game, Coslet said. The Bengals hope Warrick will be a longtime starter on the other side.
MYERS WAITS: Free safety Greg Myers is still negotiating an injury settlement with the team, whereby he would be released with pay. Myers tore a tendon in his kneecap two weeks ago.
The fifth-year veteran could pursue another team or, under NFL rules, be eligible to return to the Bengals after the 10th game of this season.
“If that's one of the options, I'd love to come back if they still wanted me,” Myers said. “There are no hard feelings. This is a business, I know that.”
TIME TO WIN: The Bengals are 0-2 this preseason and were 0-4 last year. They are 1-9 in preseason since 1998 and are getting tired of talking about it. The hoopla of opening Paul Brown Stadium will make some fans forget the bad football, if temporarily.
“It's as important to win this game as any other, but there's a little added emphasis because of the stadium,” Coslet said.
ROSTER TALK: Rookie Brad St.Louis seems set as the new long snapper, and Coslet would like to keep three specialists — a kicker, punter and long snapper. That is how the Bengals did it for years, when Doug Pelfrey, Lee Johnson and Greg Truitt manned the positions. Pelfrey is the only one remaining, and he is on the bubble. Rookie Neil Rackers is pushing the eight-year vet Pelfrey, but some remember a similar situation in 1989. That year, the Bengals cut veteran Jim Breech in favor of young Jim Gallery. But when Gallery flopped early, Breech was re-signed and kicked four more years for Cincinnati.
Could Pelfrey be waived and then return if Rackers struggles? Maybe, but speculation is Pelfrey, who turns 30 on Sept.25, will be signed by another team if the Bengals cut him.
HEADING NORTH: There is a morning practice today that is closed to the public. Tonight, the public can view the workout from 7:30-9:30. Friday, there is a skills workout from 11 a.m-noon and a practice from 3-4 p.m., with both sessions open to the public. The team then breaks camp for Saturday's exhibition game vs. Chicago at new Paul Brown Stadium.
After that, workouts will be at the new Paul Brown complex and closed to the public.
NO TV: The first game in Paul Brown Stadium will not be on live local TV. It will be shown live only in Columbus and on tape delay at 11:35p.m. Saturday in Cincinnati and Dayton.
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Coslet sees no WR help on waivers
