Friday, August 18, 2000
Bengals prepare to make unkindest cuts
By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
GEORGETOWN, Ky. — Cornerback Roosevelt Blackmon was not expected to be released by the Bengals. He started three games last year.
The release of receiver Tariq McDonald, an undrafted college free agent, was not a surprise.
Today marks the end of training camp, which means it's that time of the football year. Cutting time. The Bengals' third preseason game, Saturday night against Chicago, is the last chance for some players to hang on.
The biggest name who will be let go by the Bengals in the next few days is kicker Doug Pelfrey. That move has been coming since Cincinnati chose Neil Rackers in the sixth round of the April draft.
Pelfrey, a seven-year veteran and the team's second-leading career scorer, is expected to be waived early next week. The Bengals, who have 72 players in camp, need to cut down to 65 by Tuesday.
They'll need to be at 53 on Aug.27.
Here's who's most likely to stay and go between now and next Sunday.
Specialists
The Bengals have never been happy with Pelfrey's kickoffs. But he was one of the NFL's best place-kickers until the last season or two, much of which was the result of inconsistent snapping and holding.
Pelfrey will be of interest to Carolina, Dallas and Chicago.
The competition between punters Brad Costello and Daniel Pope is possibly the closest in training camp. Pope has a full year of NFL experience; he punted and held on kicks for Kansas City in all 16 games last season. Costello has a strong leg but is inconsistent with his punts. He booms kickoffs.
Expect to see Rackers kicking extra points and field goals and kicking off. Pope probably will be punting and holding.
Quarterbacks
Akili Smith, Scott Mitchell and Scott Covington are clearly Nos.1, 2 and 3. They'll all make the 53-man roster.
Running backs
Corey Dillon, Brandon Bennett and Michael Basnight, who's out until October, are the best players at this position. Rookie Curtis Keaton will be given the opportunity to develop. Sedrick Shaw probably will be kept until Basnight is healthy.
Fullbacks
Clif Groce is the best blocker. Nick Williams has shown the toughness and pass-catching abili ty coaches wanted to see. Ricky Brown is the odd man out.
Receivers
The Bengals probably will keep five: Peter Warrick, James Hundon, Craig Yeast and Ron Dugans are here, barring injury. The fifth spot is a battle between two-year veteran Damon Griffin and rookie free agent Marvin Chalmers of Wake Forest. Chalmers has the size Griffin doesn't. Look for Chalmers in an upset. LaVell Boyd will go to the practice squad.
Tight ends
Tony McGee is the starter at this crowded position. Marco Battaglia is the backup and could have a big receiving year because the Bengals now have a quarterback who can see the tight ends over the linemen. The third tight end will be Steve Bush, who's also the backup long snapper. The fourth tight end, rookie Brad St.Louis, is the No.1 long snapper.
Miami University product Damian Vaughn was waived Tuesday.
Offensive line
Cincinnati will keep nine, given that starting center Rich Braham heals in time for the Sept.10 opener as expected. Five of the nine keepers are Braham and fellow starters Rod Jones, Willie Anderson, Brian DeMarco and Matt O'Dwyer. O'Dwyer will miss the first game because of a league suspension. Top reserve Mike Goff will start at left guard for the opener. He's six. The other three who are expected to stick are John Jackson, Scott Rehberg and Brock Gutierrez.
Look for high-priced Jamain Stephens to go, along with Doug Dorley, Mike Doughty and Roger Roesler.
Defensive line
The situation in this position is similar to the offensive line, because players in a planned rotation are recovering from injuries. Projected starter Tom Barndt and top substitute Michael Bankston are both out. They are two key members of the eight-man line.
Other projected starters are Vaughn Booker, Oliver Gibson and John Copeland. The remaining defensive linemen figure to be Glen Steele, Jevon Langford and Reinard Wilson.
These players probably will be waived: Chad Pegues, Mike Willetts and Andre Purvis.
Linebackers
Six of the nine linebackers still in training camp will be on the opening day roster. This is possibly the strongest unit on the team: Takeo Spikes, Brian Simmons and Steve Foley are the starters. The top reserves are Canute Curtis and Adrian Ross. The battle for the sixth linebacker spot is between veteran Billy Granville and undrafted rookie free agent Armegis Spearman. In one of the only other camp shockers, look for Spearman to stay.
Alan Buckwalter and Ben Peterson are two other linebackers who will be cut.
Defensive backs
Veteran safety Greg Myers worked out an injury settlement that will lead to his release. He will receive five weeks' pay.
Safety JoJuan Armour has been slowed by a groin injury and could be gone. If he's released, Oakland, which drafted him in the seventh round in 1999, will pick him up. Converted receiver Sirr Parker, picked up on waivers from Carolina, has been unable to practice because of a hamstring injury and is likely to be let go.
After releasing Blackmon, the Bengals will keep secondary starters Tom Carter, Artrell Hawkins, Darryl Williams and Cory Hall and reserves Mark Roman, Rodney Heath, Lawrence Wright, Tremain Mack and Brian Gray.
Gray, like Spearman and Chalmers, is an undrafted rookie free agent.
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Bengals prepare to make unkindest cuts
