Friday, March 02, 2001
Bengals' test: Will they sign top free agent?
Club has the money - does it have the will?
By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Ted Washington is a 350-pound piece of litmus paper.
If the Bengals dip into free agency and pluck out the former Buffalo Pro Bowl defensive tackle, who will visit Cincinnati on Monday, the signing could go a long way to dispel the perception that Mike Brown won't spend the money required to win.
But if the Bengals lose out on Washington and other big names on the market, the team's long-suffering fans might be left with more of the acid-stomach sensation that comes with 37 losses in the past 48 games.
Free agency, which begins today, is a chance for NFL teams to fill lineup holes. The Bengals have identified defensive linemen, quarterbacks and centers as position players they plan to pursue.
And there are answers available. At quarterback alone, the likes of Elvis Grbac, Brad Johnson, Trent Dilfer, Gus Frerotte and Jon Kitna are out there.
But the Bengals don't have the NFL's best reputation, said several agents and league sources interviewed this week. The team, which has not had a winning season in 10 years, is regarded by many agents, players and fans as penny-pinching and not fully committed to winning.
But such reputations can change quickly in the NFL. Green Bay became an attractive place to play after Reggie White signed. St.Louis, Buffalo and Tampa Bay also used to be seen as NFL wastelands. Tampa Bay and St.Louis, at least, are now regarded as garden spots.
“Mike (Brown) is an astute businessman in terms of dollars and cents,” said Richard L. Katz, who represents Bengals players John Jackson and Vaughn Booker. “But there has been hesitation to pull the trigger on a big-name free agent. We'll see what happens with Ted Washington.”
Brown says he wants badly to win but will not pay players for years they aren't playing. He believes in building a roster through the draft. The Bengals' financial discipline, Brown says, is why the organization did not have to unload players or restructure long-term contracts this week to get down to the salary cap. In that manner, Brown said Wednesday, the Bengals are in an envious position and have more salary cap money to spend in free agency than most teams.
Other estimates say they have the most.
“We're going to inquire, we're going to offer, but that doesn't mean we're going to prove that we're suddenly stupid and want to create a problem that will impact us in future
years,” Brown said.
“If teams are paying players based on their productive play years, we can compete with anybody. When you get into deals that pay players for time they will not play, if someone wants to do that, we're not going to be inclined to match that effort.”
The Bengals will make offers to at least one veteran free agent, maybe as many as four, Brown said. The organization is keeping enough money in reserve to match any offer Bengals Pro Bowl running back Corey Dillon might receive in free agency.
Several agents said the Bengals have a two-generation reputation for being cheap, are difficult to negotiate with, have a losing tradition and play in a city that is not “sexy.” Other agents say they have had good dealings with the Bengals - particularly Brown and his family - and don't discourage their players from considering Cincinnati.
“I understand it's business. They understand it's business,” said Seattle-based agent Carl Taylor-Lopez, who represents Seahawks quarterback Kitna, a potential Bengals target in free agency. “I don't take it personally. Everyone understands that they don't have the highest payroll in the league.”
Still, salary is generally the biggest factor for any free agent. “For 95 percent of players, money matters most,” said one agent. Another agent — who has two or three top free agents on this year's market — said the city, the playing surface, the coaches and the chance to win the Super Bowl make a team even more appealing.
Last year, when the Bengals moved to Paul Brown Stadium, which opened new revenue streams, the Bengals still were able to land only second-tier free agents, such as veteran defensive players Booker, Tom Barndt and Darryl Williams. But defensive tackle Sam Adams, who visited Cincinnati, went to Baltimore and won a Super Bowl.
The Bengals have yet to attract a marquee free agent.
“Nobody gets everybody they're chasing after,” Brown said. “A group of teams chases one player. One team gets that player. And the teams who don't get that player, suddenly their media and talk shows say: "Gee, they don't get the guys they should. What's wrong?' Well, nothing's wrong. That's just how the system works.”
The Bengals think family-friendly Cincinnati is a plus, said Jim Lippincott, the team's director of pro/college personnel. He's convinced future Hall of Fame defensive back Rod Woodson would have come to Cincinnati instead of Baltimore a few years ago if the team wasn't playing on artificial turf in Cinergy Field.
Visiting free agents are encouraged to talk with current Bengals and find out for themselves that the Bengals' reputation is wrong, Lippin cott said.
But, said an agent, when a prospective free agent talks to Bengals players, he is told: “Don't come here. Go somewhere else.”
There is a range of responses, though. For every agent who was critical of the Bengals, there was one who said the organization was increasing its curb appeal.
“I think the Bengals are doing things a lot better,” Katz said. “The facilities, the hospitality. (Head coach) Dick LeBeau is very well-respected. He's assembling a staff that's respected.”
Still, the story of how the Bengals sent a coach ticket to former free agent defensive tackle Tony Siragusa — who weighs 342 pounds — is one that haunts the organization. Siragusa later received a first-class ticket and visited with LeBeau, then the defensive coordinator, in Cincinnati.
Katz is among the agents - all of whom benefit when their players sign bigger contracts - who say free agency is more important to the Bengals than to many other teams.
“On both sides of the ball, offense and defense, they don't have anybody who has experience winning,” Katz said. “The only guys who've won in the NFL are the guys they bring in from other teams. You need that leadership.”
Jim Gould, another Cincinnati-based agent, has a two-part plan that would help the Bengals.
“They need to engage agents and make it a partnership,” said Gould, who represents Bengals receiver Peter Warrick. “They need to shoot high — not middle ground.”
Then there's a little bit of luck, most of which has gone against the Bengals in recent years.
“The No.1 thing working against them is the snakebit, never-in-the-hunt, doom-and-gloom tag,” Gould said. “A lot of that comes with losing early in the season.”
Bengals Stories
Harnisch expects trade from Reds
Labor worries cast shadow over season
Grass is greener at Cinergy Field
DAUGHERTY: Wohlers' story best in baseball
Game Report: Reds 3, Indians 3
Larkin doesn't notice new strike zone
Dykstra quits as Single-A manager
UC 77, South Florida 66
Huggins lobbies to make Logan MVP
UC women pin NCAA hopes on C-USA tourney
UC's King win conference honor
Sato's defense has come a long way
Xavier women sweep A-10's top honors
Xavier women hope to land NCAA home games
NKU men advance in tourney
Miami to host MAC tourney game
Prather sets record at Turfway
Moeller puts 8 in state wrestling quarterfinals
Div. I wrestling results
Div. II wrestling results
Div. III wrestling results
State gymnastics preview
Boys basketball coverage
Girls basketball coverage
No. 2 West Hi guns for No. 1 Winton Woods
Girls district basketball preview
Mariemont routs Batavia for sectional title
Dixie Heights moves past Lloyd to finals
N.Ky. boys basketball games
N.Ky. girls basketball games
Ohio boys basketball scores
Ohio girls basketball scores
Indiana boys basketball scores
Kentucky boys basketball scores
Kentucky girls basketball scores
• Return to Bengals front page...
Bengals' test: Will they sign top free agent?