Ask Mark

        Question, from Charles in Cincinnati: No excuses for the Bengals now. The free agents who have been released from their clubs look like a Pro Bowl team. If the Bengals are still under the salary cap, will they take advantage?

        Answer: They are anywhere from $8.2 million to $10.1 million under the salary cap for 2002. And, yes, they are trying to make the most of their available cash.

        The Bengals' offseason focus on quarterbacks changed early Saturday when Seattle announced it had re-signed Trent Dilfer, whom the Bengals wanted to sign. Jim Miller's off the board, too, after he re-signed late Friday with Chicago.

        The Bengals are talking to Elvis Grbac's agent, Jim Steiner, following Grbac's release Friday by the Ravens. Other than quarterback, the Bengals look to make another serious run at former Chicago cornerback Walt Harris.

        Give the Bengals credit for filling a lot of holes wisely in free agency last year.

        Q, from Erik in Lima: Do the Bengals have a legitimate shot at Duane Starks?

        A: The former Baltimore Ravens cornerback appears headed to Oakland, which is offering a lot more money than the Bengals would be willing to spend.

        Q, from JJ, Xavier University student: Linebackers Takeo Spikes and Brian Simmons will be free agents next year, which allows the Bengals to slap the franchise tag on one of them, but what about the transition tag? Can the team use the transition tag on the other?

        A: Under terms of the collective bargaining agreement, a team can't use the transition tag and the franchise tag at the same time.

        A transition player designation gives the club a first-refusal right to match within seven days an offer sheet given to the player by another club after his contract expires. If the club matches, it retains the player. If it does not match, it receives no compensation.

        A club can designate one franchise player in any given year, and there are two types of franchise players.

        The salary level offer by a player's old club determines what type of franchise player he is. An “exclusive” franchise player — not free to sign with another club — is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries at the player's position as of April 15, or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater.

        If the player is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries of last season at his position, he becomes a “non-exclusive” franchise player and can negotiate with other clubs. His old club can match a new club's offer or receive two first-round draft choices if it decides not to match. So a franchise tag is more valuable and limits a player's ability to move through free agency.

        Q, from Eric in Yorktown, Va.: With the Ravens release of Rod Woodson, do you think the Bengals will sign him? What are your thoughts?

        A: There's a possibility, given Woodson's close relationship with Bengals coach Dick LeBeau, who was Woodson's position coach and coordinator in Pittsburgh. But Woodson apparently wants to end his career where it started, with the Steelers, but if they're not interested, Woodson might be interested in the Bengals because of LeBeau.

        Q, from Brian in Dayton: I agree with you that Jon Kitna deserves another chance this season. In my opinion, he shouldn't be handed the starting job because we still need to look at (Scott) Covington and whatever free agent quarterback we end up getting. Kitna is painful to watch at times, but he is a veteran, and do you think he has what it takes to lead the Bengals to the playoffs? Or should Bengals fans hold out hope that Akili Smith can become and stay healthy and lead us?

        A: The quarterback situation grew even more complicated Saturday when Dilfer re-signed with the Seahawks.

        If the Bengals can't sign a free agent quarterback, they say they are comfortable with Kitna in a second year with the receivers. They also say Smith's rehabilitation from hamstring surgery is going well and there's a good chance he will be ready for the start of training camp.

       Mark Curnutte covers the Bengals for the Enquirer. He can be reached on our Web site. For more questions and answers, see Cincinnati.com keyword Curnutte.

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