If the Bengals truly are interested in Kansas City free agent kicker Todd Peterson, who visited Wednesday, they're probably going to have to part ways with embattled kicker Neil Rackers.

        Peterson, the top free agent kicker available, said he wouldn't sign with the Bengals unless he was told he would supplant Rackers.

        “We haven't discussed him,” Peterson said of Rackers, near the end of his five-hour visit Wednesday with Bengals management and coaches. “That's not the issue. The issue is, am I going to come here and is a deal going to be worked out for me to come here?

        “For me to come here, I'm going to be the guy. I'm not going to play a cat-and-mouse game. I've been doing this too long. I want to retire where I sign this time.”

        Peterson has 743 points and an 80 percent rate on field goals over his eight-year career.

        Peterson has several friends and associates in the Bengals' organization. He was a teammate of Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna's in Seattle. Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski had the same job with the Seahawks. Peterson also played briefly for Bengals special teams coach Al Roberts when they were both with Arizona in 1994.

        “Everything I heard was they'd like me to walk out of here today a Bengal,” Peterson said.

        The Bengals were last in scoring in 2001 with 226 points. And some members of the club's front office say the problem can't be put entirely on a struggling pass offense. Not only did Rackers make just 61 percent of his field goals, coach Dick LeBeau passed up a half dozen field goal attempts within 50 yards.

        Peterson today will visit Minnesota, which plays in a kicker's paradise — a dome. Peterson also is close with new Vikings coach Mike Tice from their days in Seattle. At least one other team is interested, and so are the Chiefs.

        “I want to win more than anything,” Peterson said. “I've been 9-7 one time. I've been to the playoffs one time.”

        Email mcurnutte@enquirer.com
       

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