New England quarterback Drew Bledsoe won't accept a trade to the Bengals, two sources close to the situation told the Enquirer on Thursday.

        The Bengals talked twice to the Patriots about Bledsoe, a former Pro Bowl player who appears expendable because Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady is now the team's starting quarterback.

        The Bengals' interest in Bledsoe is one reason the club has been slow to sign veterans since free agency started March1. An estimated $8.2 million under the salary cap, the Bengals were saving room to absorb Bledsoe's base salaries of $5.5 million in 2002 and $6 million in 2003.

        But in recent days, the team has decided to stop pursuing Bledsoe and spend the money on free agents — which is why it re-signed cornerback Artrell Hawkins, made a push toward re-signing defensive end Reinard Wilson and is going hard after cornerback Jeff Burris.

        That change in direction came after the Bengals talked to David Dunn, Bledsoe's agent, in recent days. Dunn told the club Bledsoe did not want to play in Cincinnati, a source said, without giving the Bengals a reason.

        The Bengals have run into problems at times attracting players because they now have gone 11 straight seasons without reaching the playoffs or managing a winning record.

        Dunn told the Enquirer late Thursday he wouldn't comment about Bledsoe's situation.

        “It's not really a ripe issue now,” Dunn said.

        Bledsoe is close to New England owner Robert Kraft, and Kraft reportedly will honor Bledsoe's wishes regarding any possible trade destination.

        Bledsoe is the third quarterback the Bengals wanted but couldn't acquire, within the past month, meaning the starting job probably will stay with Jon Kitna.

        They made an offer to Trent Dilfer, who re-signed with Seattle, even though the Bengals' base contract was worth more money. Dilfer wanted to leave the Seahawks only because he was backing up Matt Hasselbeck, but when Seattle proclaimed Dilfer its starter, he decided to return.

        The Bengals offered Elvis Grbac a four-year contract worth $10 million the day after Grbac was released by the Ravens, but Grbac chose to retire instead of uprooting his wife and three children after only one season in Baltimore. Grbac's agent, Jim Steiner, has said Grbac would have played in Cincinnati if he were going to play anywhere else.

        The Bengals, bound by NFL rules that prohibit tampering with a player under contract to another team, have said little publicly about Bledsoe.

        Asked Thursday morning about discussions with the Patriots, Bengals president Mike Brown said, “I just don't want to get into it. It is often we talk to other teams. But they are not things to discuss publicly.”

        On Wednesday night at the NFL meetings in Orlando, Fla., Bengals coach Dick LeBeau told the Boston Herald that the Bengals were interested in Bledsoe.

        “We're looking for a quarterback, and I think Drew is a great one,” LeBeau said. “But we have to trade for him. I know we're talking with New England about it. Mike Brown has talked with (coach) Bill (Belichick), and Bill referred him to Scott Pioli (the Patriots personnel director). I'm not sure what progress has been made.”

        LeBeau was not available for comment Thursday.

        Even if Bledsoe had been willing to play for the Bengals, a trade would have been difficult. The Bengals, like many other teams looking for a quarterback, think the Patriots' asking price of two first-round draft picks is too high.

        The Bengals aren't interested in trading even one first-round choice.

        There is some question how willing the Patriots are to trade Bledsoe. True, Brady, a former sixth-round draft pick, engineered New England's playoff run and Super Bowl upset of the St. Louis Rams, but he remains unproven beyond one season.

        The Patriots reportedly value having two quality quarterbacks, and word around the league is they will trade Bledsoe only if they clearly get a deal that will help them — a pair of first-round picks.

        Bengals officials and coaches had said throughout the offseason that they would be comfortable going into next season with their three returning quarterbacks — incumbent starter Kitna, former starter and first-round draft pick Akili Smith, and Scott Covington.

        With the draft less than a month away, and potential rookie starters David Carr and Joey Harrington expected to be gone by the time the Bengals draft 10th overall, Kitna apparently will be the Bengals' starter again. Smith is recovering from surgery to repair a torn hamstring and might not be at full strength when training camp opens July26.

        Kitna had 751 yards passing in the final two games, both victories, and coaches and management say they expect production of the passing game to continue into next season. Kitna was a first-year Bengals quarterback, working in a new offense brought in by first-year coordinator Bob Bratkowski, throwing to a receiving corps that included two rookies, three-second year wide receivers and no real threat at tight end.

        Kitna, though, had the lowest passer rating of any of the NFL's regular quarterbacks and threw 22 interceptions compared to 12 touchdown passes. But with minicamp six weeks away, Kitna said Thursday he is optimistic about the upcoming season.

        “In (the Bengals') eyes, they're like everybody else in the league — they're trying to get better, and they think getting Drew Bledsoe would make them better,” Kitna said. “But like I've said all along, if God wants me to be quarterback of this team, crazy things are going to happen. A guy (Dilfer) is going to take less money to play somewhere else. Another guy (Grbac) is going to retire. Another guy (Bledsoe) will turn down a trade.

        “God, it certainly seems to me, seems to be saying that. But who knows? Akili could come back healthy. I'm very comfortable where I am. All I ever wanted is a fair chance, and if I get a fair chance, I know I will win the job.”

        Kitna beat out Smith and Scott Mitchell for the starter's job in training camp last season.

        “Another quarterback competition wouldn't be the best thing for the team, but that's not my call,” Kitna said.

Bledsoe rejects Bengals Bengals notebook

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