Takeo Spikes (51) and Brian Simmons keep an eye on the offensive line during full team drills at Bengals mini camp. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

        Linebackers Brian Simmons and Takeo Spikes, who came into the league as twin first-round draft picks in 1998, were the standards of excellence when the Bengals' defense finished in the bottom third of league rankings.

        They were the foundation upon which the team's defense was built, leading to an NFL ranking of No.9 last year.

        But this coming season, when even bigger things are expected from the defense, could be the last for the pair in Cincinnati.

        Simmons and Spikes both are entering the final seasons of similar five-year contracts, and keeping them will be significantly more expensive than the $600,000-plus base salaries they'll each earn in 2002.

        Extending their contracts is high on the Bengals' to-do list.

        “Looking at our cap room, trying to judge what our options are with it, one course would be to get our linebackers signed for the long term if we could,” Bengals president Mike Brown said Sunday while watching Simmons and Spikes practice at minicamp. “It's a high priority. But right now it's still at the studying stage on our end. These things are not as simple as you might think.”

        The Bengals are an estimated $2million under the salary cap for 2002, not counting the $3.5million reserved to sign draft picks.

        “Our defense is pretty good, and it seems to be getting better and better, and the strength of the defense is our linebackers,” Brown said.

        Spikes and Simmons — who have been first or second on the team in tackles, except for 2000, when Simmons missed the season with a knee injury — say they're not thinking about their contract situations. Their bigger shared concern is winning by contributing big plays to the defense.

        “It's a matter of when they decide they want to do it,” said Simmons, the middle linebacker who had 6.5 sacks among his 139 tackles last season. “Until then, I just worry about this year. I'm under contract for this year.”

        Spikes led the team with 173 tackles and had six sacks.

        “I'm not in a rush,” he said. “Whatever happens is going to happen, regarding the time schedule, as far as God plans it. And, at the same time, I'm not going to be a fool about any situation. I'm just going to take whatever the best deal is for me.”

        Neither Simmons nor Spikes is adverse to trying free agency, but both say getting into free agency wouldn't preclude them from re-signing with the Bengals.

        Their lockers are side by side. They're close friends. But they don't talk about their similar contract status.

        “It's not everyday conversation,” Simmons said. “We're just thinking about this year. I would hope they would want to keep two of their better players on the team.”

        That sentiment is shared by their defensive teammates.

        Defensive end Bernard Whittington: “They're the heart and soul of the defense.”

        Cornerback Kevin Kaesviharn: “They're our captains. They make our ship go.”

        Defensive end Reinard Wilson: “They're both Pro Bowl-type players.”

        Keeping Simmons and Spikes in stripes might be too expensive, but the club is in good position. If they sign one, they could use either the franchise tag or transition tag on the other, designations that help NFL teams retain their star players.

        There's another factor working in the Bengals' favor, and that's their steady improvement under coach Dick LeBeau.

        “I want to win. I want to win,” said Spikes, who is 17-47 with the Bengals. “The only thing that's been kind of keeping me positive for all the years I've been here is moves being made to bring good players in.”

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