Ask Mark

        The Bengals are negotiating with agents for linebackers Brian Simmons and Takeo Spikes to extend their five-year rookie contracts before they expire at the end of the 2002 season.

        Question, from Ryan in Xenia: How much do you estimate it will take to sign Spikes and Simmons? And can the Bengals afford to sign a player like Sam Adams (visiting Tuesday) and still sign both linebackers?

        A: No one is talking specific numbers. One possible plan would be to extend Simmons' deal first and then use the franchise tag or transition tag on Spikes.

        The franchise tag guarantees Spikes' salary would be the average of the top five salaries at his position, which for 2002 is $5.52 million. A transition tag, which also gives the team some hold on a top free agent by requiring draft picks as compensation, would give Spikes the average of the top 10 linebacker salaries — $4.57 million.

        Signing Adams, a defensive tackle, would not help financially in extending the contracts of the Bengals' cornerstone linebackers. But if Adams comes in and contributes to a winning club, that would help retain Simmons and Spikes, because both of the linebackers want badly to win.

        From Daniel in Dayton, Ohio: Spend the money on a better cornerback, on a tight end, but another wide receiver with a questionable attitude (Michael Westbrook)? Mike Brown at his finest.

        From Ted in Chantilly, Va.: I've been a Bengals fan since 1975 and living in the Washington, D.C., area since 1987. I've seen Michael Westbrook's entire career here. He's an attitude problem. Dick LeBeau made great strides last year changing the Bengals' attitudes. Adding Westbrook is a step backward.

        Response: Westbrook does bring a bad reputation, but at age 30, he seems to appreciate that Cincinnati is a second chance to reach his vast potential. He is motivated, and he came relatively cheap ($4.5million over three years). Westbrook wants to be the No.1 receiver, a role with which Darnay Scott was not comfortable. Scott was best as Carl Pickens' aide de camp.

        The 57 receptions and two touchdowns Scott gave the Bengals last season certainly were not the stuff of the NFL's 10th-highest wide receiver salary ($3.250million). Give the Bengals some credit for dumping Scott's salary and clearing the cap room; Scott will count only $700,000 against the Bengals' cap this season, one-fifth of his $3.5 million signing bonus he received after the 1997 season.

        Cornerback and tight end do remain question marks, especially tight end. The Bengals are planning to open the season with two tight ends, Sean Brewer and Matt Schobel, neither of whom has played one down in the NFL.

        Q, from Fred in New Market, Tenn.: Have you checked out the 2002 schedule? It looks like one of the easiest in many years. There are only five games against playoff teams, and two of those are against Baltimore, which has lost half of its stars because of salary-cap problems. Is 10-6 really out of the question? Also, what do you think about the new four-team divisions?

        A: The NFL's new schedule, which features rotating opponents by division, appears to favor the Bengals this season. They will play the four teams in each of the NFC South (Atlanta, Tampa Bay, New Orleans and Carolina) and AFC South (Tennessee, Houston, Jacksonville and Indianapolis). Only Tampa Bay, at 9-7, including an overtime victory against the Bengals, made the playoffs.

        In the Bengals' four-team AFC North, they play two games each against Pittsburgh and Baltimore — both returning playoff teams. The Ravens are a shell of their former selves, but the Steelers look strong. And Cleveland, improved in its first year under coach Butch Davis, will be even better this season.

        So, yes, 10-6 is a possibility. But so is 6-10 if the Bengals don't limit turnovers and improve their pass offense.

        The 2001 Bengals had a 1,000-yard rusher (Corey Dillon) and a top-10 ranked defense. Coach Dick LeBeau has put down a solid foundation. The key now is to build on the past 29 games under LeBeau (10-19).

        Q, from Pat in Austin, Texas: Is it too early to start the Bengals Bandwagon hopping?

        A: Now is as good a time as any. The Bengals have the same record as the other 31 NFL teams. The most intelligent and reasonable Bengals players, coaches and executives know the team will get no respect until it wins for a season or two. The Bengals' 11-year playoff drought is the longest in the NFL, and they have a lot of ground to make up.

        Q, from Amber in Cincinnati: Why do the Bengals (stink)? And if they (stink), why did the taxpayers have to give them a new stadium? They don't deserve a new stadium playing like that.

        A: There are a lot of reasons for the Bengals' 53-123 record in the past 11 seasons: poor drafts, other questionable personnel decisions, poor coaching, etc. But, as far as Paul Brown Stadium goes, more than 60 percent of Hamilton County taxpayers who bothered to vote in March 1996 approved the sales tax increase to finance the stadium and the Reds' Great American Ballpark.

        Q, from Peter in Douglas County, Oregon: Will Akili (Smith) be given a chance this year, or will he be traded? I watched him at Oregon and still believe he is a real talent.

        Q, from Mike in Springboro: I have heard the party line about Akili's rehab and his desire to contribute to this team. What I really want to know is what the coaches say behind his back and away from the media. Is there anyone on the coaching staff that honestly believes this guy can develop, or are we just letting him play out his contract? If the latter, why not cut ties now and give his snaps to another QB?

        A: I do think the Bengals will give Smith a chance to show what he has learned in his three NFL seasons, which have been filled with many more downs than ups. Actions speak louder than words. If the Bengals had confidence in Smith's talent and ability to recover from hamstring surgery, they wouldn't have signed Gus Frerotte to compete with Jon Kitna to start.
        Mark Curnutte covers the Bengals for the Enquirer. He can be reached at mcurnutte@enquirer.com.

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