By Mark Curnutte
Cincinnati Enquirer

Turn back the clock, if you will, to the Bengals' most recent halcyon days: Week 2 of the 2001 season.

Fresh off disposing of Drew Bledsoe and the New England Patriots in their opener, the Bengals had six takeaways in their 21-10 upset of defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore.

Bengals linebacker Takeo Spikes scored the game's final points. He tipped, intercepted and returned Elvis Grbac's errant pass 66 yards for a touchdown.

The revenge was sweet for Spikes, who said he had been insulted by Grbac's refusal to sign with the Bengals in free agency and taking less money to play with the Ravens.

Today, in the last game for which he is under contract with the Bengals, can Spikes muster the same fury against Bledsoe, another quarterback who spurned the Bengals?

Bengals president Mike Brown said he made off-season contact with New England, the quarterback's former team, inquiring about a trade for Bledsoe. Three times, Brown said, he was told by people close to Bledsoe that Bledsoe was not interested in playing for Cincinnati. So Brown did not pursue a trade.

Bledsoe denied the refusal last week in a conference call with Cincinnati reporters.

But will Spikes use Bledsoe's snub - real or imagined - to motivate himself and his teammates for this meaningless season finale?

Spikes will become a free agent March 3. The Bengals have both the transition and franchise tags at their disposal - labels that can limit a player's mobility.

The Bills are reportedly interested in Spikes as a free agent. So is New Orleans.

Spikes is not talking for the record. And although he is having another outstanding season, who could blame him if he wants out of Cincinnati?

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