By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Bengals linebacker Takeo Spikes didn't answer the direct question:
Would Spikes, whose five-year contract with the Bengals expires on March3, be back in Cincinnati next season?
"I can't answer that now," he said.
But then, without prompting, Spikes did provide a response - indirectly.
"I want to win. I will say that," he said after the Bengals closed the 2002 season with a 27-9 loss Sunday at Buffalo. "I want to win. I don't want to compete. Right now, we're not winning and we're not competing, and it upsets me."
Spikes is an unrestricted free agent when his contract runs out. He has won just 19 times in 80 games with the Bengals.
Being competitive, as repeatedly articulated by club president Mike Brown, is the Bengals' stated goal.
Playing at Ralph Wilson Stadium, against a Bills team that has made acquiring a speedy outside linebacker its free-agent priority, Spikes played his second consecutive all-around strong game. He had a team-best 12 tackles, a half sack, one pass defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery - his third fumble recovery in two games.
Spikes also stuffed Buffalo tailback Travis Henry on consecutive runs inside the 2-yard line. On third down, Spikes met Henry just outside the end zone and drove him back for a 1-yard loss.
Bills fans cheered Spikes throughout the game.
"Yeah, they did," Spikes said when asked if Buffalo fans let him know they'd like to see him wearing a blue uniform next year. "For a minute, I kind of felt like I was at home. How much support they, a lot of fans were talking, even if I made a play, when I walked back to the sidelines, they were happy, more than I was happy. It was interesting to see."
Bills coach Gregg Williams likes Spikes.
"He is one of those guys who plays from sideline to sideline, loves to play the game," Williams said. "He has a passion to play the game. It's fun to watch those kinds of players play."
Spikes led the Bengals in tackles for the fourth time in five seasons. He and Chicago's Roosevelt Colvin are the top available linebackers heading into free agency.
But Spikes will have a hard time getting away from the Bengals. The club has available both its transition and franchise tags - designations that allow them to match any offer made to Spikes by another team and essentially bind him to the club.
Spikes said that the Bills impress him. They rebounded from a 3-13 finish in 2001 to 8-8 this season.
"I think they are an up-and-coming franchise, just because of the big transition they made with Drew Bledsoe coming in the last year," Spikes said. "I think right now they're rebuilding their defense. Who knows, man?"
The New Orleans Saints also are reportedly interested in Spikes.
The 2002 Bengals were supposed to be the team that snapped the playoff drought, now 12 years.
"It was very frustrating. We came into the season with high expectations. Depressing," Spikes said. "I've been here five years. I played for pride every year. Last year was the only year where I didn't know if I was playing for pride until it was late.
"It takes a toll on you, man."
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