Tuesday, February 11, 2003
Transition tag set for Spikes
Bengals notebook
By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Bengals are expected to designate free-agent linebacker Takeo Spikes as their transition player today.
NFL teams have until Feb. 20 to make the designation, which limits a player's mobility in free agency by giving his old club a right of first refusal. The club has to guarantee a salary equal to the average of the top 10 at his position - in this case $4.85 million for linebackers.
"Isn't nothing new if they do," Spikes said Monday.
Bengals coach Marvin Lewis and linebackers coach Ricky Hunley have been in regular contact with Spikes.
"He's going to have an opportunity to be a Bengal," Lewis said Monday when asked if Spikes would be designated. "At some point, we're going to have to, as they say, fish or cut bait - both of us, one way or another. I think everything will work out there fine."
Free agency begins Feb. 28.
NO DECISION: Former Bengals coach Dick LeBeau hasn't yet told the Buffalo Bills whether he will accept an offer to be an unspecified defensive consultant with the club, Bills media relations director Scott Berchtold said.
A phone message left at LeBeau's Montgomery home wasn't returned.
FAREWELL: John Jackson, a Woodward High School graduate who played two seasons for his hometown Bengals, announced his retirement.
Jackson played 10 seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers and two each for the Bengals and San Diego Chargers. The Bengals released him in training camp in 2002.
Jackson, 38, didn't play in 2002.
Jackson played in 19 games for the Bengals with five starts. He started 166 of his 203 NFL games.
HEADING OVERSEAS: The Bengals assigned linebackers Dwayne Levels and Tito Rodriguez (Barcelona) and cornerback Tierre Sams (Rhein) to play in NFL Europe this spring.
E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com
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