By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Takeo Spikes' wish to play for another team grew more improbable Tuesday when the Bengals designated the linebacker as their transition player.

Spikes will become an unrestricted free agent Feb.28 if he does not reach a contract with the Bengals. After that date, the Bengals - by enacting the transition tag - can retain Spikes by matching any offer sheet he would sign from another team.

Spikes has until July 22 to sign an offer sheet from another team. If he does sign with the Bengals or another team, his option is to play under a one-year contract for the Bengals in 2003. The salary would be the average of the top 10 linebackers' salaries - roughly $4.85 million.

Reached at his Atlanta home, Spikes said the transition tag was neither unexpected nor welcomed. And he declined to say whether he would sign the contract.

"I remember hearing (new coach Marvin Lewis) say at a news conference that he only wants players who want to be here and if you don't, there are 31 other teams," Spikes said. "Well, this is a prime-time situation."

Asked if his desire is to still play with another team, Spikes said, "That wouldn't be a bad idea."

The Bengals are 19-61 in the five seasons since picking Spikes in the first round of the 1998 draft. Spikes has been the Bengals' leading tackler in four of five seasons.

New Orleans and Buffalo apparently are interested in making bids for Spikes. But the Bengals want to negotiate a contract with him.

"The tag doesn't prevent us from doing what we'd like, to reach a market deal for a starting NFL linebacker," Lewis said.

A noted defensive specialist who has helped several linebackers reach stardom, Lewis said he likes the transition tag because it gives both sides "options."

The Bengals can withdraw the tag in free agency and Spikes can test the market.

"The interest level (in Spikes) will be something we'll have to look at," Lewis said.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com