Mark Curnutte

Question, from Steve in Louisville: I'm a huge Bengals fan and have been for life. I'm not a Mike Brown basher, either. However, I have this gut feeling that he may have gotten involved and screwed the Sapp deal. What do you think?

It's sickening that we can't sign a big-time free agent. In my opinion, the Bengals haven't done well in free agency so far. I've very glad to have Marvin Lewis because he will keep the Bengals competitive, but we need a blue-chip free agent to push us over the top.

Answer: Sapp said there was financial hesitation somewhere in the Bengals organization when he called back to take the deal.

Even with possibly diminished skills, Sapp would have given the Bengals an emotional and psychological lift that would far outweigh what he could do on the field. Imagine if Sapp had signed with the Bengals and started talking up Cincinnati as a good place to play.

That element was the opportunity lost.

Q, from Simon in Lebanon: Based on Marvin Lewis' past experience with the press, I doubt he will answer this question. But in the article on how Sapp almost became a Bengal, it mentions: "Then Sapp was asked if the Bengals actually pulled their offer: 'Yeah, pretty much, played with it a little bit. Played with this, played with that. Just made it an uncomfortable situation.'"

Is Marvin willing to elaborate on why the Bengals hesitated and what the "playing with this and that" was about?

Answer: Lewis refuses to reveal or expose any splintering inside the organization.

Admirably, Lewis faced the media on Monday and used the pronoun "we" in explaining that the organization did what it thought "prudent."

There are theories that have been bounced around about what happened in the Bengals front office on Friday night and Saturday. Sapp said over the weekend in a radio interview that the Bengals said they didn't want to compete against themselves for Sapp.

Many fans are blaming Bengals president Mike Brown for the botched Sapp deal. Who knows except the people inside the room?

Through 13 consecutive non-winning seasons, Brown is the constant. He, ultimately, is responsible for what happens. Just about everything crosses his desk.

The Bengals might end up looking smart for not over-paying a 31-year-old defensive tackle with questionable off-field character.

Q, from Bill in Newark, DE.: What is going on with free agency? Is it that no one really wants to play here and they are using the Bengals for leverage?

A: More people want to play here now with Marvin Lewis as the coach than they did previously.

Q, from Kyle in Winnipeg, MB, Canada: It looks like this free-agency season has just gone from bad to tragic. The Sapp fiasco aside, the Bengals have released two of their top three cornerbacks and have been unable to replace them with anyone from the richest free-agent crop in history.

Is the logic to let Tory (James) cover both corners? Or maybe to toss whatever hapless rookie falls to our spot in the draft? I thought we were done with off-seasons like this.

A: The difference between now and then is Lewis. He has given the Bengals credibility, but one can't escape the feeling that the rug is pulled financially from beneath his feet from time to time.

Q, from David in Madison Place: Have the Bengals blown the Dillon trade with the Raiders? With Sapp being signed by the Raiders, will this hurt the trade? I hope that we get something for Corey Dillon such as a third or fourth round draft choice.

A: Don't worry too much about the Raiders' ability to take on Dillon's salary, should he end up there in a trade.

For all of their faults, the Raiders don't use the salary cap as an excuse not to try to win at all costs by aggressively pursuing players that they think can help.

The Bengals should jump at a third- or fourth-round draft pick, should that be offered for Dillon.

Q, from Marv: Gee, that new logo looks amateur. They should have stuck with the tiger head (at least it looks like someone with more than a Grade 6 art education designed it). Now I'm really scared to see the new uniforms.

A: Uniforms and helmets, obviously, don't win or lose games. It's the players inside them. But uniforms and helmets are really important to fans.

If you don't like the logo, don't buy it and don't wear it. If you do, the Bengals will gladly accept your money.

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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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