Marvin Lewis engages in damage control...
Moves please Lewis
BY MARK CURNUTTE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Even as division rival Cleveland spends heavily for new players, Marvin Lewis said Saturday that he is pleased with the Bengals' performance in the first week of free agency.
"
I think we did more than I anticipated doing,"
Lewis told The Enquirer. "With as many players as we have under contract, I didn't think we'd do a lot. We're sitting here with a roster of 60 guys."
The Bengals signed one unrestricted free agent, former Tampa Bay safety Dexter Jackson, and have lost three: quarterback Jon Kitna, tight end Matt Schobel and wide receiver Kevin Walter.
The Bengals announced Saturday that they would not match a $6.4 million offer sheet for Walter, a restricted free agent who signed with Houston last Sunday.
Free agency started March 11.
"We added a starting NFL player," Lewis said of Jackson, expected to win the strong safety position alongside returning free safety Madieu Williams.
Lewis said Rashad Bauman, a Bengals unrestricted free-agent cornerback, "is committed to returning."
The Bengals are planning to use the additional salary-cap space in 2006 to try to sign their starting offensive linemen to contract extensions.
"Our focus is to keep the guys who start and play for us," Lewis said. "Just because the salary cap exploded this year doesn't mean the (available) players get better. It's been about the development of the players we drafted. We hope to get some players done in a timely, timely manner."
The extension of the league's collective bargaining agreement pushed the salary cap from $94.5 million to $102 million.
The contracts of all five of the team's starting offensive linemen - tackles Levi Jones and Willie Anderson, guards Eric Steinbach and Bobbie Williams and center Rich Braham - will expire after the 2006 season.
Agents for Jones and Steinbach confirmed this past week that talks have begun with the Bengals on extensions.
"I think they're committed to trying to lock up their players, especially a premier left tackle," said Ken Zuckerman, Jones' agent. "There's no deadline, really. If it's right, it's right."
Lewis said he would like to sign the offensive linemen "as quickly as we can tie those things up. But it takes two to get it done."
The Bengals'
greatest stated remaining need is to acquire a third healthy quarterback. (yep, that D looks great, right Marvin.
)
The Bengals have had visits with former Rams backup Jamie Martin and Brian Griese, most recently of Tampa Bay. The Bengals had expressed interest in Sage Rosenfels, who signed with the Texans. Former Steelers starter Tommy Maddox and Dolphins starter Jay Fiedler remain on the market, though the Bengals have shown little interest in either.
"It's going to have to be a guy who's confident in his ability," Lewis said of the quarterback the Bengals hope to sign. "It's proven to be a difficult position to fill because of Carson Palmer."
Palmer has returned to Cincinnati to continue his rehabilitation. He had surgery on his left knee Jan. 10 to replace the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments.
"When our people laid eyes on (Palmer), it's taken a lot of the anxiousness out of where he is," Lewis said. "I'm much more confident in the appraisal of our orthopedist."
Lewis remains optimistic in the timetable that Palmer could return in time for training camp or the start of the season.
"But please don't run too hard with that one," Lewis added cautiously.
The Bengals have healthy quarterbacks Doug Johnson and Craig Krenzel under contract, as well as Palmer.
The thought last week among some agents was after the Bengals signed their fourth quarterback they would turn their attention to a defensive lineman, possibly run-stuffing tackle Sam Adams, according to agent Angelo Wright.
"Don't go down that road," Lewis said.
The Bengals are seriously considering a defensive tackle or tight end with their 24th overall pick in the first round of the draft.
They lost Schobel, their top receiving tight end.
"I'm happy for both of those guys (Schobel and Kitna)," Lewis said. "They wanted the opportunity to get expanded roles. They were good players here, great people, with great families."
Walter is another solid player and team-oriented person in the locker room. The Bengals offered a contract Saturday morning to Antonio Chatman, a wide receiver most recently of the Packers, who visited Friday. Agent Mark Mersel said Saturday night that the offer
"didn't meet our expectations" and that he was awaiting a call back from the team's front office. (yeah, I haven't heard that the last 15 years)
"Kevin has been a fine player for us, and he deserves the opportunity he'll get in Houston to be a starting receiver," Lewis said. "But as we build our roster for the upcoming season, we believe it's in the best interest of our team to allocate these funds to another position."
The Bengals had tendered Walter an offer at his "draft-status" level, requiring any other team signing him to compensate the Bengals with a draft pick in the same round in which Walter entered the NFL. Walter was a seventh-round draft choice of the Giants in 2003, and the Bengals will receive Houston's seventh-round choice. The draft is April 29-30.
The Bengals now have eight choices in the draft, including all their regular picks in rounds 1-7, plus Houston's seventh-rounder.