Bengals tidbits

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Cincy

3/15/06

QB 1st, Adams next

Deal for DT may come after Kitna's replaced

BY MARK CURNUTTE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER
<!--ARTICLE BODY TEXT-->INDIANAPOLIS - Tuesday is the day the Bengals underwent a changing of the guard at quarterback.
Jon Kitna agreed to a four-year, $10.5 million contract with the Detroit Lions after five seasons as a Bengal.
Kitna, who received $4 million to sign, will return to Detroit for the start of the offseason conditioning program Monday,
Former Rams quarterback Jamie Martin visited the Bengals Tuesday and had dinner with coaches.
Agent Tom Mills said he expected to discuss a contract today with Bengals vice president Troy Blackburn.
"He thought it went well," Mills said of Martin. "He's comfortable."
Agent Angelo Wright said he thought one of his clients, defensive tackle Sam Adams, would be the Bengals' next signing once they've secured a quarterback.
"Nothing is happening yet," Wright said. "I'm waiting for them to get their quarterback done. We're next on the block. I expect this to be in play (soon)."
In other words, Adams could be a Bengal sometime today. Wright said Adams is not making any visits.
Bengals coach Marvin Lewis was Adams' defensive coordinator in Baltimore during the Ravens' Super Bowl run.
The 335-pound Adams played his 12th NFL season in 2005, with the Buffalo Bills, and is a three-time Pro Bowl tackle.
Martin, 36, has played in 34 NFL games with eight starts. He has completed 65.6 percent of his passes and has a career passer rating of 81.9. He worked well in a situation in St. Louis similar to what he would experience in Cincinnati.
Martin was in and out of the Rams' lineup and backed up starters Kurt Warner and Marc Bulger. The Bengals are looking for a possible starter until Palmer is ready to return from knee surgery.
The Bengals had hoped to meet with former Miami Dolphins quarterback Sage Rosenfels, who signed with the Houston Texans.
E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com
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NFL free agency: Day 4<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=storytext bgColor=#eeeeee>A glance at the fourth day of free agency for the Bengals:

Visits confirmed by Bengals: None.

Visits confirmed by other sources:

Quarterback Jamie Martin, Rams, visited Tuesday.

Linebacker Kevin Bentley,

Seahawks, will visit today.

Former Ravens quarterback Chris Redman worked out Monday for the Bengals, said the team's Web site.

Coming to town Defensive tackle Sam Adams could be the next signing for the Bengals, his agent said Tuesday, once the Bengals sign a quarterback - presumably Martin.

Gone Quarterback Jon Kitna agreed to terms Tuesday on a four-year, $10.5 million contract with the Lions.

Tight end Matt Schobel was in Philadelphia to sign a five-year contract with the Eagles. Kitna threw 18 yards to Schobel for the game-winning touchdown with 13 seconds left Nov. 30, 2003 at Pittsburgh.

Mark Curnutte

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Cincy

3/16/06

WR could fill 2 Bengals holes

Packers punt returner-receiver Chatman to meet with team

BY MARK CURNUTTE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

<!--ARTICLE BODY TEXT-->The Bengals might be able to fill two needs in one move when they visit with former University of Cincinnati receiver Antonio Chatman Friday.

If he signs with the Bengals, Chatman could become the No. 4 receiver and punt return specialist. He was a restricted free agent, but the Packers did not tender him, meaning he is able to make a deal with any team.

The Bengals have a few more days to decide whether to match the four-year, $6.4 million offer sheet RFA wide receiver Kevin Walter signed with Houston. If the Bengals sign Chatman, who received an offer from the Jets, they might choose not to match the Texans on Walter.

Chatman might provide more offensive firepower than Walter and give the Bengals a better threat on punt returns. No. 3 receiver Chris Henry is expected to return, despite legal problems in two states.

Beside the appeal of a potential return to Cincinnati, Chatman also is close with several Bengals players. He works out in Los Angeles with Charles Collins, who also trains Bengals starting receivers Chad Johnson and T.J Houshmandzadeh, as well as No. 5 receiver Tab Perry, in the offseason.

"He knows those guys," said Mark Mersel, Chatman's agent. "It's more of a homecoming than you might know."

The 5-foot 9, 183-pound Chatman had 49 receptions for 549 yards and four touchdowns in 2005 for Green Bay. He also had an 8.5-yard average on punt returns, with one touchdown and a long gain of 85 yards.

"And Green Bay had horrendous blocking on special teams," Mersel said.

Chatman had eight receptions for 97 yards in the Packers' 21-14 loss Oct.
30 at Cincinnati, and a play at the end of the game that was interrupted by a fan running on the field was a post pattern that was intended for Chatman.

NFL free agency: Day 5<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=storytext bgColor=#eeeeee>A glance at the fifth day of free agency for the Bengals:

Visits confirmed by the Bengals:

Quarterback Jamie Martin, Rams. He left town without a deal.

Linebacker Kevin Bentley, Seahawks.

Bengals visits confirmed by other sources:

Wide receiver Antonio Chatman, Packers, will visit Friday. The former UC player is a restricted free agent.

Linebacker Rocky Boiman, Titans, will visit today. The St. Xavier product is an unrestricted free agent.

Retention:

Anthony Mitchell, an unrestricted free agent, re-signed with the Bengals.

The Bengals are nearing a deal to re-sign unrestricted free agent cornerback Rashad Bauman, according to the team-owned Web site.

The agent for unrestricted free agent linebacker Marcus Wilkins called the Bengals' first offer low. "Other teams are showing interest in letting him play more defensively," agent Mark Mesel said.

--Mark Curnutte
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[studepaber]

I really like Chatman, moreso as a punt returner than a WR. If we get him he'll do a much better job than Ratliff (who dances too much after catching the ball...but at least he never dropped any).

[Folanator]

Originally Posted by studepaber

I really like Chatman, moreso as a punt returner than a WR. If we get him he'll do a much better job than Ratliff (who dances too much after catching the ball...but at least he never dropped any).

Or get tackled on the 4 yard line...cough Perter Warwrick cough cough.

[tibor75]

A NY paper is reporting that the Giants are no longer pursuing Arrington and that the Bengals are the frontrunner.

These NY papers obviously don't know soP.

[GoBucks89]

Originally Posted by Bucky Katt

All I can think about with this signing is the Raiders (I think) signing Larry Brown after his Super Bowl MVP. Hopefully, I'm way off target.

The difference is that this team needs veteran leadership and desperately needs more consistent safety play. Even at 50% of his former self, he would be an improvement over Oh-I-hate-to-see-ya.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Cincy

3/17/06

Griese to meet with Bengals

<!--ARTICLE BODY TEXT-->Former Tampa Bay quarterback Brian Griese will visit the Bengals today, agent Ralph Cindrich said Thursday night. Griese then will go to Chicago.
The Bengals also have begun negotiations on contract extensions with agents for offensive linemen Levi Jones and Eric Steinbach, their agents said Thursday.

Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry faces an April 6 court date in Orange County (Fla.) Circuit Court on a single charge of illegal possession of a concealed firearm, according to court records. No motions were filed by the prosecutor on charges of improper exhibition of a firearm and aggravated assault with a firearm. A plea of not guilty to the possession charge was entered on Henry's behalf.

Henry also has a March 22 court date in Kentucky's Kenton District Court on a marijuana possession charge.

The Bengals also confirmed a visit by former St. Xavier High School star Rocky Boiman, a free-agent linebacker who played the past four seasons with the Tennessee.

[tibor75]

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,"