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03-30-2006, 11:33 PM
looks like the long-awaited Marvin Lewis-Sam Adams reunion is about to be consummated.
A NFL source said Thursday that a three-year deal for one of the leagueâs elite run stoppers is imminent as the Bengals closed in on arguably their biggest free-agent signing ever.
It appears they are on the verge of completing another offseason deal aimed at filling their two biggest needs on defense: a physical/athletic safety and a big body in the middle.
The 6-4, 340-pound Adams, who has made three of the last six Pro Bowls, is the prototypical line stuffer the Bengals have sought for years. One of the linchpins of Lewisâ record-breaking defense in Baltimore that won the Super Bowl six years ago, Adams is a year removed from a Pro Bowl season in which he held the middle of the Billsâ second-ranked defense.
Adams turns 33 in June and is looking to bounce back from a tough season in Buffalo in which he was one of the few impact players who escaped injury. Ron Edwards, the other tackle, went down with a season-ending injury, as did Pro Bowl linebacker Takeo Spikes. Pat Williams, his tag-team partner in the middle, left in free agency. Ex-head coach Mike Mularkey's decision to use Adams as a backup in the second half of the season left many perplexed, including Adams.
But in â04, the healthy Bills, led by the staunch play of Adams and Pat Williams in the middle, finished seventh in run defense as Adams racked up five sacks to go with his 40 tackles.
Now the Bengals look to have at the tackle position a star point-of-attack defender to team with the athletic tandem of John Thornton and Bryan Robinson, as well as Shaun Smithâs youthful 320 pounds. The big body can also take up the kind of space that opens it up for pass-rushing ends like Justin Smith and fast linebackers like Odell Thurman and Brian Simmons.
Adams, believed to make more than $3 million this year (and more than $4 million with incentives), joins Tampa Bay safety Dexter Jackson from the free-agent ranks as the Bengals bid to revive the leagueâs No. 28 defense. Although the Bengals were much better last year at stopping the run than they were in the first two seasons of Lewisâ term as head coach, it has been an Achillesâ heel since the last days of Tim Krumrie.
Krumrie, the last defensive lineman the Bengals sent to the Pro Bowl in 1988, retired in 1994. Since then, they have finished 25th or lower against the run five times, and twice under Lewis when they finished tied for 25th in 2003 and 26th in 2004.
Adams, owner of the Arena2 team in Everett, Wash., was at his teamâs game Thursday night. He could be in Cincinnati as soon as this weekend.
In other free-agent news, Lions quarterback Joey Harrington finished his visit with the Bengals Thursday, but with Dallas and Denver emerging into the mix a deal doesnât look to be coming soon. And don't forget Kansas City, because new Chiefs coach Herm Edwards is pretty adamant about getting somebody in the wings for 36-year-old Trent Green.
David Dunn, Harringtonâs agent, couldnât be reached Thursday, but he's a skillful enough agent to use the multipe interest to his advantage to drive the deal.
His client is believed to have met with offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski and quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese in Cincinnati after meeting with the Dolphins Tuesday and Wednesday.
Itâs unclear where Harrington is headed next, but itâs more than likely the Bengals wouldnât give up a first-day draft pick to get him in a trade from the Lions. With his reported asking price in the $3 million range, they probably wouldnât go that far in simply seeking insurance for the early part of the 2006 season. Plus, the Adams' deal adds to the count.
They continue to say Carson Palmerâs reconstructed knee is going to be ready for Opening Day, but that is also unclear. In Harrington they would have a proven if erratic starter. Heâs 17-38 as a starter in his four seasons since the Lions made him the third pick in the 2002 draft. After making 11 starts in 2005, he has thrown 60 touchdown passes and 62 interceptions in a career he has a 68.1 passer rating. The Bengals are gearing up for it all to begin on April 3 when offseason workouts start. The regular-season schedule is expected to be released April 6. The draft is April 29-30 and the Bengals are to hold their rookie minicamp May 12-14. The mandatory minicamp for everyone is June 15-17. The four weeks of coaching sessions begin May 16-18 and run through May 30-June 1.
A NFL source said Thursday that a three-year deal for one of the leagueâs elite run stoppers is imminent as the Bengals closed in on arguably their biggest free-agent signing ever.
It appears they are on the verge of completing another offseason deal aimed at filling their two biggest needs on defense: a physical/athletic safety and a big body in the middle.
The 6-4, 340-pound Adams, who has made three of the last six Pro Bowls, is the prototypical line stuffer the Bengals have sought for years. One of the linchpins of Lewisâ record-breaking defense in Baltimore that won the Super Bowl six years ago, Adams is a year removed from a Pro Bowl season in which he held the middle of the Billsâ second-ranked defense.
Adams turns 33 in June and is looking to bounce back from a tough season in Buffalo in which he was one of the few impact players who escaped injury. Ron Edwards, the other tackle, went down with a season-ending injury, as did Pro Bowl linebacker Takeo Spikes. Pat Williams, his tag-team partner in the middle, left in free agency. Ex-head coach Mike Mularkey's decision to use Adams as a backup in the second half of the season left many perplexed, including Adams.
But in â04, the healthy Bills, led by the staunch play of Adams and Pat Williams in the middle, finished seventh in run defense as Adams racked up five sacks to go with his 40 tackles.
Now the Bengals look to have at the tackle position a star point-of-attack defender to team with the athletic tandem of John Thornton and Bryan Robinson, as well as Shaun Smithâs youthful 320 pounds. The big body can also take up the kind of space that opens it up for pass-rushing ends like Justin Smith and fast linebackers like Odell Thurman and Brian Simmons.
Adams, believed to make more than $3 million this year (and more than $4 million with incentives), joins Tampa Bay safety Dexter Jackson from the free-agent ranks as the Bengals bid to revive the leagueâs No. 28 defense. Although the Bengals were much better last year at stopping the run than they were in the first two seasons of Lewisâ term as head coach, it has been an Achillesâ heel since the last days of Tim Krumrie.
Krumrie, the last defensive lineman the Bengals sent to the Pro Bowl in 1988, retired in 1994. Since then, they have finished 25th or lower against the run five times, and twice under Lewis when they finished tied for 25th in 2003 and 26th in 2004.
Adams, owner of the Arena2 team in Everett, Wash., was at his teamâs game Thursday night. He could be in Cincinnati as soon as this weekend.
In other free-agent news, Lions quarterback Joey Harrington finished his visit with the Bengals Thursday, but with Dallas and Denver emerging into the mix a deal doesnât look to be coming soon. And don't forget Kansas City, because new Chiefs coach Herm Edwards is pretty adamant about getting somebody in the wings for 36-year-old Trent Green.
David Dunn, Harringtonâs agent, couldnât be reached Thursday, but he's a skillful enough agent to use the multipe interest to his advantage to drive the deal.
His client is believed to have met with offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski and quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese in Cincinnati after meeting with the Dolphins Tuesday and Wednesday.
Itâs unclear where Harrington is headed next, but itâs more than likely the Bengals wouldnât give up a first-day draft pick to get him in a trade from the Lions. With his reported asking price in the $3 million range, they probably wouldnât go that far in simply seeking insurance for the early part of the 2006 season. Plus, the Adams' deal adds to the count.
They continue to say Carson Palmerâs reconstructed knee is going to be ready for Opening Day, but that is also unclear. In Harrington they would have a proven if erratic starter. Heâs 17-38 as a starter in his four seasons since the Lions made him the third pick in the 2002 draft. After making 11 starts in 2005, he has thrown 60 touchdown passes and 62 interceptions in a career he has a 68.1 passer rating. The Bengals are gearing up for it all to begin on April 3 when offseason workouts start. The regular-season schedule is expected to be released April 6. The draft is April 29-30 and the Bengals are to hold their rookie minicamp May 12-14. The mandatory minicamp for everyone is June 15-17. The four weeks of coaching sessions begin May 16-18 and run through May 30-June 1.
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03-31-2006, 06:08 PM
This is great news for a Bengal fan.
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