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Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2008 > July > 12 > Entry
Stacy Andrews’ final season as a Bengal?
HE CLAIMS HE WANTS TO STAY;
BUT LONG-TERM DEAL NOT DONE
If you’re the Cincinnati Bengals, what do you do with offensive lineman Stacy Andrews?
All we know is that Andrews — “Big Country” — has signed the one-year tender worth $7.455 million as the Bengals franchise player for the 2008 season.
What we don’t know is what position Andrews will play this fall and if he’ll return to the Bengals in 2009.
The Bengals and Andrews’ agent, Rich Moran, have until Tuesday, July 15, to agree on a long-term contract or Andrews will play this season for the franchise tender he signed.
If the club and Andrews can’t hammer out a long-term deal by Tuesday’s deadline, Andrews will become an unrestricted free agent — AGAIN — after the 2008 season.
What Bengals fans need to know is this:
The club has been attempting to sign Andrews for the long haul for two years now.
Yet Andrews and Moran have stubbornly refused to sign long term.
Here’s what Stacy told me during an open-locker-room period in December prior to season-ending victories over Cleveland and Miami:
“I’m just going to focus on these next two games and ride it out, and let everything fall into place. I love everybody here. The guys are great and so are the coaches. I know the system. I like the town. I live in Kentucky. I love Kentucky. It’s perfect.
“(The Bengals) drafted me. They brought me up. They molded me. Coach Al (Paul Alexander), Bob Surace, Brat (Bob Bratkowski) and coach (Marvin) Lewis. I was pretty much a diamond in the rough. They brought me from this (a project) to a diamond. They raised me here. I’d love to stay.”
So …. what’s the problem?
Clearly, Stacy is taking marching orders from his agent, who envisions a massive pot of gold at the end of the 2009 free-agency rainbow.
If Stacy really, truly wants to stay with the Bengals, he’s going to have to tell Mr. Moran, “Get the deal done.”
So far, that hasn’t happened.
My gut feeling is that if Stacy reaches free agency again in February 2009, he’ll be going, going, GONE to a different club.
Contact Chick Ludwig at cludwig@daytondailynews.com
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: Bengals
Comments
By Troy
July 12, 2008 8:07 PM | Link to this
I hope BIG COUNTRY wants to stay a Bengal, hes going to be a fine player and maybe the one who replaces Willie. It could also mean a linemen will get knifed during camp.By Blindeye
July 12, 2008 8:16 PM | Link to this
Excuse my ignorance but just how dedicated to staying Cincy is Andrews and just much money does he expect to make than he is already being paid. I guess what I’m asking is…..if the Bengals designated him as the franschise player then aren’t they saying that they want him for the future and I would guess appear willing to pay him at least what the top 5 guards or tackles in the league are making? To me, Cincy has enough distactions already plaguing the team so why can’t they get the contracts done on everyone.By Phill
July 12, 2008 9:02 PM | Link to this
I like Andrews, but we have other players to sign. If he needs to go for the good of the club than let him go in 2009. It is amazing how many players in this day and age are just puppets of their agents.