Trotwood-Madison vs. Winton Woods
2009-10 UD men's basketball
Pyramid Hill lights up
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 > August > 05 > Entry
Can Rivers’ deal finally get sealed?
TALKS HEATING UP
AS PRESSURE MOUNTS
Negotiations between the Cincinnati Bengals and the agents for first-round draft pick Keith Rivers accelerated on Tuesday, and the mounting pressure from both sides has generated enough heat to strike a deal as early as today, Aug. 5.
“I’m led to believe something could happen, but I have nothing as of right now (1 p.m.),” Bengals spokesman Jack Brennan said from Bengals training camp headquarters at Georgetown (Ky.) College.
Rivers’ holdout reached nine days at midnight Monday, but there’s a push to get the weakside linebacker into camp for today’s 3-5 p.m. practice.
It’s 70 degrees in central Kentucky and thunderstorms hit the area this morning. It’s still raining, but the club is confident the storm will pass and that the Bengals will be on the practice field at 3 p.m.
The Bengals coaching staff has grown increasing frustrated by Rivers’ holdout. Rivers, the Southern Cal star and No. 9 overall pick in the first round of the 2008 draft, has lost his starting job at weakside linebacker. Luckily for the club, Brandon Johnson and Jim Maxwell have performed well in Rivers’ absence.
“Keith’s missing some things, but I’m not going to make a big deal out of it,” head coach Marvin Lewis said after Saturday’s mock game.
Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and linebackers coach Jeff FitzGerald were more pointed.
“It’s starting to get old now,” Zimmer said. “He’s starting to lose a lot of time. A lot of the install we’re doing, he hasn’t been through yet. He’s got a lot of catching up to do.”
IN FITZGERALD’S WORDS:
“We’d like him here, no question about it. When you take a guy as your No. 1 pick, you know he’s going to come in and help you immediately, and it’s a little frustrating when you don’t have him.
“Let me tell you what. We can get him schooled up on everything, the system and so on and so forth. But me personally, it’s this time right now that he’s not with his teammates and not spending time with his teammates is what he’s missing.
“Going through the things that they’re going through right now helps bond our football team. Our approach that we’re taking with this will build that. For me, that’s the biggest thing right there is that he’s not here to be with his teammates and work with his teammates and go through this process with them.”
Permalink | Comments (7) | Post your comment | Categories: Bengals
Comments
By deuce
August 5, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this
It’s the same every year; ‘1st round pick unsigned’. Gets rushed into drills without taking things slowly to get used to it. Then gets injured, and is out for the year. Why it is always a player for the Bengals, I have no idea.By Antwan Odom in a boot
August 5, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this
Hopefully they get this done today….Great job by the Chickster keepin us posted, rock on dude…Rivers knows the playbook, but like Fitz said, he’s missing out on chemistry and camaraderie…We NEED him on this team for a long time, let’s get this deal behind us and start playin some SMASHMOUTH FOOTBALL!By Mr. Nipsy
August 5, 2008 8:59 PM | Link to this
Deuce - It happens “because” it’s the Bengals. It’s the way they do business…poorly when it comes to most, if not all, personnel related issues and the salary cap. And just staying safely under it every year does not mean they are “doing a great job.” Anyone can do that.By Mr. Nipsy
August 5, 2008 9:00 PM | Link to this
Deuce - It happens “because” it’s the Bengals. It’s the way they do business…poorly when it comes to most, if not all, personnel related issues and the salary cap. And just staying safely under it every year does not mean they are “doing a great job.” Anyone can do that.By Blindeye
August 5, 2008 9:37 PM | Link to this
I say don’t sign him. Cose the door and let him sit out the whole season. What the hell is it going to matter anyway. The guys a rookie and will need seasoning. Knowing the Bengals they can save their money and try for another almost type player again next year.By Blindeye
August 5, 2008 9:37 PM | Link to this
I say don’t sign him. Cose the door and let him sit out the whole season. What the hell is it going to matter anyway. The guys a rookie and will need seasoning. Knowing the Bengals they can save their money and try for another almost type player again next year.By Dylan
August 5, 2008 10:24 PM | Link to this
deuce, it’s not the same every year. Injuries don’t happen solely because they’re late getting into camp. Irons was in on time last year and it didn’t help him. Hall was not on time and he was healthy last year, though he struggled for the first part of the season. In my opinion draft picks 1-10 should have a strong first year impact. Especially considering the money coming their way. Rivers will be a strong factor this year for the Bengals. He’ll come into camp within the next few days and we’ll get to see him prove his 9th pick status on the Packers (who I am more than sick of hearing about). Mr. Nipsy, let me guess, you think they should run their business like the Falcons? Please, Mike Brown is one of the few voices of reason among NFL ownership. It makes me sick to think that Matt Ryan gets an audacious contract for someone unproven in the NFL and Farve gets thrown out with all the 2007 season programs. The Bengals are doing a good job.