Things have been mighty quiet lately. Too quiet. I'm not talking about the blog either. Work has absorbed a lot of my time this week and will continue through next week. Luckily, things are quiet. No news on the Defensive Coordinator spot -- though I believe it's going to be Mike Zimmer. Tim Lewis is off the table after the Panthers denied an interview between Lewis and the Bengals. Rex Ryan is a possibility, but the Bengals need permission from the Ravens -- which is unlikely.
A recent development is negotiations between the Bengals and Landon Johnson.
"He wants to be there and they want him back so I think we're going to have some good discussions," Simms said. "It's just very hard to find guys who have come in and had 100 tackles in three out of their first four seasons."
Agents for Stacy Andrews and Madieu Williams have also been contacted by the team.
Len Pasquarelli said of Willie Anderson:
In terms of base salaries, Anderson is owed $3.15 million (for 2008), $2.7 million (2009), $3.2 million (2010) and $3.45 million (2011). But he is also due a $2 million roster bonus on Jan. 15, and the clock is ticking loudly on that money. If Cincinnati opts not to pay the bonus, Anderson becomes an unrestricted free agent and probably will sign elsewhere. If the Bengals pay the bonus, the club is essentially gambling that Anderson will be healthy in '08 and return to his previous form. Anderson does not want to retire and prefers to continue, and mostly likely finish, his career with the only team for which he's ever played.
The man who replaced Anderson for much of this season, four-year veteran Stacy Andrews, is eligible for unrestricted free agency. The younger brother of Philadelphia standout right guard Shawn Andrews, Stacy Andrews' value is tough to gauge because he has started only 13 games in four seasons. But there are a considerable number of teams who view the 26-year-old Andrews, despite his lack of starting experience, as a star-in-the-making with possible Pro Bowl potential. The former University of Mississippi standout, a fourth-round pick in the 2004 draft, is big and quick-footed and has played both guard and tackle. It may take more than just a modest investment in the free-agent market to land him. Or for the Bengals to re-sign him. And those factors may enter into Cincinnati management's decision on Anderson's future with the team.