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What could be the holdup? Why hasn't this page turned? Is this a gratuitous slap from the football gods, gleefully antagonizing themselves against Bengals fans who, at this point, just want to move on?
Free agent offensive tackle Anthony Collins trekked to Tampa Bay on Wednesday to visit with the Buccaneers. A scheduled 2 p.m. press conference, to introduce former Bengals defensive linemen Clinton McDonald and Michael Johnson, was delayed until 4 p.m. with a cursory thought that Collins would join them.
Nope.
At least not yet.
Rick Stroud with the Tampa Bay Times wrote earlier in the day that the Buccaneers were "believed to be finalizing a deal" with Collins. Jason La Canfora with CBS Sports played the same cover song.
Bucs working to finalize their deal with T Anthony Collins as well. Been a strong expectation around the NFL for a while that will get done
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) March 12, 2014
What's the hold up? Language in the contract? Buyer beware mentality for a projected annual payment of $6-7 million? Maybe a bidding war continues against the Washington Redskins. Whatever it is, the Bengals appear to be moving on with enough comfort that Andrew Whitworth will resume his role at left tackle, writes Bengals.com.
But the fact they don’t appear to be in the negotiating fray points to the comfort level they have with the health of left tackle Andrew Whitworth. Whitworth was never 100 percent last year after offseason knee surgery and while they’ve made no decisions on how they’ll line up in the springs camps they seem confident Whitworth can go at a spot where the Bengals are 41-33 in his starts at left tackle in the last five seasons.
Remember at the end of The Wire, and during tragic moments throughout the series, when the detectives would hold a wake at a pub? It's time to grab our beers, sing Irish songs and send Collins on his way.