korme
06-01-2003, 10:40 AM
from NFL.com
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In a move that augurs the end of the Akili Smith tenure with the club, the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday morning signed quarterback Shane Matthews, ESPN.com confirmed through league sources.
Matthews, 32, auditioned for Bengals officials and coaches Thursday and was said to have made a good impression. A nine-year veteran, he signed a one-year contract for the NFL minimum of $655,000 for a player of his seniority. Because of a rule implemented last year, which provides a cap discount when franchises sign a veteran to a minimum-salary deal, he will count just $450,000 against Cincinnati's 2003 salary cap.
The former University of Florida star played for the Washington Redskins in 2002, and started seven games, completing 124 of 237 passes for 1,251 yards, with 11 touchdown passes and six interceptions. He signed with Tampa Bay as an unrestricted free agent earlier this spring, but was released recently, after the Bucs selected Chris Simms in the third round of the draft.
Over the past week, the Bengals have been mulling their options at quarterback, and Matthews was one of four players under consideration by first-year coach Marvin Lewis and his staff.
Lewis apprised agent Kennard McGuire on Saturday afternoon that the Bengals will release Smith on Monday. The third overall player chosen in the '99 draft, and one of five quarterbacks selected in the first round that year, Smith, 27, has been a huge disappointment.
"At least now, I know exactly what is going to happen, and I'm able to move forward," Smith said on Saturday evening, from his home in the San Diego area. "It's hard to live with the doubt, even when you think you know what's coming, so this is a positive in a lot of ways. I'm ready to move on and I still think I can play, and can be a starter, in the league."
In four seasons, the former University of Oregon star played in just 22 games and started 17 of them. He completed 215 of 461 passes for 2,212 yards, with five touchdown passes and 13 interceptions. His passer efficiency rating was an anemic 52.8.
Over that period, the Bengals invested $12.09 million in signing bonus and base salary payments to Smith, who was scheduled to earn the minimum base salary of $530,000 for the 2003 campaign. By waiting until after June 1 to release Smith, he will count $1.85 million against the Cincinnati salary cap this season and $3.086 million in 2004. The club will realize a rebate of about $530,000 on this year's cap.
Smith has been somewhat philosophical about rumors of his potential release, noting this week that his fate was out of his hands, but insisting that he preferred to remain with the Bengals and battle for a starting job he once felt was his legacy.
When the Bengals chose Smith in 1999, they felt he would be their franchise quarterback for many years, and they turned down a proposed trade with New Orleans that would have netted them the Saints' entire draft class that year.
The release of Smith will end one of the more dismal chapters in Bengals history, given the amount of time and money spent on him, and the minimal return on that investment. Team officials said privately this week that they felt Smith might be best served by a change of scenery. It remains to be seen if any team signs him for training camp.
Cincinnati spent much of the week considering whether it should sign a younger backup quarterback, like journeyman Greg Zolman and Todd Husak, both of whom worked out for coaches. It also considered itinerant veteran Jamie Martin.
In the end, the Bengals decided that, even though they chose Carson Palmer with the first overall pick in this year's draft, they preferred to have a more experienced backup behind starter Jon Kitna. It is believed that Palmer will still be listed as No. 2 on the depth chart, but that Matthews offers a security net should Kitna be injured or prove ineffective early in the season.
The addition of Matthews means the Bengals would not have to rush Palmer into action before he is ready to play.
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In a move that augurs the end of the Akili Smith tenure with the club, the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday morning signed quarterback Shane Matthews, ESPN.com confirmed through league sources.
Matthews, 32, auditioned for Bengals officials and coaches Thursday and was said to have made a good impression. A nine-year veteran, he signed a one-year contract for the NFL minimum of $655,000 for a player of his seniority. Because of a rule implemented last year, which provides a cap discount when franchises sign a veteran to a minimum-salary deal, he will count just $450,000 against Cincinnati's 2003 salary cap.
The former University of Florida star played for the Washington Redskins in 2002, and started seven games, completing 124 of 237 passes for 1,251 yards, with 11 touchdown passes and six interceptions. He signed with Tampa Bay as an unrestricted free agent earlier this spring, but was released recently, after the Bucs selected Chris Simms in the third round of the draft.
Over the past week, the Bengals have been mulling their options at quarterback, and Matthews was one of four players under consideration by first-year coach Marvin Lewis and his staff.
Lewis apprised agent Kennard McGuire on Saturday afternoon that the Bengals will release Smith on Monday. The third overall player chosen in the '99 draft, and one of five quarterbacks selected in the first round that year, Smith, 27, has been a huge disappointment.
"At least now, I know exactly what is going to happen, and I'm able to move forward," Smith said on Saturday evening, from his home in the San Diego area. "It's hard to live with the doubt, even when you think you know what's coming, so this is a positive in a lot of ways. I'm ready to move on and I still think I can play, and can be a starter, in the league."
In four seasons, the former University of Oregon star played in just 22 games and started 17 of them. He completed 215 of 461 passes for 2,212 yards, with five touchdown passes and 13 interceptions. His passer efficiency rating was an anemic 52.8.
Over that period, the Bengals invested $12.09 million in signing bonus and base salary payments to Smith, who was scheduled to earn the minimum base salary of $530,000 for the 2003 campaign. By waiting until after June 1 to release Smith, he will count $1.85 million against the Cincinnati salary cap this season and $3.086 million in 2004. The club will realize a rebate of about $530,000 on this year's cap.
Smith has been somewhat philosophical about rumors of his potential release, noting this week that his fate was out of his hands, but insisting that he preferred to remain with the Bengals and battle for a starting job he once felt was his legacy.
When the Bengals chose Smith in 1999, they felt he would be their franchise quarterback for many years, and they turned down a proposed trade with New Orleans that would have netted them the Saints' entire draft class that year.
The release of Smith will end one of the more dismal chapters in Bengals history, given the amount of time and money spent on him, and the minimal return on that investment. Team officials said privately this week that they felt Smith might be best served by a change of scenery. It remains to be seen if any team signs him for training camp.
Cincinnati spent much of the week considering whether it should sign a younger backup quarterback, like journeyman Greg Zolman and Todd Husak, both of whom worked out for coaches. It also considered itinerant veteran Jamie Martin.
In the end, the Bengals decided that, even though they chose Carson Palmer with the first overall pick in this year's draft, they preferred to have a more experienced backup behind starter Jon Kitna. It is believed that Palmer will still be listed as No. 2 on the depth chart, but that Matthews offers a security net should Kitna be injured or prove ineffective early in the season.
The addition of Matthews means the Bengals would not have to rush Palmer into action before he is ready to play.