| StickyGreen |
08-10-2005 05:57 PM |
Warrick faced with pay cut or being cut...
Unless he agrees to a pay cut, one that reduces his 2005 salary cap number and his scheduled base salary of $2.2 million for this season, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Peter Warrick could be cut by the team.
Warrick, who has not practiced in training camp as he continued his rehabilitation from a leg injury that limited him to four games in 2004, visited with Dr. James Andrews, the renowned Birmingham, Ala.-based orthopedics specialist earlier this week and was told he could return to the field. But the Bengals, wary of the injury and suddenly deeper at wide receiver than in recent years, might not clear Warrick to practice unless he agrees to rework his contract.
The decision for Warrick could come down to acquiescing to the Bengals wishes or being released and hoping there is interest in him as a free agent. It is also possible Cincinnati might trade Warrick if any potential suitors stepped forward.
The fourth overall selection in the 2000 draft, Warrick enjoyed a career season in 2003, with 79 receptions for 819 yards and seven touchdowns while working principally out of the slot. But the leg injury scuttled his '04 campaign and the former Florida State star had only 11 catches for 127 yards in four appearances.
Cincinnati coaches have privately questioned Warrick's diligence in rehabilitation and indicated in training camp that they were prepared to play without him. Even Warrick said this week that he did not "know my role in Cincinnati [anymore]."
Certainly the wide receiver landscape has changed in Cincinnati, where the Bengals have become young, talented and deep at the position. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who replaced Warrick as the starter opposite Pro Bowl performer Chad Johnson in 2004, is coming off a career year and this spring signed a new four-year contract to stay with the club.
In what is a make-or-break season for third-year pro Kelley Washington, the former Tennessee standout is having a solid camp. And the coaches are high on rookie Chris Henry, a third-round choice from West Virginia.
Coach Marvin Lewis said two weeks ago in camp that the team "has moved on" in regard to Warrick, meaning the coaches were preparing as if he would not be available. "Once we did that last season," Lewis said, "we became a better team."
Warrick has appeared in 66 games, and started 55, in five seasons. He has 264 receptions for 2,811 yards and 18 touchdowns.
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