Great News...Kinda: Spikes wants to be a FA

[Romes]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/news/2003/0116/1494113.html

Great News on one hand that he wants to leave the Bengals. Bad news is that he admitted he expects the Bengals to tag him.

"I don't want a tag on me,'' said Spikes, who has declined interviews since midseason. "I feel like my time is done. I did all I can do. I did all that I owed not only to them, but to myself. I just want to win. I just want to compete. That's my whole objective. I don't look at the time I spent in Cincinnati as wasted time. I just want to go somewhere to compete and win.''

I hope the Bengals listen to what their player wants and let him go.

[LABillsFan]

Lewis was thought to have some influence on Spikes if he came to coach the Bengals. Guess not.

[mackey789]

I guarantee they let him become a free agent, and i guarantee the bills go after him. Hopefully we outbid everyone else. Its one of the positions that we desperatly need to fill so im sure TD will do whatever he can do to lure him in.

[PA Season Ticket Holder]

I don't believe in the tags. If the player doesn't want to play there, I wouldn't want to force somebody to stay. It would only create animosity within the orginaiztion.

[Romes]

This comment answers so many questions I had about Spikes actaully coming here. If the Lewis hiring would affect his decesion? Guess not. If the Bengals really were seriously thinking of tagging him? Guess so. If Takeo would come out and speak up against the tag? Guess so. If Takeo really does want out of Cincy? Yes, very badly actually. This article makes me so happy.

PA, I agree. A tag on Spikes in this situation would just breed animosity. The Bengals just have to suck it up and let him go.

[venis2k1]

This is some of the best news i have heard all week.

[venis2k1]

Im sure he will be told that the new coach will bring in new life...Dedicated to Defense...blah blah blah...and he will end up staying.

[SoCalBillsFan]

This is great. Now the organization has to think about whether they want to tag a player who doesnt want to be there. Exactly what we wanted.

[don137]

The Bengals are in a no win situation. If they let him go it sends a message to the fans that even though they have a new coach they are still the Bengals that could care less about winning. If they do tag him then they just really pissed off Spikes.

[TypicalBill]

unfortunately, whether he like's it or not, if they are willing to pay him the average of the top 5 LB's in the league, then they'll tag him for a year whether he like's it or not. Although i'd sure love to have him here.

[Ð]

If I were in his situation, my stance would be who gives a **** about Lewis? He's never coached me, I have no particular attachement to him AND if you tag my ass, then expect sub-par performance for the sub-par $ you're gonna pay me.
Show me the money!!!!!!!

I don't know why everyone thinks playing for Lewis is all that.

[don137]

The Bengals could always do what the Eagles did to Jermaine Trotter which was tag him but realize having a pissed off Trotter on the team won't do much good for team chemistry so they drop the tag.

[justasportsfan]

"I just want to win. I just want to compete. That's my whole objective. I don't look at the time I spent in Cincinnati as wasted time. I just want to go somewhere to compete and win.''

Then the bills is the team for Spikes. We may not make the SB 4 consecutive times again , but we'll get there soon with or w/o him.

[BillsNYC]

THIS IS THE BEST NEWS I'VE HEARD ALL OFF SEASON!!!

this is making my day....donahoe....get out ralph's checkbook and give this guy whatever he wants!!! spikes would look good in red white and blue!

oh man...imagine him and fletcher running sideline to sideline!!! 2 tackling machines!!!!!

[Bulldog]

I will bet anything that Cincy will still tag him. Sucks for both Buffalo and Spikes.