Gildon visits the Nati

[denverbengal]

Gildon attends practice

6/17/2004 - 6-17-04, 11:30 a.m.

BY GEOFF HOBSON

Former Steelers linebacker Jason Gildon ventured into the land of the arch-enemy Thursday morning when he visited the Bengals practice at Paul Brown Stadium.

Talks that were termed preliminary Monday night are now apparently more serious as Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis looks at adding another one of his old players. Lewis was the linebackers coach in Pittsburgh when the Steelers took Gildon in the third round of the 1994 draft and became one of the key players in the club’s famed “Blitzburgh,” Super Bowl defense.

Agent Peter Schaffer said negotiations have yet to begin, but Cincinnati is the last stop in a four-city tour that began with Green Bay, Buffalo and Chicago.

Gildon, who turns 32 on the first day of training camp next month, has always been a thorn in the side of the Bengals. The Bills have said would be a fit pretty much as a situational pass rusher and that’s what he could be in Cincinnati.

He may not be the ultra Lewis fit, since the Bengals are a 4-3 defense that just drafted two 225-pound linebackers in the third round and Gildon has spent his career as 250-pound, 3-4 linebacker. But the Bengals are also a team in need of sacks, and Gildon has 77 in his career, nearly twice the total of anyone on the roster.

No matter what happens, the Lewis era gave Bengaldom another sight they thought they’d never see with Gildon, one of their rivals they have respected the most down through the years, watching practice in Bengals’ togs.

“Nothing is done,” Schaffer said. “There are still about five teams in this.”

[skyline]

im surprised that theyr'e giving him such a serious look. i saw us as pretty set at the lb position and figured the money used to possibly sign him would be better spent elsewhere. but hey...he's a playmaker. couldn't hurt.

[LABengalsFan09]

The guy has been a monster production wise for a very long time. But I really think they need a "monster" in the middle of the d-line to protect the tasmanian devil better known as Nate Webster. But hey, a pass rusher extrordinaire could always be good to get the defense off the field on 3rd downs... :player:

[Barbarian]

Cincinnati is starting to become a place where old players' careers go to die. You can ask Jeff Burris and Kevin Hardy about this.

The Bungles will sign lower-tiered players that are over-the-hill for one more money maker before retiring to Sarasota, Florida.

If the Bungles sign Gildon, it will be the same pathetic stuff. Gildon's over-the-hill. Don't bother. His production has slipped in the last couple of years.

[cincykent]

They will regret not drafting a Def. tackle in the 2nd or 3rd rounds. I don't see how they can stop the run with the D-line they have. They would be much better off saving the money and maybe picking up a D-lineman off waivers, or using it to sign Rudi long-term.

[Kirkendall]

Cincinnati is starting to become a place where old players' careers go to die. You can ask Jeff Burris and Kevin Hardy about this.

The Bungles will sign lower-tiered players that are over-the-hill for one more money maker before retiring to Sarasota, Florida.

If the Bungles sign Gildon, it will be the same pathetic stuff. Gildon's over-the-hill. Don't bother. His production has slipped in the last couple of years.

Keep in mind though that we are still playing over 10 mil for players not on the team anymore. So this restricts our ability to sign good players in their prime, rather hoping for veterans to return to form or expand on a change of scenary.

[skyline]

Cincinnati is starting to become a place where old players' careers go to die. You can ask Jeff Burris and Kevin Hardy about this.

wouldn't that be oakland?

and didn't i read somewhere that if we sign our draft picks we'll be the youngest team in the nfl? correct me if im wrong...

the old players we do have, while not being in their prime anymore, are here for their leadership, and are still solid contributors.

[kevnz]

I'd be shocked to see Gildon signed I think Marvin had him in as a courtesy call. But if he is signed he'll be a Defensive End on third down and not a linebacker. He's intriguing enough to look at anyway as a pass rush end.

[LABengalsFan09]

Dang!

Barbarian has nice legs and a big bodyguard!!!

[denverbengal]

It's looking like this may become a reality. From Bengals.com...

"Gildon, the former Steelers linebacker, did everything but sign a contract. Yet did agent Peter Schaffer offer a hint Thursday night that the Bengals have the edge in what he terms a five-team derby?

Maybe. Maybe not. But he joked, “We’re talking about cities like Green Bay, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati and we’re looking at the most tropical.” "

Most tropical huh? I wonder what he meant by that

[Marvin's Maniax]

How about lining him up as an DE ears back pass rusher on 3rd downs and slide Powell inside. I think if the price is right he would help our pass rush immensley.

[chrishcovga]

We had 2 chances to grab Antwan Odom in round 2 ! Nuff said .

[jjakq27]

... he joked, “We’re talking about cities like Green Bay, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati and we’re looking at the most tropical.” "

Most tropical huh? I wonder what he meant by that

The closest to Tampa or San Diego I guess.

[Kirkendall]

Why would we want Gildon?

Why would we want to pay someone like Gildon a ton of money to play one down in a three down set? He'd play about 10 times in any given game.. it would be fiscally irresponsible and moronic if we pay him the money that he's no doubt demanding!

[cincykent]

Why would we want Gildon?

Why would we want to pay someone like Gildon a ton of money to play one down in a three down set? He'd play about 10 times in any given game.. it would be fiscally irresponsible and moronic if we pay him the money that he's no doubt demanding!

hey hobson, if the bengals do sign gildon, who will be kicked out of the starting job at end? will gildon play linebacker all the time? or will he be a linebacker/end during the season? if he turns out to become an end in lewis' scheme, does that mean that maybe one of the defensive ends could become a defensive tackle to spread it out? thanks a lot. alex cleveland, ohio

ALEX: If Gildon signs, he won’t start. Most likely, he’ll be a situational third-down pass rusher at one of the defensive ends. Which means the starters, Duane Clemons and Justin Smith, as well as projected other nickel

ends, such as strong-side linebacker Kevin Hardy and fourth-round pick Robert Geathers, could be in a rotation of third-down snaps. And it means that a guy like second-year end Elton Patterson may be in for a heck of a roster battle. It also may mean that Carl Powell won’t see as much work at end like he did last year, and he’ll get the bulk of his snaps at tackle.

Gildon has never been a pure defensive end, but he did play it on third down in Pittsburgh. It also doesn’t mean that the Bengals couldn’t use him as a linebacker in some special 3-4 package. Head coach Marvin Lewis isn’t a big fan of a steady diet of the 3-4, but maybe he’d consider using it as a wrinkle.

New defensive assistant coach Chuck Bresnahan, who has been working a lot with the nickel package, has 3-4 experience in his years working with Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.

[BengalDave73]

LB Jason Gildon Mulling Offers From Two Teams

Free agent linebacker Jason Gildon and his agent Peter Schaffer are working on a contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. Gildon, who will turn 32 on the first day of training camp, is also mulling over a tender offer from the Buffalo Bills, a team he visited with earlier this week. Both teams are looking to bring Gildon in as a pass rush specialist. Both teams have personal ties with Gildon as Bills' GM Tom Donahoe was the General Manager with Pittsburgh when Gildon was drafted and Bengals' head coach Marvin Lewis was Pittsburgh's linebackers coach from 1994 to 1995, Gildon was drafted in 1994.

__________________

[semiotter]

Well I dont think MARVIN would want a player that wouldnt help the team. Look at all the players he got rid of when he came here. If you cant play MARVIN doesnt want them. Plus he knows GILDON from his PITTSBURG days so he knows what he is made of. :player:

[HoosierCat]

Why would we want Gildon?

Why would we want to pay someone like Gildon a ton of money to play one down in a three down set? He'd play about 10 times in any given game.. it would be fiscally irresponsible and moronic if we pay him the money that he's no doubt demanding!

I don't get the impression that anyone's tossing big money Gildon's way, although since I've been travelling the last few days and haven't been following the rumor mill maybe I've missed something. But it seems it's either us or Buffalo, and both teams are looking at him as a situational pass-rush type. Figure a low-salary and signing bonus deal with a lot of incentives built around sacks.

For me, the real question is, do we spend the last of our FA dollars on Gildon and, in the process, the pass-rush piece of the D? Or do we hoard our last few bucks in the hope that a decent run-stuffer pops loose as rosters get trimmed down in camp?

[schweinhart]

For me, the real question is, do we spend the last of our FA dollars on Gildon and, in the process, the pass-rush piece of the D? Or do we hoard our last few bucks in the hope that a decent run-stuffer pops loose as rosters get trimmed down in camp?

The Bills are going to have to cut 2 DTs. The question is which 2. Right now they have 7 on the roster.

Offseason the Bills drafted Tim Anderson and signed Oliver Gibson to add to starters Pat Williams and Sam Adams and backups Ron Edwards and Justin Bannan. A 5th DT from 2003 Lauvale Sape was used as one of the five inactive on the 53-man roster for most of the year.

Edwards started all 16 games in 2002 but the Bills still went out and signed Adams to a 2-year deal. In 2003, Edwards (6-3, 320) spent several games inactive with a shoulder injury before going IR.

Bannan (2year pro, 6-3,305) made one start and saw limited action in several games.

If the Bills go hard after Gildon, which they might because they apparently want a better LDE, then his price will go up, which ML no doubt knows. The higher the price for Gildon with the Bills if they sign him, the more salary they have to dump from the DT position (IMO).

At $6.7 mil under the cap thanks to a $4 mil cap reduction with Bledsoe's new deal, they are also trying to re-sign 2 of 3 key players, DE Schobel, DT Williams, and left OT Jennings.

It should be an interesting next few days.

[schweinhart]

At $6.7 mil under the cap thanks to a $4 mil cap reduction with Bledsoe's new deal, they are also trying to re-sign 2 of 3 key players, DE Schobel, DT Williams, and left OT Jennings.

It should be an interesting next few days.

That is, all 3 will be UFAs in 2005.

Also should add, Bannan and Sape would be waiver wire, I think.

Edwards I'm not sure. He was RFA this year but was re-signed.

[HoosierCat]

Good info, schweinart, thanks. You're right, the Bills have some cuts to make, but it doesn't seem likely they'll let anyone we could use go.

[JPW]

I don't get this.

Seems to me that, a Run-Snuffing DT is what we really Need.

[skyline]

I don't get this.

Seems to me that, a Run-Snuffing DT is what we really Need.

it is, but it looks like there aren't any available if gardner's health prevents it.

guess they have money to spend, and they think gildon would be able to contribute.

[CincyMajik8705]

Hey if we can get a little fire on the end, why not? As long as we have money to spend on him and he's injury free, I wouldn't mind a little 3rd down pressure the opponents way. It doesn't look like anything great is going to come our way in the DT department (Garderner's health prevented that, If you can even think of him as great ) so better the team anyway we can :player: