Look like we have a new CB

Here's an article that followed his visit to Pittsburgh on Tuesday:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04069/283148.stm

CB Artrell Hawkins makes strong pitch to join Steelers
RB Duce Staley has a quiet, but longer, visit
Tuesday, March 09, 2004

By Shelly Anderson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Former Cincinnati cornerback Artrell Hawkins knew what to expect and what he wanted when he visited the Steelers yesterday.

That would be to make a good impression and work out a deal with the Steelers, which would reunite him with three former Bengals coaches.

Hawkins even wore a spiffy black-and-gold suit.

"I would love to play here. That's not anything that coach [Bill] Cowher and the rest of the coaches don't know," he said late in the afternoon before catching a flight to visit the Carolina Panthers to "keep my options open."

Hawkins was just as straightforward on what his role might be if he signs with the Steelers, who cut cornerback Dewayne Washington but return starters Chad Scott and Deshea Townsend.

"I'm thinking I'll compete for a starting job," Hawkins said.

Also visiting the Steelers was unrestricted free agent running back Duce Staley, who has spent his seven NFL seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Staley stayed into the evening, but did not speak to reporters. His agent, Leigh Steinberg, said Staley tentatively planned to visit Detroit and has promised the Eagles they will be kept informed of any developments, leaving the door open for him to re-sign there.

Hawkins, 5 feet 10 and 190 pounds, was cut Friday by the Bengals. He had 57 tackles last season, 50 of them unassisted, and one interception. That was down from his career high of 92 stops in 2002. He twice has made three interceptions in a season.

After Cincinnati signed Tory James as a free agent last year, Hawkins lost his regular starting job but ended up starting nine games, three when the Bengals opened in a nickel defense and six as a replacement for Jeff Burris, who had concussion problems. He played in 14 games overall.

"It was just my time to go," Hawkins said of Cincinnati. "Marvin [Lewis, the head coach] and I sat down and talked in January. I expressed to him what my expectations were as a player. I asked him man-to-man if that wasn't what he was thinking, please to release me early enough where I could go somewhere and get established and be effective and contribute to a team."

Hawkins made $1.2 million last season and would have made $1.3 this year if the Bengals had not nullified the third and final year of his contract.

With the Steelers, everything seems to fit for Hawkins, who is from Johnstown and went to Bishop McCourt High School.

He had visited with the Steelers as a free agent two years ago before re-signing with the Bengals, but since then the Steelers have added three former Bengals coaches to their staff -- former Cincinnati head coach Dick LeBeau, now the Steelers defensive coordinator; and former Bengals defensive backs coaches Darren Perry and Ray Horton, now both working with the Steelers secondary.

"Pittsburgh was interested in me before, but even more so now just because of the connections I do have here," Hawkins said. "I have a soft spot in my heart for Dick LeBeau and Ray Horton and also Darren Perry. Coach LeBeau drafted me out of college along with coach Horton. I know what they're about, and they know what I'm about. I feel comfortable in their scheme.

"With my experience, and with the front seven here, I think it would be a good fit. You can't come to a better place than Pittsburgh."

Hawkins played at the University of Cincinnati before the Bengals drafted him in the second round in 1998.Staley, meanwhile, made $2.8 million last year ,but found himself the odd man out in a running back rotation headed by Brian Westbrook.

---clip----
There's more to the article, but it's primarily about Deuce Staley.

 

Player Page (Sports Illustrated)

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/players/4302/

 

Interesting link...this is from footballgaming.com, which lists ratings on players from games like Madden:

http://www.football-gaming.com/ratings/profile.php?pyid=1819

CURRENT RATINGS
Speed: 88
Strength: 48
Awareness: 83
Agility: 87
Acceleration: 88
Catching: 62
Carrying: 72
Jumping: 69
Break Tackles: 24
Tackling: 65
ThrowingPower: 0
ThrowingAccuracy: 0
Pass Blocking: 8
Run Blocking: 20
KickingPower: 0
KickingAccuracy: 0
KickReturn: 43
Stamina: 86
Injury: 80
Toughness: 79
PLAYER STATUS
Status: healthy
OVERALL RATINGS
NFL2K3: 79
NFL Fever 2003: 75
Madden 2003: 66
Madden 2004: 78
. .
FBG 2003: 76
FBG 2004: 78

FBG 2004 CURRENT: 78
+/- 2003 to CURRENT: +2
+/- 2004 CHANGE:

-edit- more info:

Draft Year: 1998 Draft Team: Bengals
Draft Round: 2 Pick: 13
Overall Pick: 43

40 Yard Dash Time: 4.46

CONTRACT INFO
Contract Length: 3 year(s)
Salary: $2.100.000

 

Not that it matters, but in Front Office Football (any other players?), Hawkins is listed as a 46 (good) rating, with potential for 48 (good). In comparison, Cousin is 32/34 and Howard 21/32.

Sounds like a good upgrade at nickel.

 

If he sucks as much as I think he's going to here then he better keep that "spiffy" suit in the closet for next year around this time.

i give up trying to figure out our moves . . . I'm going to take a handful of pills and hit the sack

 

I took my handful an hour ago, I guess I'm too damn tolerant to vicodin, time to upgrade. Anyone got Favre's cell #?

 

867-5309

 

I said pills, not blowjobs.

 

Hawkins isn't an upgrade by any means, but I don't think we lose anything either. One thing he definately adds is another option as a Kick returner.

 

Addicted.

Tried to muster up enthusiasm on this board for a multiplayer league. Everyone said "wow, i could get hooked on a game like that" but nobody (to my knowlege) downloaded the game...