3-28-01, 7:20 a.m.
BY GEOFF HOBSON
PALM DESERT, Calif. _ The Bengals went to bed Tuesday night still in the Todd Steussie sweepstakes that were joined by Carolina in a derby that figures to end Thursday at the latest.
Denver appears to have the edge for Steussie, 30, the former two-time Pro Bowl left tackle who was cut earlier this month by Minnesota for salary cap reasons.
David Dunn, Steussie's agent, spent virtually all of his day Tuesday here at the NFL annual meeting working on the Mark Brunell crisis in Jacksonville.
While the Jaguars mulled trading Brunell or keeping him for a $2.5 million hit against their salary cap next week, Dunn spoke briefly Tuesday with the Broncos and Panthers about Steussie.
The Bengals gave what they called their last, best offer Monday night. But Dunn told the Bengals Tuesday night they are still in the hunt and that he would speak to the club Wednesday morning.
