Updated: 9:50 a.m.
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He's attending a summit on player safety as well as getting updates from his colleagues on the collective bargaining agreement negotiations. Throw in a checkup with Bengals doctors on the shoulder he had scoped last month for routine cleanup and he'll be busy until he leaves Friday night.
While boarding his plane in Louisiana, Whitworth ventured an opinion on the NFLPA's position against testing for HGH. He's not sure how far along the testing process is in its evolution.
"I don't put anything into my body and I don't think other players should, either," Whitworth said. "I don't think it's fair if they do. It's not right. But because I also don't put anything into my body, I don't like the idea of my blood being looked at and being pushed and prodded. It's a tough situation and one that is going to have to be studied a lot more."
FOSCHI NOT TENDERED: In the next few days the Bengals are expected to send out their tenders to the restricted free agents they want to retain the right to match. The Bengals figure to send out between $10-11 million in one-year offers in order to keep such players as third-down standout linebacker Brandon Johnson and starting left guard Evan Mathis.
With the club expected to draft a tight end high and explore re-signing Reggie Kelly, it is not expected to tender tight ends J.P. Foschi and Dan Coats. Ralph Cindrich, Foschi's agent, confirmed Thursday morning that the team won't tender his client but there is mutual interest in still getting a deal.
"After talking with management and the tight ends coach (Jon Hayes), it's a good situation there for him and he liked it there," Cindrich said. "If something came up you'd have to look at it, but we're still talking."
With a healthy Chase Coffman in the fold, Foschi is the best blocker in a corps that would have him, Coffman and a rookie.
The agent for backup SAM linebacker Rashad Jeanty said Wednesday that he's had talks with the Bengals but David Canter isn't sure what the club is going to do with his client. Although he's coming off a broken leg that is the latest in a series of lower body injuries, Jeanty is seen as a solid and tough run player also valued on special teams. Because Jeanty came into the league as a college free agent, the Bengals would get no compensation if they didn't match an offer.
Last year they gave Johnson and Jeanty the second-round tenders of $1.5 million and if they do it again, the tender would be $1.8 million. The Bengals figure to do that with Johnson, but it's unclear how they'll tender Jeanty. Whatever they tender, he has to get a 110 percent increase over last year. They could tender Mathis the original round compensation of $1.2 million and they would get a third-round pick if he left.
The Bengals don't appear to be looking to get anything done with their unrestricted free agents before the market opens a week from Friday on March 5. That group is headed by Kelly, kicker Shayne Graham, right guard Bobbie Williams, safety Roy Williams, and defensive tackle Tank Johnson.
Graham's bid on the market has been helped the past few days with reports saying Pittsburgh's Jeff Reed and Seattle's Olindo Mare have been tagged.
