| ProFootballWeekly.com asks
contributing editor Joel Buchsbaum for his thoughts on the hottest topics in the NFL. 
Bengals name Kitna starter
The Bengals' top offseason acquisition won the starting QB job Monday in a close call,
when head coach Dick LeBeau chose Jon Kitna over Scott Mitchell and Akili Smith, who has a
sore shoulder.
Buchsbaum: Basically it’s not as if he won the job, it’s that the others went
out of their way to lose it. Kitna was average, Mitchell was worse than average and really
stunk it up when he got a chance to start and Akili Smith has been a problem throughout
and is not getting much better.
Williams signs with Baltimore
Former Cowboys OT Erik Williams, 32, has finally found a new home. After weeks of
wondering where he might end up as a free agent, Williams signed a one-year deal with
Baltimore on Monday to fill in for the loss of ORT Leon Searcy, who will miss half the
season with a torn triceps muscle.
Buchsbaum: This gives them a starting right tackle, which allows them to reduce Harry
Swayne to swingman role. Or if they want, they could rotate Swayne and Williams at right
tackle, which makes them a stronger team. Now look for the Ravens to pick up a running
back either this week or next week.
Carter shows promise in Cowboys' victory
Cowboys rookie QB Quincy Carter was 6-of-11 passing for 99 yards and no interceptions
and had an impressive 16-yard TD run in his team’s 21-6 win over Oakland last night.
Buchsbaum: Carter did some impressive things with his athletic ability in the
Cowboys’ win. He showed a strong arm, showed some accuracy at times and showed some
escapability, but he was going against a very vanilla defense and a Raiders team that
seemed very uninspired. In the postgame interviews he came across as seeming quite
arrogant and having a very inflated opinion of himself. Not exactly Troy Aikman or
anywhere near humble.
Veteran DL Hasselbach signs with Green Bay
The Packers signed eight-year veteran DL Harald Hasselbach, who was released by the
Broncos last week.
Buchsbaum: Green Bay’s defensive coordinator, Ed Donatell, was at Denver as a
secondary coach when Hasselbach was there and feels he can still contribute as a pass
rusher because that’s his strength.
Titans CB Samari Rolle threatens holdout over contract dispute
Buchsbaum: Rolle’s potential holdout is just an absolute disgrace. This is a case
of where the agent is dictating to the player instead of the player dictating to the agent
the plan. It could do irreparable harm to the team’s psyche. This is an all-star
player putting himself before the good of the team and holding the team up at the worst
time. It’s a total lack of character on the part of the player and agent, as far as
I’m concerned. And I wish some club, if the players (continue to) go through with it,
would take the player and agent to court.
News and notes
On Jessie Tuggle, this was a case where the Falcons rode with him as
long as they could. He just doesn’t have enough left, he’s too old, and
he’s too injury prone at this point. … It’s sad the Bears had to cut WR Bobby
Engram, but they had to go in a different direction because of the salary cap and
the fact that he’s hurt. Basically, it’s the same thing with the 49ers and Junior
Bryant, though he probably should’ve retired with the type of neck condition
he has. … The Giants are about to give up on their young kickers, especially the
placekickers. They’ll have Morten Andersen in to kick, and
he’ll probably get the job if he does well. Or else other veterans, such as Al
Del Greco, if they’re interested, will get a shot.
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