NFL Free Agency Rumors: When is Cincinnati Bengals deadline to match Andrew Hawkins offer?

Jan 5, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrew Hawkins (16) prior to the game during the AFC wild card playoff football game against the San Diego Chargers at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports /

The deadline for the Cincinnati Bengals to match the Cleveland Browns offer sheet for wide receiver Andrew Hawkins has arrived, albeit in confusing fashion. There is confusion about exactly when the deadline for the Bengals to match the offer is, but indications seem to point towards to team passing on the chance and letting Hawkins walk to the Browns.

Today's the deadline for Bengals to match Andrew Hawkins' Browns offer sheet. No official word, but was told Cincy wasn't planning to match.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 18, 2014

Beyond that there is some confusion as to exactly when the deadline is. Some reports are stating that the deadline for the Bengals to match the offer is 4pm ET. ESPN.com’s Browns reporter Tony Grossi reports that the deadline is at 11:59pm ET on Tuesday.

@ClevStrikesBack @PeteSmithWTFP I am pretty confident that it's 4pm. Everything else has been. No reason it would go to midnight.
— Zac Jackson (@AkronJackson) March 18, 2014

Clarification on the Andrew Hawkins deadline: 11:59pm Tuesday.
— Tony Grossi (@TonyGrossi) March 17, 2014

The fact of the matter is, it doesn’t really matter if the deadline is 4pm, 11:59pm or in five minutes. The Bengals have had five days to think about this and to weigh their true value of Hawkins. They should already have come to a decision and the fact that they haven’t seems to suggest they’ll be moving on from him whenever the deaden arrives.

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