Ssh - delayed login

[Waldher, Travis R]

OS: Redhat ES 3.0
Package: openssh-server-3.6.1p2-18

When I connect to this machine using Putty I'll instantly get this:

login as:

I type in my user name OR even root and 2-10 seconds later I'll get
this:

root at rpdssvr's password:

Reverse lookups are instantaneous, so are forward DNS lookups.
The question is, what could be causing the delay before the password
field shows up.  Our YDL machines aren't doing this, the password field
returns as fast as Putty will allow it.  It's version of ssh server is:
openssh-server-3.5p1-4

Thanks,
Travis