2013 NFL Draft Done, Smith Re-Signs

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Apr 302013
 

The 2013 NFL Draft has now passed us and the Bengals are once again getting high grades from most draft experts. The team surprised many with their 1st round pick as they selected Notre Dame TE Tyler Eifert who was the highest rated TE coming into the draft. Tight End was not a top need for the team but Eifert along with TE Jermaine Gresham could become a scary tandem for teams to try to defend. Two tight ends of their caliber could provide numerous options for offensive coordinator Jay Gruden and the team clearly intends to own the middle of the field on offense. In the 2nd round the Bengals selected RB Giovani Bernard who could be the change of pace back they need to compliment Benjarvus Green-Ellis. They also drafted 6′ 8″ DE Margus Hunt and SS Shawn Williams in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. Seven of the teams ten picks were offensive.

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2013 Cincinnati Bengals Draft Class:
Rd 1, Pick 21 (21) Eifert, Tyler TE (Notre Dame)
Rd 2, Pick 5 (37) Bernard, Giovani RB (North Carolina)
Rd 2, Pick 21 (53) Hunt, Margus DE (Southern Methodist)
Rd 3, Pick 22 (84) Williams, Shawn SS (Georgia)
Rd 4, Pick 21 (118) Porter, Sean OLB (Texas A&M)
Rd 5, Pick 23 (156) Hawkinson, Tanner OT (Kansas)
Rd 6, Pick 22 (190) Burkhead, Rex RB (Nebraska)
Rd 6, Pick 29 (197) Hamilton, Cobi WR (Arkansas)
Rd 7, Pick 34 (240) Fragel, Reid OT (Ohio State)
Rd 7, Pick 45 (251) Johnson, T.J. C (South Carolina)

In addition to the draft the team announced  this past Friday that starting right tackle Andre Smith signed a 3 year, $18 million deal which is good news. Smith was the top rated RT in the league last year and bringing him back allowed the team to have more flexibility in the draft.

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Bengals 2013 Pre-Draft Roster Changes

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Apr 212013
 

We are just a few days away from the 2013 NFL Draft and for the most part the Bengals have accomplished the goals they set for themselves in re-signing most of their own players (with the exception of Andre Smith) and the few players that have departed were not in the teams plans to bring back so it seemed. The recent signing of LB James Harrison, who was released by the Steelers, was the biggest free agent signing and should only improve the weakest position group of the defense.

A complete list of off season additions & losses along with the players that have been re-signed thus far are listed below.

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Off Season Additions
LB James Harrison (Pittsburgh)
TE Alex Smith (Cleveland)
OG Mike Pollack (Carolina)
QB John Skelton (Arizona)
QB Josh Johnson (Cleveland)

Off Season Losses
LB Manny Lawson (Buffalo)
RB Brian Leonard (Tampa Bay)
DT Pat Sims (Oakland)
LB Dan Skuta (San Francisco)
QB Bruce Gradkowski (Pittsburgh)
CB Jason Allen (Released)

Re-signed
DE Michael Johnson – 1 year (franchise tag)
DE Wallace Gilberry – 3 years
DE Robert Geathers – 3 years
CB Adam Jones – 3 years
CB Terrance Newman – 2 years
LB Rey Maualuga – 2 years
RB Cedric Peerman – 2 years
K Mike Nugent – 2 years
P Kevin Huber – 5 years
LS Clark Harris – 5 years
WR Andrew Hawkins – 1 year
S Jeromy Miles – 1 year
WR Brandon Tate – 1 year
RB Bernard Scott – 1 year

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The teams most obvious remaining needs seem to be at the Safety position on defense and the Running Back position on offense and then Right Tackle if Andre Smith does not re-sign. Some also believe the Bengals should solidify depth at LB and WR early in the draft and possibly even DE as both Michael Johnson and Carlos Dunlop each currently have 1 year left on their deals if longer term contracts are not agreed upon prior to the season.

Mock drafts have predicted a wide range of players to the Bengals in the 1st round such as Texas S Kenny Vaccaro, Florida S Matt Elam, Alabama OT D.J. Fluker, Kansas State LB Arthur Brown, or Georgia LB Alec Ogletree.

Our hope is that the team is able to select Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro to start immediately at strong safety and form a solid starting safety duo along with Reggie Nelson. If he is not available we would be excited with OT D.J. Fluker who would be an obvious starter if Andre Smith does not come back, also safeties Matt Elam and Jonathan Cyprien could be solid choices to start at safety if Vaccaro is off the board.

The draft kicks off on Thursday, April 25th at 8pm ET.

It’s Mid-December, Bengals Control Destiny

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Dec 162012
 

So today is Sunday, December 16th, 2012 and the Bengals are off today as they are coming off a Thursday night game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Philly this past week which they won by a score of 34-13. The Bengals were able to rebound from a tough 1 point loss at home against the Dallas Cowboys the game prior to that and forced 5 turnovers against a bad Eagle team while getting their first defensive touchdown of the season in the win. The team now has a record of 8-6 and are in a “win and you’re in” position in mid-December to make the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time in 30 years.

So what’s next? If the Broncos beat the Ravens today the Bengals will still have a shot at the division title with 2 games remaining. If the Cowboys defeat the Steelers today the Bengals will have a one game lead on the final AFC Wildcard spot. If the Texans beat the Colts today the Bengals will be one game behind the Colts for the 5th seed Wildcard spot. The next 2 games are at Pittsburgh and at home against the reeling Ravens. Talk about huge!

If you are a Bengals fan you can’t ask for much more than to be in this position come mid-December. So with that all being said, the only thing left to say is WHO DEY!

Big Win Last Week, Big Game Coming

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Dec 082012
 

The Bengals did something last week that we Bengals fans have not been accustomed to seeing over the last 20-25 years. They went on the road to the west coast and came away with a win. It wasn’t the prettiest game but the defense did not allow an offensive touchdown and offense played well when it needed to as the Bengals defeated the San Diego Chargers by a final score of 20-13. Defensive end Carlos Dunlop played a great game coming up with 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Running back Benjarvus Green-Ellis had his 3rd straight 100 yard rushing game by rushing for 118 yards on 25 carries. Next up: the Dallas Cowboys.

Sanu Likely Done For The Season

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Dec 012012
 

WR Mohamed Sanu suffered a stress fracture on his left foot at practice this passed Thursday and it looks like he is done for the year. The loss of Sanu is a tough blow to the team as he has been consistently making big plays of late. He will finish his rookie year with 16 receptions, 154 yards receiving and 4 touchdown catches in addition to 1 touchdown pass and 15 yards rushing. Read more.

More Reasons To Love Andrew Whitworth

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Nov 262012
 

Need a few more reasons to love the Bengals underrated left tackle Andrew Whitworth? Read below.

Andrew Whitworth defended his quarterback on Sunday after Andy Dalton took a cheap shot from Raiders DE Lamarr Houston who knocked Dalton to the ground after the play was whistled dead due to a false start. Whitworth was ejected along with Houston and DE Tommy Kelly who came off the Raiders bench to engage in the scrum. Whitworth later stated that he would do it again in defending and protecting Dalton.

 

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