Camp Rostertology: Receivers
Posted by jreedy July 19th, 2010, 4:01 pm


Chad Ochocinco

The roster breakdown continues with receivers. The Bengals hold their first two training camp practices at Georgetown College on July 29. We will resume on Tuesday with the offensive line before turning our attention to the defense on Wednesday.

Position breakdown

* Kept last year: 6
* Currently on roster: 10
* Number usually kept: Since 2005 it has been six. In Marvin Lewis’ first two seasons (2003-04) it was five..
* Locks to make it (how acquired): Chad Ochocinco (second round ’01), Antonio Bryant (unrestricted free agent ‘10), Andre Caldwell (third round ’08), Jordan Shipley (third round ’10)
* In the mix: Jerome Simpson (second round ’08), Dezmon Briscoe (sixth round ’10), Quan Cosby (college free agent ’09), Matt Jones (free agent ’10)
* Longshots: Freddie Brown (seventh round ’09), Maurice Purify (college free agent ’08)

2009 rewind

Ochocinco made his sixth Pro Bowl (72 catches, 1,047 yards, nine touchdowns) and had three 100-yard games. His string of 120 consecutive games with a catch though ended in the season finale against the Jets. Laveranues Coles had 43 catches for 514 yards and five TDs in his lone season with the Bengals. Caldwell (51 catches, 432 yards) started three games and two of his three touchdowns were game-winners (Week 3 vs. Pittsburgh and Week 5 at Baltimore). Cosby was used more as a kick and punt returner but was used on offense the last five games of the season. He had four catches for 55 yards. Simpson played in two games with no catches. Maurice Purify played in five games and had no catches. Chris Henry played in eight games before suffering a broken arm. He finished with 12 catches for 236 yards and two touchdowns. He passed away Dec. 17 in Charlotte, N.C., after falling out of the back of a truck. Brown spent the season on the practice squad. He was among the final cuts of the preseason but was re-signed on Nov. 10.

Three things to watch

* Who wins at third receiver? It will be the position battle to watch during training camp as Shipley and Caldwell. The Bengals are hoping that Shipley can develop into that inside and clutch third-down receiver that they missed with the departure of T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Caldwell though is not ready to back down after struggling last year particularly in the second half.
* What will be the Bryant effect? He’s a physical receiver who likes contact and is not afraid to go over the middle, which gives the Bengals a toughness at the position that they were lacking last year.
* Will Simpson make it? It all depends on how he performs in the preseason as four receivers vie for the final two spots. Simpson, who has one reception for one yard in two seasons, is in competition with Jones, Briscoe and Cosby to remain. Between the four the two with a slight advantage might be Cosby and Briscoe. Cosby adds a lot of value on special teams and Briscoe is a sleeper pick who probably will not clear waivers if he is released.

Key Number — 48

Yards Ochocinco needs to reach 10,000 receiving for his career.

The Outsiders View

Robert Weintraub of Football Outsiders provides his look at the position: “Chad Ochocinco may have had a busy summer, but he earned it after regaining his status as one of the top receivers in the league in 2009, despite being the lone deep threat in stripes. We like him to be good again, especially now that he has some help. Esteban will, as usual, catch fewer than six of ten passes thrown his way, but he should approach last year’s numbers anyway. The important figure is, of course, Antonio Bryant. Our projections don’t expect him to come anywhere near his superb 2008 season, but it’s difficult to project guys coming off a knee injury. He will be beneficial even if his collectible numbers aren’t great by taking the heat of Ochocinco and giving Carson Palmer a semi-reliable target. Our numbers aren’t bullish on Andre Caldwell or Quan Cosby, so rookies Jordan Shipley and Dez Briscoe should certainly get their chances, though both carry concerns (for Shipley it’s injury history and age–he’s 25, and for Briscoe it’s size and character). As for Matt Jones, we haven’t yet come up with any coefficients for factoring in a history of recreating scenes from Blow away from the field. He’s always been a mismatch in 7 on 7 drills, but that speed doesn’t tend to translate to games.”

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/bengals/2010...receivers/

Jason Shirley waived, roster at 82
Posted by jreedy July 19th, 2010, 3:31 pm

The Bengals have released offensive guard Jason Shirley under the waived/non-football injury category. The converted lineman, who was on defense until a week into training camp last year, suffered an Achilles injury in April while taking part in a charity basketball game.

If Shirley clears waivers tomorrow, he will revert to the Bengals Reserve/Non-Football Injury list, meaning he will be out for the entire season. There was some hope of Shirley possibly being able to practice during the second half of the season.

Shirley spent last season on the practice squad.

With the move, the roster stands at 82 with 76 signed. Teams can only take 80 signed players to training camp. Depending on how talks with first-round pick Jermaine Gresham fare, the roster could be 81 (80 signed) when players report to Georgetown next Wednesday.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/bengals/2010...ter-at-82/

Know your division: Browns
Posted by jreedy July 19th, 2010, 12:14 pm

With training camps getting set to open over the next two weeks, we continue looking at the other teams in AFC North.

The Browns ended last season with four straight wins to finish 5-11, which was enough for Eric Mangini to keep his job as coach. But there is another new regime changes in Cleveland as Mike Holmgren has taken over running the franchise. The Bengals have won three straight against the Browns and travel to Cleveland in Week 4 (Oct. 3) before hosting them in Week 15 (Dec. 19).

Giving his outlook on what Cleveland has done in the offseason and what the key issues are going into camp is Tony Grossi of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. http://www.cleveland.com/browns/

The three big camp questions

* Will a change of scenery bring back the old Jake Delhomme or will he continue to be the turnover machine of the past 17 games?
* Will NT Shaun Rogers be moved to DE in Eric Mangini’s 3-4 front to make room for third-year NT Ahtyba Rubin, who is a better run-stuffer in the two-gap system?
* Can any of the top four receivers (Mohamed Massaquoi, Josh Cribbs, Chansi Stuckey and Brian Robiskie) instill confidence that he can be a consistent playmaker?

Position battle to watch

* Feature running back, Jerome Harrison vs. second-round pick Montario Hardesty: Despite smashing two franchise records, posting the third-highest rushing game in NFL history and totaling 561 yards in his last three games of 2009, the slightly built Harrison probably begins camp as the No. 2 back behind the impressive, if injury-prone, University of Tennessee rusher.

Remember his name

* DE Clifton Geathers, sixth round pick of South Carolina, brother of Bengals’ Robert and nephew of former NFLer Jumpy. Described as “a monster” physically by GM Tom Heckert, Geathers, a rangy 6-7 and 300 pounds, is very green but will have the opportunity impress because there is a lot of age on the D-line and questions (Rogers and Robaire Smith perhaps facing NFL suspensions for carrying guns at airports).

Early read

* Lots of optimism because of: 1. Four wins to close out 2009, 2. More understanding of the demanding Mangini, 3. Better QB situation with Delhomme and Seneca Wallace. Third-round pick Colt McCoy is not expected to compete for much playing time as a rookie.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/bengals/2010...on-browns/

Marvin on Benson and Bengals offseason incidents
Posted by jreedy July 20th, 2010, 1:26 pm

We will have a lot from Marvin Lewis in Sunday’s paper previewing training camp and the upcoming season, but there were a couple things from today’s 57-minute discussion with Geoff Hobson of bengals.com and I that could not wait.

Among them was when Lewis was asked if he thought running back Cedric Benson would be suspended for a game or more following his arrest last month for assault in an Austin, Texas, bar. According to the following statement, Lewis is another who by the tone of his statements thinks that it is unlikely.

Said Lewis: “I don’t know why we we’re even talking about Cedric being suspended a game. I don’t even know why we’re bringing it up. To me it’s unbelievable. It wouldn’t be brought up in 31 other cities in the country I think.”

Lewis went on to say later: “As Cedric’s has come out the truth about Cedric’s is that Cedric got sucker punched in a bar. That’s the thing. And only because it was Cedric Benson does it become news.”

The league is still reviewing the case and has not made a final decision.

Benson’s arrest was the third involving a Bengals player during the offseason. On Jan. 29, linebacker Rey Maualuga was charged with DUI in Covington and on May 4 receiver Maurice Purify was charged with disorderly conduct in Newport.

Lewis did note that every case has to be dealt with individually and went on to add that in the Purify case a guy swung at him first.

”Until all the facts are there and on the table can any judgements be made on that,” Lewis said. “When you have eightysome players and people out and visible as they are and unfortunately people challenge them and they have to constantly have to be able to walk away. Constantly. And when two guys didn’t walk away totally this is what happens. They’re not necessarily in the wrong but they are a little bit wrong in my standards for not walking away totally. They were not the initiator in any of these cases.”

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/bengals/2010...incidents/

More from Marvin: Contract and TO
Posted by jreedy July 20th, 2010, 3:16 pm

And now to that other thing, as in the last year of Marvin Lewis’ contract.

Lewis hasn’t spoken in depth about how discussions are moving toward an extension since the Scouting Combine in late February. But with training camp less than a week away and the storyline growing larger, Lewis did talk a little more about where things currently stand between him and Mike Brown.

“Mike and I at some point hopefully come to an agreement from both sides of us and we all feel good about,” Lewis said. “We have spoken about the contract a few times since then but we don’t talk about it daily. That’s not me to worry about it or bring it up. I don’t go about it that way.

“I would love to continue to coach here. I think every year is a new challenge, a new start and hell we’ve got Ocho.”

Lewis is in the last year of an extension that he signed following the 2005 season and likened his situation of one of his players entering the last year of his contract — it can’t be a distraction.

As far as how his current working relationship is with Brown, Lewis said that it is real good.

”I try to check in every two or three days while I’m gone,” Lewis said. ”It’s better when we can talk in person and he can give his thoughts on where we are and I can tell him where we are as far as the roster and looking at things as we go forward. We can pretty much come to a conclusion and direction the two of us. It’s important that we stay on the same page and decide which way we’re going to go.”

Lewis is entering his eighth season in Cincinnati, which ties him with Paul Brown and Sam Wyche for longest tenure. His 56 wins is second in franchise history, eight behind Wyche.

As far as whether or not Lewis feels burned out, he discounted that.

“I savor the challenge of coaching. I don’t think about the other things that way,” Lewis said. I don’t want to look forward (to doing anything else) nor do I think I want to be on television. I don’t think it is something that I would be interested in doing at all.”

“I like to coach, that’s the part of this job that’s the fun part. That’s why the season is the fun part because you get to coach more. I don’t get to coach as much as I’d like to coach. My coaching comes in different ways now. It starts early in the morning when the first people walk in this building and goes all the way through until the time they leave. It may not be as much the on-field technique coaching as much as it is the other kind of coaching that I get to do every day and I look forward to that.”

As far as Terrell Owens, Lewis did say about the possibility of adding another receiver: “I don’t have a concern that we need to add anybody. I don’t want to speak (about) Terrell. We’ve been down that road before.”

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/bengals/2010...ct-and-to/

PFT: Benson meeting Goodell on Thursday
Posted by jreedy July 20th, 2010, 4:49 pm

While Bengals coach Marvin Lewis is of the opinion that running back Cedric Benson will not be suspended, the person who will make that decision will hear from Benson on Thursday.

Pro Football Talk reports that Benson will meet with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to discuss the case. Benson was arrested on June 29 in Austin, Texas, and charged with misdemeanor assault for allegedly punching a bar employee in the face on May 30. He posted bond and was released. The case is still pending.

Whether Goodell finds Benson as a repeat offender under the league’s personal conduct policy remains to be seen. While with the Bears in 2008, Benson was arrested twice for alcohol related-charges in a one-month period before being released by the team. Those charges were later dismissed.

But the policy states that charges being thrown out do not absolve league employees from a possible violation or suspension.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/bengals/2010...-thursday/

Stephens agrees to terms
Posted by jreedy July 20th, 2010, 5:55 pm

We had on Twitter on Friday that we expected Reggie Stephens to be the fourth draft pick in the fold. The center from Iowa State agreed to terms and the team should officially announce it tomorrow or Thursday.

Stephens also has some versatility on the line, playing both left and right guard at Iowa State and making 28 consecutive starts. he was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection the last two years. Scouts project him as either a center or left guard.

Up next? Knowing how the Bengals have approached signings in the past that would be Roddrick Muckelroy.

Quote:Updated signing chart

All contracts are four-year deals and have a base of $1.79 million unless noted. Add the signing bonus and you get the total value of the deal.
Rnd (Ov) Player Pos, School Status
1 (21) Jermaine Gresham TE, Oklahoma Unsigned
2 (54) Carlos Dunlap DE, Florida Unsigned
3 (84) Jordan Shipley WR, Texas Unsigned
3 (96) Brandon Ghee CB, Wake Forest Unsigned
4 (120) Geno Atkins DT, Georgia July 16: $2.262 mil. ($472,450 SB)
4 (131) Roddrick Muckelroy LB, Texas Unsigned
5 (152) Otis Hudson OG, E. Illinois July 7: $1.975 mil. ($185,000 SB)
6 (191) Dezmon Briscoe WR, Kansas June 25: $1.892 mil. ($102,200 SB)
7 (228) Reggie Stephens C/G, Iowa State TBA: $1.842 million ($52,000 SB)

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/bengals/2010...-to-terms/

Lewis optimistic he will contnue as head coach beyond 2010
Notebook

By Joe Reedy • jreedy@enquirer.com • July 20, 2010

As he enters the final year of his contract, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis remains hopeful of leading the team beyond this season.

"I would love to continue to coach here,” he said Tuesday.
Lewis, the reigning NFL Coach of the Year after leading the Bengals to their second division title in five seasons, hasn’t discussed his contract since late February. But with players reporting to training camp one week from today, Lewis’ future will garner more national attention as the Bengals try to earn back-to-back playoff berths for the first time in 28 years.

Lewis said he has discussed an extension a few times with Bengals president Mike Brown and that their working relationship is good.

“I try to check in every two or three days while I’m gone,” Lewis said. “It’s better when we can talk in person and he can give his thoughts on where we are and I can tell him where we are as far as the roster and looking at things as we go forward. We can pretty much come to a conclusion and direction between the two of us.”

Lewis is entering his eighth season as Bengals coach, which would tie him with Paul Brown and Sam Wyche for the longest tenure in franchise history. His 56 wins are second-most among Bengals coaches, eight behind Wyche.

NO TO T.O.: Lewis said he’s happy with the 10 wide receivers on the roster. Asked about the possibility of bringing in Terrell Owens, who visited the Bengals in March, for a second look, Lewis said: “I don’t want to speak (about) Terrell. We’ve been down that road before.”

STEPHENS AGREES TO TERMS: The team is expected to announce the signing of seventh-round draft pick Reggie Stephens, a center from Iowa State, to a four-year contract worth $1.842 million.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100...ng-in-2011