Levi Jones Cut

In a largely expected move, Levi Jones has been cut, as reported by Pro Football Talk.  Jones was reportedly informed that the team would try to trade him and otherwise release him after Offensive Tackle, Andre Smith was drafted with the 6th overall pick.  The move saves a lot of money (namely, a $3 million base salary due to Jones this year), which will most certainly be used to sign Smith and the other draft picks.  Two WDR thoughts on the matter:

(1) WDR does like the move (mostly because of #2 below) but it sure puts a lot of pressure on rookie tackle, Andre Smith and second year tackle, Anthony Collins.  Without Levi there, our line is very young and when you combine it with the fact that our center will have 0 NFL starts going into next season and will possibly be a rookie, it is no surprise what will determine the Bengals' 2009-10 success: Offensive Tackle, Offensive Tackle, Center. 

(2) And the amount of Bengals who don't want to be on the Bengals and are vocal about it is down to one.  As mentioned, the move is fine but WDR sure wishes we would have excommunicated the last remaining one.  While there was potential excitement to see the OchoCinco/Coles combination, this has been diluted by Chad's refusal to show up to any voluntary workouts and reportedly crying on the phone to TJ Houshmandzadeh because he can't get himself traded.

Comments

[Ejm1]

This is a risky move. Levi could still be solid somewhere else. I hope not. Will the local Dennys survive without this large chuck of revenue gone?

[Thom Tadsen]

The line is young, but it's talented. It's going to be a bumpy ride early.

[BengalAnthony13]

Addition by subtraction. Levi didn't want to be here and the depth at Left Tackle (Smith, Whitworth, Collins) made him expendable. He's 30 and has two bad knees. I bet that Carson is thanking God above that Levi isn't the Left Tackle this year. You can bet that they will now go after Roy Williams.
On another note, hearing anything about Chad makes me want to punch a baby. I hate that piece of crap. Cincinnati and it's team made him wealthy and subsequently into an NFL superstar and he spat in everyone's faces. He now has burned his bridges here as well as tarnished his once "entertaining" image. I personally would like to see a situation this year where everybody boos Chad every time he touches (or, as he often does, drops) the ball.

[Sven]

I'm sorry, but unless they sign a veteran or someone with at least a little bit of experience to give some depth, this is a terrible move. Jones may have been unhappy, but at least keeping him as a backup would have been a good idea. Now if Fat Andre goes down or just sucks, we'll be back to the Andrew Whitworth experiment at left tackle. And that hasn't worked out.

We're putting the most important job on the field-protecting Palmer-into the hands of a guy who was slow, fat and weak (only 19 reps of 225 at the combine) the last time he worked out? And this is somehow a good idea?

Mark my words: Palmer does not finish this year standing. Not with this offensive line.

[Sly Vramavomovich]

I was under the impression that we would refer to our new right tackle only as HippopotaSmith?

[Richard]

Hippopotasmith is not bad in a class of rookies that are not great i think our draft stars are going to be rey and johnson but like all others i am just guessing

[Gambling Fool]

Or you could refer to him as the Outland award winner. you see this is an award given to the best offensive lineman in college football. He also won it playing in the toughest conf in college football.

Yeah the combine, he was out of shape. before that he was number one on all the draft boards.

but hey, you guys keep making up nicknames and bitching... it is what you do best.

[Sven]

Yeah, and Gino Toretta won the Heisman. College awards don't mean much in the pros.