WhoDeyRevolution

Lance McAlister: Roy Williams in Fold

1530 Homer's Lance McAlister is reporting that free agent safety Roy Williams has signed with the Bengals. 

Known for his big hits and horrible pass coverage, Williams will be in the mix at safety along with Marvin White, Chinny Ndukwe, Kyries Hebert, Chris Crocker, Corey Lynch, and Tom Nelson (free agent rookie). 

Williams is regarded as a great presence in the locker room, and that is something the Bengals cannot get enough of these days.

Check out some of his greatest hits:

Bengals to Bring Back Another Player Nobody Else Wanted

Pro Football Talk brings to our attention that Mike Brown's Bengals are reportedly bringing back former fullback Jeremi Johnson.  What the PFT post correctly tells us is that Johnson appeared in 50 games for us, was injured and then released in November.  What the PFT post doesn't tell us is that Johnson was unable to suit up for the Bengals last year after someone ate him and showed up to training camp claiming to play fullback for the Bengals. 

On one hand, the Bengals have a huge need at fullback and might as well bring him back and see if he can return to be what many thought was a productive fullback.  The Bengals certainly had at least one season of an effective running game when he was lead blocking.  Maybe he actually got back in shape.  On the other hand, it is always alarming to see the Bengals bring in another player that no other team picked up.  Think over the years how many players we've had (with significant playing time) that were released or not re-signed that no other team was interested in.  Listed below are such players.  Feel free to add to the list in the comments.

Caleb Miller, Chris Henry, Tab Perry, Eric Ghiaciuc, Ron Dugans, Dede Dorsey, Anthony Schlegel, Kim Herring, Dexter Jackson, Ifeanyi Ohalete....There must be more...

An even more alarming thought: How many more of these guys are on our team?

Tank in the Fold

Veteran defensive tackle Tank Johnson signed with the Bengals late Tuesday, joining a rotation that includes Pat Sims, Jason Shirley, Domata Peko, and Orien Harris.

At this point, assuming the Bengals got him on the cheap, what the hell could it hurt?  The Bengals are already a joke around the league.   They desperately needed to address their anemic defensive line, and at least this is something.  The guy is only 27, and he has kept his nose clean since going over to Dallas in 2007.  Plus, he will be much more effective in a 4-3 defense vs. the 3-4 he played in Dallas.

Now for the bad (or as Mike Brown would put it, his 'redeeming' qualities).  The guy was arrested for illegal gun possession on more than one occasion.  One time, they found enough guns in his home to successfully invade Afghanistan.  He was suspended in 2007 for repeatedly violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.

The final straw for the Bears was his arrest for suspected DUI in Arizona. 

However, Mike Zimmer seemed satisfied that Johnson's troubled days are behind him:

"I talked to a lot of football people down there, especially players," said Zimmer, who coordinated the Dallas defense for seven years before moving to Atlanta in 2007. "I asked if he was a good guy and if he was a guy they wanted as a teammate and they said they would and that he was a hard worker. And he wasn't in trouble for his two seasons down there."

I'll let Johnson's agent, Jerroid Colton, have the last word:

"I know the Bengals are being very careful with the players they're bringing in because of some of the things that have happened."

I don't even have a joke here. 

A Whole Lotta Beef

Multiple news agencies (including our friends at profootballtalk.com) have reported that Alabama OT Andre Smith was in town for a visit yesterday with Bengals brass.  The Frisch's in Bellevue was briefly sold out of all Big Boy Platters, but order was restored once Smith boarded the plane back to Alabama.  After watching how this kid prepared for the two biggest job interviews of his life, let's just say I hope this is a smokescreen.  Or someone above the Bengals is stupid enough to take him.  But, with little comments like this from Baghdad Hob, you never know:

Baltimore general manager Ozzie Newsome's hearty endorsement is part of Smith's climb back into the top 10 after a series postseason decisions dropped his stock briefly.

Briefly?  His stock dropped faster than Enron in 2001.  Seriously, don't insult our intelligence.

In addition, the Dallas Morning News is reporting that free agent DT Tank Johnson visited the Bengals.  Baghdad Hob says that Johnson is intrigued by the situation in Cincinnati.  I have to say I'd also like to see what a rotation of Pat Sims and Tank Johnson would look like, but I'd also like to see what some half decent pass rushers would look like as well.  As far as a redeemer angle, this would be right up Mike Brown's alley. 

Roy Williams To Visit Bengals

Late breaking news out of Dallas, where All-Pro safety Roy Williams is scheduled to visit the Bengals later this week.  Williams went to his first four pro bowls (out of five) under Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer when the two were in Dallas. 

Stay tuned.

God Love Mike Florio

Our comrade in arms Mike Florio over at profootballtalk.com has mentioned the Bengals as a team that might not spend money in 2010 (impending uncapped season). 

The Bengals have spent money the past two years, most notably on Antwan Odom and Laveranues Coles...but it will be interesting to see what teams like the Cardinals and Bengals do when the wild wild west returns next offseason (in theory).  Here is the spot from PFTV:

The Offensive Line - What is the Plan?

So apparently, the Bengals might be trying to trade Levi Jones and if they can't trade him, they might release him (h/t Stripe Hype who gave a h/t to Go-Bengals...blogging at its finest).  WDR has no problem with this.  Levi Jones is not a good football player.  At some point in time, he was a good football player.  But then he signed a big fat contract and then started playing like a big fat guy who signed a big fat contract.  He's also expressed multiple times that he doesn't want to be on this football team even though the Bengals have given him a big fat contract and he may not be able to get a big fat contract from anyone else.  As we've seen the last two years, you don't want a guy with a big fat contract who doesn't want to be on the football team protecting your Quarterback's blind side. 

But what WDR has a problem with is where that puts the Offensive Line.  As of now, the Offensive Line is the same minus two starters (Eric Ghiaciuc, Stacy Andrews) and if Levi Jones is traded or released, that's three.  Currently, the following Offensive Tackles, other than Jones, are on the roster: Anthony Collins and Dennis Roland (I don't know who he is either).  Currently, the following Centers are on the roster: Kyle Cook, Andrew Crummey and Dan Santucci (combined starts: 0, combined offensive series: close to 0).  Just exactly what is the plan at Offensive Line?  If Jones is taken out of the equation, the starting O-Line looks like this:

Offensive Offseason Review

Just when I begin to think we didn't do so bad in free agency this year, I consider this...here's a list of positions that we still need on offense in order for one to reasonably believe that we've improved from last year:

Center (other than Eric Ghiaciuc)

Offensive Tackle (maybe 2)

Fullback

A second Running Back

Sure, fans can argue (1) we can still make a trade, (2) we can still sign some free agents, or (3) we still have the draft.  To quickly respond:

(1) We most likely can't or won't trade anyone besides Chad Johnson, which would immediately create another need at WR unless you are comfortable with Laveranues Coles, Chris Henry, Andre Caldwell and Jerome Simpson next season.  Sure, one (not me) could argue that you draft Michael Crabtree or Jeremy Maclin, trade Chad for a late first round pick or an early second round pick and draft an Offensive Tackle and a Center with the second round pick and whatever pick you get from Chad.  But first of all, if Mike Brown didn't trade Chad last year, why would you assume that he would this year?  I fail to understand how people speculate on that again this offseason.  Secondly, it's a clear violation of the Too Savvy Rule.

(2) Nearly all of the good free agents that would provide an upgrade at the above positions are gone. After we didn't pursue the three best Centers available, Eric Ghiaciuc is among the best Centers left for crying out loud and look where that got Carson last year.  For whatever reason, we keep bringing in decent Fullbacks and then not signing them all while not pursuing some of the most promising available (Leonard Weaver, Justin Griffith, Lorenzo Neal).

(3) We do still have the draft but if we start a rookie at all four of the above positions, could that possibly bode well for next season? What production did we get out of our rookies last year?  The year before? 

TJ Speaks

In a chat on NFL.com today, Touraj "The Hardest Man in the NFL" Houshmandzadeh Jr. revealed some very interesting information regarding the Bengals supposed pursuit of the former Bengal as well as some entirely predictable news on Chad Johnson's commitment to the team.

Lou from Canada asked TJ: "Being a Bengal fan, I need to know, how persistant were the Bengals in trying to keep you a Bengal?"

Here is how he responded: "They were persistent, but it wasn't persistent with good intentions, in my opinion. They weren't as persistent as it has been reported that they were....If they wanted to keep me, I would be there. After four years, I re-signed, because they wanted to keep me. I didn't re-sign after eight, because they obviously didn't want to keep me...." "

WDR Take: We were split on our thoughts regarding bringing TJ back.  The team has gaping holes on the offensive and defensive line where we hoped they would use their free agency dollars.  But then we signed another aging vet WR (L. Coles) to a deal similar to TJ.  We all knew that the Bengals made a play for TJ but it is now clear that the Bengals were not in the running. 

What is the Bengals reasoning for not pursuing Housh and opting for Coles instead?  It is one thing to go after and lose TJ and settle for Coles.  It is another to not really pursue TJ and then sign Coles soon after.  But when has a solid offensive and defensive line even proven successful?

CJ from Texas asked: "What was Carson and Chad's feelings about you leaving Cincy? Did Chad ask you to hide him in your suitcase?"

TJ: Chad basically said, "Do what you have to do." He said he'll be right behind me.

Carson was happy for me, but wondered why it got to that point.

WDR Take: No matter what you hear from Chad, Chuckles or anyone else involved with the Bengals, Chad Johnson does not want to be on the Bengals.  He is not putting in 100%. He is not committed to the team.  WHY are the Bengals keeping him around? 

As for Carson, we wish he would express these feelings in public.  His potent offense has been decimated over the past few years and the team parts ways with his favorite target in favor of a new guy who has no relationship with their franchise QB.  Carson - please join the Revolution!

No Attempt at Matt Birk? T.O. Cut

As I mentioned, the Laveranues Coles signing could be promising individually.  But the Bengals' free agency performance still has ignored the Bengals' greatest needs, Center and Offensive Tackle.  One of the two best Centers available, Matt Birk signed a 3 year, $12 million contract on Wednesday ($6 million guaranteed) with the Baltimore Ravens.  The other, Jason Brown, signed a 5 year deal worth $37.5 million with $20 million guaranteed (conceded that this contract was probably too rich).  Who knows if Birk would've ultimately come here but the contract was reasonable and the Bengals were not mentioned in connection with any attempt at signing Matt Birk or any Center for that matter.  While Laveranues Coleslaw definitely helps out after the loss of T.J., one has to be nervous about Carson or Crazy Legs Fitzpatrick [Insert Name of Crappy 2009 Backup QB] still playing behind a depleted offensive line that performed abysmally last year, and the potential of our running game continuing to suffer due to poor O-line play.  It is unclear why the Bengals' front office continually ignores our greatest needs. 2007 and 2008 starter, Eric Ghiaciuc has struggled mightily and he's a free agent this year.  If we bring him back, we know what to expect (horrid run game and opposing Defensive Tackles getting pressure on Carson).  If we don't bring him back, who will line up at Center?  At this point, it looks to be either a rookie or an average/below average free agent Center.  Both prospects are not promising in the short term.  Perhaps Bobbie Williams will move over (a reader, Randall, pointed out that he is now listed as a G/C on the Bengals roster) but as we recall, that never got off the ground last year and if he did move over, his effectiveness at the position is uncertain and a need is created at Guard.  While Coles helps us to digest the T.J. loss and is an interesting change, the needs at OT, Center, FB and even a #2 RB still exist.  It's tough to imagine us addressing all of those positions in the draft, especially for the 2009 season.

In completely unrelated news that the Bengals should not concern themselves with but is nonetheless interesting and surprising (but not as interesting and surprising as ESPN will surely make it out to be), the Dallas Cowboys cut Terrell Owens.