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Bengals announce roster cuts!! Surprises and not-so-much
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DeDe Dorsey makes the cut--as does Brian Leonard (photo by AP)
The Cincinnati Bengals officially announced their roster trimmings to get to the league-mandated 53 players.
According to Bengals.com, the following have been waived by the team:
--S Marvin White (third-year player; Texas Christian)
--G Andrew Crummey (second-year player; Maryland), injury settlement
--S Corey Lynch (second-year player; Appalachian State)
--G Jason Shirley (second-year player; Fresno State)
--DE Chris Harrington (first-year player; Texas A&M)
--RB James Johnson (first-year player; Kansas State)
--TE Kolomona Kapanui (first-year player; West Texas A&M)
--WR Maurice Purify (first-year player; Nebraska)
--WR Freddie Brown (rookie; Utah)
--TE Darius Hill (rookie; Ball State)
--DT Ventrell Jenkins (rookie; Kentucky)
--DT Clinton McDonald (rookie; Memphis)
--CB Rico Murray (rookie; Kent State)
--T Augustus Parrish (rookie; Kent State)
--FB Chris Pressley (rookie; Wisconsin)
--LB Dan Skuta (rookie; Grand Valley State)
--K Sam Swank (rookie; Wake Forest)
--FB Fui Vakapuna (rookie; Brigham Young),
while the following had their contracts terminated, not subject to waivers:
--LB Darryl Blackstock
--LB Jim Maxwell
--DT Langston Moore.
Those that have been waived, with the exception of Marvin White, can be added to the team's practice squad should they clear waivers. Receiver Antonio Chatman has been placed on injured reserve.
Surprises:
1. Running backs--
The team, uncharacteristically, is retaining four backs, waiving only James Johnson while keeping both DeDe Dorsey and Brian Leonard. While this move is surprising, it is a good one, because Bernard Scott, Dorsey and Leonard all showed strong performances and the ability to contribute in differing areas. Scott is a speed threat that can make plays that don't exist. Dorsey is similar to Scott while proving himself useful on special teams. Leonard has the power attack to go with good receiving hands. Retaining all three of these backs to compliment starter Cedric Benson will prove a huge asset to the team's running game.
2. Quan Cosby and Tom Nelson--
I was certain the team would only be able to retain one of these two for primary usage on the special teams units. Cosby showed breakaway speed in returning a punt for a touchdown against the Rams, but faced the disadvantage of a fairly deep Bengals receiving corps. The issue was apparently solved with the placing of Chatman on IR and the waiver of Maurice Purify and Freddie Brown. As it now stands, Cosby appears to be the primary punt return man and the sixth receiver under OchoCinco, Coles, Henry, Caldwell and Simpson.
Nelson experimented with returning punts as well, but didn't prove as effective as Cosby. What he lacked on the return game, he made up for with his agressive play on defense and the offensive special teams. Nelson showed good speed in making a safety blitz sack against the Patriots and most likely won his spot with his attitude and grit. The oftentimes sloppy coverage of both Marvin White and Corey Lynch sealed their fates in light of Nelson's ability to provide number two coverage.
3. Jeremi Johnson returns--
Jeremi Johnson posted a Pro-Bowl 2005 season, only to find himself on the outside looking in at the start of 2008. His weight issue became such that he was released during last season's training camp. Due to the team's issue at the the fullback position, however, he was brought back into camp this year.
Johnson hadn't really shown anything in training camp or the pre-season that made me think he would survive his still-constant weight struggles. Many thought Chris Pressley would be the lone man assuming the duties, while some thought Fui Vakapuna would get an opportunity. Hardly anyone believed Johnson would be the last man standing come today.
Not-so-surprises:
1. Jason Shirley--
Shirley, the former defensive lineman-turned-offensive guard, was a long-shot to earn a spot on the roster. Drafted as a nose tackle in 2008, Shirley was never seen as anything more than a 'project' for the team, demonstrating virtually no ability to adjust to the Bengals' defensive scheme.
The Bengals tried to convert Shirley to offensive guard this pre-season, due to his six-foot-five 338 pound frame and the Bengals' need for offensive depth. He flashed moments of adequecy in the new role, but overall never demonstrated a comfort level for the position.
2. Langston Moore--
Moore, a journeyman defensive tackle originally drafted by the Bengals in 2003, has seen action in Cincy, Arizona and Detroit, from where he was released after the 2008 season. Moore was picked back up just a few weeks ago for depth purposes. Putting up only 76 total tackles and five sacks in six NFL seasons, Moore was never seen as a real candidate for a roster spot. It begs the question of why he was brought back in to start with.
3. Bernard Scott--
To be a sixth-round draft pick, Scott was a sure keeper almost from his inception on the team. Despite a history of off-field issues, Scott has demonstrated an excellent work ethic, a good attitude and extremely good on-field performance. While the questions may still linger as to exactly how Scott will fit into the overall offensive scheme, his place on the roster has never been questioned. The debate, when it was assumed the Bengals would only carry three backs, involved two veterans, Dorsey and Leonard.
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