Now that I have established my complete ineptitude with predictions (see previous entry), here’s my take on which Bengals free agents will be back, and which won’t.
Unrestricted Free Agents:
- RT Stacy Andrews – re-signed to low-money deal, spends 2009 on PUP/IR.
- RB Cedric Benson – Bengals bite the bullet, give him starter-caliber RB deal prior to March 1.
- LB/DE Darryl Blackstock – Bengals want him back, but don’t get him.
- S Chris Crocker – turns 29 in March, won’t draw heavy interest, will be back.
- QB Ryan Fitzpatrick – gained too much experience in ‘08 to throw away. Re-signed.
- CB Jamar Fletcher – may hang around as camp fodder but gone by September 2009.
- C Eric Ghiaciuc – so long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodnight!
- K Shayne Graham – will want more than the Bengals are willing to pay for a kicker. So long, Shayne, and thanks for all the field goals.
- WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh – T.J., this is my friend Fran Tag. Tag, meet T.J.
- DL John Thornton – could return as a backup.
Restricted Free Agents:
- S John Busing – will be re-signed as offseason/camp fodder, cut next August, but re-signed due to injuries in the secondary by November.
- RB DeDe Dorsey – another failed experiment. Gone.
- WR/KR Glenn Holt – drops vs. KC were last straw. Gone.
- LB Rashad Jeanty – will be tendered. Could draw some interest.
- LB Brandon Johnson – will be tendered and re-signed.
- LB Corey Mays – will be tendered and re-signed.

