Archive for May, 2009

Now-ex-Cincinnati Bengals LT Levi Jones is drawing strong interest around the league. Fox Sports’ Alex Marvez reports that Jones will visit Seattle, while ESPN’s Bill Williamson says that Denver could enter the chase as well. The Seahawks, who signed former Bengals WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh earlier this offseason, need insurance in case aging tackle Walter Jones doesn’t come back from microfracture surgery. Denver is looking for a backup to Ryan Clady. Buffalo and Detroit are also seen as possible landing spots for Jones. Update 4/7: Marvez now claims that the visit to Seattle is on hold while Jones “pursues feelers” from [...]

The Cincinnati Bengals have signed former Dallas Cowboys safety Roy Williams, according to the team’s official site. Contract details were not immediately available. Williams, 28, spent seven seasons in Dallas, where he went to five Pro Bowls while racking up 506 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 38 passes defensed, and 19 interceptions. Williams was limited to three games in 2008 due to a broken right forearm. Prior to that, he had missed just one game over six years. Williams is viewed as a hard-hitting in-the-box safety with limited coverage skills. He immediately becomes the front-runner to start at strong safety. Other contenders [...]

The Cincinnati Bengals are bringing former Arizona cornerback Rod Hood in for a look. The Cardinals axed Hood after signing former Steeler Bryant McFadden and drafting a corner in this year’s fourth round. Earlier today, I noted that the Bengals remain iffy at DB: One position that remains needy is defensive back. The Bengals are still talking with former Cowboys safety Roy Williams, but nothing appears imminent. Cincinnati currently has two DBs on the injury report, CB Trent Morgan (foot) and S Marvin White (ACL). Both are expected back by training camp. Starters CB Johnathan Joseph and S Chinedum Ndukwe [...]

The Cincinnati Bengals have released left tackle Levi Jones. Jones had the [starting left tackle] job since the second month of his NFL career, which began when he was the 10th pick in the 2002 draft. He started 89 games and emerged as one of the top left tackles in the game during a 2005 season he was voted a Pro Bowl second alternate. But knee and leg problems limited him to 31 games in the last three seasons and he played in only the first 10 last season when he suffered a leg injury against the Eagles. Cincinnati tried [...]

Cincinnati Bengals QB Carson Palmer likes the team’s draft haul. “You don’t know about the draft until two or three years later,” he said. “Guys have to perform well, stay on the field, and stay healthy. But if you look at what we did on paper, it’s a great draft. We filled spots we needed to fill.” One position that remains needy is defensive back. The Bengals are still talking with former Cowboys safety Roy Williams, but nothing appears imminent. Cincinnati currently has two DBs on the injury report, CB Trent Morgan (foot) and S Marvin White (ACL). Both are [...]

A little late-night video action (not mine). Cuts off too soon but headed in the right direction (and yeah, sort of like too many Bengals seasons, but anyhow…) Plus: Moobs!

Cincinnati Bengals third-round pick DE Michael Johnson has the team’s defensive line, linebacker and special teams coaches drooling in the wake of last weekend’s rookie minicamp. Coaches were particularly impressed with the speed with which he took to the SAM spot, though his presence at outside linebacker is — for the moment — described as “part-time.” That could change quickly. The Bengals have been vocal about their desire to improve a flaccid pass rush, and incumbent strong-side ‘backer Rashad Jeanty, a former CFL DE, has yet to record an NFL sack. With Jeanty working on a one-year restricted free agent [...]

Cincinnati Bengals QB Carson Palmer took a $500k hit selling his Laguna Beach home. Still, that’s only a 17% loss. Overall, home sale prices in the area are down 38% versus Q1 2008. For more fun with the California housing market, see Real Homes of Genius.

The Cincinnati Bengals couldn’t even make it through their rookie minicamp this weekend without an injury, continuing two years of lousy luck keeping the squad healthy. Former Michigan CB Morgan Trent, a sixth-round pick last weekend, fractured his foot and will need to have a small screw put in temporarily. He is expected to be back in time for training camp. The Bengals also signed three tryout players to rookie deals, Ball State tight end Darius Hill, Central State defensive tackle Pernell Phillips, and Florida long snapper James Smith. Of those three, Smith may have the best chance to stick. [...]

The United States Flag Football Team defeated Mexico Friday to win the World Cup of Flag Football despite the absence of their “special weapon from the NFL,” Cincinnati Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco. [Coach Craig] Miller, 63, coaches the team [Team Apocalypse] based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Six players from the team participated in the World Cup, but their special weapon from the NFL — Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco — did not make the trip. The flamboyant star, whose last name was Johnson before he legally changed it last year, joined the Apocalypse for two games at the Broward County [...]