Mike Zimmer Reportedly Expected Jonathan Joseph to be Retained

(Frank Victores/US Presswire)

The loss of Jonathan Joseph hit some Bengals fans like a punch in the gut.

It struck me personally, as I was very confident that the Bengals would have no problems re-signing such a good, young corner, and especially because they still have roughly $40-$50 million to spend to reach the new salary cap floor.

And, apparently, Defensive Coordinator Mike Zimmer thought that the Bengals were going to retain Jonathan Joseph too. When Zimmer arrived at training camp on Friday afternoon, this is what he had to say to reporters:

“I’m upset, disappointed, frustrated. It’s disappointing. You get good guys off the field, they work hard in the weight room and on the practice field and you kind of mold them what you want them to look like and they get out of here … I was under the assumption in the conversations I’ve had since before the lockout that we were going to get him back. I was pretty much told we were going to get him back … It will be interesting to see what the next guy is. Whether he’s here, or at training camp, or on the street somewhere, or if he’s on another team, or Canada. Who knows? You have to find somebody out there and play and if we can’t find a guy exactly what we’re looking for, we’ll have to alter some of the things we’re looking to do … It’s not the first time that something like this has happened to me … I’ve done this for a long time. I still have an expectation level. It may not look like I exactly pictured it a day ago, but we’re going to figure it out.”

Concerning stuff. You’d think Zimmer would have a greater say in which players we keep. Then again, perhaps Mike Brown truly did make his best effort to keep Joseph, and J-Joe just wanted to sign to the Texans, who have better Superbowl contention hopes. We’ll never know.

And, I like the Canada shoutout. A few days ago, Matt O’Donnell from Canada was one of my favorite UDFA signings to the Bengals. Though, I think they should stay in-country for the next starting CB. Namely, Carlos Rodgers, Richard Marshall, or (crosses his fingers) Antonio Cromartie.

Tags: Mike Zimmer