Levi Jones

Cincinnati Bengals fans 1, greedhead team ownership 0. LB coach Jeff FitzGerald things third-round (and still unsigned) pick Michael Johnson has Adalius Thomas-caliber potential. Hall of Fame offensive tackle Anthony Munoz will be honored next week in Chicago by the National Council of La Raza. Crunchsports thinks the Bengals are poised for some upset wins if they can stay healthy.I believe that if they can stay healthy, they’re poised for a playoff run. USA Today’s Matt Pitzer says that “the gloom that defined the Bengals for years returned” this offseason. I have no idea what the hell he is talking [...]

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 [...]

Cincinnati Bengals left tackle Levi Jones told the Arizona Republic columnist Bob Young that his “health is good” and that playing for his hometown Cardinals “would be the ultimate goal.” “I definitely would want to play here (Arizona). That would be the ultimate goal. I don’t fully know what their situation is at tackle or what their needs are. It’s in God’s hands. I’d love to come home, but wherever I’m called, that’s where I’ve got to go. it’s the nature of this league.” “My health is good. A lot of people thought it was my knee last year, but [...]

Kenny Zuckerman, agent for Bengals LT Levi Jones, says the Bengals have told him that they will trade or release Jones now that they have secured Andre Smith. Buffalo and Chicago have been noised about as possible landing spots for Jones, who has struggled with injury since the 2006 season. Zuckerman expects something to happen “shortly.” The move is a little surprising only because the Bengals remain thin at tackle, and Smith is, of course, still unsigned. If he holds out for a protracted period — and this is a year rife with contractual land mines thanks to the looming [...]

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said today that the team would “probably” sign two more potential starters before the April draft. The Bengals have been in the market for a starting fullback, hosting visits by restricted free agents John Kuhn (Packers) and Naufahu Tahi (Vikings). They also had ex-Cowboy Roy Williams drop in today for what was described as a “good workout” after which the Bengals planned to talk to Williams’ agent. Lewis had no comment on reports that LT Levi Jones was on the trade block, but did say that Jones was “ready to play” and that “Levi [...]

The Cincinnati Bengals have been looking to deal left tackle Levi Jones “for a couple weeks,” according to Chicago Sun-Times Bears beat writer Brad Biggs. “The belief is if the Bengals can’t find a taker, they will release him soon,” he adds. Jones, who has struggled with injury since 2006, has had several run-ins with the team over the last few years. After having knee surgery in early ’07, he accused the training staff of screwing up his rehab, and when his return to the starting lineup was delayed, engaged in a public spat with coaches over his readiness. Last [...]

Conventional wisdom appears to be drifting toward the conclusion that Cincinnati Bengals left tackle Levi Jones won’t be in stripes next season. However, the team is expected to hold onto Jones until after the draft, likely in case they don’t get the tackle they want with the sixth pick. A Jones departure would (mostly) bring to a close a sad period in Bengals history in which the club’s attempt to secure its offensive line for the foreseeable future ended up having precisely the opposite effect. The Bengals gave a six-year, $40 million deal to Jones, and a five-year, $25 million [...]

Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo had some kind words for his former running back Cedric Benson in yesterday’s Chicago Tribune. Cedric Benson looked like a different player in Cincinnati. Why didn’t he play like that in Chicago? His mind-set when he was here was not the same as what it was in Cincinnati. Humility is a great teacher. We’ve been on the other end of it, too, when a player has come here after being humbled. We rewarded him based on his potential and the draft system and didn’t see that hunger they saw in Cincinnati. He’s a very [...]

Aside from the usual crop of free agents, there are a number of current Bengals who may not be wearing orange-and-black come next fall. Here’s a rundown of players on the bubble. Chris Perry. A first-round pick in 2004, Perry has appeared in just 35 games in five seasons. At the beginning of the 2008 season, the Bengals cut Rudi Johnson and handed Perry the starting job. He responded by gaining just 253 rushing yards in six starts, and was benched for Bears castoff Cedric Benson. By season’s end, he would be outrushed by not just Benson, but No. 2 [...]