Rudi Johnson Cut

The Bengals have released RB Rudi Johnson, according to his agent. They are also reportedly asking OT Willie Anderson to take a pay cut. A 3 p.m. press conference to announce all their roster moves has been pushed back. More as it develops.

Update: Per Mark Curnutte, Anderson declined to take a pay cut and has been axed.

Update 2: Anderson, in a bid to stay, made a counteroffer but the Bengals said no.

My initial reaction? Risky, risky moves. Losing Anderson hacks deep into o-line depth, and the offensive line hasn’t exactly been kicking ass and taking names in the preseason. Anderson was also a team elder and locker room leader. Meanwhile, cutting Rudi leaves the team with oft-injured RB Chris Perry as the starter. Perry has barely played in two years, and the last time he was a full-time No. 1, he was at Michigan.

Update 3: Apparently, Anderson didn’t want to be a backup.

"Then amid reports the Bengals approached Willie Anderson about a pay cut, Anderson confirmed he turned it down and won’t be back for a 13th season. Anderson, 33, said he’s not sure if he’ll continue to play and will contemplate retirement.“But I want football people to know I can still play at a high level,” Anderson said. “It wasn’t about money. It was about priciple. After I had a conversation with upper management today, I was shocked to find out some of the things I was supposedly saying or doing. I want everyone to know I can still play. I credit management. They did up the offer.”Anderson has already received his $2 million bonus he was to make on top of his $3 million salary. He said the offer was to make it up in incentives if he played.“But it was too exhausting,” said Anderson of his efforts to convince people in the club he was healtthy to play."

Update 4: Also cut today were:

CB Deltha O’Neal
LB Ahmad Brooks
LB Jim Maxwell
S John Busing
QB Jeff Rowe

Brooks was a third-round selection in the 2006 supplemental draft, while Jeff Rowe was taken in 2007 in the fifth round. The Bengals’ draft-day ineptitude marches on.

Carson Palmer’s brother Jordan made the team as the third QB.