NFL Free Agency: Bengals won’t Re-Sign Rey Maualuga. Burfict to Middle.
While Marvin Lewis continues to stress that the Bengals will try to re-sign their own free agents this offseason, Adam Caplan of the Sideline View is reporting that they won’t be doing so for starting middle linebacker Rey Maualuga:
"While speculation continues in regard to the future of Cincinnati Bengals MLB Rey Maualuga, it’s likely that the team will pass on re-signing the fifth-year pro, a source with the knowledge of the situation said.Maualuga played in a career-high 1025 snaps during the 2012 season, but struggled with game-to-game consistency. The former second-round pick out of the 2009 NFL Draft started all 16 regular season games for the first time in his career."
Oct 14, 2012; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals outside linebacker Vontaze Burfict (55) before the game against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Caplan also believes that the Bengals already have his replacement lined up, making it easy to decide now to let Rey go:
"With Maualuga likely gone, the team is expected to move second-year LB Vontaze Burfict to the middle. Burfict not only made the 53-man roster coming out of the preseason, he won the starting WLB job as a rookie. Burifct, who was not drafted, wound up starting 14 games and participated in 886 snaps last season."
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