Bengals: Changing Their Stripes

Oct 12, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback

(17) against the Carolina Panthers at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals and the Panthers tie in overtime 37-37. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

No. 5:  Jason Campbell

The former first rounder has become a journeyman quarterback in the NFL, playing for five different franchises in 10 seasons.  It will be no surprise when he is released this offseason, but it’s important to remember that Campbell did exactly what he was brought in to do: back up Andy Dalton while A.J. McCarron matured and learned the system.  Campbell’s inevitable release is not truly a reflection of his abilities as much as it is how much potential he has left.  At 33, teams know what they are getting in Campbell.  McCarron remains an enigma.

No. 4:  Robert Geathers

Other than Carlos Dunlap, the Bengals were unable to get pressure on the last four quarterbacks they faced in 2014 despite the front four being the one area of the team that was largely injury free.  Cincinnati took five defensive ends to the 53-man roster when the season opened, and Geathers was clearly the old hand.  With 11 seasons on the Bengals defensive line, Geathers’ rookie year was the same 2004 season that saw a young Carson Palmer fully take the mantle as the starting quarterback.  Geathers posted a career-low 10 tackles this season and only 1.0 sack.  With Margus Hunt and William Clarke waiting in the wings and Wallace Gilberry less of a financial investment through 2016, this could likely be the last season Geathers is in stripes.