Bobby Hart discusses new role with the Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals have made multiple changes to the offensive line this offseason including signing right tackle Bobby Hart.

The Cincinnati Bengals signed offensive tackle Bobby Hart this offseason to provide more depth and competition on the right side of the offensive line. According to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com, Hart and his representatives reached out to the Bengals for an opportunity with the understanding of the Bengals line situation.

Hart, 23-years-old, was originally a seventh-round pick by the New York Giants. He has had some issues with injuries over the last three seasons with the Giants, but another issue came up around the time of his release. New York’s locker room was in shambles last season as the team took a nose dive to the losing column. Apparently, Hart told the team he would not play in the week 17 game last year with a nagging injury. Some believe he completely quit on the team.

It was still interesting that the Bengals would be interested in Hart who had shown little production in New York. Hobson pointed out that under Lewis, the Bengals have had some success at bringing in players with stalled careers and getting the most out of them. Some of those players include cornerback Adam Jones, safeties Reggie Nelson and Chris Crocker, and running back Cedric Benson.

Given the clear need at right tackle, Hart couldn’t have landed in a better spot. Given that right tackle is wide open for the taking and that the Bengals have a new offensive line coach in Frank Pollack, this is the perfect opportunity for Hart to get his career back on track. Sometimes all it takes is a change of scenery for a player to produce better.

Hart will be battling for the right tackle position with Jake Fisher and Cedric Ogbuehi this summer. Given the chip on his shoulder and the change of scenery, I could easily see Hart at least becoming the backup to the position. Who knows, maybe he will beat out both Fisher and Ogbuehi and be the Bengals new starting right tackle.

Bobby Hart appeared on the Scoop B Radio Podcast with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson this week and talked about the move to Cincinnati. Here are some of the questions that Hart answered on the show.

The offensive line of the Cincinnati Bengals is something that people have questioned.  What do you bring to the table right away going into the season?

“I’m an athletic, hungry guy that’s smart and just willing to work.  I have a lot to prove at this point for myself, being an elite player in this league.  Last year kind of got derailed early, you know, getting hurt in the 6th, 7th play of the game and being the player I am I’ve been trying to fight through it when I really should have just sat down, but it’s good because it’s a fresh start, a fresh beginning to do myself right for a lot of goals that I’ve set for myself.”

When you look at what the Cincinnati Bengals have done in the offseason, bringing you in and some of those other things, what are you most encouraged about going into the season?

“Everything, man.  This team as a whole– you just look around the locker room and there’s just so much talent.  You know their names if you’re a fan of football at any level: if you watch college (inaudible) and you look around and you see the names and it’s exciting, to say the least.”

If you name two things that you’re challenging yourself to do coming into the season, what would they be and why?

“I want to start all 16 games this year.  I haven’t met that in my career. I think I still have 14, something around there in my second year in the league.  That’s one thing, and to make it and to play in the playoffs.”

Next: Can Frank Pollack save the Bengals offensive line?

These are just a few questions from the interview with Bobby Hart. The interview really told a story about a young man wanting to get a second chance in the league after struggling with the Giants. New York had plenty of issues in the locker room and I think that Hart found his way to the perfect spot. He wants to stay healthy for the first time in his short career, he wants to get to the playoffs, and he has a chip on his shoulder to prove people wrong who wrote him off in New York. Can you ask for anything better?