Cincinnati Bengals’ 3 biggest regrets from the 2021 season

Loss of Riley Reiff

So how is the loss of an aging, average right tackle a regret? Did you see our line in the playoffs? Have you seen Isaiah Prince and Fred Johnson play? Yikes.

Many, including people in my inner circle, lamented the inability of the Bengals to acquire any meaningful depth on the offensive line. I dismissed these concerns as just typical shell shocked Bengal fans overreacting. Boy was I wrong.

My feeling was, the addition of Frank Pollack and ample time to coach the existing players up, as well as an addition or two would be adequate. As Kanye said, I could not be wronger.

Reiff did exactly what he was brought to Cincinnati to do. His veteran influence and technical savvy helped stabilize a line that had precious little depth on the right side.

When Reiff went down with a bum ankle in mid-December, suddenly Joey Franchise was looking at Prince and Johnson on his right side. Kids, that was not good. Isaiah Prince and Fred Johnson, God love them, set the position back decades. Joe Burrow lived the rest of the season like Harrison Ford in the Fugitive. On the run. Ok, bad joke. So was the right side of our line.

In retrospect, the Bengals should’ve listened to my buddy, spent some cash on some qualified offensive lineman, and maybe saved Joe Burrow a couple of copays. Just a little better protection and the Lombardi would be in Mike Brown’s office right now.