Bengals have been trying to trade Levi for the past couple of weeks?

[kdubdub]

[quote name='happyrid' post='756190' date='Mar 15 2009, 11:43 AM']Sometimes it is just best to cut or trade a guy and not worry about the dead money.

For example, everybody was all up in arms that if we traded Chad last season, we would have had 7 million in dead money. Well, we paid him 6 million in salary and are still in a similar boat, and if we moved Chad this year, we are still looking at 4 or 5 million in dead money.

Same with Levi, if we keep him this year, pay him his huge salary and cut him next year, its still over 3 million in dead money.[/quote]

I don't care about losing Chad and TJ. They both are hot heads and we have replacements. It is the one position on this team that the pantry is not completely bare. But OLINE....please...we are in a world of hurt of if we dont get some depth on this team. [Even w/ 1st round LT and 2nd round C we still need some a FA or two]. It doesn't make sense to let Levi walk for basically nothing.

[Patmo]

[quote name='kdubdub' post='756243' date='Mar 15 2009, 08:08 PM']I don't care about losing Chad and TJ. They both are hot heads and we have replacements. It is the one position on this team that the pantry is not completely bare. But OLINE....please...we are in a world of hurt of if we dont get some depth on this team. [Even w/ 1st round LT and 2nd round C we still need some a FA or two]. It doesn't make sense to let Levi walk for basically nothing.[/quote]

I was hoping that one of the top two T's would fall to us. However,I read tonight that the Lions are going to take Monroe @ 1 and St . Louis will replace Pace with Jason Smith . This definitely doesn't work for us. Looks like Smith from Alabama will be there @6.Don't know if I like that either. I'd rather grab Pace immediately and draft Raji @ DT.This is a tough draft to figure.

[kdubdub]

[quote name='Patmo' post='756247' date='Mar 15 2009, 09:50 PM']I was hoping that one of the top two T's would fall to us. However,I read tonight that the Lions are going to take Monroe @ 1 and St . Louis will replace Pace with Jason Smith . This definitely doesn't work for us. Looks like Smith from Alabama will be there @6.Don't know if I like that either. I'd rather grab Pace immediately and draft Raji @ DT.This is a tough draft to figure.[/quote]

I'm praying that Detroit will go w/ Stafford. It gives us a shot at one of them.

[happyrid]

[quote name='Patmo' post='756247' date='Mar 15 2009, 09:50 PM']I was hoping that one of the top two T's would fall to us. However,I read tonight that the Lions are going to take Monroe @ 1 and St . Louis will replace Pace with Jason Smith . This definitely doesn't work for us. Looks like Smith from Alabama will be there @6.Don't know if I like that either. I'd rather grab Pace immediately and draft Raji @ DT.This is a tough draft to figure.[/quote]

I'd like that a lot. Then try to find another Anthony Collins in the 3rd or 4th to replace Pace in a year or two.

[Squirrlnutz]

Wow...definitley throws a wrench in my draft ideas!


Doubt they'll find a taker, and would be really surprised if they just released him. While this certainly makes tackle an even more pressing issue, I gotta think this re-inforces the idea that they were really happy with Collins' play as well.

[Rumble In the Jungle]

really though, if we can't find a taker for Levi, we should let him stick around one more year
so we can groom the new guy plus to have an extra backup. do it next season if your going to cut him.

[DaltonGreen]

[quote name='pwatt19' post='756211' date='Mar 15 2009, 02:22 PM']I live in Levi Jones's neighborhood......and his house is for sale. Not sure if that helps at all.[/quote]
i guess noone else felt like this was important seeing as noone else responded to it...i would say that this is pretty important..definite sign that maybe hes on his way out...and if he wasnt on his way out who the hell would sell their house in this horrible ass economy we are in

[oldschooler]

[quote][size=5][b]Bengals looking to trade Levi Jones; breaking down projected scenarios in the NFL draft[/b][/size]
[img]http://cdn2.sbnation.com/profile_images/19467/atari_tiny.gif[/img] [b]by [/b][url="http://www.cincyjungle.com/users/Kirkendall"][b][color="#d8431a"]Kirkendall[/color][/b][/url] on [url="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2009/3/15/798028/bengals-looking-to-trade-l"][b][color="#d8431a"]Mar 15, 2009 12:50 PM EDT[/color][/b][/url] in [url="http://www.cincyjungle.com/section/Analysis"][b][color="#d8431a"]Analysis[/color][/b][/url] [img]http://cdn3.sbnation.com/images/icons/comment.v1599.png[/img] 6 comments



Two league sources tell Brad Biggs (we assume, because the article didn't say who the league sources spoke to, if in fact, there's league sources), that the Bengals have been trying to trade Levi Jones for a couple of weeks now. He writes, "[url="http://blogs.suntimes.com/bears/2009/03/four_down_territory_march_13_w.html"][b][color="#d8431a"]the belief is if the Bengals can't find a taker, they will release him soon[/color][/b][/url]." ([url="http://stripehype.com/2009/03/15/levi-jones-on-trade-block/"][b][color="#d8431a"]h/t Dave[/color][/b][/url])

On April 26, 2008, Jones briefly campaigned for a trade during NFL Draft weekend, calling it a [url="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2008/4/26/461079/levi-jones-is-asking-for-a"][b][color="#d8431a"]disagreement with the coaching staff[/color][/b][/url]. On July 26, 2007, Jones complained that the training staff "[url="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2007/8/17/11225/1873"][b][color="#d8431a"]overlooked the pain issues I was having[/color][/b][/url]" when he reported to camp, which forced him to miss time, while the Bengals eased him back into playing shape, far longer than Jones thought was necessary. It was widely assumed that it was Jones' rehabilitation (he said he was ready, coaches said not so fast) that caused "disagreement" with the coaching staff.

In January, Marvin Lewis failed to give Jones an endorsement during a sit-down with local beat writers. "Well, [url="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2009/1/29/739892/lewis-doesn-t-give-a-ringi"][b][color="#d8431a"]Levi’s signed and he’s undergoing some physical things as well[/color][/b][/url], right now, but you know, I’m not really going to effectively help us right now to sit here and go position-by-position with where we are with anybody."

Then in February, Geoff Hobson said "[url="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2009/2/21/767008/hobson-appears-that-levi-j"][b][color="#d8431a"]that it looks like left tackle Levi Jones isn't coming back[/color][/b][/url]".

We figured awhile ago that Jones' return seemed unlikely. His injuries have taken a toll and his cap number is no longer worth the risk of a wait-and-see approach with his rehabilitation. Like Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh before him, and god knows who else right now, Jones has requested departure from Cincinnati in the form of a trade, and he's likely sitting back hoping that he's released. The irony here is that there's no way he'll get the money that he's earning right now. No team will offer him anything near what the Bengals are paying him. Would he even find another job? It's not that we think he's finished, however he has a hell of a lot to prove. Alternatively, who would have thought that Stacy Andrews would have received a six-year deal worth $40 million? Jones is only two years older than Andrews; however, Andrews has played four years less -- and lacking college and high school experience included. Anyway, I'm digressing.

Most of our angles, when we talk about the team's offensive line, includes Jones' departure; we've rarely foreseen the team's 2009 roster with Jones. There's little reason to suspect differently.

During free agency, the Bengals made an attempt to sign one offensive tackle. George Foster. Even so, that came and went within a single day.

With independent reports, one using league sources, another a beat writer with the Bengals, we can assume that Jones will be cut if no trade can be worked out. And honestly, who's going to trade for Jones with $16.3 million owed to him during the next four seasons? Even if another team works out a trade, they'd have work with Jones' agent to find a contract number that's desirable for both team and player. Based on Jones' degradation in his body, it wouldn't surprise anyone if that number is too far-ranging, or in Jones case, far-fetched. Therefore, we can't make the argument that another team would pull the trigger on a trade.

We're not sure of the cap hit if the Bengals simply release him. Go-Bengals.com used to [url="http://cap.go-bengals.com/"][b][color="#d8431a"]chart player's cap numbers[/color][/b][/url], but their chart hasn't been updated since February 28, 2008, in which says that his cap hit could be in the $5-6 million range. Since his cap value is in the same range, the team would see an indifferent change in projected cap values -- approximately half a million in savings. Keep in mind, these are NOT official numbers, using a chart that hasn't been updated for a year.

Presuming all of that is correct, then it's very unlikely the Bengals will find a trade partner who is willing to offer Jones what he wants, if a new contract is negotiated. Even so, what could the Bengals see in return? Anything more than a fourth round pick, I think, is crazy. A more realistic scenario is that the Bengals release Jones, save half-a-million against the cap and $3 million on payroll, then draft an offensive tackle.

We've pointed this out many times since the conclusion of the regular season. The Bengals only have three offensive tackles on roster, including Jones. If he's cut, the Bengals have Anthony Collins, Dennis Roland and, for arguments sake, Andrew Whitworth. Rather than changing two positions by moving Whitworth to tackle and finding a guard in the draft, the Bengals would likely just draft a tackle, and keep Whitworth at left guard. It's easier that way, in the minds of complacency. Argue with me all you want, but we're talking about the Bengals.

Then who?

Jason Smith is largely considered the best tackle in the draft. Many project him going to either the Lions or Rams. Eugene Monroe is considered the second best, and projected to Seattle. Does the Seahawks trading Julian Peterson suggest that Seattle drafts Aaron Curry, provided the Chiefs don't pick the outside linebacker? Maybe not. Field Gulls says that the Seahawks have "[url="http://www.fieldgulls.com/2009/3/14/797298/trading-the-irreplaceable"][b][color="#d8431a"]good young depth at linebacker[/color][/b][/url]" and could still draft Monroe. However, for certain, it seems like that Seahawks primary target will be outside linebacker and offensive tackle. What about B.J. Raji going to Seattle, as [url="http://www.mockingthedraft.com/pages/mock-draft"][b][color="#d8431a"]Mocking the Draft suggests[/color][/b][/url]. Either way, most of us have prepared for Jason Smith and Monroe to be taken before the sixth pick.

Which leaves Michael Oher and Andre Smith. Oher's case is a mystery. Once considered one of the top tackle prospects, it seems that Oher stock keeps falling in various mock drafts. However, Dan still likes him, says that "[url="http://www.mockingthedraft.com/2009/2/11/753280/scouting-report-michael-oh"][b][color="#d8431a"]has all the tools to be an All Pro offensive lineman[/color][/b][/url]." Other mock drafts have Oher being selected in the top-half (first 16 picks) of the first round.

As for Andre Smith, there's a lot of concern. His work ethic is questionable, bench pressing 225 pounds only 19 times. Four wide receivers [url="http://www.nfl.com/combine/top-performers#tp-tab-set-1:tp-grid-container-bench-press"][b][color="#d8431a"]put up more during the NFL Combine[/color][/b][/url]. Russ Lande suggests that Smith could have fallen as far as the third round [url="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29644319/"][b][color="#d8431a"]after his disastrous Pro Day[/color][/b][/url].

[indent]Even before his pro day workout, Smith showed up at the NFL Scouting Combine out of shape, refused to work out and then left abruptly without informing league officials. On Wednesday, Smith (6-4 1/4) weighed in at a slimmer 325 pounds but still looked soft. Scouts observed him "jiggling" when running the two 40-yard dashes in 5.30 seconds and 5.36 seconds. His lack of preparation showed the most in the 225-pound bench press -- he managed 19 repetitions but seemingly struggled to complete each one. [/indent]His character is even more questionable, ditching the Combine unannounced and then lacking preparation for his Pro Day. Lande used words like "soft", "jiggling", "lack of preparation". This is a guy that you'd figure the Bengals should be far away from. However, Smith would seem like the perfect guy for the Bengals to tag as a "project", and thus, not surprising us if he is drafted.

The question exists, and the mind-boggling nature of the issue persists. How have the Bengals charted Smith, and if the top two tackles are gone, will they pick a safer pick in Oher, or reach for Smith who many claim as having a ton of potential, if you're willing to take the risk. If the Bengals pick him, fans will justifiably complain at the risk. If they don't pick up Smith, and he becomes a Pro Bowl tackle, fans will justifiably complain that the Bengals weak scouting department is to blame, once again.

For all of the reasons above, if the top two tackles are gone, it would seem safer that the Bengals decided to deflect their need at offensive tackle for a defensive play-maker -- something that fans wouldn't mind, if the scenario suggests it. Remember, the Bengals picked up Anthony Collins, who in large part helped the team's stability in the rushing offense, in the fourth round. Why couldn't they do that again while strengthening their defense?[/quote]






[url="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2009/3/15/798028/bengals-looking-to-trade-l"]http://www.cincyjungle.com/2009/3/15/79802...king-to-trade-l[/url]

[WhoDeyThink]

If he gets cut ....why do I know he'll end up at the Ravens

[oldschooler]

Hobson on the topic . . .


[quote]Now there is Brad Biggs' report in The Chicago Sun-Times that the Bengals are shopping him, so it's been a debate for awhile.

Jones pulled off one of the toughest Bengals feats ever when he played six days after arthroscopic knee surgery down the stretch in 2003.

And he's continued to try and tough it out, but the injuries have been a problem. Since he signed the extension, he's played in 31 of a possible 48 games and he had to take himself out of last season's Eagles game because Trent Cole saw he could exploit his physical problems. No one ever got into the specifics of the injury.


Because of this year's salary cap rules with an uncapped year in 2010, trading him entails taking a pretty significant shot into the cap, where the Bengals figure to have about $3 million left.

[b]But according to Biggs, people in the league are telling him the Bengals' asking price isn't all that high. [/b]

There are frustrations on both sides. Hate to see it. When healthy, he's everything you want in a left tackle, including a chippy, take-no-guff demeanor you have to have.[/quote]



[url="http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=7560"]http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=7560[/url]

[oldschooler]

More from Hobson on the topic . . .


[quote][b]March 22-25:[/b] NFL annual league meetings in Dana Point, Calif., where the Bengals' 13-13 tie against the Eagles back in November is going to be rehashed and regurgitated as overtime no doubt gets hotly debated.

[b]With The Chicago Sun-Times reporting that the Bengals are actively shopping left tackle Levi Jones, this could be a week it gets done. The gamble for a team would be if the draft doesn't break the right way for the Bengals and they decide not to cut him. [/b][/quote]





[url="http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=7561"]http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=7561[/url]

[bengalsdave985]

Did this Levi trade idea start in Chicago b/c the Bears are the team the Bengals have been talking to the most. Food for thought and this would support that way of thinking.

A surprising free-agent loss in Chicago

March 17, 2009 6:15 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

I wonder if anyone within Chicago's front office thought free-agent offensive lineman John St. Clair would fetch the type of contract he signed Tuesday with Cleveland, a surprising development that left the Bears without an obvious successor to retiring right tackle John Tait.

St. Clair got a three-year deal worth $9 million, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times. The Browns essentially doubled the contract Chicago offered last month, a three-year contract worth $4.5 million. But the deal with Cleveland only contains $600,000 guaranteed, which is believed to be less than what the Bears had offered, according to Biggs.

It has long been assumed that St. Clair would re-sign with the Bears after starting all 16 games at left tackle in 2008. Chris Williams has taken over at left tackle, but Tait's retirement gave St. Clair a natural landing spot on the other side of the line.

St. Clair has been a utility backup for most of his career, and you could argue he is overpriced at $3 million per season. The Bears obviously had a lower value of his skills, but that assessment has left them needing to find a right tackle either in the draft or hope that a more prominent free agent materializes later in the offseason.

The only internal option is to shift newcomer Frank Omiyale to right tackle and re-insert Josh Beekman as the No. 1 left guard. But that would defeat the purpose of originally signing Omiyale, which was to upgrade the left guard position.

The cupboard otherwise is bare. (Pun intended.) At Tuesday's minicamp practice, undrafted rookie Cody Balogh was working with the first team.

[Patmo]

Like Dhani,I'd like to keep Levi for at least another year .If he can't beat out Collins he's what the Bengals need....depth. I'd wait to see what is condition is. We let Willie go too soon.I don't want to repeat the same mistake.

[Patmo]

[quote name='Patmo' post='756706' date='Mar 17 2009, 09:19 PM']Like Dhani,I'd like to keep Levi for at least another year .If he can't beat out Collins he's what the Bengals need....depth. I'd wait to see what is condition is. We let Willie go too soon.I don't want to repeat the same mistake.[/quote]

I hope we don't rush to judgement on Levi . It would be a shame until we know for sure that he's slipped.

[bengalsfansince68]

[quote name='Patmo' post='756708' date='Mar 17 2009, 09:30 PM'][color="#0000FF"]I hope we don't rush to judgement on Levi . It would be a shame until we know for sure that he's slipped.[/color][/quote]
I think we know that Levi has slipped. The question is can his body stand up to another year of NFL violence. I don't really like the chances.
Just me, just sayin'...

[Patmo]

[quote name='bengalsfansince68' post='756710' date='Mar 17 2009, 09:40 PM']I think we know that Levi has slipped. The question is can his body stand up to another year of NFL violence. I don't really like the chances.
Just me, just sayin'...[/quote]


From what we saw last year I'd have to agree with you.However, @ 29 , I'd like to be sure. If they can trade him for a 3 ,I don't have any problem with getting another pick because as you say it appears that he has slipped.

[oldschooler]

[quote][size=5][b]Lineman Jones feels a draft[/b][/size]
By Joe Reedy • jreedy@enquirer.com • March 18, 2009


The Bengals' first-round draft pick and the future of Levi Jones appear to be very much intertwined.


With the team looking at taking a tackle with the sixth overall pick in next month's draft, Jones' status appears to be in doubt. If the Bengals were able to draft any of the four top offensive tackle prospects (Jason Smith, Eugene Monroe, Michael Oher and Andre Smith), Jones could be traded or released.

Jones is the most recent lineman the Bengals have taken in the first round. He was the 10th overall pick in 2002.

Jones has been the Bengals' starting left tackle since his rookie year. After missing only one game in his first four seasons, Jones has missed 18 over the past three seasons due to a series of injuries. He missed the final six games last year after suffering a leg injury against Philadelphia.

Any moves with Jones probably won't be made until after the April 25-26 draft. Speculation about Jones being traded heated up after the Chicago Sun-Times reported on its Bears blog that the team would be interested in pursuing Jones in a trade to replace right tackle John St. Clair, who signed with Cleveland Tuesday.

If Jones were to be traded sooner, the Bengals could refocus their efforts on signing free agent George Foster, who has been with Detroit the last two seasons. Foster visited the Bengals March 5 and has received interest from other teams.

Entering his eighth year in the league, Jones will be in the third year of a six-year contract extension he signed before training camp in 2006. The deal is worth in excess of $40 million with $16.3 million in guarantees.

Jones could be the third starter from the line to depart. Right tackle Stacy Andrews signed with Philadelphia, and Center Eric Ghiaciuc is an unrestricted free agent. Anthony Collins and guard Andrew Whitworth are options at left tackle if Jones is released or traded and the Bengals do not draft a tackle. Collins, a fourth-round pick last year, started the last six games at left tackle after Jones' injury.[/quote]



[url="http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090318/SPT02/903180384/1066"]http://news.cincinnati.com/article/2009031.../903180384/1066[/url]

[oldschooler]

[quote][size=5][b]Woe-Line[/b][/size]


In honor of March Madness, the powers that be here at fansided have decided to do a 64-slot bracket competition to decide the worst NFL draft pick of all time. They’ve asked each blog to submit two candidates from their own team history to fill out the slate. The only reason that I haven’t done so yet is simply that every time I turn to the subject I become hopelessly depressed. Remember the fictional TV show Oww My Balls! from Mike Judge’s Idiocracy? I think I’d rather star in an episode of that than revisit the sad draft history of my team.

Unfortunately, current events aren’t all that much more uplifting. Take the word today from Baltimore, where ex-Bengals tackle [b]Willie Anderson[/b] [url="http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/bal-sp.preston17mar17,0,1676639.column"][b][color="#f04d23"]denies reports[/color][/b][/url] of his impending retirement. Anderson is in Baltimore working out with teammates (something he got out of the habit of doing in Cincy) and is planning to play this year.

Meanwhile, the Bengals have a gaping hole at RT and are looking to trade (or just release) left tackle [b]Levi Jones,[/b] an event which would add a whole new level of pain to the [url="http://stripehype.com/2008/11/25/how-to-destroy-an-offense-in-less-than-three-seasons/"][b][color="#f04d23"]disasterous decisions[/color][/b][/url] made on the o-line since 2006. With a Jones departure, the Bengals would have cut or let go of two guys from their 2005 offensive line who could still play, Anderson and guard [b]Eric Steinbach,[/b] while keeping, paying and finally losing two guys who either couldn’t play any more (Jones) or who refused to stay ([b]Stacy Andrews[/b]). Oh, and just to add insult to injury, Anderson and Steinbach now play for division rivals Baltimore and Cleveland!

Maybe the Bengals should trade [b]Andrew Whitworth[/b] to the Steelers just to be fair?

The only thing that has Bengals fans more upset than this history is the team’s failure to address the problem this offseason. We wanted to see the front office pursue some veteran line help, especially at center, in free agency. But there was [url="http://walterfootball.com/freeagents2009C.php"][b][color="#f04d23"]little quality[/color][/b][/url] available at the position by the time free agency opened, and the one good player, [b]Jason Brown,[/b] got paid by the Rams. At tackle, getting [url="http://walterfootball.com/freeagents2009OT.php"][b][color="#f04d23"]anyone good[/color][/b][/url] would have required not just big bucks, but probably draft pick compensation for signing a franchised player or restricted free agent. If the Bengals were just a player away on the o-line that might make sense, but obviously that’s not the case.

Instead, it appears that, yes, [url="http://www.whodeyrevolution.com/whodeyrevolution/2009/03/the-offensive-line-what-is-the-plan.html"][b][color="#f04d23"]the plan is to rely on the draft[/color][/b][/url] and what’s already on the roster. And I can’t actually say that’s a bad strategy, even given the team’s historically poor performance on draft day, because even a line of rookies and average joes would be an upgrade over what we had in 2008. At this point, I see the 2009 offensive line looking something like this:

LT: [b]Eugene Monroe[/b] (backup: Whitworth)
LG: Whitworth (backup: [b]Nate Livings[/b])
C: [b]Eric Wood[/b] (backups: [b]Dan Santucci, Kyle Cook[/b])
RG: [b]Bobbie Williams[/b] (backup: [b]Scott Kooistra[/b])
RT: [b]Anthony Collins[/b] (backup: Kooistra)

That’s close to a best-case scenario, I think. If Monroe doesn’t make it to six — and it looks more and more like he won’t — then the Bengals could be looking at drafting a right tackle instead and either moving Whit to LT or leaving Collins in that spot (where he played well down the stretch last season). They could also choose to go with Santucci or Cook as the starter at center. Both were rumored to be replacing [b]Eric Ghaicuic[/b] at points last season, but both got hurt and ended up on IR.

But any way you cut it, the Bengals are in for a rebuilding year on the offensive line. It’s the final legacy of the O-Curse of ‘06. Here’s hoping that 2009 looks a lot better three years hence.[/quote]


[url="http://stripehype.com/2009/03/17/woe-line/"]http://stripehype.com/2009/03/17/woe-line/[/url]

[oldschooler]

[quote][size=5][url="http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/03/18/levi-jones-done-in-cincy/"][color="#d81718"]LEVI JONES DONE IN CINCY?[/color][/url][/size]

Posted by Mike Florio on March 18, 2009, 7:07 a.m. EDT


Nearly seven years ago, the [url="http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/03/18/levi-jones-done-in-cincy/#"]Cincinnati[/url] Bengals were criticized after arguably reaching for left tackle Levi Jones with the tenth overall pick in the draft.

The thinking was that they could have traded down and still landed Jones, who wasn’t regarded as having top-ten talent.

But Jones started 14 [url="http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/03/18/levi-jones-done-in-cincy/#"]games[/url] as a rookie, and has been a fixture ever since.

That could be changing, according to Joe Reedy of the [i]Cincinnati Enquirer[/i].

If the Bengals take a left tackle with the sixth overall pick ([url="http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/03/15/2009-mock-draft-20-part-one/"][color="#d81718"]we’ve got them reaching[/color][/url] for Andre “the Giant . . . Boobs” Smith), [url="http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090318/SPT02/903180384/1066"][color="#d81718"]Jones could be traded or released[/color][/url].

Less than three years ago, Jones signed a [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2529573"][color="#d81718"]six-year, $40 million contract[/color][/url], with $16.3 million guaranteed.

Jones is signed through 2012, with base salaries of $3 million this year, $3.75 million in 2010, $4.55 million in 2011, and $5 million in 2012.

As Reedy points out, Jones’ departure could leave the Bengals with three new starters on the offensive line in 2009. Tackle Stacey Andrews left via free agency for the Eagles, and center Eric Ghiaciuc remains unsigned.[/quote]



[url="http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/03/18/levi-jones-done-in-cincy/"]http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/03/18/...-done-in-cincy/[/url]

[DaltonGreen]

so when are we shipping Levi out of herre?...before the draft to make a play on george foster perhaps or another free agent or after the draft when we find out what OL we drafted....would his value be decreased after the draft?