Arkansas Bengal Posted March 6, 2015 Report Share Posted March 6, 2015 Rey Maualuga's extension is business as usual for Bengals March, 5, 2015 Mar 5 6:40 PM ET By Coley Harvey | ESPN.com CINCINNATI -- For the Cincinnati Bengals, it's hard to tell how much players who have been indoctrinated into the team's philosophies really are worth. The Bengals believe continuity breeds success. That's why it was not a surprise that the Bengals extended linebacker Rey Maualuga's contract for three years Thursday afternoon -- keeping the veteran around through the 2017 season. He'll be 31 the next time he's due a contract. Offensive guard Clint Boling and kicker Mike Nugent also are among those expected to get renewed deals by the end of the weekend. Just like with Maualuga, the organization believes Boling and Nugent can keep the team on the track that has made them a postseason contender the last four seasons. These extension show that the team's brass places high stock in roster stability. Just before coach Marvin Lewis' 2011 contract renewal, the Bengals were the epitome of instability. It didn't get them consecutive playoff berths. It didn't give them legitimate year-in and year-out division title shots, either. Bengals fans certainly don't want to return to those days, but many also don't like the status quo, hold-onto-what-you've-got approach. Particularly in an offseason like this one, it's easy to understand why. True, Cincinnati had a fourth straight postseason berth this past year, but like all the trips before it, this one ended in a wild-card round loss. Eventually, one would imagine that something would change to get the franchise over the larger playoff hump that has existed since January 1991; the last time it won a playoff game. After all, coaches vowed following the latest playoff defeat to bring changes and a tweaked free-agency attitude. In the next few days we'll find out just how aggressive that attitude really will be. When many think about the word "change," they also think "upgrade." In Maualuga's case, the question is, will the 2015 version of the middle linebacker be an upgrade over the injury-plagued 2013 and 2014 version? Will this version also be an upgrade over a draft pick, or over a possible free agent from the outside? The Bengals believe so. Maualuga's defensive coordinator and former position coach has long felt so, too. "Rey's been part of what we've done here," Paul Guenther told ESPN.com in January. "He's been through the corrections, the understandings, the little pieces of the job and how he can change those things." Translation: Maualuga knows what it takes to win in this organization. In only one of the six seasons Maualuga has been in Cincinnati have the Bengals failed to make the playoffs. Guenther also indicated he wanted Maualuga back because of the uncertainty surrounding "Will" linebacker Vontaze Burfict's return from microfracture surgery. The Bengals are expecting the Pro Bowler's left knee to heal in time for him to participate in training camp, but they don't know exactly how quickly he can get back to his old self, or if he ever will again. Microfracture surgeries have ended some careers, and they've given new life to others. Since Maualuga has played Burfict's position before -- as has Vincent Rey, the reserve who led the team in tackles in 2014 after filling in for Burfict -- it would make sense for him to go back there if Burfict doesn't play well early. The Bengals would much rather Maualuga have to make that switch than to teach someone else they haven't worked with to do the same. There's a reason they believe continuity breeds success http://espn.go.com/blog/cincinnati-bengals/post/_/id/15964/bengals-rey-maualuga-extension-continuity-breeds-success Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparky151 Posted March 6, 2015 Report Share Posted March 6, 2015 It might have something to do with the fact the Bengals don't have a pro personnel department unlike other teams. The Bengals have a single scouting dept which covers both pro and college players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scharm Posted March 6, 2015 Report Share Posted March 6, 2015 4peat. Don't question it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColorChanginClique Posted March 6, 2015 Report Share Posted March 6, 2015 I love to see the people who don't like this move, and do. It tells me so much about you as a Bengals fan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie_B Posted March 6, 2015 Report Share Posted March 6, 2015 He's been solid as a 2 down LB and had his best year this past season. I'm fine with this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelWeston Posted March 6, 2015 Report Share Posted March 6, 2015 I love to see the people who don't like this move, and do. It tells me so much about you as a Bengals fan. You are weird Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColorChanginClique Posted March 6, 2015 Report Share Posted March 6, 2015 You are weird Care to expand that train of thought?. If you're going to comment, at least communicate like an adult, not a preschooler. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelWeston Posted March 6, 2015 Report Share Posted March 6, 2015 Care to expand that train of thought?. If you're going to comment, at least communicate like an adult, not a preschooler. That's hilarious after you posted what I replied to originally. You had not posted in 5 days and then came in and said that everyone who disagrees with you on this one issue doesn't know anything about football. That is not very adultlike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.