oldschooler Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 [quote][size=5][b]Tender choices [/b][/size] By GEOFF HOBSON February 24, 2009 3:35 p.m. The Bengals are set to tender another restricted free agent linebacker a one-year deal for $1.5 million. Jason Chayut, the agent for Brandon Johnson, said Tuesday the club put the second-round designation on his client. But they are not going to tender restricted backup middle linebacker Corey Mays, according to agent Ian Greengross. As a restricted free agent drafted in the fifth round, Johnson would have brought the Bengals a fifth-round pick if they tendered him $1 million and someone else signed him. But the Bengals must feel he raised his profile last year after he started the last nine games in place of the injured Keith Rivers at WILL linebacker. After the Cardinals chose not to bring him back following his second season, the Bengals signed him last March and he immediately impressed the coaches in the spring drills and training camp. Known as a good pass defender, he finished second on the team in tackles with 112, had seven passes defensed, and his two interceptions came in the win over Cleveland and the tie against the Eagles. He also finished tied for fifth with six special teams tackles. Mays, popular with teammates and coaches, is headed to unrestricted free agency after finishing third in teams tackles last season and second in '07. He mainly played on goal-line situations from scrimmage and made one of the plays of the year against the Redskins when they stood up 280-pound fullback Mike Sellers on the goal line on fourth down in the third quarter of a game the Bengals led, 17-10. Mays swatted the ball from Sellers and grabbed it for a touchback that led to a 20-13 victory. "It was a surprise there was no tender," Greengross said. "He played well on the goal line and was a special teams captain. Since Mays came into the NFL as a college free agent in 2006, the Bengals would get no compensation if they tendered him $1 million and he went elsewhere. That could be a clue on what they'll do with their other three RFAs, running back DeDe Dorsey, safety John Busing, and wide receiver Glenn Holt. They also came into the league in '06 undrafted. With the franchise tag on kicker Shayne Graham ($2.48 million) and second-rounder designations on Johnson and SAM linebacker Rashad Jeanty, the Bengals have $5.48 million out on tenders.[/quote] [url="http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=7524"]http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=7524[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 If Brandon Johnson continues to develop, any chance they move Rivers inside and put BJ at WILL? I think that would be an immediate upgrade to the defense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie_B Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 [quote name='Jason' post='749099' date='Feb 24 2009, 03:59 PM']If Brandon Johnson continues to develop, any chance they move Rivers inside and put BJ at WILL? I think that would be an immediate upgrade to the defense.[/quote] I think that could happen, add in a SAM and the LB crew just got upgraded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bengals1181 Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 [quote name='Jason' post='749099' date='Feb 24 2009, 03:59 PM']If Brandon Johnson continues to develop, any chance they move Rivers inside and put BJ at WILL? I think that would be an immediate upgrade to the defense.[/quote] I've been saying that for awhile and is why I'd rather us target a SLB in the offseason rather than a MLB, because you can move Rivers inside and let BJ start at WILL. Dhani can back up both, and then you also have Jeanty backing up/split starting at SLB. Bring in another MLB/WLB player and you're set. I really hope they work out a multi-year deal with Johnson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldschooler Posted February 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 Keep Rivers at WILL, use Brandon for depth and draft a true MLB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 I'm glad to hear this. I remember the one pick he got where he reached waaaaaaayyyyy up and grabbed the ball with his fingertips. In fact, he made quite a few plays. Mays, I could give two shits about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigris Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 [quote name='oldschooler' post='749117' date='Feb 24 2009, 06:04 PM']Keep Rivers at WILL, use Brandon for depth and draft a true MLB.[/quote] Agreed. Draft one of the slow asses and go from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 [quote name='oldschooler' post='749117' date='Feb 24 2009, 05:04 PM']Keep Rivers at WILL, use Brandon for depth and draft a true MLB.[/quote] X2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patmo Posted February 25, 2009 Report Share Posted February 25, 2009 It wouldn't surprise me if they brought Mays back.The Bengals aren't going to tender anyone who originally was signed as an undrafted free agent. They get no draft picks when an USFA is signed by another team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|High School Harry| Posted February 25, 2009 Report Share Posted February 25, 2009 [quote name='bubba' post='749134' date='Feb 24 2009, 05:52 PM']X2[/quote] X3 I would love to see another one like Bill Bergy or even Jim LeClair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bengalsfansince68 Posted February 25, 2009 Report Share Posted February 25, 2009 Is there a Jim LeClair clone available in this draft? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
claptonrocks Posted February 25, 2009 Report Share Posted February 25, 2009 [quote name='oldschooler' post='749117' date='Feb 24 2009, 05:04 PM']Keep Rivers at WILL, use Brandon for depth and draft a true MLB.[/quote] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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