Bengals FA Interest and Dealings

[happyrid]

I'm a little worried the Bengals will end up signing Braylon Edwards. I hate Braylon Edwards.

[Oldcat]

[quote name='happyrid' timestamp='1332718429' post='1112018']
I'm a little worried the Bengals will end up signing Braylon Edwards. I hate Braylon Edwards.
[/quote]

So far they seem to have steered clear of problem children. And for whatever reason the 'hole' at WR doesn't seem to bother them right now.

[Tigris]

[quote name='Oldcat' timestamp='1332729824' post='1112045']
So far they seem to have steered clear of problem children. And for whatever reason the 'hole' at WR doesn't seem to bother them right now.
[/quote]

Yes. Proof by not having one receiver in for a visit.

[Bengals1181]

[b] Bengals free agency rewind, fast-forward[/b]
[url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/team/CIN"][img]http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/CIN.png[/img][/url] [b][b]3 minutes ago[/b][/b] - by Paul Dehner Jr.
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[b]Rewind[/b]: No signing last week was bigger for the Bengals than inking [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/1616291/benjarvus-greenellis"]BenJarvus Green-Ellis[/url](Patriots) to solidify the running back position and conclude the [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/406400/cedric-benson"]Cedric Benson[/url] era. Marvin Lewis views Green-Ellis as a better fit for offensive coordinator Jay Gruden's system. Cincinnati brought back CB [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/552555/adam-jones"]Adam Jones[/url] , DT Pat Sims and filled in the depleted defensive line depth with former first-round picks [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/523442/jamaal-anderson"]Jamaal Anderson[/url] (Colts) and [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/502390/derrick-harvey"]Derrick Harvey[/url] (Broncos). The trend of hoping defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer can extract the best out of underachieving elite talent continues. [b]Fast-forward[/b]: Don't expect much more from Cincinnati in free agency, but the Bengals do hope to pursue a few more of their own free agents. LB [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/426006/manny-lawson"]Manny Lawson[/url] sits near the top of that list as multiple teams are reportedly interested in his services. A hole still exists at No. 2 WR, but with no visits on the horizon, the Bengals appear content to use the draft or in-house options for the spot opposite WR [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/1673207/aj-green"]A.J. Green[/url] . [size=1]
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[url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/team/CIN"]Cincinnati Bengals RapidReports[/url] | [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports"]All National Football League RapidReports[/url]

[Bengals1181]

[url="https://twitter.com/#!/CincyJungle"][b]Josh Kirkendall[/b] [size=4]‏[/size] [s]@[/s][b]CincyJungle[/b][/url]
[color=#333333][font=HelveticaNeue,][url="https://twitter.com/#!/search/%23Bengals"][s]#[/s][b]Bengals[/b][/url] Scheduling A Visit With Free Agent Defensive Tackle Amobi Okoye [/font][/color]

[Bengals1181]

Okoye is still just 24yrs old despite being a 5yr vet.

[Bengals1181]

[left]After four seasons with the Houston Texans, Okoye signed with the Chicago Bears in 2011.
[/left][left][color=#000000][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]Last season the defensive tackle generated 21 quarterback pressures, six hits on the quarterback and four quarterback sacks. During his final season with the Texans in 2010, Okoye pressured the quarterback 20 times, nine of which resulted in hits with another 3.5 quarterback sacks.[/size][/font][/color]
[/left][left][color=#000000][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]Needs less to say Okoye is a pass rusher, who could be used in situational passing downs alongside Geno Atkins. [/size][/font][/color]
[/left][left][color=#000000][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=3][url="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2012/3/26/2903695/bengals-scheduling-a-visit-with-free-agent-defensive-tackle-amobi"]http://www.cincyjung...ve-tackle-amobi[/url][/size][/font][/color]

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[BurnsBengal]

[quote name='Bengals1181' timestamp='1332782898' post='1112233']
[url="https://twitter.com/#!/CincyJungle"][b]Josh Kirkendall[/b] [size=4]‏[/size] [s]@[/s][b]CincyJungle[/b][/url]
[color=#333333][font=HelveticaNeue,][url="https://twitter.com/#!/search/%23Bengals"][s]#[/s][b]Bengals[/b][/url] Scheduling A Visit With Free Agent Defensive Tackle Amobi Okoye [/font][/color]
[/quote]
Wow, we love to kick the tires on the draft busts...


I wonder if Carlos Rogers, Vernon Gholston, and R. Jay Soward are available?

[BengalsNYC]

[quote name='Bengals1181' timestamp='1332782898' post='1112233']
[url="https://twitter.com/#!/CincyJungle"][b]Josh Kirkendall[/b] [size=4]‏[/size] [s]@[/s][b]CincyJungle[/b][/url]
[color=#333333][font=HelveticaNeue,][url="https://twitter.com/#!/search/%23Bengals"]

[s]#[/s][b]Bengals[/b][/url] Scheduling A Visit With Free Agent Defensive Tackle Amobi Okoye [/font][/color]
[/quote]

I will admit I was infatuated when he came out of Louisville. I'm still intrigued since he's only 24 years old.

The chances we hit on Harvey, Anderson, and I signed, Okoye are remote. However, I don't look at it as boom/bust. We didn't spent first round picks on these guys and they should no longer be held to that standard.

If all can be rotational guys then it's a win. I like these rag tags Zim is being given.

[Bengals1181]

[quote name='BurnsBengal' timestamp='1332783224' post='1112236']
Wow, we love to kick the tires on the draft busts...
[/quote]


Okoye hasn't lived up to being a top 10 pick, but he hasn't exactly had a bad career.

[BurnsBengal]

Definitely not against...they all had talent at some point.

[The PatternMaster]

[quote name='BurnsBengal' timestamp='1332783224' post='1112236']
Wow, we love to kick the tires on the draft busts...


I wonder if Carlos Rogers, Vernon Gholston, and R. Jay Soward are available?
[/quote]

R.Jay Soward would be a huge upgrade @ the #2 spot, what about Troy Williamson, what's he doing these days?

[Bengals1181]

[b] [size=3]Bengals to visit with Amobi Okoye[/size][/b]
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[size=3]Posted by Evan Silva on March 26, 2012, 1:21 PM EDT[/size][/size][/font][/color]
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[size=3][img]http://nbcprofootballtalk.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/amobi-okoye-pic.jpg?w=150[/img][color=#999999][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][i][right]AP[/right][/i][/font][/color][/size][size=1]
[size=3]Adam Caplan reports that the Bengals [url="https://twitter.com/#!/caplannfl/statuses/184321784093474816"]have scheduled a free agent meeting[/url] with defensive tackle [url="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/4174/amobi-okoye"]Amobi Okoye[/url].[/size][/size]
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[color=#ff0000][b][size=3]The visit will take place following this week’s NFL owners meetings.[/size][/b][/color][/size]
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[size=3]Okoye, who’s still only 24 years old, tallied four sacks off the bench for the Bears last season. In Cincinnati, he could spell starting “three-technique” tackle [url="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/5749/geno-atkins"]Geno Atkins[/url] when Atkins needs a breather. The Bengals’ other defensive tackles are[url="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/3940/domata-peko"]Domata Peko[/url], [url="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/4813/pat-sims"]Pat Sims[/url], and [url="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/4925/nick-hayden"]Nick Hayden[/url].[/size][/size]
[size=1]
[size=3]Okoye is the No. 99 overall player on the [url="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/13/the-free-agent-hot-100/"]PFT Hot 100[/url].[/size][/size]
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[/size]
[size=1]
[url="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/26/bengals-to-visit-with-amobi-okoye/"]http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/26/bengals-to-visit-with-amobi-okoye/[/url][/size]
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[alleycat]

[quote name='Bengals1181' timestamp='1332783583' post='1112243']
[b] [size=3]Bengals to visit with Amobi Okoye[/size][/b]

[size=3]Posted by Evan Silva on March 26, 2012, 1:21 PM EDT[/size]

[size=3][img]http://nbcprofootballtalk.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/amobi-okoye-pic.jpg?w=150[/img][/size][right][i]AP[/i]

[size=1][size=3]Adam Caplan reports that the Bengals [url="https://twitter.com/#!/caplannfl/statuses/184321784093474816"]have scheduled a free agent meeting[/url] with defensive tackle [url="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/4174/amobi-okoye"]Amobi Okoye[/url].[/size][/size]

[size=1][color=#ff0000][b][size=3]The visit will take place following this week’s NFL owners meetings.[/size][/b][/color][/size]

[size=1][size=3]Okoye, who’s still only 24 years old, tallied four sacks off the bench for the Bears last season. In Cincinnati, he could spell starting “three-technique” tackle [url="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/5749/geno-atkins"]Geno Atkins[/url] when Atkins needs a breather. The Bengals’ other defensive tackles are[url="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/3940/domata-peko"]Domata Peko[/url], [url="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/4813/pat-sims"]Pat Sims[/url], and [url="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/4925/nick-hayden"]Nick Hayden[/url].[/size][/size]

[size=1][size=3]Okoye is the No. 99 overall player on the [url="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/13/the-free-agent-hot-100/"]PFT Hot 100[/url].[/size][/size]



[size=1][url="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/26/bengals-to-visit-with-amobi-okoye/"]http://profootballta...th-amobi-okoye/[/url][/size]

[size=1][/quote][/size]
HOT DAMN!!! I've been quietly hoping for him, both last year and now. He's still just a baby, is INSANELY athletic, and does have the ability to penetrate. I believe that would give us first rounder fwiw...[/right]

[Bengals1181]

[color=#333333][font=HelveticaNeue,]
[url="https://twitter.com/#!/joereedy"][b]Joe Reedy[/b] [size=4]‏[/size] [s]@[/s][b]joereedy[/b][/url][/font][/color]
[color=#333333][font=HelveticaNeue,]
RT [url="https://twitter.com/#!/AGrigsby81"][s]@[/s][b]AGrigsby81[/b][/url]: [url="https://twitter.com/#!/joereedy"][s]@[/s][b]joereedy[/b][/url] when are the owners meetings over?>Wednesday[/font][/color]

[happyrid]

[quote name='Bengals1181' timestamp='1332784395' post='1112249'][color=#333333][font=HelveticaNeue,] [url="https://twitter.com/#!/joereedy"][b]Joe Reedy[/b] [size=4]‏[/size] [s]@[/s][b]joereedy[/b][/url][/font][/color] [color=#333333][font=HelveticaNeue,] RT [url="https://twitter.com/#!/AGrigsby81"][s]@[/s][b]AGrigsby81[/b][/url]: [url="https://twitter.com/#!/joereedy"][s]@[/s][b]joereedy[/b][/url] when are the owners meetings over?>Wednesday[/font][/color][/quote]

Nice, I was just about to ask the same question on here.

I like the idea of Okoye as I think he is the type of guy who excels in one specific role (pass rusher in obvious passing downs) and could do well in that type of limited role here with the Bengals.

I think with the continued pursuit of FA D linemen, some of the recent signees are far from locks to make the roster.

Either that or maybe the Bengals are thinking of getting rid of Geathers? He has been solid, but is in the last year of his deal and making a pretty decent salary I believe...We're already at 9 D linemen and still looking at possibly 2 more. And that doesn't even count the draft where we have 9 picks and could potentially continue to add to the position....

[Bengals1181]

[quote][b]OKOYE VISIT:[/b][color=#393939] According to NFL reporter Adam Caplan the Bengals have set up a visit with Bears defensive tackle Amobi Okoye after the league meetings.[/color][color=#393939]
Could the 6-2, 302-pound Okoye become the third defensive lineman drafted in the top ten to make the Bengals his third team this month, joining Anderson and Harvey? If Sims is a run stuffer, then Okoye is a pass rusher, although he hasn't reached the heights projected by the Texans when they picked him 10[sup]th[/sup] in the 2007 draft. He had 11 sacks in four seasons with Houston before going to Chicago last year, where he had four sacks in 398 snaps rushing the passer. He played 615 total, third most on the Bears' line.
[color=#393939]Here is how the Bengals line depth looks now and they usually go with eight: DEs: Geathers, Johnson, Dunlap, Harvey; DTs: Peko, Atkins, Sims, Hayden; DE/DT: Anderson.[/color][/quote]

[url="http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Notes-Sims-in-a-rush-Kraft-salutes-BJGE/c4b737a8-2384-4425-b2f7-5f7a5063ea7b"]http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Notes-Sims-in-a-rush-Kraft-salutes-BJGE/c4b737a8-2384-4425-b2f7-5f7a5063ea7b[/url][/color]

[Bengals1181]

[quote name='happyrid' timestamp='1332785039' post='1112251']

Nice, I was just about to ask the same question on here.

I like the idea of Okoye as I think he is the type of guy who excels in one specific role (pass rusher in obvious passing downs) and could do well in that type of limited role here with the Bengals.

I think with the continued pursuit of FA D linemen, some of the recent signees are far from locks to make the roster.

Either that or maybe the Bengals are thinking of getting rid of Geathers? He has been solid, but is in the last year of his deal and making a pretty decent salary I believe...We're already at 9 D linemen and still looking at possibly 2 more. And that doesn't even count the draft where we have 9 picks and could potentially continue to add to the position....
[/quote]


IMO the biggest factor is probably that they still have so much money to spend. Even those of us who wanted to hang on to some of the cap room have to be surprised at how much they've been able to do, spending so little. Maybe the team is too, lol.

They could sign Okoye, Roth, and Lawson and still probably have about $16 million left. Nice position to be in.

They can bring in whoever they want at this point, and the more depth they build now, the more free they are in the draft to take anyone they want, trade up, trade down and stockpile picks for future years, whatever.

Sign Roth and Okoye and you probably don't even have to touch the dline in the draft, where as a week ago it was looking like the Dline was going to be a first round need.

[Oldcat]

[quote name='happyrid' timestamp='1332785039' post='1112251']

Nice, I was just about to ask the same question on here.

I like the idea of Okoye as I think he is the type of guy who excels in one specific role (pass rusher in obvious passing downs) and could do well in that type of limited role here with the Bengals.

I think with the continued pursuit of FA D linemen, some of the recent signees are far from locks to make the roster.

Either that or maybe the Bengals are thinking of getting rid of Geathers? He has been solid, but is in the last year of his deal and making a pretty decent salary I believe...We're already at 9 D linemen and still looking at possibly 2 more. And that doesn't even count the draft where we have 9 picks and could potentially continue to add to the position....
[/quote]

Well, it isn't like we are up against the cap.

Despite the cries here, I doubt a Cincy contract three or four years old is 'too big' to pay - if Geathers makes the team.

[happyrid]

[quote name='Bengals1181' timestamp='1332785517' post='1112257']


IMO the biggest factor is probably that they still have so much money to spend. Even those of us who wanted to hang on to some of the cap room have to be surprised at how much they've been able to do, spending so little. Maybe the team is too, lol.

They could sign Okoye, Roth, and Lawson and still probably have about $16 million left. Nice position to be in.

They can bring in whoever they want at this point, and the more depth they build now, the more free they are in the draft to take anyone they want, trade up, trade down and stockpile picks for future years, whatever.

Sign Roth and Okoye and you probably don't even have to touch the dline in the draft, where as a week ago it was looking like the Dline was going to be a first round need.
[/quote]

I'm all for signing them and I don't see any cap issues at all. That wasn't my point.

I'm just pointing out that if we actually do sign Matt Roth and Amobi Okoye, we would have:

DE-Dunlap, Johnson, Geathers, Roth, Anderson, Harvey
DT-Atkins, Peko, Sims, Okoye, Hayden

We usually keep 8, so we'd have to cut 3 of those guys. Hayden is a pretty likely cut (or PS), but he's the only one that looks kind of obvious. And they'd likely have to cut 2 more....

Nothing wrong with competition, just kind of curious that they are trying to bring in so many guys. Even without counting Hayden, its simple math that they'd either have to cut 1 of the guys they just brought in or one of the 5 guys that were already on the roster, or 1 of each. Even if they don't add anyone in the draft.

[Jamie_B]

[quote name='happyrid' timestamp='1332786266' post='1112263']

I'm all for signing them and I don't see any cap issues at all. That wasn't my point.

I'm just pointing out that if we actually do sign Matt Roth and Amobi Okoye, we would have:

DE-Dunlap, Johnson, Geathers, Roth, Anderson, Harvey
DT-Atkins, Peko, Sims, Okoye, Hayden

We usually keep 8, so we'd have to cut 3 of those guys. Hayden is a pretty likely cut (or PS), but he's the only one that looks kind of obvious. And they'd likely have to cut 2 more....

Nothing wrong with competition, just kind of curious that they are trying to bring in so many guys. Even without counting Hayden, its simple math that they'd either have to cut 1 of the guys they just brought in or one of the 5 guys that were already on the roster, or 1 of each. Even if they don't add anyone in the draft.
[/quote]


Depends, have any of those DEs played or could play SAM LB?

[EnglishBengal]

Apparently Okoye is supposed to be an all round DT who can play the run and rush the passer. However, in his career to date, he has played the run well enough but has struggled to be a consistent pass rusher. It seemed like he wasn't a fit in Wade Philips 3-4 defense when playing for the Texans, but he did improve a bit when he went to the Bears 4-3 defense last year.

Last season the defensive tackle generated 21 quarterback pressures, six hits on the quarterback and four quarterback sacks. During his final season with the Texans in 2010, Okoye pressured the quarterback 20 times, nine of which resulted in hits with another 3.5 quarterback sacks.

This would be a win win signing in my book.

[Bengals1181]

[quote name='happyrid' timestamp='1332786266' post='1112263']

I'm all for signing them and I don't see any cap issues at all. That wasn't my point.

I'm just pointing out that if we actually do sign Matt Roth and Amobi Okoye, we would have:

DE-Dunlap, Johnson, Geathers, Roth, Anderson, Harvey
DT-Atkins, Peko, Sims, Okoye, Hayden

We usually keep 8, so we'd have to cut 3 of those guys. Hayden is a pretty likely cut (or PS), but he's the only one that looks kind of obvious. And they'd likely have to cut 2 more....

Nothing wrong with competition, just kind of curious that they are trying to bring in so many guys. Even without counting Hayden, its simple math that they'd either have to cut 1 of the guys they just brought in or one of the 5 guys that were already on the roster, or 1 of each. Even if they don't add anyone in the draft.
[/quote]


I know, I was just giving a reasoning as to why they may still be looking. I'd think hayden and harvey would be the likely camp cuts, with the other 9 kept. Maybe a late round swing guy taken to put on the practice squad in case of injuries.


FWIW, they usually keep 9. Last year they went with 8 and went heavy at LB.

[Tigris]

Would this mean Geathers could get the axe? We've brought in 2 DEs and this guy would make 10 DLs.

[texbengal]

[quote name='EnglishBengal' timestamp='1332786395' post='1112266']
Apparently Okoye is supposed to be an all round DT who can play the run and rush the passer. However, in his career to date, he has played the run well enough but has struggled to be a consistent pass rusher. It seemed like he wasn't a fit in Wade Philips 3-4 defense when playing for the Texans, but he did improve a bit when he went to the Bears 4-3 defense last year.

Last season the defensive tackle generated 21 quarterback pressures, six hits on the quarterback and four quarterback sacks. During his final season with the Texans in 2010, Okoye pressured the quarterback 20 times, nine of which resulted in hits with another 3.5 quarterback sacks.

This would be a win win signing in my book.
[/quote]


Makes you wonder why the Bears didn't try and keep him, though. Or maybe they will.

He had a decent year there, and they don't have a great crew of DTs... Henry Melton is pretty good, Matt Toeina (ex-Bengal), Steven Paea (could be good - pretty high pick last year). But I'd think Okoye, with his productivity last year in a limited role, might get another shot there.