Cincinnati must cut 2 players by 4pm

[derekshank]

My guess is that it is going to be at positions where we have the best depth, and therefore will not suffer from letting a guy go at that position. Therefore... my predictions are:

WR Glen Holt

DT Marcus Lewis

We have the best WR depth in the NFL. Holt isn't going to make our practice squad, so we'll end the charade.

DT is pretty deep now... and I believe we going to keep more D-linemen on the active roster this year than we did last year, so there is less need for a DT that I've never heard of.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

I thought it was the first major cut down - up to 10 players, today?

Or does Bengals.com say something different? (sorry at work, no time)

I'm rooting for Dede and McNeal....just too much talent there and speed to cast off (may get plucked by another team at this point)

Both of those players should get some PT Friday night - you could tell they were trying to look hard at Quincy and DeDe last night.

DeDe's got a shot!

[derekshank]

I thought it was the first major cut down - up to 10 players, today?

Or does Bengals.com say something different? (sorry at work, no time)

Yeah... Bengals.com simply said:

The Bengals have to cut two players by 4 p.m. Tuesday to get down to the mandatory 75.

http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=5443

I'm imagining they'll be cutting players that they don't think are good enough to be on our practice squad. I don't think McNeal is going to be on any team's active roster this year... so he should be safe. That's why I think Holt is a goner. We have plenty of WR depth, and simply don't have much use for him.

[ChadJohnson-85]

My guess is John Busing & Hannibal Navies.

[derekshank]

My guess is John Busing

Could be... but I happen to believe they will keep as many safeties on the roster as possible until the last possible minute. We don't have a lot of good depth there, and it's fairly neck and neck with a lot of these guys. If someone gets hurt against Indy, the decision is made for them.

[ArmyBengal]

My guess is it will be two players none of were concerned speaking about to begin with. When the larger cut downs come, then I'll be worried. We are going to cut some quality players this year !!!

WHODEY !!!

[Tasher]

PK Sam / Glenn Holt

Takavitz / Lougheed

Tahi / Lewis

My sleepers are Watson and Chatman for early cuts to catch on somewhere else. Dede and McNeal will make this team.

[AMC]

PK Sam / Glenn Holt

Takavitz / Lougheed

Tahi / Lewis

My sleepers are Watson and Chatman for early cuts to catch on somewhere else. Dede and McNeal will make this team.

Watson looked terrible last night but I do believe he will stick.

PK Sam, Tahi, Takavitz, Holt.....Two of those will go....IMO

[TippCityRick]

Derek, I believe Daniel (not Marcus) Lewis is the DT from NFL Europe and his spot is pretty much assured on the PS for this year as the Bengals get an exemption for him.

I agree that the cuts today will come from positions of great depth cuz we don't want to get anyone hurt Friday night. I'd go with a WR and OL. Should also be two that aren't eligible for the PS. Having little knowledge of who has eligibility, this prognostigation comes with the above disclaimer. I'd go with Holt and Takavitz although Tahi and Livings could be possibilities.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

PK Sam / Glenn Holt

Takavitz / Lougheed

Tahi / Lewis

My sleepers are Watson and Chatman for early cuts to catch on somewhere else. Dede and McNeal will make this team.

BTW - thanks for the link Derek.

Tasher - interesting guess at early cuts to catch on elsewhere - but who returns punts without Chatman? I would think McNeal would be an ideal PR with practice/time, but not sure he's ready for that. It's true he may make the PS - but all it takes is one major injury to scoop up McNeal or DeDe onto an active roster - I think people here some times underestimate how talented those two really are, you have to protect them if you think they have a future here - this year or next.

Quincy is also a guy that may pose a risk to get scooped up as a #3 back somewhere. In fact I'm suprised more teams don't try him out and that some don't already have their eyes on DeDe.

Watson being cut would obviously mean they are sold on DeDe already, and/or Quincy.

As I said I enjoy watching McNeal and DeDe and really want to keep them on the roster.

[Tasher]

Tasher - interesting guess at early cuts to catch on elsewhere - but who returns punts without Chatman? I would think McNeal would be an ideal PR with practice/time, but not sure he's ready for that. It's true he may make the PS - but all it takes is one major injury to scoop up McNeal or DeDe onto an active roster - I think people here some times underestimate how talented those two really are, you have to protect them if you think they have a future here - this year or next.

Quincy is also a guy that may pose a risk to get scooped up as a #3 back somewhere. In fact I'm suprised more teams don't try him out and that some don't already have their eyes on DeDe.

Watson being cut would obviously mean they are sold on DeDe already, and/or Quincy.

As I said I enjoy watching McNeal and DeDe and really want to keep them on the roster.

Ratliff gets the job back at least in the early going until McNeal, Brazell or someone else steps up. I know we are nit-picking here, but since we don't have much else to criticize...

...just HOW important is it that we return the punts for big returns (or at least NFL average or better) everytime? Seems to me that we need to give our offense some field to travel to take up some clock so that the defense can get some rest. so let the offense start inside the Ten yard line everytime.

Besides, you going to cut one of the promising youngsters to keep Chatman who just returns punts, but dosen't give us anything in other areas of the game that one of the youngsters can't? Chatman has been hurt and has not gotten in sync with the O in the preseason and is taking up a bunch of cap room. The upside potential of the youngsters is just too great to pass on with the WR depth that we have.

JMTCW

[AMC]

...just HOW important is it that we return the punts for big returns (or at least NFL average or better) everytime? Seems to me that we need to give our offense some field to travel to take up some clock so that the defense can get some rest. so let the offense start inside the Ten yard line everytime.

Tasher

[Stripes]

I say cut Chatman and just let Ratliff return punts. I really don't care how the Bengals perform in that area. With turnovers, we'll already get plenty short fields, and the offense doesn't need them anyways.

I agree with Holt and Lewis for these cuts though.

[jditty47]

tab perry is a better returner than anyone on our team besides chatman. tab had one for 15 yds yesterday...thats longer than ratliff had all of last year. and chatman broke a nice tackle on his return and got 5 yards out of nothing.

[ArmyBengal]

Ratliff = Turd (In regards to PR) and is closing in for the same title in regards to his CB play. The guy just irritates me...

He has more talent than what we've seen...

WHODEY !!!

[Stripes]

Ratliff does suck back there, but he doesn't fumble the football. That's the most important thing to me. I'm sure we could improve at the position, but I don't want to hold a better receiver than Chatman off the roster just for punt returns.

[ArmyBengal]

I definitely see your point. I'm just sick of seeing Ratliff run in all directions but the right one. He looks confused...

WHODEY !!!

[Stripes]

I do like what I have seen from Tab back there. It'd be nice to have him return punts and solve both problems at once.

[Spor_tees]

I actually think the Bengals might cut 2 vets that the have enough respect for to give them a chance to catch on with another team before the last preseason game.

AKA Hannibal Navies, Marcus Wilkins, Kenny Watson

[Tasher]

http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=5444

Navies and Viera

[Tasher]

Going with the Youth Movement!

http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=5444

[Stripes]

Hannibal Navies and Steven Vieira it is. I've never seen the latter's name spoken on this board.

[Tasher]

Hannibal Navies and Steven Vieira it is. I've never seen the latter's name spoken on this board.

oh, Yeah! Vera, no Virile, no Viera, yeah, him! He'll get it in the neck!

Must be that we forgot 'bout him, isn't he still in Europe?

[Kazkal]

I hope naives catches on somewhere just wasen't ment to be here we have so much youth at lb

[HoosierCat]

Still at least 1 more to go at LB:

The release of Navies, an eight-year veteran who signed with Cincinnati 364 days ago off the waiver wire, leaves the club with eight linebackers eligible for this Saturday’s cut down to 53 players at a position where they usually keep seven.

The three starters - Brian Simmons in the middle, David Pollack on the strong side, Landon Johnson on the weak side - are already in. Also figured to make it are two rookies, a third-round supplemental draft pick in Ahmad Brooks and Rashad Jeanty, a CFL product that has played well in the place of the injured Pollack.

That appears to leave two spots for veterans Caleb Miller and Marcus Wilkins and fifth-rounder A.J. Nicholson while middle linebacker Odell Thurman starts the season on the suspended list and does not count on the final roster.

With Miller getting the start last night in place of Simmons, you have to think his chances look good. Wilkins is hard to cut given his strong ST play, esp. with other key STers like Navies and Mitchell out of the picture. I still think they may cut Nicholson and hope he clears waivers so they can sign him to the practice squad.