Keiwan Ratliff Cut!!

[BENGALTHEM]

Per Bengals.com

"Keiwan Ratliff became the highest draft choice released in the Marvin Lewis era Wednesday when he was replaced by fellow cornerback Blue Adams.

Adams, 5-10, 187 pounds out of the University of Cincinnati, is a fourth-year NFL player who opened this season with the Bengals after signing as a free agent May 7. He missed the first three preseason games while rehabbing a neck injury suffered in minicamp before playing in Cincinnati's preseason finale. He was waived by the Bengals Sept. 2. Adams played for Jacksonville as a rookie in 2003, did not play in '04, and played for Tampa Bay in 2005-06. He played in all 16 of his 37 NFL games for Tampa Bay in '06, ranking third on the team with 19 special teams tackles.

Ratliff was a second-round draft choice in 2004 and leaves the team with 51 career games and eight starts."

Never saw it coming. Wow!. I felt good about Ratliff being the 4th DB. Blue Adams better be a baller in order to make this move. Good luck to Ratliff, I'm sure somebody we'll pick him up.

[BengalByTheBay]

I agree -- this is a shocker. It feels as if Marvin senses some may be coasting and this is a "message" that nobody's safe. Rat has been a consistent underperformer, but it still takes some stones to drop him when the injury report reads like an admissions chart. Not sure how I feel about it yet.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Rat's just not very good and has little to offer on ST's.

Poor draft pick.

Adams is probably a better cover corner as it is.

Obviously they are sending a message to roster players that their jobs are not safe. Glad to see it.

[mgilgris]

Glad to see that Marvin is making moves. I have a feeling he is really regreting the moves he made earlier in the season with simmons, and kase due to special teams. Special teams has been as bad as the defense and def contributed to our loss against teh hawks.

[Spain]

underratd player, bab move

[BengalByTheBay]

Glad to see that Marvin is making moves. I have a feeling he is really regreting the moves he made earlier in the season with simmons, and kase due to special teams. Special teams has been as bad as the defense and def contributed to our loss against teh hawks.

Not sure Simmons ever played ST's. Tony Stewart and Anthony Mitchell (as well as KK), however, are surely missed there.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Odd move right now. Ratmeat is bad....but he's not any worse now than he ever was. If anything, what I've seen of him he's looked at least a little better than in the past. Why now?

Oh well. Marvin, if you want to send a message - pull a Billick and FIRE CHUCK. Call your own plays!

[oldschooler]

I think it`s safe to say he was a bust.

He hasn`t done crap since 2005.

He had 1 tackle in 3 games this season.

And never lived up to being the ball hawk he was supposed to be.

I can`t say I`m surprised by this move. He would have been

cut in training camp if others hadn`t gotten injured . . .

[GregCook]

I remember reading a Bengals story during Ratliff's rookie year where Marvin goes through a room, sees Ratliff playing cards and is said to say something along the lines of "Hey rookie, shouldn't you be reading your play book?"

As I see this, definitely a small loss and he will be forgotten quickly and picked up just as quick.

[ncbengal]

I kinda seen this coming when KR couldnt get on the field. Not to mention they draft 2 corners back to back. Wish the news was for Chucky though!

[skyline]

Good move as far as I'm concerned. He wasn't contributing anything during defensive snaps, and if he isn't going to be a special teams ace to make up for it, then you might as well bring in someone that can be.

[Kazkal]

Glad to see that Marvin is making moves. I have a feeling he is really regreting the moves he made earlier in the season with simmons, and kase due to special teams. Special teams has been as bad as the defense and def contributed to our loss against teh hawks.

Not sure Simmons ever played ST's. Tony Stewart and Anthony Mitchell (as well as KK), however, are surely missed there.

Well Mitchell wasn't that missed since 2006 was our best year of special teams and he was IR'd... but yes tony and KK

[Bengals1]

The knock on Ratliff coming out of college was that he was too slow to play CB in the NFL.

Sad to say he lived down to his hype.

[jjakq27]

Rat's just not very good and has little to offer on ST's.

Poor draft pick.

Adams is probably a better cover corner as it is.

Obviously they are sending a message to roster players that their jobs are not safe. Glad to see it.

I remember hearing the negative discussion nationally about him but I think he got some good milage out of some good punt returns in his rookie season, especially since PDub was never the same after 2003.

I think Dave Lapham called this one as camp was coming to a close. He probably made the team because of Blue's neck issues at the time but the team obviously feels that a change needs to be made even if it means cutting a vet.

Also I do think we are missing guys like Wilkins, Mitchell, KK and even Simmons (as much as I hate to admit it) on special teams. But this is the downside of trying to keep all of the guys locked up on offense. There just isn't enough money to pay everyone. Plus I think a little bit of the normal coaching arrogance creeps in and they think they can coach anyone up. But it is hard to replace that experience all at the same time.

[James_Brooks21]

The knock on Ratliff coming out of college was that he was too slow to play CB in the NFL.

Sad to say he lived down to his hype.

Get out of here Ratliff was better then Blue Adams, that's why Blue Adams was still sitting at home three weeks later another Marvin move were if you run your mouth to media your going to pay. I feel that's the main reason that Levi is sitting on the bench right now, Marvin feels that it is disrespect toward him if you complain about something we do in the media. Blue Adams another subpar person on the Bengals defense wonderful move Marvin and here we are commending this move, I didn't see Ratliff on any plays getting burned like the other DB's have, he was no worst then those guys have performed this year. At least we don't have to worry about Ratliff going somewhere and giving up our defensive secrets because we don't posses any.

[HoosierCat]

Ratliff sucks. If TJ Wright hadn't gotten hurt at the end of preseason Ratliff wouldn't have even made the 53 man roster. And he didn't want to be here as the 4th corner anyhow. Good bye, good luck, good riddance, I say.

Beyond that, I have to give Marvin props for making some moves this week. DeDe and Adams bolster STs, Watson may get the nod over Rudi Monday, and Levi, whether he knows it or not, looks to see more time back at LT. The Bengals' performance has not been satisfactory, and marvin isn't sitting still. Will the moves help? I dunno but at least he's trying. Applause, applause.

[Bengals1]

... we don't have to worry about Ratliff going somewhere and giving up our defensive secrets because we don't posses any.

At least we can agree on this point!

[agreen_112]

It's about time... Another draft pick down the drain.

[damiancasey]

... we don't have to worry about Ratliff going somewhere and giving up our defensive secrets because we don't posses any.

At least we can agree on this point!

HA!! hilarious!

[kingwilly]

Ratliff was given chance after chance after chance to develop, improve and step-up. He rarely displayed anything approaching the ability neede to start in the NFL, let alone the Bengals secondary.

He could not beat out a weak Tory James or a gimped up Deltha.

He was not good enough to prevent the Bengals from drafting Joseph and Hall.

He could barely get on the field as nickel back and when he returned punts it made this Bengal fan long for a pre eye exam Peter Warrick.

To me, his shelf life had expired. He was spoilt milk at this point.

If we can get Blue on the field, or get TJ Wright healthy or, by some small miracle we get a gem out of David Jones (despit wearing the cursed number 20) there will be noone missing Keiwan.

============

Sideline thought:

I am less and lees impressed with ML's ability to assess talent, either draftees or FA's.

Guys who came over from his Baltimore campaigns have either been a total bust or anonymous: Sam Adams, Anthony Mitchell, Kim Herring, Hartwell, Anthony Wright, etc.

Guys we have drafted may have talent but have been a veritable nightmare of incedents stalking the docket of a court, before and after they got here : Cheech, Odell, Nicholson, Frostee, Askew, etc. Hell, even Steiny got cited for Boating while knocking back a few.

As far as taking a chance on a "charcter issue" guy, I think we've seen enough. As for bringing in a "Marvin" guy, I'm no longer sold as not one has helped this team improve. The current mis-management of the Levi situation and his ridiculous handling of the media after the Cleveland loss have further stunted my opinion that LM should finally be the man to deliver the Brown family a Lombardi trophy.

Marvin needs to salvage this season any way he can...if not, there wll be a loud cry for change.

[BengalszoneBilly]

I kinda seen this coming when KR couldnt get on the field. Not to mention they draft 2 corners back to back. Wish the news was for Chucky though!

Ditto. There HAS to be someone out there that can excell where he has seemingly sat there and done nothing with the defense. He obviously cannot motivate them. Time to separate the wheat from the chaff.

[coupdayta]

Marvin needs to salvage this season any way he can...if not, there wll be a loud cry for change.

Anyone who calls for Marvin Lewis to resign or be replaced after this season, even if it is a losing season, is retarded. This team has been decimated by injuries (Pollack, Willie, Kenny Irons, etc.) and legal troubles (Cheech and Odell). How can you really expect Marvin Lewis to go 14-2 with all this stuff?

If you choose to say, "Blah blah blah I don't care. It's year five and we should win," then you are a moron who is trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

Oh, and I want to win just as much as you. I'm just not about to undercut the best thing that's ever happened to this franchise because of one injury-plagued, legally troubled, losing season.

[Bobcat Bengal]

Marvin needs to salvage this season any way he can...if not, there wll be a loud cry for change.

Anyone who calls for Marvin Lewis to resign or be replaced after this season, even if it is a losing season, is retarded. This team has been decimated by injuries (Pollack, Willie, Kenny Irons, etc.) and legal troubles (Cheech and Odell). How can you really expect Marvin Lewis to go 14-2 with all this stuff?

If you choose to say, "Blah blah blah I don't care. It's year five and we should win," then you are a moron who is trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

Oh, and I want to win just as much as you. I'm just not about to undercut the best thing that's ever happened to this franchise because of one injury-plagued, legally troubled, losing season.

co-signed.

[damiancasey]

Marvin needs to salvage this season any way he can...if not, there wll be a loud cry for change.

Anyone who calls for Marvin Lewis to resign or be replaced after this season, even if it is a losing season, is retarded. This team has been decimated by injuries (Pollack, Willie, Kenny Irons, etc.) and legal troubles (Cheech and Odell). How can you really expect Marvin Lewis to go 14-2 with all this stuff?

If you choose to say, "Blah blah blah I don't care. It's year five and we should win," then you are a moron who is trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

Oh, and I want to win just as much as you. I'm just not about to undercut the best thing that's ever happened to this franchise because of one injury-plagued, legally troubled, losing season.

I'm right there with you - I think Marvin is the best thing to happen to the orange and black in a long time - however - two things don't sit well with me 1) Bres - he's never - ever created an elite defense. He's put together an adequate defense at times but not elite. 2) I still feel like Mike Brown is getting more involved than he should from time to time. He's like Schleprock - everything he touches turns to akili, klingler, shula

[HoosierCat]

Anyone who calls for Marvin Lewis to resign or be replaced after this season, even if it is a losing season, is retarded. This team has been decimated by injuries (Pollack, Willie, Kenny Irons, etc.) and legal troubles (Cheech and Odell). How can you really expect Marvin Lewis to go 14-2 with all this stuff?

Few did. But injuries are part of the game, and like it or not, if the Bengals crash-land this season there will be calls for change. I doubt they are heeded, unless it's a really bad crash.

But the larger point for me is this: if the "real" reason the Bengals don't go anywhere this season is all the injuries and suspensions...then what's so magic about Marvin? Is it really the case that, if we have the whole team healthy and ready to go, someone like a Schottenheimer couldn't win with that club?

Frankly, I don't know how the season will end, and a turnaround will certainly earn Marvin well-deserved accolades. We'll just have to see how it goes.