Bengals working out Huber.....

[Kazkal]

Well glad to see their still interested in taking a punter....

Punter On Bengals’ Agenda

Posted by Aaron Wilson on April 15, 2009, 6:13 p.m.

The Cincinnati Bengals are conducting a private workout for consensus top-ranked punter Kevin Huber on Thursday, according to a league source.

Huber is scheduled to punt 40 to 50 balls for team officials, coaches and scouts at the Bengals’ training facility.

On Friday, Huber is scheduled for a private workout with the New Orleans Saints.

Huber has also had private workouts with the New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots.

Huber averaged 45 yards per punt last season.

[Whur CHad At?]

Gotta get him, even if it means spending a 5th round pick(we do have history of spending mid round picks on specialists...see Nick Harris).

This is the only time I would agree with using a mid round pick on

[Kazkal]

Aye depending when we take Fullback I really would not mind burning a 5th on Huber if he is truly a special punter.

[HAPPYJAQ]

I know Larson's making over a million a year and I don't think we'll take 3 punters to camp. Anybody know the cap hit/savings if Larson's released?

[fattyjay]

I know Larson's making over a million a year and I don't think we'll take 3 punters to camp. Anybody know the cap hit/savings if Larson's released?

I don't know the exact number but my guess would be somewhere around the amount of $worth it.

[ArmyBengal]

Local kid, so it makes sense that they would at least take a little extra time to give him a look.

I don't think it's an indication one way or another, but I like him and wouldn't mind spending the late pick either.

I view it like Fullback in that why not get the guy you want as opposed to waiting until the draft is over and HOPING they pick to come to Cincinnati as an UDFA ?? What else are we going to use those picks on anyway ?? Backups ?? Projects ?? Hopes and prayers of someday being a productive special teams guy ?? Both Huber and the top rated fullback would not only fill a need (fullback moreso) but probably be a pretty good value pick at the time of selection.

[derekshank]

Local kid, so it makes sense that they would at least take a little extra time to give him a look.

I don't think it's an indication one way or another, but I like him and wouldn't mind spending the late pick either.

I view it like Fullback in that why not get the guy you want as opposed to waiting until the draft is over and HOPING they pick to come to Cincinnati as an UDFA ?? What else are we going to use those picks on anyway ?? Backups ?? Projects ?? Hopes and prayers of someday being a productive special teams guy ?? Both Huber and the top rated fullback would not only fill a need (fullback moreso) but probably be a pretty good value pick at the time of selection.

Yeah. I'm not really sure why most teams don't draft this way. It seems like most teams use the first 3 rounds for starters, rounds 4-5 for quality depth and projects, and rounds 6-7 for special teams/projects.

Teams are hoping to hit that 5th or 6th round homerun with a project rather than taking a position of need that could come in and start right away. At the very least, bad teams need to draft this way, simply because there are likely to be kickers/punters/FB's that could come in and start rather than a project DT or OG that won't see the field for years if ever.

[ArmyBengal]

Exactly Derek and I just don't get the whole, "Why draft him when we could get him as an undrafted free agent ?" talk. I guess people forget that the undrafted players actually "choose" where they would like to go play at that point. I'm sorry, but if I was a player in the draft and the Bengals came knocking along with a Super Bowl contender, it wouldn't take long to figure out where I was headed.

Just go get the damn player and move on. Would ANYONE here be upset if we used our 5th to get the best rated fullback and then traded back up into the 5th by giving up our 6th and 7th to get Huber (the top rated punter) ?? Keeping in mind we have a comp pick in the 6th and two more in the 7th ?? I just think that would be a very solid more for them to make, but understand there has to be a willing participant...

Checking the trade value chart, our 6th and 7th rounder would get us around the 9th or 10th pick in the 5th round.

[HAPPYJAQ]

Exactly Derek and I just don't get the whole, "Why draft him when we could get him as an undrafted free agent ?" talk. I guess people forget that the undrafted players actually "choose" where they would like to go play at that point. I'm sorry, but if I was a player in the draft and the Bengals came knocking along with a Super Bowl contender, it wouldn't take long to figure out where I was headed.

Just go get the damn player and move on. Would ANYONE here be upset if we used our 5th to get the best rated fullback and then traded back up into the 5th by giving up our 6th and 7th to get Huber (the top rated punter) ?? Keeping in mind we have a comp pick in the 6th and two more in the 7th ?? I just think that would be a very solid more for them to make, but understand there has to be a willing participant...

Checking the trade value chart, our 6th and 7th rounder would get us around the 9th or 10th pick in the 5th round.

I don't agree with the philosophy, but understand it. A WR with upside, who could end up being a difference-maker at his position in 3-4 years has a greater value than a punter or fullback of a greater talent, even if they end up being players of comparable quality. That's why most Ks in the NFL are undrafted FAs or 7th round picks. To me, if you need a K or FB, pick the one you like best in the draft and don't worry about it. There's a reason you liked him as much in the first place.

[Walrus]

Exactly Derek and I just don't get the whole, "Why draft him when we could get him as an undrafted free agent ?" talk. I guess people forget that the undrafted players actually "choose" where they would like to go play at that point. I'm sorry, but if I was a player in the draft and the Bengals came knocking along with a Super Bowl contender, it wouldn't take long to figure out where I was headed.

Just go get the damn player and move on. Would ANYONE here be upset if we used our 5th to get the best rated fullback and then traded back up into the 5th by giving up our 6th and 7th to get Huber (the top rated punter) ?? Keeping in mind we have a comp pick in the 6th and two more in the 7th ?? I just think that would be a very solid more for them to make, but understand there has to be a willing participant...

Checking the trade value chart, our 6th and 7th rounder would get us around the 9th or 10th pick in the 5th round.

I don't agree with the philosophy, but understand it. A WR with upside, who could end up being a difference-maker at his position in 3-4 years has a greater value than a punter or fullback of a greater talent, even if they end up being players of comparable quality. That's why most Ks in the NFL are undrafted FAs or 7th round picks. To me, if you need a K or FB, pick the one you like best in the draft and don't worry about it. There's a reason you liked him as much in the first place.

I think the point is that the punter/kicker/fullback/long-snapper/return specialist you like is almost certainly going to come in right away and bring value as a starter at the lower-profile position. Whereas, TJ Houshmandzadeh/Marques Colston-types don't come around very often and it's far more likely the WR you draft in the 7th round will be a Bennie Brazell -- a player slated for depth at a higher-profile position but who will most likely not do a whole lot for the team.

[ArmyBengal]

You can't compare what the top fullback and punter would bring IMMEDIATELY as opposed to what you "hope" a WR could possibly bring in 3-4 years...

It's not even close...

[BengalPimp]

Gotta get him, even if it means spending a 5th round pick(we do have history of spending mid round picks on specialists...see Nick Harris).

.....See Mistaken bro.

Nick Harris was drafted by Denver (4th rd 2001 Cal) he was released, and then signed off waivers by The Bengals.

Maybe you're getting him confused with Travis Dorsch (4th rd 2002 Purdue)

[derekshank]

Taking the WR position out of the equation, it is the same deal with a LB, a DT, an OG, or any other position. You draft a guy in the 5th round, not because they are going to perform at their position any time in the near future, but because of ST's needs and the chance that they may someday become a good starter.

I don't have a huge problem with the boom or bust philosophy. But you must understand that busts are far more common than booms... and that a team with a large number of holes to fill doesn't often have the luxury of throwing away picks.

Will a FB or a P come to the Bengals as an undrafted FA? Sure. But you aren't going to get one of the quality that you can get in the 5th round, and you won't have your pick of the litter so to speak. You have to take a player that no other team thought worth using a draft pick on, and hope that no other team steals him away, as they have a choice where to go.

In short... I'd much rather have the top rated FB in this draft than a likely to bust player at a higher profile position.

Looking at the 5th round selections in the Marvin era:

2008: Pat Shirley - too soon to tell. Big time project... but not likely to get much playing time in the near future.

2007: Jeff Rowe - Enough said.

2006: A.J. Nicholson - Enough said.

2005: Adam Keift - Could have been good... a knee injury kept us from ever finding out.

2004: Maurice Mann - Enough said.

2003: Khalid Abdullah - Provided good depth and ST's for a few years. Neither boom nor bust.

As you can see, nearly all the selections were boom or bust types. Most are no longer in the league.

I don't often play these games... but think about how the Bengals current situation might be even slightly better if in 2003 they they had selected one of the best punters in the game in Mike Scifres, or rather than grabbing Maurice Mann in '04, selecting one of the NFL's better FB's in Mike Karney.

Sure... it's not exactly drafting Tom Brady in the 6th round. It's just a safe pick at a position of need that can help right away. When you've just completed a 4-11-1 season, it seems like you would want as many safe productive draft picks as possible.

[Kazkal]

Exactly Derek and I just don't get the whole, "Why draft him when we could get him as an undrafted free agent ?" talk. I guess people forget that the undrafted players actually "choose" where they would like to go play at that point. I'm sorry, but if I was a player in the draft and the Bengals came knocking along with a Super Bowl contender, it wouldn't take long to figure out where I was headed.

Just go get the damn player and move on. Would ANYONE here be upset if we used our 5th to get the best rated fullback and then traded back up into the 5th by giving up our 6th and 7th to get Huber (the top rated punter) ?? Keeping in mind we have a comp pick in the 6th and two more in the 7th ?? I just think that would be a very solid more for them to make, but understand there has to be a willing participant...

Checking the trade value chart, our 6th and 7th rounder would get us around the 9th or 10th pick in the 5th round.

I don't agree with the philosophy, but understand it. A WR with upside, who could end up being a difference-maker at his position in 3-4 years has a greater value than a punter or fullback of a greater talent, even if they end up being players of comparable quality. That's why most Ks in the NFL are undrafted FAs or 7th round picks. To me, if you need a K or FB, pick the one you like best in the draft and don't worry about it. There's a reason you liked him as much in the first place.

I'd take a Starting fullback who is highly rated at what he does over a WR who """MAY""" workout in 4 years any day of the week....we NEED a fullback and a good one we do not need a WR who may pan out in 4 years...

[Whur CHad At?]

Exactly Derek and I just don't get the whole, "Why draft him when we could get him as an undrafted free agent ?" talk. I guess people forget that the undrafted players actually "choose" where they would like to go play at that point. I'm sorry, but if I was a player in the draft and the Bengals came knocking along with a Super Bowl contender, it wouldn't take long to figure out where I was headed.

Just go get the damn player and move on. Would ANYONE here be upset if we used our 5th to get the best rated fullback and then traded back up into the 5th by giving up our 6th and 7th to get Huber (the top rated punter) ?? Keeping in mind we have a comp pick in the 6th and two more in the 7th ?? I just think that would be a very solid more for them to make, but understand there has to be a willing participant...

Checking the trade value chart, our 6th and 7th rounder would get us around the 9th or 10th pick in the 5th round.

I don't agree with the philosophy, but understand it. A WR with upside, who could end up being a difference-maker at his position in 3-4 years has a greater value than a punter or fullback of a greater talent, even if they end up being players of comparable quality. That's why most Ks in the NFL are undrafted FAs or 7th round picks. To me, if you need a K or FB, pick the one you like best in the draft and don't worry about it. There's a reason you liked him as much in the first place.

I'd take a Starting fullback who is highly rated at what he does over a WR who """MAY""" workout in 4 years any day of the week....we NEED a fullback and a good one we do not need a WR who may pan out in 4 years...

I agree with you Kaz. I'd take a fullback over Jerome Simpson too.

[HAPPYJAQ]

Exactly Derek and I just don't get the whole, "Why draft him when we could get him as an undrafted free agent ?" talk. I guess people forget that the undrafted players actually "choose" where they would like to go play at that point. I'm sorry, but if I was a player in the draft and the Bengals came knocking along with a Super Bowl contender, it wouldn't take long to figure out where I was headed.

Just go get the damn player and move on. Would ANYONE here be upset if we used our 5th to get the best rated fullback and then traded back up into the 5th by giving up our 6th and 7th to get Huber (the top rated punter) ?? Keeping in mind we have a comp pick in the 6th and two more in the 7th ?? I just think that would be a very solid more for them to make, but understand there has to be a willing participant...

Checking the trade value chart, our 6th and 7th rounder would get us around the 9th or 10th pick in the 5th round.

I don't agree with the philosophy, but understand it. A WR with upside, who could end up being a difference-maker at his position in 3-4 years has a greater value than a punter or fullback of a greater talent, even if they end up being players of comparable quality. That's why most Ks in the NFL are undrafted FAs or 7th round picks. To me, if you need a K or FB, pick the one you like best in the draft and don't worry about it. There's a reason you liked him as much in the first place.

I'd take a Starting fullback who is highly rated at what he does over a WR who """MAY""" workout in 4 years any day of the week....we NEED a fullback and a good one we do not need a WR who may pan out in 4 years...

I agree with you Kaz. I'd take a fullback over Jerome Simpson too.

For the 2009 Cincinnati Bengals, I'm not disagreeing with you guys at all. I've said before that we need a starting FB and C, worse than we need another RT, which was then bashed unconsciously here.

That said, if we're looking at a SS, who may be a backup and Special Teamer next season versus a WR who might be the 5th or 6th receiver next year but could be a #2 in 2-3 seasons, give me the WR anyday.

[HairOnFire]

Nick Harris was drafted by Denver (4th rd 2001 Cal) he was released, and then signed off waivers by The Bengals.

Maybe you're getting him confused with Travis Dorsch (4th rd 2002 Purdue)

The above is a nice reminder of how often the highest rated punters are cut, including last years example of Durant Brooks. Lot's of examples of guys who like Huber who can flat out kill the ball or direction kick the ball into a basket, but can't make the roster due to slow delivery times.

Just saying...

[HAPPYJAQ]

Nick Harris was drafted by Denver (4th rd 2001 Cal) he was released, and then signed off waivers by The Bengals.

Maybe you're getting him confused with Travis Dorsch (4th rd 2002 Purdue)

The above is a nice reminder of how often the highest rated punters are cut, including last years example of Durant Brooks. Lot's of examples of guys who like Huber who can flat out kill the ball or direction kick the ball into a basket, but can't make the roster due to slow delivery times.

Just saying...

I was thinking the exact same thing earlier, but decided against posting it. Nick Harris was almost legendary at Cal and has been a journeyman in the NFL, so it's not guaranteed to work out for Huber, either. What's worse is that if he doesn't make it as your starting punter, he's history and an instant wasted draft pick. If you WR doesn't develop into a star, maybe he still a core Special Teamer or return guy.