Donald Lee IS back in the fold.

[Wraith]

If we do this we can put a neat bow on the Free Agent Period, this was the last move I wanted them to make. All in all pretty sucessful period on to the draft.

[skyline]

Yep, I'm VERY happy to see this...

[ArmyBengal]

I made a post in the other thread about wanting Lee back much more than using another 1st round pick at the TE spot.

This would make me very happy.

Also, they seemed to be up on Cochart, so I like how things are going.

[COB]

I'm for it. Donald Lee seems like a consumate professional. He did his job well last year, and you hardly heard anything else from him or about him. Every team needs guys like this, aka grownups, to counteract the destructive effect of the children in mens' bodies that also populate NFL teams.

[HoosierCat]

Works for me.

[TJJackson]

I want two more pieces besides Lee (who I thought was pretty darn effective last year)

Brandon Johnson - a very valuable backup, with quality snaps on D (is one of our better cover linebackers) and special teams

Kelly Jennings - an average corner, to be sure, but a welcome veteran presence on nickel/dime (he should have no trouble covering 3rd and 4th WRs) while our pick at 17 learns the system for a year

Between the two, Johnson is the more important by far

I wouldn't mind signing Bobbie on the cheap, but it has to be a year at vet min, and this would just be to serveas a backup and to mentor DeCastro and Boling

[Wraith]

I want two more pieces besides Lee (who I thought was pretty darn effective last year)

Brandon Johnson - a very valuable backup, with quality snaps on D (is one of our better cover linebackers) and special teams

Kelly Jennings - an average corner, to be sure, but a welcome veteran presence on nickel/dime (he should have no trouble covering 3rd and 4th WRs) while our pick at 17 learns the system for a year

Between the two, Johnson is the more important by far

I wouldn't mind signing Bobbie on the cheap, but it has to be a year at vet min, and this would just be to serveas a backup and to mentor DeCastro and Boling

Agree on Brandon Johnson though I thought he regressed last year.

Agree on Bobbie Williams although I think the Jacob Bell signing kinda nixed the Bobbie Williams comeback story.

Totally disagree with Jennings. Allen>Jennings Newman>Jennings Adam Jones>Jennings where is he going to play? If they keep Hall, Clements, Allen, Newman, and Jones and add a 1st rounder in Gilmore or Kirkpatrick we are out of room at the inn for DBs. Jennings is gone IMHO and we are better for it.

[ArmyBengal]

Yeah, I thought Jennings blew everytime he was on the field last year and it doesn't appear they will be keeping all of what they already have when including another draft pick.

[TJJackson]

My base assumption, the short version: Jennings > Hall out on IR or PUP

The longer version: sign Jennings for 1 year at min or close to it, keep him through training camp, and if any of the 4 (Hall, Pacman, Clements, and/or Newman) can't go (which I consider to be a near certainty), you have Jennings ready to go as dime CB. I am confident he is good enough to play dime. If one of the 4 are on the 6 week PUP plan (which I consider to be a fairly likely scenario for Hall) then you keep Jennings through week 6 to cover for the PUP'ed player til his return

Or you resign Rico Suave, I guess :-)

Unless you think Rico Suave > Jennings, which I dont

[ArmyBengal]

I guess it also depends on how many CB's they intend on carrying into the regular season.

They ended the season with only 4 CB's and 6 safeties. I suppose they could go 5 and 5 or even 6 and 4.

So as it stands, even if they PUP Hall, they are looking at:

1. Draft pick

2. Clements

3. Allen

4. Newman

5. Jones

So that's already 5 without Hall. Where's Jennings going to go ?? Whether he is better than those guys I listed is certainly debateable, but I think we already have that answer from the organization. Some of those guys are already on a 1 year deal and it wouldn't surprise me to see them actually draft 2 CB's since we didn't have a CB on the practice squad at seasons end either.

[skyline]

How on earth has the Donald Lee thread become a DB discussion thread? Don't we already have 394859038405983059 of those?

[ArmyBengal]

In going back, I would like to go ahead and blame TJ.

How did I miss the diversion ??

D*mn allergies !!!

[ArmyBengal]

Back on track, they did sign him.
/>http://www.cincyjungle.com/2012/4/13/2946254/cincinnati-bengals-announce-that-tight-end-donald-lee-is-returning

[HoosierCat]

They signed Skuta back, too.

[TJJackson]

In going back, I would like to go ahead and blame TJ.

I'm married, so I am used to taking the blame......

[ArmyBengal]

In going back, I would like to go ahead and blame TJ.

I'm married, so I am used to taking the blame......

You and me both brother, you and me both !!!

[kingwilly]

Having Donald Lee back is a plus.

Now some open thoughts...

The mention about Brandon Johnson returning is a question mark. They dealt Rivers, which would indicate they are more probable to sign Johnson. I also think they will draft another LB.

Where is Chase Coffman?

Seeing that they release Rico Murray, makes me think Newman will spot in a safety role sometimes, or Leon Hall will transition. It seems likely that Hall will have lost a step, at least enough of one to prevent him from being an effective starting corner. Hall is a good tackler, and has good ball skills, so it could work.

Given the bolstering at db (Allen, Newman, Hall coming back) and the bolstering at interior line (Wharton, and Bell) I am thinking they could avoid G and CB in the first. I would be disappointed but these moves do at least attempt to address the thinness at db and O-line.

[derekshank]

Given the bolstering at db (Allen, Newman, Hall coming back) and the bolstering at interior line (Wharton, and Bell) I am thinking they could avoid G and CB in the first. I would be disappointed but these moves do at least attempt to address the thinness at db and O-line.

I disagree. Jones and Newman are here on 1-year contracts. Clements is in the last year of his contract. Allen is on a 2-year contract. That means that Hall is the only CB signed long-term.

Jones was decent in man coverage last year (he really only got beat when there were communication problems)... and Clements was better than expected. Allen has also come along as a decent CB in recent seasons. The Bengals have some decent depth and don't need to rely on a raw rookie CB to start immediately if he's not ready... but don't be fooled. The Bengals desperately need a quality CB that will be under contract past 2013.

P.S. I think Newman is only here in the event that Hall isn't ready to start the season. If Hall comes back, I think Newman gets cut before the season starts.

[volcom69]

I don't know Derek Zim loves Newman and I have a feeling he will want him to stay, but guess will find out.

[ArmyBengal]

You need not look any further than how long the contracts of our current CB's are and their age.

Sure maybe Newman can still run and had an injury last season, but does anyone see him being a starter for the next four years like a 1st round CB would ??

Clements is in the same boat and the rest are, well, the rest...

That's why they will take a CB in the 1st.

[wpeldios]

This is a solid signing. Cheap, improves the team, knows the team, seemed to click last year. Well played bengals, well played.