HoosierCat Posted September 6, 2004 Report Share Posted September 6, 2004 Any thoughts about ex-Saints center Jerry Fontenot? Seems like the bengals are in the market for some o-line help as well as a vet LB, and Fontenot's name jumped out at me as I went through the cuts this a.m. On the negative side, he's like Braham: older 'n' dirt (15 year vet). But he hasn't missed a game in the last five years and was a Pro Bowl alternate last season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiLBurn Posted September 6, 2004 Report Share Posted September 6, 2004 We need to get someone a little younger at the position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierCat Posted September 16, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 Done.Bengals sign vet center9-16-04, 12 p.m. BY GEOFF HOBSON With centers Rich Braham and Larry Moore limping with sore knees, the Bengals turned to 37-year-old iron man Jerry Fontenot to help get them through this week. Fontenot surfaced in the locker room after Thursday’s walk-through when he signed a one-year deal. Before this season, Fontenot had started 80 straight games at center for the Saints. A former third-round pick of the Bears in 1989, Fontenot had started 106 straight games in Chicago and New Orleans before hurting his knee. It’s not clear who the Bengals are going to release to make room for the 6-3, 300-pound Fontenot. Fontenot is now the oldest player on the roster, with three years on Braham. It is believed he’s the oldest Bengal since 37-year-old Ken Anderson played his last season in 1986. Still, Fontenot is the 18th oldest player in a league that still has one player born in the ‘50s in 45-year-old Titans kicker Gary Anderson. The Bengals came off of Opening Day as the third youngest team, according to the NFL with an average age of 25.70. Chicago and Indianapolis are younger at 25.25 and 25.64 respectively. The Bengals have 13 rookies and first-year players, tied for second with Kansas City, San Diego and Dallas. San Francisco leads the league with 14. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirkendall Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 I really like this signing. A veteran center is HUGE!! Younger centers that are free agents aren't worth it because they aren't employed by a team for a reason when we can use next years draft to pick up a quality center or push Moore for Braham's future replacement. Either way, I consider a rookie center to be treated as a rookie QB because there's much more to it then just blocking for the captain of the line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPW Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 This is a GOOD pick up with both centers Rich Braham and Larry Moore hurting.Man I wish that we could get Healthy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BengalPappaw Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 [ We need to get someone a little younger at the position.]I agree that we need to get someone younger. This feels to me like a Mike Brown -- lets go cheap and see what we can get. Maybe I'm just paranoid after all these years.The Bengals could have had a GOOD young center (Jake Grove) with their first round choice -- instead of a backup running back.Hope Fontenot can plug up the center of the line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skyline Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 [ We need to get someone a little younger at the position.]I agree that we need to get someone younger. This feels to me like a Mike Brown -- lets go cheap and see what we can get. Maybe I'm just paranoid after all these years.The Bengals could have had a GOOD young center (Jake Grove) with their first round choice -- instead of a backup running back.Hope Fontenot can plug up the center of the line. Of course we need someone younger. This isn't a permanent thing, though.I'm guessing we'll see a center drafted next year...and Braham will become the backup for a season, or they'll let him go entirely, and use Moore for that purpose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schweinhart Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 Or Rex Hadnot in the 5th who's now the Fins back-up C and RG.Fontenot is a good pick-up. He should be able to prepare in time to be active Sunday instead of Mabry.Good call Joisey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierCat Posted September 16, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 There's no doubt at all we need to find a new center; I was one of the voices calling for Grove this past April, but I wouldn't have taken him in the 1st, and he was gone by the time we came up again. Really, this just wasn't a strong year for centers. I haven't looked at how the '05 draft is shaping up, but they will almost certainly use a first-day pick on a center.I don't see this as a Mikey move at all. Fontenot is a solid vet and with a rookie QB you just can't go plug in a youngster like Mabry in front of him. I like this signing a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BengalszoneBilly Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 Finally something positive! Good smart move. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LABengalsFan09 Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 Why hasn't there been an announcement on who they had to cut to make room for him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierCat Posted September 16, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 Saints fans on Jerry:http://www.saintsreport.com/vbulletin/show...threadid=129279Very kind words, most were sad to see him go. Appears he simply got caught in a numbers crunch, since he only played center and the other guys were center/guards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jditty47 Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 good signing. who cares if hes young or old. i like that hes a vet and should pick it up fast. with both centers hurting we need him. he wont be taking either of their spots so for a fill in, its a good signing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TippCityRick Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 Good catch Joisey. Now, could you sh** a shut down corner before 5!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPW Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 Alex Stepanovich from Ohio State was the guy I would have liked to have gotten in the Draft.But it just didn't fall right....He went high in the 4th round to Arizona with pick number 100.We had three fourth round picks, if he would have still been there maybe he would be a Bengal.But this is a GOOD pick up.......It's hard to believe that a guy like Fontenot can go from being a pro-bowl alternate last year to not being good enough to make the team this year. Granted he doesn't have the "versatility" of some of the other linemen, but don't you make an exception at the position that touches the ball on every offensive play.Fontenot brings a lot of maturity and leadership, he is a Very Experienced NFL Center and should be a Good Fill In for us this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barbarian Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 I'll say that I also like this move.Having a veteran at Center seems to be the trend. I like this move a hellova lot better than trying to fit Steiner in at Center.Trying to plug in Guards and Tackles at the Center position usually means problems--like for example fumbled snaps and lack of agility.If I were Palmer, I'd feel more comfortable with this move. The QB has to feel comfortable taking snaps--this is very important.Plus, what I know about Fontenot--he's got a real mean streak--and that's all good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierCat Posted September 16, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 They put Greg Brooks on IR to make room. bengals.com:The Bengals put rookie cornerback Greg Brooks (torn hamstring) on injured reserve to make room for the 6-3, 300-pound Fontenot. Brooks, the sixth-round pick from Southern Mississippi, becomes the ninth Bengal to go on a season-ending list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Brew Man Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 Good call Joisey! I think this is a nice stopgap signing and I hope this guy has a little gas in the tank for our line. Makes me wish we drafted a center..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staticx682004 Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 I think it was a good pickup for depth.But if i am not mistaken did chicago and n.o lines get run over while he was there during the 90's.Not saying he was the fault but he may contributed to the cause. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jditty47 Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 who cares, braham aint out for more than a game and mb a quarter here and there, he aint gonna be our permanent starter so as long as he can fill in ok and get up to speed fast, hes a good pickup. We dont need a probowler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierCat Posted September 16, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 FWIW, Sporting News' pro football preview ish this year rated Fontenot a "solid" player, which is basically a 3 on a 4-point scale. Braham got the same rating; Moore was rated "adequate," essentially a 2. So this could actually be considered an upgrade... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPW Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 They put Greg Brooks on IR to make room. bengals.com:The Bengals put rookie cornerback Greg Brooks (torn hamstring) on injured reserve to make room for the 6-3, 300-pound Fontenot. Brooks, the sixth-round pick from Southern Mississippi, becomes the ninth Bengal to go on a season-ending list. Man this injury crap Has to Stop.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierCat Posted September 16, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 Man this injury crap Has to Stop.... Law of averages. We got real lucky with injuries last year, tho we had a couple bad weeks right at the end of the season with a bunch of guys getting sick. This year, lady luck isn't being so kind.Looks like that early bye might end up being a blessing in disguise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShulaSteakhouse Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 I think Madieu Williams is the ONLY draft pick from this year's huge draft class that hasn't suffered a noteable, season ending or major injury...the ONLY ONE!!UGH!!!! I've never seen anything like it before honestly, insanity.In fact only 4 of the what, 10 players, are healthy enough to play this week:Keiwan RatliffLandon Johnson (probable)Madieu WilliamsPerry (probable)Greg Brooks was a big blow as he certainly could've made some waves as a CB this year and suprised some people, he never got that chance.BrooksGeathersAskewMillerAndrews---all are out for this week or the yearWho else am I missing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AGrizzlyBaer Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 Bramlets ok so chalk one more to that list of healthy players Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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