Bengals sign Wilkerson

[HoosierCat]

One more undrafted FA note, per the Post...

Massachusetts fullback Rich Demers has accepted an invitation to participate in the [bengals'] mini-camp without a contract as an extended tryout

[alleycat]

Although Wilkerson hasn’t played guard, Dye believes he not only has the athleticism to do it, but also the realization of how important it is to play all three interior spots.

As I suspected. If these guys are as athletic as billed, one of them becomes a guard.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

Although Wilkerson hasn’t played guard, Dye believes he not only has the athleticism to do it, but also the realization of how important it is to play all three interior spots.

As I suspected. If these guys are as athletic as billed, one of them becomes a guard.

Having two guys on the line who CAN play center would be MUCH nicer than having to bring in a guy like Fontenot who was older than his coaches to play on the line.

[HoosierCat]

Best-case scenario, I think, would be for Wilkerson and Ghaicuic to take over for Braham and Moore, who are a collective 65 years old. No matter which one wins the starting job, that sets center and backup center for the next 8 or 10 years.

That leaves Big Willie as the only "oldster" on the o-line...and given the way they've been collecting tackles I suspect that letting him go after his contract is up is at least under consideration. Especially with Levi's deal expiring soon, too; OTs cost big bucks. OTOH, Levi's play has been good, but not outstanding...is he worth the price it would take to resign him? One of them is going to go, I think.

But any way you look at it we're putting a lot of youth and (at least potential) talent on the line. If even half these kids work out we will have a top-tier o-line for many years to come.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

Any way you look at it we're putting a lot of youth and (at least potential) talent on the line. If even half these kids work out we will have a top-tier o-line for many years to come.

And a top-tier o-line is the best start to a top tier offense.

[schweinhart]

And a top-tier o-line is the best start to a top tier offense.

[HoosierCat]

And a top-tier o-line is the best start to a top tier offense.

He's right.

[membengal]

And a top-tier o-line is the best start to a top tier offense.

He's right.

Yeah, what Joisey said.

It kinda DOES all start up front in football, unless the rules for success have changed...

[schweinhart]

And a top-tier o-line is the best start to a top tier offense.

He's right.

Yeah, what Joisey said.

It kinda DOES all start up front in football, unless the rules for success have changed...

You gotta be sh*tting me

Top-Tier O-line is good place to start for Top-Tier offense.

Only a "complete idiot" would believe that.

http://forums.bengalszone.com/index.php?showtopic=5158&st=0

I always thought that Top-Tier Offense is built around Bottom-of-the-Barrell talent like...say...Rod Jones

[jjakq27]

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art.../504270393/1066

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

LSU center joining Bengals

Undrafted Wilkerson was highly rated before injury

By Mark Curnutte

Enquirer staff writer

ENGALS' REPORTED FREE-AGENT DEALS

Former LSU lineman Ben Wilkerson started since he was a true freshman for the Tigers and will compete to back up Rich Braham at center.

Other reported free-agent signings by the Bengals are:

Sale Key, WR, Idaho State

Steve Vierra, OL, UCLA

Herana-Daze Jones, S, Ind.

Lyonel Anderson, TE, Kansas

Patrick Body, S, Toledo

The Bengals reportedly have signed former LSU center Ben Wilkerson to a free-agent contract.

Once considered the top pro center prospect in college football, he was not drafted this past weekend because of a torn patella tendon in his left knee suffered in a game Oct. 30.

The Baton Rogue Advocate reported Wilkerson's signing. The Bengals do not comment on college free-agent signings until announcing the entire list, expected today.

Wilkerson could not attend the NFL scouting combine or participate in LSU's second pro day workouts March 31.

"They needed to bring in a center," Wilkerson told the newspaper about the Bengals. "They drafted one, but the reason I went with them, even though they did, was I know I'm well enough to compete for that position."

The Bengals drafted former Central Michigan center Eric Ghiaciuc in the fourth round.

Wilkerson, at 6-feet-3½, 299 pounds, shared the Rimington Award, given to the nation's top center, with Michigan's David Baas in 2004. Eleven centers were drafted over the weekend by NFL teams.

Various reports around the country also have the Bengals reaching contract agreements with a half dozen other free agents: The Great Blue Draft Report says the Bengals have signed wide receiver Sale Key of Idaho State (coach Marvin Lewis' alma mater), offensive lineman Steve Vierra of UCLA and safety Herana-Daze Jones of Indiana.

The Great Blue report also said that two of the top free agents, Michigan safety Ernest Shazor and Hawaii quarterback Jimmy Chang, signed with the Arizona Cardinals.

Other college Web site reports also say the Bengals have signed Kansas tight end Lyonel Anderson and Toledo safety Patrick Body.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

Latest reports out of the Wilkerson camp are that he will be ready to start by the time the season begins.

[schweinhart]

Wow, the air sure is clear out there at Camp Wilkerson, eh?

By the word "start", does that mean start at center for the season opener or does that mean start to practice?

Hopefully, he won't be rushed even if he is ready to "start" or "start". He's got a bad injury to deal with that could still be a career ender if he comes back too soon. Either IR or PUP sounds like the best way to go either way cause if Wilkerson gets back to where he was then the Bengals basically got 4 Day 1 picks this year.

[AGrizzlyBaer]

two years landing to big time rookie FA last year with Kyle Larson. shows a change

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

By the word "start", does that mean start at center for the season opener or does that mean start to practice?

Hopefully, he won't be rushed even if he is ready to "start" or "start". He's got a bad injury to deal with that could still be a career ender if he comes back too soon. Either IR or PUP sounds like the best way to go either way cause if Wilkerson gets back to where he was then the Bengals basically got 4 Day 1 picks this year.

They are saying he will be ready to start games by opening day. Apparently he is healing well, and will be able to use the minicamps to learn the playbooks and be ready to practice when training camp opens.

IR or PUP is a waste.

[DontPushMe]

If he doesnt go on IR he likely will fail to make the team.

[JPW]

If he doesnt go on IR he likely will fail to make the team.

If he is healthy he will make the team ...

[DontPushMe]

We will see about that.

[Chad Johnson]

I dont think you are understanding how good this guy is... Easily best center out of college just had severe injury... If the injury heals up this will be a downwright steal

[BengalsDieHard1]

Our O line is looking downright solid......for the next 4-8 years, at least. I think after the Wilkerson signing Rudi and Carson went out and parrrrrrrrrrr-tayyyyyyyyyyyed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[schweinhart]

The sooner Wilkerson's able to go the better but if he can't go or the Bengals want him healed better, he still could be a factor in the 2nd half of season if he's put on the physically unable to perform list.

The Bengals could put him on PUP at start of camp if he can't fully practice then keep him on PUP at final cut, IR him, or activate him. If he's on PUP after final cut he's got to sit 6 weeks then gets 3 weeks for evaluation before he is either put on IR, released, or activated at the start of week 10.

[HoosierCat]

The sooner Wilkerson's able to go the better but if he can't go or the Bengals want him healed better, he still could be a factor in the 2nd half of season if he's put on the physically unable to perform list.

The Bengals could put him on PUP at start of camp if he can't fully practice then keep him on PUP at final cut, IR him, or activate him. If he's on PUP after final cut he's got to sit 6 weeks then gets 3 weeks for evaluation before he is either put on IR, released, or activated at the start of week 10.

Per Hobson in his long article on the recruiting of Wilkerson by the Bengals (good piece: http://www.bengals.com/press/news.asp?iCur...=0&news_id=2892 ), Wilkerson being 100% and competing for a spot in training camp is "more than realistic."

FWIW.

[HairOnFire]

Not sure about the Bengals plan to stash Wilkerson on the practice squad if he's slow to heal. If I'm the GM of another team I'd wait until everyones roster is settled and then snatch him up ala Maurice Mann or Elton Patterson.

[HoosierCat]

Not sure about the Bengals plan to stash Wilkerson on the practice squad if he's slow to heal. If I'm the GM of another team I'd wait until everyones roster is settled and then snatch him up ala Maurice Mann or Elton Patterson.

Agreed. I don't think Wilkerson would last on the PS.

[jjakq27]

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...00399/-1/back01

Saturday, April 30, 2005

Repaired Wilkerson must bide his time

Undrafted center could be Bengals' gem

By Mark Curnutte

Enquirer staff writer

The 8-inch scar running vertically up Ben Wilkerson's left knee looks more like a zipper than part of a human body.

Staple marks - "I counted them, once," he said - are still visible from the surgery that ended Wilkerson's college football career.

He tore his patellar tendon on the last play of the LSU game against Vanderbilt on Oct. 30.

"They had to put a wire in there to hold it in there until it healed, and then they had to go back in to take the wire out," Wilkerson said Friday, after he was forced to watch the first practice of the Bengals' rookie mini-camp at Paul Brown Stadium.

He is being held out of mini-camp, he said, but does not anticipate a lengthy rehabilitation process. He's already started on a program the team's training staff has devised for him.

Wilkerson was one of the top-rated centers in the draft and probably would have easily been picked on the first day if not for the injury.

The Bengals signed him to a two-year contract this week as a rookie free agent. He becomes a factor in the competition for a roster spot. The Bengals have veteran Larry Moore, fourth-round pick Eric Ghiaciuc and Wilkerson on the roster as centers. Starter Rich Braham is expected to re-sign for one season as an unrestricted free agent.

"Ben, obviously, had his career get halted when he didn't get the opportunity to show what he could do," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "We have a chance to rehab him and see how quickly he can heal."

Wilkerson, who still shared the award as the nation's top center, chose the Bengals.

"It's a program that's on the rise," he said. "The situation here, and I don't want to get too much into it, but I definitely saw a situation, talking between myself and (offensive line) coach (Paul) Alexander and my agent. We came to the consensus that this is a great place for me."

Wilkerson remembers the play that changed his draft status. But he doesn't dwell on it. He said he has moved past the incident.

"I was locked up with a guy and kind of got caught up in the pile," he said.

"I was trying to protect myself, knowing it was the last play, and as I was getting ready to fall to the ground to protect myself, I felt it pop," Wilkerson said. "I can't tell you if somebody hit my leg or if I just got twisted up. It all happened so fast."

And, as a result, draft weekend went by agonizingly slow.

"I watched all the first day and halfway through the fourth round, and when they took about three more centers, I was like, 'OK.' It was kind of hitting me pretty good," said Wilkerson, listed at 300 pounds. "So I stopped watching but came back and watched the second half of the seventh round on out. Just to see where everybody else went."

Teams started calling mid-way through the seventh round.

"I was disappointed," he said of the draft snub. "There's always something about saying you were drafted. Now I can never say that because I'll never get that day back, but a lot of great players in the NFL were free agents. So I'll use it as motivation."

Wilkerson, who played at LSU, didn't have to look too hard for a fan.

Across the locker room, a former SEC rival, former Georgia linebacker Odell Thurman applauded Wilkerson.

"He has got to be the biggest steal of the draft as a free agent. They're saying I was the steal. He's the biggest steal," Thurman said. "I can honestly say he's the best lineman I ever played in college. He's totally smart. He used to do all the callouts. I think it's going to be great to be his teammate now."

[schweinhart]

http://www.bengals.com/press/news.asp?iCur...=0&news_id=2898

The above Hobson article is mainly about the effort to re-sign Braham and the early showing by Ghiaucic, but there's a bit about Wilkerson at the end about not getting bounced off the roster now that makes it sound like Wilkerson will be active roster for camp rather than PUP.

If the Bengals keep him active and he still isn't healed enough to play, I would hope he wouldn't go IR because one year of IR on a 2-year deal ain't too good. If he's shown any progress with his injury and is cut to be placed on practice squad, I doubt he even makes it to the PS because another team would claim him first.