Andy Lyons - Getty Images
7 months ago: CINCINNATI, OH - OCTOBER 16: Bobbie Williams #63 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates during the NFL game against the Indianapolis Colts at Paul Brown Stadium on October 16, 2011 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals won 27-17. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Thanks to the New England Patriots' 23-20 win over the Baltimore Ravens, the Cincinnati Bengals are sending four players to the 2012 NFL Pro Bowl with quarterback Andy Dalton, tight end Jermaine Gresham and defensive tackle Geno Atkins joining wide receiver A.J. Green, who was the only player selected to the original roster last month. Dalton and Atkins were first alternates at their respective positions, replacing Tom Brady and Vince Wilfork Sunday night. Jermaine Gresham, initially a third-alternate, replaces New England tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez (the first-alternate) who are headed to the Super Bowl with Owen Daniels, the second alternate, out with an injury.
It marks the first time four or more Bengals players will play in the Pro Bowl since the 2005 squad and the tenth time in franchise history. Individually Atkins is the first Bengals defensive tackle to play in the Pro Bowl since Tim Krumrie in 1988 and Jermaine Gresham is the first tight end since Rodney Holman in 1990.
| Rec. | Yrds | Avg. | TD | |
| J.Gresham ('11) | 56 | 569 | 10.6 | 6 |
| R.Holman ('90) | 40 | 596 | 14.9 | 5 |
Generally speaking having four Pro Bowl players is always a sign of some achievement within an organization, mounting evidence of this franchise's future. Additionally when all of those players are 24 years old or younger, none of whom have played more than two seasons in their short NFL careers, it points to an established foundation that will still require a handful of components across the board. But it's a tremendous start.
+ A feature story on Bleacher Report listed eight players that the Cincinnati Bengals "must" allow to leave for free agency. Most are the standard players like Andre Caldwell, Mike McGlynn, Kelly Jennings, Jerome Simpson and Cedric Benson among others. The one exception we made was when Bobbie Williams' name surfaced.
To Williams’ credit the offensive line was much better whenever he was actually playing; it’s just not all that plausible for the Bengals to bring him back. Going on 36, Williams coming back from a broken ankle isn’t likely.
As it stands right now the Bengals have two offensive guards signed for 2012 with a combined five games played and three starts in Clint Boling and Otis Hudson. Those headed into free agency includes Williams, Nate Livings and Mike McGlynn. Unless you want to bring both back, it's highly unlikely and very much against the team's tendencies to stretch themselves that thin heading into the offseason when they can avoid it.
We get that Williams is older and we get that he'll have rehabiliation to recover from a season-ending injury. But the truth is you don't dump your best offensive guard in the hopes of finding suitable replacements within the next six months. You dump your best guard after you find replacements and again, based on tendencies, it might not even happen through the draft or even this year.
Cincinnati has never selected an offensive guard in the first round in franchise history and only once has the Bengals front office selected one in the second round dating all the way back to 1989. Additionally Williams was originally a free agent signing in 2004, replacing Mike Goff (a 1998 third round draft selection). Nate Livings was an undrafted free agent in 2006 and McGlynn signed on last year.
| Guards Selected by Cincinnati According To Round. | |
| First Round | 0 |
| Second Round | 4 |
| Third Round | 4 |
| Fourth Round | 5 |
| Fifth Round | 3 |
| Sixth Round | 1 |
| Seventh Round | 4 |
| Eighth Round (and later) | 10 |
Four guards have been drafted during the Marvin Lewis era: Eric Steinbach (2003), Dan Santucci (2007), Reggie Stephens (2010) and Clint Boling (2011). Otis Hudson, a guard on the roster, was later a convert, originally an offensive tackle.
Additionally Williams signed a two-year deal worth $5.8 million in 2010, so it's not an oppressive price tag if he returned. At the very least he offers depth, leadership, chemistry and insurance for a position that the Bengals are borderline in desperation.
It's fine and good if you want to predict what the Bengals should do. And it's awesome if you hope that they'll break their own tedencies. Ultimately it does you no good until you factor in what the Bengals have done in the past, which is all we have to work with.
+ Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden declined an interview request for Indianapolis' head coaching vacancy over the weekend.
+ Oregon Ducks head coach Chip Kelly was close to becoming Tampa Bay's newest head coach... until he wasn't.
+ Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton won the NFL Players Association Emerging Player Award. We wrote in mid-November that he had been a nomination.
+ Bengals defenisve backs coach Kevin Coyle is being targeted by the Miami Dolphins for their vacant defensive coordinator position.
+ We talked about several on-going issues with the Benagls in our latest Six-Pack of Who Dey.
0 recs | 10 comments
You dump your best guard after you find replacements and again, based on tendencies, it might not even happen through the draft or even this year.
I agree, we shouldn’t drop him just because he is getting old…at the same time….we need a high level guard..I guess Bobbie was the best guard we have….but considering what we had…that isnt saying much….We HAVE to draft or sign a Guard in FA….our run blocking was just flat out terrible…
ticalcaldwell - January 23, 2012
i think FA is the way to go
unless we are grabbing 1 in the 1st round we need someone that can step in and play NOW!
Bengalsfan024 - January 23, 2012
IDK
maybe if Decastro drops we might pick OL in the first round. Other than that RB and DB would be on the top of my list.
AMAS85 - January 23, 2012
Williams can still play
You see O linemen play at an older age than most positions. I think a 1 yr contract would be fine even if we do get a G in the draft. The guy back up Williams till he’s ready and Williams could be a great backup and mentor.
Bigcatdaddy - January 23, 2012 via Android app
I agree
pending we dont get the AJ Green equivalent guard in the draft…I would sign him to a one year deal and HOPE we finally get some O-line help….please lord
ticalcaldwell - January 23, 2012
RE:
I politely disagree. His play has declined since 2009 and he has seemed to have costly penalties quite often. Bobbie has been a leader and is big and strong, but his best days are behind him and he’s a shadow of what he once was and is coming off of a major injury. Plus, we’re not talking about a Steve Hutchinson/Alan Faneca perennial Pro Bowl guard here. He’s been solid over the years—not spectacular.
They need to look elsewhere. If no good options are available to them in the draft or free agency, then they can look at signing Williams to a stopgap contract like you mentioned.
Anthony Cosenza - January 23, 2012
Williams return
would be a real failure by the Oline coaches to develop young talent. It would also be a failure by MB to spend some money in FA.
Ideally they need to get a line that will have 3 or 4 years of stability with Andy Dalton.
BENGALS69 - January 23, 2012
Draft history, while somewhat important, is not all too indicative of future draft selections
This is true to a certain extent. For example, prior to the 2010 NFL Draft, if we had just “factor[ed] in what the Bengals have done in the past. . .”, well then, one would have been ridiculed for believing that the Bengals were going to draft Jermaine Gresham simply because the Bengals had NEVER drafted a TE in the first round.
Similarly, the ONLY pure safety drafted in the first round by the Bengals was Daryl Williams in the 1992 draft (and he was our second, 1st round pick that year). So prior to the 1992 Draft, if we had just “factor[ed] in what the Bengals have done in the past”, any mock predicting the selection of Daryl Williams would have been dismissed, simply because the bengals had never drafted a safety in the first round prior to that draft.
I think prior draft history is one of just many indicators, but to assert that the Bengals are NOT likely to draft a Guard in the first round, simply because they have never drafted a guard in the first round, is not sound logic. Again, using that logic, Jermaine Gresham would not have been selected in 2010 (or at least those of us who predicted the Bengals would draft Gresham would have been dismissed with a quick reply of, “But the Bengals have NEVER selected a TE in the first round.”
The_Black_Stripes - January 23, 2012
Given the Bengals past draft history
it is useful when considering likely future picks. Not 100% accurate, but useful.
In the ML era, he has favored skill positions over brawn positions in the first round.
Ie he likes guys that go fast or have athletic skill.
So given compelling needs between skill positions and brawn positions my money is Lewis goes skill.
For example given a compelling need between guard and CB, I expect them to take a CB in the first round.
Given a compelling need at DT and RB or WR or LB, I’d expect them not to take a DT in the first round.
Since they have compelling needs at many skill positions, ie the go fast guys, I expect that is how they will draft in the early rounds.
We’ll find out in another 3 months.
BENGALS69 - January 23, 2012
Have to bring back Williams on a 1 year deal
Have to draft a ready now type of guard,and pick up a proven FA also
Let Livings and Mcglynn walk
keithp - January 23, 2012
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Cincy Jungle to post a comment.