Grant Halverson - Getty Images
8 months ago: JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 09: Leon Hall #29 of the Cincinnati Bengals stays loose between plays against the Jacksonville Jaguars during play at EverBank Field on October 9, 2011 in Jacksonville, Florida. Cincinnati won 30-20. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Bengals cornerback Leon Hall is recovering from a torn Achilles that he suffered against the Pittsburgh Steelers last season. Though he's not expected to participate during any OTAs this summer, he's hoping to be ready by training camp.
That being said there's a very realistic chance that Hall may not be ready for the regular season, placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list through the first six weeks of the 2012 regular season (which allows the team a roster exemption). This could rather distressing considering that the team is already shorthanded with cornerbacks, compounded with a possibility that free agency may thin the ranks even more.
It's why we're led to believe that the team will offer one of their first round draft selections as the true Johnathan Joseph replacement while veterans continue keeping the spot warm. One of those players, writes Brennen Warner, could be Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick.
+ One mock draft has Cincinnati using one of their first round selections and second round picks to move up in the draft to acquire running back Trent Richardson. Great talent, but no thanks. Those are premium selections used to acquire the best talent in the draft at positions that are harder to obtain. In other words are you more likely to find a running back that can help your offense later in the draft as oppose to a cornerback, safety or offensive linemen?
+ With the contracts of Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell expiring on March 13, the Bengals will likely be in the market for a veteran wide receiver opposite A.J. Green. Jack Cassidy wonders if that could be Giants wide receiver Mario Manningham.
+ Pro Football Focus writes that Bengals offensive tackle Andre Smith was the most improved Bengals player on the team last year.
+ CBS Sports ranks the Bengals No. 10 in their final power rankings of the season. SB Nation drops the Bengals to No. 11.
+ Reflecting on a list of underrated defensive players in this year's class | ...and offensive players.
+ The complete list of invitees for this year's NFL Combine.
+ To say that the Cincinnati Bengals have a ton of cap room would be an understatement.
+ Jason Garrison wonders which free agents that the Cincinnati Bengals should retain.
+ Bengals linebacker Thomas Howard reflects on Cincinnati's defense and the 2011 season.
+ Joe Goodberry argues that Cincinnati's development could result in a team with a similar make-up as the New York Giants.
+ The Cincinnati Bengals have 40-1 odds of winning the Super Bowl in 2012, according to Bovada.
+ Super Bowl XVI between the Bengals and 49ers remains one of the top watched games of all-time.
+ Former Bengals linebacker Rashad Jeanty returned to the Canadian Football League.
+ Wondering if there's a log-jam at linebacker with Keith Rivers' return and what that means for Manny Lawson.
For more from Cincy Jungle, make sure to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
0 recs | 27 comments
Still photo...
But damn, he does get air underneath him, doesn’t he?
pemci - February 9, 2012
That should have said "Still Photo"
But damn, he does get up off the ground, doesn’t he?
pemci - February 9, 2012
i don't see the point in trying to risk him re-injuring his achillies
id much rather darft or sign a FA CB and put hall on the pup to make sure he is fully healthy for a playoff push
AMAS85 - February 9, 2012
Possible remedies:
—sign a good-but-not-great (i.e., not insanely expensive) FA CB and draft a CB in the first.
—draft a CB in the first and second, using the other pick in the first on offense, either G or RB.
—go crazy and draft two CBs in the first, if CBs are the best players available. It could conceivably happen: Jenkins could be there, Gilmore might rise, and Kirkpatrick’s draft stock might not recover from his arrest, even though it turned out to be minor.
Big Sky Bengal - February 9, 2012
kirkpatrick and Jenkins/ Barron would be a very solid first round
i don’t think Decastro or richardson will fall to us and think how set we would be on defense for the next 4 years.
2nd round is the best value for RB and the 3rd is the best value for OL
AMAS85 - February 9, 2012
Since its a passing league
There is more of a premium put on corners, especially potentially elite ones. With that being said I would be surprised if Kirkpatrick or Jenkins were there when the Bengals draft. I think there is a better chance DeCastro or Richardson being there.
EPK1979 - February 9, 2012 via mobile
Let's just sign Brandon Carr and then not worry about Leon Hall this year
Problem solved. Yes, I know it will never happen, but in my ideal world they would spend the money they should have spent on JJo on a legitimate #1 CB.
Animal_Like_Football - February 9, 2012
Leon is a #1
J joe was never healthy and was consistently burnt. He had more picks because teams threw at him significantly more
cincybengals - February 9, 2012
Leon isn't a #1 IMO
Oregonbengalsfan - February 9, 2012
obviously we can't ignore jjoes production this past year
but he was healthy and had a great front seven and benefited from it. I would love to sign Carr too
cincybengals - February 9, 2012
then there must be only 5 or 6 #1's in the league according to you.
But i understand he doesn’t stand out like revis who is constantly getting away with illegal hand and pass interference.
cincybengals - February 9, 2012
Oh it's not just me
He gets beat too much and without JJoe he was exposed this year
Oregonbengalsfan - February 9, 2012
We had a even better front seven than Houston. Hall isn’t a #1, was getting torches before he went down.
pray4gm11 - February 9, 2012 via mobile
+1
Hall is probably our best CB right now….but that is not saying much for what we currently have….It is time to draft the future of this position
ticalcaldwell - February 9, 2012
He looks slow. So with that type injury what is his speed go really look like. Dude can tackle so I think his career is at FS.
pray4gm11 - February 9, 2012 via mobile
Physically, he’s a #1
Joe Goodberry - February 9, 2012 via Android app
Joe do u judge everybody game off size? Do anybody gotta perform on feild? I’m 6’2 195 I’m a #1 cb also?
pray4gm11 - February 9, 2012 via mobile
I posted this on the other Leon Hall article as well.
I found this interesting research paper for any of you interested in hall’s Achilles tear. it talks about the road back for an NFL player. The conclusion was that about two thirds of players make it back from the injury and most of those players are sadly never the same. Hopefully for Hall he comes back to the pro bowl caliber player we know him as.
http://www.lowerextremityreview.com/article/return-to-football-after-achilles-tendon-rupture
cincybengals - February 9, 2012
Leon is on my suspect list for next year
People dont want to face some hard truths about Leon this year….He did not play well…got beat all day deep and just looked weak out there…I get the stats, when he was with our D, it was a better defense statistically….but go back and watch the tape…He was solid…but not at the level we need him to be….I hope he comes back strong…we need him
ticalcaldwell - February 9, 2012
Aside from Crocker I thought we actually played better without Hall. The major injury we don’t talk about was Simms. The defense went downhill when he went down.
pray4gm11 - February 9, 2012 via mobile
I agree
our rotation slowed, our pass rush declined and it put more pressure on our average CBs…
ticalcaldwell - February 9, 2012
Don’t know how Jennings was out there. First time I seen him on feild I said he couldn’t and don’t wanna tackle anybody. From that week on if you go back and watch tape, teams picked on him in running game.
pray4gm11 - February 9, 2012 via mobile
I somewhat agree with you guys.
I dont think Hall is a number 1 but before the injury he was a great number 2. I think a move to safety would be better for him. Also, I think when Sims went out the defense was hurt more.
EPK1979 - February 9, 2012 via mobile
But
When Sims went down, it was noticeable because they didnt have another big run stuffer to clog holes. It wasnt necessary Sims was that big of a difference maker.It was we didnt have a back up that had his size to do what he did.
EPK1979 - February 9, 2012 via mobile
?
So that means he was a HUGE difference maker. We didn’t even have a starter(Peko) that could do what Simms bought to table.
pray4gm11 - February 9, 2012 via mobile
lol Peko is clearly more athletic than Simms. They are used differently
AMAS85 - February 9, 2012
Peko shouldn’t be a starter
pray4gm11 - February 9, 2012 via mobile
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