Bengals cut two linebackers

by Kirkendall on May 1, 2008 2:50 PM EDT in Contracts Comment 2 comments

With Keith Rivers, and the obvious return of Odell Thurman, the Bengals linebacker corp. was starting to get crowded. It was unlikely that the Bengals would take all 13 linebackers (including unsigned Keith Rivers and Angelo Craig) into training camp. On Thursday, they waived Anthony Schlegel and Roy Manning -- two linebackers that I didn't think stood a chance at winning a roster spot. Manning signed a one-year deal in mid-March. Curnutte writes that the Bengals will be taking 10 linebackers into training camp assuming they get Rivers signed. In reality, the Bengals could have 11 with Angelo Craig -- who could just as easily be a "tweener" (played DE and OLB in college), but it's more likely Craig will be a defensive end rather than a linebacker simply due to the amount of linebackers on roster.

Ahmad Brooks
Rashad Jeanty
Dhani Jones
Keith Rivers (unsigned)
Odell Thurman
Eric Henderson
Daryl Blackstock
Brandon Johnson
Corey Mays
Jim Maxwell

0 recs | Comment 2 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

starting LBs

In Curnutte’s blog, he asks what should the LB depth chart look like.

As has been the case during the Marvin Lewis tenure, this is not obvious.

Going for stability, I say

WILL: D. Jones/ O. Thurman
MIKE: K. Rivers/??
SAM: R. Jeanty/ A. Brooks

with the hope that Thurman and Brooks show enough durability/responsibility to become starters.
Also, I think Jones and Rivers are the only two players trustworthy enough to give the new helmet communication to, so one of them should be the MIKE.

by R.F. Mehl on May 1, 2008 4:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs