Bengals use final practice squad spot on offensive tackle Gerald Cadogan

When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed fullback Chris Pressley off the Bengals practice squad on October 28, it not only crushed our anticipation that the Bengals were grooming their next big-impact fullback to eventually replace Jeremi Johnson, but it also opened up a roster spot. There was some speculation that the Bengals could demote a player from the 53-man roster and sign him back to the practice squad. However, players that are generally eligible for the practice squad haven't put in their full four years of service, so they'd first have to go through waivers. And if any team during the waiver process ahead of the Cincinnati Bengals claimed that player, he'd be gone and couldn't sign on the practice squad. Since the Bengals didn't go that route, all of what I said is pretty much irrelevant.

However, with Pressley's departure last week, the team had an open practice squad spot.

During a day in which Fui Vakapuna, a rookie who hasn't played a regular season down in his young NFL career, took the headlines and generated the most discussion, the Bengals also filled their open spot on the practice squad signing Gerald Cadogan on Tuesday. Cadogan was an undrafted free agent who signed with the Carolina Panthers after the NFL draft. The Panthers waived him on August 31.

Cadogan, Penn State's offensive tackle who was named first team All-Big Ten in 2008, was projected as a third-round pick by NFL Draft Scout, NFL Draft Bible, and Sports Illustrated. ESPN ranked him as the 11th best offensive tackle (Insider) coming into the league during the 2009 NFL Draft. Cadogan, who stands six-foot-five and weighs approximately 315 pounds, started all 26 games as the Nittany Lions' left tackle. His academic achievements are just as impressive, winning Academic All-Big Ten three straight seasons and Academic All-American twice.

What's even more impressive is that we were able to write so much about a practice squad addition.