Denver Broncos release Dewayne Robertson and former Bengals safety, Marquand Manuel

by Josh Kirkendall on Feb 16, 2009 9:43 PM EST in Analysis

On March 3, 2008, reports suddenly surfaced that the Cincinnati Bengals had worked out a trade for Defensive Tackle Dewayne Robertson from New York. In exchange, the Bengals would send the Jets their fourth and fifth round picks, while also taking on the migraine task of a contract extension to rework a deal that wouldn't be so difficult against the cap ($6.8 million in base pay in 2008 and $4.5 million in 2009).

The Denver Broncos eventually acquired Robertson via trade for a conditional 2009 draft pick, when it was speculated that the hold up for the trade was actual negotiations with Cincinnati; talk about accidentally saving our asses.

Why, do tell, am I bringing this up? In 2009, Robertson is set to "count $16 million against the team's $123 million cap." As a result, the Broncos cut him Monday freeing up a ton of cap space for a guy that, in 15 games, recorded 22 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

Since basic human nature also includes pure curiosity, the Bengals selected Anthony Collins and Jason Shirley with those picks and not $16 million for a 22-tackle defensive tackle. That's so Justin Smith-esque.

Also released was former Bengals safety Marquand Manuel.

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Comments

Wow

I was very pissed at the typical ineptness of the bengals front office when they let this trade fall through but I guess we fell ass backwards into a better situation. Collins is a building block for this team and I am holding out hope for Shirley

by CincyMike56 on Feb 16, 2009 10:57 PM EST reply actions

RE:

There is still the botched Shaun Rogers to remember.

Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Josh Kirkendall on Feb 16, 2009 11:25 PM EST reply actions

Scouting

As much as we all hate to admit it, I think the Bengals actually did quite a good job with personal decisions last year.
Good
1. Not trading up to get Sedrick Ellis, and getting Rivers and Sims
2. Picking up Cedric Benson
3. Picking up Chris Crocker
4. Not trading for Robertson
5. Drafting Anthony Collins
Bad
1.Not getting Shaun Rogers (but I think it was his choice to drop the signing bonus to go to the Browns)
2. Not trading 8 5. (I’m actually hopefully and think he’ll have a big year with Palmer back)
3. Not getting Odom to perform( but I think he was the best DE out there, and we need someone…)
4. Not getting Utecht to perform( we needed a pass catching TE, and he was the best out there)

by R.F. Mehl on Feb 16, 2009 11:53 PM EST reply actions

I’d have to make your Bad #4: Acquiring Ben Utecht in the first place. Mainly because we could have had Dustin Keller or Martellus Bennett, who’s production as rookies dwarfed our Gentle Ben’s. And Ben, sweet, injury-prone, stone-handed Ben’s season this year was not so much an anomaly but Ben being Ben.

by IgnatiusJReilly on Feb 17, 2009 11:31 PM EST up reply actions

I’ll concede that Utecht is a lot more useful if you are starting a Christian rock band, than trying to improve your offense. I’m just trying to say that while the scouting is far from stellar, it’s not as bad as it seems, at least not last year.

On the other hand.
I don’t know if the scouting personal also make the current roster moves but that’s were things went wrong.
1. Franchising the matador Stacy Andrews.
2. Releasing Willie If Bmore gave him a 3yr deal, he could have been traded
3.Cutting Detha
4. Leaving Ghuicaic at center [I was hopefully about him in the offseason, but someone closer to the team should have realized how bad he was]

So it seems like we can evaluate external talent, but things get screwed up once they get here…

by R.F. Mehl on Feb 18, 2009 12:22 AM EST up reply actions