Bengals Banter: The Antonio Bryant is a Bengals receiver edition

by Josh Kirkendall on Mar 11, 2010 10:53 AM EST in Analysis

Roy Cummings of Tampa Bay Online writes that Antonio Bryant was a bit of a free lance route runner, leading to an unknown number of Josh Freeman's interceptions.

Precision was another issue. It turns out that Bryant is a bit of a free lancer when it comes to running his routes and that penchant for being off just a tad resulted in a handful of picks for Freeman last year.

However, National Football Post's Matt Bowan thinks that Antonio Bryant is just a better receiver than Terrell Owens because Bryant forces defenses to game plan against him, and thus Owens was passed up.

Cincinnati’s thinking is that Bryant — not Owens — is the WR who will force a defense to play both sides of the field and play with an honest safety between the hashes. And give QB Carson Palmer two viable weapons in the drop-back passing game.

James Walker thinks signing Antonio Bryant helps, but "tight end and offensive guard are still big needs." Otherwise, he thinks that the offense is now more balanced. I'm just curious as to how many people thought the same thing last year when the team acquired Laveranues Coles. But I agree with Walker's assessment.

Dave Lapham reacts to the signing of Antonio Bryant.

Note: One observation is that the Bengals were looking in the $3-4 million range for Terrell Owens.

The Bengals think that Bryant is a little bit Chris Henry, a little bit T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

After signing Bryant, it opens the door for the Bengals to draft guard Mike Iupati or safety Taylor Mays.

Joe Reedy documents much of how the deal went down with the Bengals. Reedy also goes on to suggest that Bryant was "the right choice for the Bengals now."

Who Dey Fans think the Bengals have upgraded the position, but would still like the Bengals to make a play on Terrell Owens.

Speaking of Owens, the Bengals took the wide receiver to Jeff Ruby's steakhouse. Owens ordered the seabass and Marvin Lewis ordered the steak.

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Comments

i’m not an antonio bryant fan at all. i don’t know what about his career warrants a 4-year deal for 7 million per. and i think if the goal is to win now, you have a better shot with t.o., and much less risk money wise (as has been stated elsewhere by people who aren’t i). to me, this signing reeks of “typical” bengals front-office management (to use the term loosely); that is, overpaying for someone whose production doesn’t match the hype.

i'm going to go america all over your ass!

by Raging Clue on Mar 11, 2010 11:46 AM EST reply actions

Few people accuse the Bengals of typically overpaying people

by jim0ijk on Mar 11, 2010 11:56 AM EST up reply actions

FYI, the Idaho guard's last name is Iupati.

Capital i, not an L. Don’t mean to be a pain, but it bothers my OCD.

by thebyron on Mar 11, 2010 1:23 PM EST reply actions

Oh, and I think he'd be a great pick for you guys.

by thebyron on Mar 11, 2010 1:23 PM EST up reply actions

Fixed. :)

I saw it and immediately stopped reading to check the comments and see if anyone else had. lol

by Craig Conrad on Mar 11, 2010 2:54 PM EST up reply actions

Bryant and Who we take in the first?

Bryant was a better fit for the long term due to his age 29 and T.O. was 36 soon to be 37. Thats a little long in the tooth. There is a much better chance that Bryant will have a few good seasons in him where T.O. is on the back end of his career and likely we would see a decrease in his production again this year. As for the draft everyone is saying we will draft G Lupati or S T. Mays. What about Earl Thomas from Texas. He is clearly a better fit for what we do with our safetys than Mays. Mays is a run supporter and a poor cover guy where as Thomas is an all around player. Thomas can slide over and cover WR in the slot. You would never do this with Mays which means he plays on run downs and sits in passing situatuions. I want my 1st rounder to be on the field all the time. Yes Mays is fast running a straight line but when he has to change directions hes in trouble. Mays is better off playing in a 3-4 defense and i think he will get picked by San Fransisco at #17 anyways. I watched USC vs Ohio State and saw him struggle to cover Dan Sazenbacher underneath and Posey over the top. I would be happy with any of these players but i just think Thomas is a better fit for us. Your thoughts please.

by POGO94 on Mar 11, 2010 1:41 PM EST reply actions

Earl Thomas will not be around at 21.

Slim 15, you will be missed. RIP Chris Henry

by Danimal, Destroyer of Worlds on Mar 11, 2010 2:48 PM EST up reply actions

He's projected to be a top 10

Slim 15, you will be missed. RIP Chris Henry

by Danimal, Destroyer of Worlds on Mar 11, 2010 2:48 PM EST up reply actions

we were never going to give up our first pick..

Marshall was never going to be a Bengal. Now we have a wide open draft and hopefully another talented receiver who can get open opposite Chad. I am now concerned with TE. We need to do something besides signing Foshi and Coats (I hate that I still have to type his freakin name). All in all, a good signing. Stay healthy Antonio.

by 80%OFTHETIMEIMRIGHTEVERYTIME on Mar 11, 2010 2:36 PM EST reply actions

To that end....

…Remember, it’s not just Coats (yeah, I hate that I have to type it, too) and Foschi…we all decided that it looks like they’re going to try and convert Matt Jones to TE too, right?

by TheWalrus1971 on Mar 11, 2010 3:02 PM EST up reply actions

QB in college

a QB in college to WR to TE???? I don’t see this being successful

by DonMegga on Mar 11, 2010 3:38 PM EST up reply actions

Oh geez, he'd get worked..

Let’s just put B. Scott out there.

by 80%OFTHETIMEIMRIGHTEVERYTIME on Mar 11, 2010 6:43 PM EST up reply actions

THOMAS

I ONLY SEE THREE TEAMS THAT MAY TAKE THOMAS IN MIAMI AT 12, TENNESSEE AT 16 AND ATLANTA AT 19. I THINK MIAMI OPTS FOR DT D.WILLIAMS FROM TENNESSEE SINCE FERGUSON IS SUSPENDED FOR 8 GAMES. I SEE TENNESSEE OPTING FOR DE J. PIERRE-PAUL OF SOUTH FLORIDA AND ATLANTA WILL HAVE A SHOT AT TAKING LB/DE B.GRAHAM FROM MICHIGAN OR WR DEZ BRYANT COULD FALL TO THEM IF NOT SELECTED BY DENVER AT #11. SO E.THOMAS COULD STILL BE THERE. THE NFL DOESNT LIKE TO TAKE SAFTIES HIGH UNLESS THERE LIKE E.REED AND THATS ERIC BERRY THIS YEAR NOT EARL THOMAS. PITTSBURGH WAS IN THE RUNNING FOR A SAFETY BUT THEY SIGNED WILL ALLEN AND RESIGNED R.CLARK. SO THEY WONT TAKE A SAFETY EITHER. IM JUST SAYING IF HE IS THERE YOU GOTTA TAKE HIM OVER MAYS AND LUPATI.

by POGO94 on Mar 11, 2010 4:24 PM EST reply actions

Your caps lock button was on

by ritalin on Mar 11, 2010 11:00 PM EST up reply actions

safety in round two

I’d say we have to go with someone like either Iupati or Gresham in round one and make the steal of the draft, Chad Jones, 6’-3", 230, from LSU, in round two. Not only is Jones fast and hits like a truck, he has a mid-90’s fastball that could help shore up the Reds’ bullpen in the offseason.