Bobbie Williams negotiations ongoing; Chester Pitts would love to play for Cincinnati

by Josh Kirkendall on Mar 25, 2010 9:46 AM EDT in Analysis

The name Chester Pitts surfaced early in March, as the Bengals were reportedly interested in the guard with the assumption that the interest was directly related to whether the Bengals can get Bobbie Williams back. Aside from that, we've heard next to nothing about whether the interest was legitimate. They eventually brought hosted Richie Incognito for a day, who would later sign with the Miami Dolphins. As for Pitts, according to John McClain (not Bruce Willis), Pitts would love to play for the Bengals.

I know what you're thinking. Since when have free agents actually admitted to wanting to play for Cincinnati? Then again, his options appear limited with a likely destination in San Francisco, barring any setbacks during his physical. And as we assumed already, if the Bengals get Williams back, McClain says that "it'll be a moot point."

As for Williams - the team's reported high priority - negotiations continue. Joe reedy writes that negotiations "to sign the veteran offensive guard are ongoing but both sides have been unable to agree". What could be stalling things is that we've seen no reports that Williams is being courted by another NFL team. We're not even sure there's much interest out there. If that's the case, then the Bengals could see the lower market demand and offering something that Williams doesn't necessarily like. This would go back to John Thornton's comment last week when he advised that Williams should just take what he can get.

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Thanks for the update Kirk. I’m thinking Big Bobbie is hear to stay, but is it really a moot point with regards to Chester Pitts?

I thought Pitts was a LG, and a staple of HOU notorious zone-blocking scheme?

Why not both? Am I wrong to assume Pitts would be available on the cheap, returning from injury?

OR, do you like the platoon of Evan Mathis and Nate Livings over Pitts?

Thanks Kirk

3 yards and a pile of dust

by Hudepohl Dey on Mar 25, 2010 10:04 AM EDT reply actions

RE: Pitts at LG

I thought that was one of the scenarios when reports of Pitts’ interest surfaced, putting Pitts at LG. But if the Bengals had planned on signing Pitts as a left guard, I would that would be an entirely different progression. They’d get him in and signed. But, Pitts hasn’t even made a trip to Cincinnati that we know of. So I’d assume that the interest was here and gone when it was originally reported. Or that interest is based on what happens with Williams.

And now that Pitts is about to sign with San Francisco — if he passes his physical — the Bengals haven’t reportedly made a play on him anyway. I think they’re comfortable with the Matthis/Livings scenario at LG and that any play for a RG will be based on whether Williams signs or not.

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

by Josh Kirkendall on Mar 25, 2010 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions