Five players sign tenders and return to the Bengals

Having big-time starters, or play-makers is always awesome. The more, the better. Right? Unfortunately, you can't have a roster full of play-makers. In fact, a majority of your roster, and a good recipe for success, is the quality of your role players, your supporting cast. It's the guys that weren't drafted high (or in many cases, not drafted at all) that don't make the biggest coin. They just come in, do a good job, and go home. Workman-like folk.

And on Monday, the Bengals received signatures for five of those workman-like players.

Nate Livings and Dennis Roland, both exclusive-rights free agents, signed their respective tenders securing the offensive line with guys that were a big part of the team's rushing success. Kyries Hebert, also an exclusive rights free agent, returns to lead special teams and Jordan Palmer signs his tender to making him the team's emergency quarterback -- provided the Bengals don't setup a competition with a fourth quarterback going after Jordan or O'Sullivan's job. Abdul Hodge, a restricted free agent, signs his tender giving him $1.176 million in 2010. Hodge is a special teams guy and backup inside linebacker.

Kyle Cook, the team's last unsigned exclusive rights free agent, still hasn't signed. Hodge becomes the second restricted free agent to sign his tender; the other being Rashad Jeanty. David Jones, Brandon Johnson, Frostee Rucker and Evan Mathis are still unsigned.