Marvin Lewis: Shane is a free agent football player. We have to move ahead.

by Josh Kirkendall on Apr 24, 2010 7:15 PM EDT in Analysis

Since allowing Shayne Graham to enter free agency, the Bengals have since signed Dave Rayner and, on Friday, former tOSU Buckeye place kicker Mike Nugent.

When asked about Shayne Graham, head coach Marvin Lewis all but closed the door on any return for Graham. "Shane is a free agent football player. We have to move ahead. I cannot determine what is in Shane’s future, or speak for his representation. We are going to get ready to play football based on the way our football team is put together at this point."

So for all of that scary noise we've heard about a possible return, it seems that the Bengals won't be entertaining a return of a guy who, while tremendously accurate in non-pressure situations, wore out his welcome by missing clutch kicks.

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For the Best

We need to go in a new direction. Wish him the best, but we need a clutch kicker that our team can depend on in pressure situations.

by BonnieBengal on Apr 24, 2010 7:38 PM EDT reply actions

kickers are the like closer in baseball

everyone loves you when you’re on and wants you out of town when your cold.

"wherever Brad St. Louis is and Shayne Graham is about to be." -R.F. Mehl

by palewook on Apr 24, 2010 8:46 PM EDT reply actions

Shane never did jack.

The reason you pay kickers as much money as Shane Graham made last year is to win games in the clutch. Almost any guy they sign can make the FG before half-time when the Bengals already lead 14-0. Time after time Shane missed the ones late in the game. He’s anti-clutch.

by occams_tiger_teeth on Apr 25, 2010 1:59 AM EDT reply actions

Yea

He probably cost a playoff appearance a few years back. With the extra point miss. I believe he missed atleast on FG that game too. Anyway, I am not upset at all that he is gone. I hope Nugent makes the team and is the player we all thought he would be out of tOSU. I mean he has a HUGE leg. With out D and running game a FG kicker with a huge leg could make us that much more deadly. If you are relying on d and ground game a FG kicker with a huge leg is usually needed.

by C1ncy4Life on Apr 25, 2010 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions