Is He Already A Free Agent Bust: Bengals Coaches "Lukewarm" On Antonio Bryant

by Josh Kirkendall on Jul 26, 2010 4:23 PM EDT in Analysis

One of the reasons we suspect that the Bengals want Terrell Owens, who was recently handed a contract offer by the Bengals, was that Antonio Bryant's knee was still being a bit problematic, especially late during offseason practices in which his knee reportedly became sore.

However, that might not be just the case.

According to Adam Schefter (via a Gregg Rosenthal tweet), the Bengals coaches "are lukewarm on Antonio Bryant". We're not exactly sure what that means -- could it be the knee, or could it be that the Bengals weren't all that impressed during offseason workouts. If that's the case, then that should be a real cause for concern, having given Bryant a four-year $29 million deal this year. Perhaps the same guy is the one grading Coles graded Bryant. And perhaps that guy should be fired.

Chris Mortensen was a bit more direct writing:

And to reiterate from weekend - Antonio Bryant's knee/ off-season performance disconcerting for Bengals. Bad FA signing.

Look at it this way, before Training Camp has even gotten started, Bryant is now considered a free agent bust and Terrell Owens is the god-send to save us. Good god. What a day this has become.

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Comments

I really hope

AB is not a bust. I would love to see him excel playing catch for a good QB!

by TCfromDubVee on Jul 26, 2010 4:27 PM EDT reply actions

I agree I hope his knee holds up and he's back to his +1000 yard form

Signing T.O. would only make it worst for defending teams to cover us..

by JamesShively on Jul 26, 2010 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I seen this coming a long time ago in a Fanpost I wrote about things to be concerned about..

by JamesShively on Jul 26, 2010 4:28 PM EDT reply actions

I guess it's better to figure this out now

than mid-way through the season.

…Damnit

by nashville_chris on Jul 26, 2010 4:49 PM EDT reply actions

Exactly

This is the lesson the coaches and FO learned from the Coles experiment last year. If it’s not right, fix it… fix it now.

Personally though, I am hoping it won’t matter. I think Gresham and Shipley have to potential to blow it up in their rookie seasons.

by SnapCount80 on Jul 26, 2010 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope you are right.

But at the same time, I was never high on AB. And while I’d be happy if he turns out to silence the doubters, I say give TO a chance, have them compete in camp, let the best guy play and cut the other.

by FriarBob on Jul 26, 2010 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions

...the other thing this seems to tell me is

The Bengals feel like they’re close to a deep playoff run with the squad they have, and are frantically searching for that missing piece.

That seems more optimistic :)

by nashville_chris on Jul 26, 2010 5:41 PM EDT reply actions

I would say the primary reason that they are interested in TO is because nobody else is. I wonder what the difference in the price tag is now from earlier in the year. I wonder if TO was looking for multi years and now will settle for a one year contract. There probably is some validity to AB’s knee, but how often has there been a star player still out there and the Bengals were the only team offering him a deal. He is 37 so you have to cross your fingers that it won’t be a repeat of Coles. Is it possible that AB reinjured the knee after signing with the Bengals ?

by redberkey on Jul 26, 2010 6:05 PM EDT reply actions

hold on...

can we first see this guy on the field before we all start freaking out?

B. Clifton Burke

by Mojokong on Jul 26, 2010 6:13 PM EDT reply actions

Either way

I think the general vibe is that more people are more excited about T.O. than A.Bryant.. I think this is the move that we should have made in the first place…

by JamesShively on Jul 26, 2010 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree

I wrote this on Feb. 3. http://www.cincyjungle.com/2010/2/3/1290681/terrell-owens-the-tragedy. But my point is, let’s not give up on AB because two pundits heard that the coaches were less than thrilled with his OTAs.

B. Clifton Burke

by Mojokong on Jul 26, 2010 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Could be both

the knee and the offseason workouts. It can take a lot to rehab a knee. Remember what Palmer went through to get ready after his knee blowout.

Could be AB hasn’t been doing his rehab workouts the way he needed to do them.

by StLBengal on Jul 26, 2010 6:27 PM EDT reply actions

That’s why it seems likely that that’ll PUP the guy. He’s not going to look good on a bum knee no matter how much effort he’s putting in, so I doubt it’s a question of effort.

This is our year!

by Paul Cannon on Jul 26, 2010 10:22 PM EDT up reply actions