Veterans Of Cincinnati: Former Bengals WR Reggie McNeal Traded In The CFL

In the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals selected Texas A&M quarterback Reggie McNeal. Already with Carson Palmer and the recently signed Anthony Wright on the roster, Marvin Lewis and company had no intention of making McNeal a quarterback; instead taking his speed and converting him into a wide receiver. Three receptions, 46 yards receiving and a touchdown during all four preseason games his rookie season, the Bengals waived McNeal and signed him to the practice squad during final cuts. Less than two weeks later he was signed to the 53-man roster, became the third-string emergency quarterback when Anthony Wright was unavailable after having an appendectomy. McNeal would go on to a play a few games during the 2006 season, even recording a first down on third-and-eight in a wildcat-ish formation.

Yet the true nature of McNeal's NFL future began on December 3, 2006 when the rookie was arrested at a Houston nightclub called The Red Door, charged with resisting arrest. After going into an obscenity-filled rant because he couldn't get into the club, an off-duty officer working as security at the club, threw McNeal down and arrested him after the rookie elbowed the officer in the chest. McNeal was also charged with drug possession after police discovered a cigarette that contained promethazine. This was coming during the 2006 season where players were being arrested so frequently they became caricatures of themselves. McNeal was released before the start of the following season and hasn't returned to the NFL since.

Fortunately, McNeal did find a home in the CFL. During his three seasons with CFL's Toronto Argonauts from 2008 through 2010, McNeal caught 80 passes for 1,090 yards receiving and five touchdowns (that's combined, not averages). Last month McNeal was traded by the Argonauts to the Calgary Stampeders.