Bengals Sign Veteran TE Donald Lee

by Jason Garrison on Sep 14, 2011 10:01 AM EDT

It was made official on Wednesday morning that the Cincinnati Bengals signed veteran tight end Donald Lee, who they invited for a workout along with cornerback Lito Sheppard. To make room for Lee on the 53-man roster, they released waived cornerback Rico Murray.

#bengals sign TE Donald Lee and waive CB Rico Murrayless than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplyJoe Reedy
joereedy

Lee is entering his ninth season in the NFL. He was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL draft. He played for the Dolphins for two years before heading to Green Bay where he played for the packers for the next six seasons. While there, he caught 178 passes for 1,655 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Lee was likely brought in to add the veteran presence at the tight end position that Bo Scaife would have supplied had he not been placed on injured reserve after being injured in the preseason.

As for Murray's release, it leaves the team with Leon Hall, Nate Clements, Kelly Jennings and Morgan Trent on the active roster, and it could mean that Jennings, who missed last week's game, is ready to go this week.

Tweet Comment 34 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Good signing

CincyJungle Contributor
Follow me on Twitter: CUIBengalsFan

by Anthony Cosenza on Sep 14, 2011 10:16 AM EDT reply actions

Can’t wait to see them tear it up in btwn the hashes!

The official chili of the Cincinnati Bengals

by Gold Star Chili Cheese Fries on Sep 14, 2011 10:18 AM EDT reply actions

Good signing. Lee adds quality depth and experience

Another toy for Jay. It seemed like A.D. was establishing quite a rapport with Gresham on Sunday – exciting to see. Lee is a very capable, veteran backup who has post season experience. He will provide a solid second TE option in Jay’s offense.

Curious to see A.D.‘s status when today’s injury/practice report is released.

by The_Black_Stripes on Sep 14, 2011 10:27 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Great sign. 3TE sets?…this would be perfect for a struggling Broncos D. Hopefully they can use him this week if he gets the PB down.

by Bengalsredsvictim on Sep 14, 2011 10:27 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

hope they do

would love to see a ton of 3te sets from cincy

" I for one, welcome our new Buffalo overlords. " - Whokebe

by palewook on Sep 14, 2011 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions

Lee does not come from a real WCO so I would think e will be very limited

on a short travel week. ahe might be able to get up on a couple of plays but you can’t just plug in players in WCO the way you do in a sun and shoot for instance. The WCO is all about timing and route running. But, I really like this signing. Le is a very solid and talented player who still has a few years worth of gas in the tank. This has to send a message to Chase. He needs to be gone to someone who can use a primarily receiving TE.

"If we always agree, one of us is not necessary"

by JUNGLEJOHN on Sep 14, 2011 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions

What makes GB

any more real or fake of a WCO than Cincy?

If the terminology, route trees and general concepts are similar, he should pick up his responsibilities sooner than later. I also do not expect him to get more than 10 snaps barring injury to another TE. I also expect his ‘plays’ to be ‘block this guy’ and ‘block that guy’.

by Cedric Benson Boat Party on Sep 14, 2011 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions

I kinda agree

I thought Green Bay ran a variation of the WCO as well.

by biggie22 on Sep 14, 2011 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions

shotgun wco

" I for one, welcome our new Buffalo overlords. " - Whokebe

by palewook on Sep 14, 2011 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions

There are many variations of the WCO

Two different extremes are not really interchangeable. Terminology can vary greatly. I am not saying that Lee can’t contribute, I just think he will need a bit more than one week, shortened a bit by a long away game to get fully implemented. I repeat, I really like Lee and he is a vet who has earned respect around the league as a solid player. It is entirely possible that there will be plays where he can be effective right away.

"If we always agree, one of us is not necessary"

by JUNGLEJOHN on Sep 14, 2011 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions

BTW, I didn't see Rico as someone we couldn't replace. He was run of the mill.

"If we always agree, one of us is not necessary"

by JUNGLEJOHN on Sep 14, 2011 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions

actually expect us to make a move for another cb fa.

benny sapp would be an upgrade over rico.

Joselio Hanson still available?

perrish cox (talented but hell no).

etc

" I for one, welcome our new Buffalo overlords. " - Whokebe

by palewook on Sep 14, 2011 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions

hanson was resigned by eagles

they cut Trevard Lindley cb to clear a spot

" I for one, welcome our new Buffalo overlords. " - Whokebe

by palewook on Sep 14, 2011 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions

So next year we go 5 TE's like GB and NE

Gresham
Cochart
Coffman
Scaife
Lee

Better start stocking up on 6’6" CB’s that hit like LineBackers…

Just a question with more and more teams going heavy @ TE to use in the passing game is that the possible reason we kept 6 Safties and only 4 CB’s? or was that simply based on overall talent

by Bengalsfan024 on Sep 14, 2011 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions

Nah, obviously they don't like Coffman

So they are just waiting to until after week 3 (we play the niners) to trade Carson Palmer to the 49ers for Vernon Davis:)

by biggie22 on Sep 14, 2011 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions

Wanna bet?

"If we always agree, one of us is not necessary"

by JUNGLEJOHN on Sep 14, 2011 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions

No way!! I'd rather bet on us going 16-0:)

by biggie22 on Sep 14, 2011 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Good decision biggie. LOL I know you were obviously joking

MB is going to make Carson suffer. Mb is an enigma. He does some very kind and generous things but if you embarras him in public he turns into Al Capone. Carson will play for MB or he will never play again. Remember even if Carson sits out for 4 years the contract is suspended and he will still have 4 years under contract. Carson has a choice, kiss MB’s feet and beg or just retire and go away. Carson is going to stay retired.

"If we always agree, one of us is not necessary"

by JUNGLEJOHN on Sep 14, 2011 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Broncos Injury Report

We could have an easier road to 2-0 if the reports are accurate. Supposedly accrding to broncos sources they could face us Sunday w/o Moreno, Champ Bailey as well as Brandon Lloyd. Lloyd and Bailey had hamstring injuries

by ak513 on Sep 14, 2011 10:39 AM EDT via iPhone app reply actions

champ bailey has to play in more run support roles this season

which is going to let rb’s bang his 33 year old body up. bailey’s always been solid against the run, his body is getting old by nfl standards, and the denver secondary depth is so-so. 2 cbs are solid, behind that not-so-much. which means bailey is working harder against the run this season.

with luck benson, leonard, pressley, and scott put the hits on bailey, not the other way around.

" I for one, welcome our new Buffalo overlords. " - Whokebe

by palewook on Sep 14, 2011 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Lloyd's injury is a groin injury

and he was going to have an MRI done on it.

by Oregonbengalsfan on Sep 14, 2011 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Solid addition

Donald Lee is a great signing gives us depth at TE awaiting word on. Lindley or Lito.. Hopefully they sign one of them

by ak513 on Sep 14, 2011 10:40 AM EDT via iPhone app reply actions

then who do they cut????

murray was the roster goat… added back when we failed to get our 3rd TE and sense jennings was hurt.

by Bengalsfan024 on Sep 14, 2011 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions

Hopefully this means

Kelly Jennings is going to be playing next week . Otherwise, going to Denver with 3 corners doesn’t seem like the smartest move to make.

by Cedric Benson Boat Party on Sep 14, 2011 10:56 AM EDT reply actions

But we have 6 safties we should be SAFE

by Bengalsfan024 on Sep 14, 2011 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Nothing says, "Coffman, we like you" like bringing in an endless stream of TE's off the street to use instead of him

by ephram on Sep 14, 2011 11:40 AM EDT reply actions

Coffman is done. I don't know why they even bothered wasting a ps spot on him.

What do you do when there's no way out? Find a way to get deeper in it.

by jimbasa on Sep 14, 2011 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions

he may not last the season on the practice squad

its possible the coaches aren’t liking what they are seeing from him on the ps this year either. if they were, why continue to bring in TE after TE for a look?

" I for one, welcome our new Buffalo overlords. " - Whokebe

by palewook on Sep 14, 2011 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah exactly

What do you do when there's no way out? Find a way to get deeper in it.

by jimbasa on Sep 14, 2011 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Because with a Rookie QB

They want a TE with a few tours under his belt…. (instead of going with the guy that knows their offense)

by Bengalsfan024 on Sep 14, 2011 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions

What this says about Coffman

I think Coffman gets cut from the PS to make room for Rico. Rico is a special teams beast and his versatility has always served the Bengals well. With the Lee signing I would do all I could to get Rico back on the PS and let Coffman go. No need for 4 TE’s on the team and with Rico on the PS, if the Bengals do have an injury, they can just grab him from the PS.

by WOOD98 on Sep 14, 2011 12:07 PM EDT reply actions