Weekend In Review: Bengals Made A Transaction Or Two

You could say a lot happened over the weekend, as the Cincinnati Bengals finalized their 53-man roster. Players were released, claimed and signed to the practice squad. It's generally the busiest time of the year when it comes to transactions on the team's roster. Let's take a quick review on what happened over the Labor Day weekend.

Roster Changes. Required by the league to meet the roster deadline, the Bengals announced their 53-man roster on Saturday. There were few surprises, but nothing that would generate headlines by the less obsessive portion of our fanbase.

Punt returner Quan Cosby was waived on Sunday to make room for wide receiver Brandon Tate, who the team claimed off waivers.

Cincinnati was one of four teams that submitted a claim for offensive lineman Mike McGlynn on Sunday. The Bengals were awarded McGlynn due to their placement on the waiver wire over the St. Louis Rams, Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens. McGlynn, who is versatile enough to backup both guard positions, started 14 games at center last year.

Cincinnati did keep eight players on their eight-player practice squad, including Chase Coffman who originally made the 53-man roster. However the team claimed tight end Mickey Shuler off waivers, eventually failing his physical. Cincinnati has yet to fill the spot on the roster, though Coffman did clear waivers and returned to the team on their practice squad.

Bobbie Williams Suspended. The team announced that right guard Bobbie Williams will serve a four-game suspension for violating the league's policy on performance enhancement substances. Williams' agent wasn't happy about this, mostly because the league didn't bother telling him or his client, saying that the "program has run amuck". Andrew Whitworth, Williams' teammates and the Bengals player representative, offered criticism that the league should implement varying levels of discipline to really discipline players that take enhancements like anabolic steroids.

Other stories filed at Cincy Jungle over the weekend:

• The Bengals reportedly are hosting former Missouri center Tim Barnes for a workout.
• With Williams suspended through the first four games of the 2011 season, it's still unknown who will start in his place. Rookie Clint Boling is excited about the opportunity to compete for the job.
• Marvin Lewis likes the big-play potential of Brandon Tate.
• Defensive end Carlos Dunlap, after missing the entire preseason with a knee injury, has finally returned to practice to prepare for the regular season opener.
• Cedric Benson completed his jail sentence over the weekend, already back in Cincinnati, planning on playing the regular season opener against the Cleveland Browns.