Bengals Sign Most Of Their Practice Squad To The Offseason Roster

by Josh Kirkendall on Jan 9, 2012 2:24 PM EST in Contracts

CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 1: Chase Coffman #80 of the Cincinnati Bengals jumps for a first down over Chris Rucker #36 of the Indianapolis Colts in the first half of an NFL preseason game at Paul Brown Stadium on September 1, 2011 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

When the season comes to a close every year, there's no need for a practice squad because, you know, the Bengals aren't practicing. And since the team is no longer restricted to a 53-man roster because, you know, their season is over, teams largely sign their practice squad players to offseason contracts.

According to Kevin Goheen with the Cincinnati Enquirer and a brief release on Bengals.com, the Bengals moved most of their practice squad to the offseason roster. Those transactions include running back (full back) James Develin, linebacker DeQuin Evans, wide receiver Vidal Hazelton, linebacker Micah Johnson, cornerback Rico Murray, offensive tackle Matthew O'Donnell and quarterback Zac Robinson.

Due to the process of elimination (aka, no other names known to have signed), tight end Chase Coffman was prominently not amongst the offseason roster signings. It's entirely possible that Coffman signs later since there's no real deadlines anymore. Also defensive tackle Swanson Miller and John Bowie didn't signed to the offseason roster.

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Sign Coffman and for football sake

play the kid…

play him as a slot WR just do something with him

by Bengalsfan024 on Jan 9, 2012 2:27 PM EST reply actions

Or just get rid of him.........

either he’s getting it or he isn’t at this point.

"The next person you see that throws something, point em out! You don’t live in Cleveland, you live in Cincinnati!"
- Sam Wyche

by The Van Buren Boys on Jan 9, 2012 2:47 PM EST up reply actions

What's the knock on that kid

He was a beast in college.

by Bigcatdaddy on Jan 9, 2012 3:07 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

The only thing i can think,he gets manhandled on the line

"A team is more than a group of individuals,its a group of individuals that come together to make a team"

by keithp on Jan 9, 2012 6:53 PM EST up reply actions

I'm thinking

it was likely his choice not to sign and I don’t blame him. He wants to play and probably thinks he has a better shot of doing that else where if he can get in a camp and prove himself over the course of an offseason.

by kacymcbryant18 on Jan 9, 2012 7:40 PM EST up reply actions

Use him like Gronokowski of the Patriots DUHHHH!!!!!

by Touhue Cha on Jan 9, 2012 3:19 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Exactly, he's a receiver, not a blocker.

Paul Brown Stadium, where everyone's hopes go to die.

by DTFCPDX on Jan 9, 2012 3:23 PM EST up reply actions

Blocker is what we were in need of this season

"A team is more than a group of individuals,its a group of individuals that come together to make a team"

by keithp on Jan 9, 2012 6:54 PM EST up reply actions

Gronk is the best blocking TE in the AFC.

by Cry on Jan 9, 2012 6:03 PM EST up reply actions

to be a Bengals' TE you have to be able to block....if you can catch also, that's just bonus

This is why guys like Colin Cochart & JP Foschi make the active roster, and Coffman sits at home.

But that being the case…..why even draft a guy who is a great receiver, but isn’t a blocker?

by ephram on Jan 9, 2012 3:24 PM EST reply actions

Thats the problem, he can be our x-factor we can split him out wide on 1v1 and use him in the slot as well to create mismatches

by Touhue Cha on Jan 9, 2012 3:32 PM EST up reply actions

only because the OL is so weak

by occams_tiger_teeth on Jan 9, 2012 3:38 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

cochart and Lee both sucked at blocking this year

at least this kid would be another 6’6" WR with glue hands…

play him the slot. move shipley outside

by Bengalsfan024 on Jan 9, 2012 3:43 PM EST up reply actions

why not use him when patriots and new orleans

show how to use a TE…

Hey maybe its the TE coach. who has he developed? they either came in good enough or took a quick dive out of the league

by Bengalsfan024 on Jan 9, 2012 3:45 PM EST up reply actions

chase coffman has to suck

I’m judging this by the fact he’s sat on the practice squad all year, and nobody else wanted him.

by JCompton41 on Jan 9, 2012 3:53 PM EST via mobile reply actions

well they threw like 1 pass to him in the preseason.

after a year on the bench and one basically on IR..

he like simpson they just keep bringing OLD guys in for his role. Scaife then Lee.. i want to see him play. He was a better catching TE than gresham. if he cant block use him as a WR someone has to cover him or hes wide open every time. and sending a TE out pulls a saftey or Lber out of the box

by Bengalsfan024 on Jan 9, 2012 4:30 PM EST up reply actions

a 3rd rounder that no team wants from our ps!

I just don’t get how Nobodys picked him up, so that leads me to believe everyone in the NFL thinks he sucks too.

by JCompton41 on Jan 9, 2012 5:06 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Agree,says it all

Weather he can catch or not,blocking is his first responsibility

"A team is more than a group of individuals,its a group of individuals that come together to make a team"

by keithp on Jan 9, 2012 6:57 PM EST up reply actions

My take on Coffman

He is a great athlete (for his size) who catches everything thrown to him. He is also a big, physical WR. Sure, he can’t block. He never had to b/c of the above and the NFL isn’t the place to learn. What do the Bengals need opposite of AJ? A big, physical WR with glue on his hands. I would sign Coffman to the roster and bring him in. I would tell him the plan is to move him outside, opposite of AJ and let him compete for the job. In order to get that shot he needs to drop about 20lbs and improve his quickness. Tell him that if he does that he gets a fair shot at the position and if he doesn’t make the team you agree to let him go so he can sign elsewhere.

Its a win win for both parties.

by WOOD98 on Jan 10, 2012 8:50 AM EST reply actions