There's an uneasy feeling among the community that the Bengals safety situation offers discomfort. Discomfort is a kind word. Rookie Shawn Williams is, well, a rookie who was the focus of Mike Zimmer's atmosphere over the weekend -- specifically in pass coverage. Without specifying strong and free safety positions, the Bengals have seven safeties on staff, including starting safety Reggie Nelson and Williams. Deeper within the depth chart is unproven names or disappointing products such as Tony Dye, George Iloka, Taylor May, Jeromy Sands and Robert Sands.
We're believers of faith looking at names on paper printed in Times New Roman. But what's the contingency plan? The question: Why not Charles Woodson?
Currently there are four teams showing interest, from the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos while the Oakland Raiders, the team that originally drafted Woodson into the NFL, have already submitted an offer. The San Francisco 49ers have expressed interested, as have the Houston Texans, but the Cleveland Browns are totally not interested (hello?). The Seattle Seahawks, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets and Giants reportedly made phone calls in March, but nothing beyond that.
Green Bay released Woodson on February 15 after the veteran safety was owed $10 million in salary and bonuses.
It's somewhat surprising that the Bengals haven't at least picked up their rotary phone, sent an email or a direct tweet, instead relying on rookies, mid-level guys and the eventual Chris Crocker signing early during the regular season. Obviously there's nothing wrong with that and if Cincinnati believes that it gives them the greatest chance to win, who are we to dispute a franchise that's earned a postseason berth in three of the past four years. And its obvious that age and diminished skills are leading causes for such limited interest around the NFL.
Maybe it's just time to call it a career. The former No. 4 overall pick from the 1998 NFL draft is an eight-time Pro Bowler, seven-time All-Pro, Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl Champion. There's nothing left.