Bengals sign Darryl Blackstock to one-year deal

by Kirkendall on Mar 11, 2008 9:55 AM EDT in Contracts Comment 6 comments

On Monday, the Bengals signed former Arizona Cardinals linebacker -- a restricted free agent -- Darryl Blackstock to a one-year minimum deal worth $520,000 and a $40,000 signing bonus, writes Mark Curnutte. Blackstock is in the Tab Perry situation -- restricted free agent not given a qualifying offer. Blackstock is a former teammate of Ahmad Brooks at Virginia.

Scouts Inc. says of Blackstock.

Comment: Blackstock is aggressive and explosive. He has an excellent first step and initial burst. He displays good overall quickness and play speed. He can blow up ball carriers. He can be devastating when moving forward and attacking downhill. But Blackstock isn't very agile, mature or prepared for a 4-3 scheme. He needs to become a better worker, especially because he has so many adjustments to make from his playing style as a college 3-4 linebacker. He is accustomed to being an upfield player. He looks a little stiff when playing in reverse. He must improve his instincts, particularly in coverage. He can be a step late to react and loses leverage on ball carriers.

Could this be that needle-in-a-haystack signing? Blackstock's best season was last season with career highs in tackles (21) and sacks (3).

The Bengals currently have eight linebackers signed for 2008 -- two of which are Odell Thurman and David Pollack. Along with defensive line, I would expect the Bengals to look for a linebacker in the early rounds of the NFL draft.

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Comments

Number 2!

Considering Blackstock's sack total as a reserve last year would've made him second only to Geathers' 3.5 here, it's got to be an upgrade. That and he's probably used to taking his cues from Ahmad Brooks at MLB already. Plus, he's big and he's fast and imagining a LB corps of him, Brooks, and Thurman, behind a line of Odom, Geathers, Peko/Fanene, and, say, Sedrick Ellis, makes me giddy like a schoolgirl- okay, just giddy...

by IgnatiusJReilly on Mar 11, 2008 10:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No problem withthis

The guy is making the league minimum for us plus a $40,000 signing bonus. There is no problem in getting him in the mix and having him be a special teamer as well. We need guys like this and I'll take him over Caleb Miller any day.

by mp45242 on Mar 11, 2008 11:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Blackstock

I look at the Blackstock move kind of like the Jordan Palmer move. Well, maybe it's not quite that bad.<LOL> ......but there has to be a reason why they can get him for such a low salary.

So, let's not kid ourselves, Cincy has a ton more to do in order to straighten out the defense. Hpefully the guy will pay dividends but I see it as a short term insurance policy.

by davidincincinnati on Mar 11, 2008 9:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs