On Wednesday afternoon, in effort to supposedly get younger, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have released five veterans which, again, reminds us that this league hurts veteran players like no other professional sport by an unintentional design. The five veterans are linebackers Derrick Brooks and Cato June, wide receivers Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard and running back Warrick Dunn.
As we keep remind you, and as Mehl reminds me, the Bengals will have six linebackers under contract heading into 2009 once Brandon Johnson and Rashad Jeanty sign their tenders. There's no indication that they're offering Darryl Blackstock anything and Corey Mays' agent has already shown confusion as to why Mays won't be tendered.
So there's an issue of linebackers and where they'll stock the position. Now that Derrick Brooks and Cato June are in the market, that just sweetens the pot -- and suddenly lowers the demand for other free agents. We need an experienced wide receiver as insurance in case Jerome Simpson doesn't turn out this season -- he has to produce this year, or he's walking the Chris Perry line.
Question is, should the Bengals go after one, if not two of these players?