Reactions on Twitter.
- Brat-Gives us more options right away. Plays our physical style. [Bengals]
- He comes here flawless except for the injury. [Bengals]
- Te coach hayes-has some pop he s a gym rat better blocker than dallas clark right now. [Bengals]
- More Bratkowski on Gresham: "He’ll be given that opportunity (to start). What happens is up to him." [Joe Reedy]
- Lewis on Gresham: "Great talent, very young guy, still a lot more upside." [Joe Reedy]
- And Jermaine Gresham goes to the Cincinnati Bengals, addressing a gaping hole at tight end. [Aaron Wilson]
- Hayes says gresham so strong almost knocked him over in drills [Bengals]
- Brat says door still open for kelly to return [Bengals]
- Gresham visited pbs a few weeks ago and hayes worked him ov on campus [Bengals]
- Brat says he ll get the chance 2 start hayes says gresham done a lot of in line blocking [Bengals]
Joe Reedy writes in his blog:
Gresham does fill an obvious need and for the first time gives Palmer a tight end who can has pass-catching ability and can be open in the middle. He could also move into the starting lineup quickly. Reggie Kelly remains unsigned, Chase Coffman is unproven and Dan Coats is a solid blocker but not a great pass catcher.
Geoff Hobson writes:
Gresham is a much different player than the 33-year-old Kelly, the starter since head coach Marvin Lewis arrived in 2003 and before he missed last season with a ruptured Achilles. While Kelly is a solid route runner inside and a ferocious blocker, Gresham is an explosive down-field receiver that can play the slot as well as patrol the middle who had 14 touchdown catches in 2008 while averaging 14.4 yards per catch. He earned a reputation for playing big in big games when he scored the Sooners’ two touchdowns in Florida’s 24-14 win in a national title game.
The Bengals are obviously satisfied that his right knee injury from last September and a left knee anterior cruciate ligament tear from high school has passed muster.
Ourlads Scouting Services calls him “a matchup nightmare for most safeties and nickel corners,” and says he blocks “with good balance.” The Bengals see Gresham, who ran 4.72 seconds in the 40-yard dash, as a well-rounded tight end they hope can be complemented by Chase Coffman, the pass-catching tight end taken in the third round last season that has yet to take a NFL snap.