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UPDATE: 9:08 PM ET
Well, that didn't take long:
Former Browns QB Jason Campbell reached agreement on a one-year deal with the Bengals. Now reunited with Hue Jackson.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 20, 2014
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With Hue Jackson now the offensive coordinator of the Bengals, things are going to be run differently than they've been in the past. Jay Gruden was never one for competition at QB, as he hand-picked Andy Dalton to run his offense while never pushing for a veteran QB to challenge Dalton.
Jackson doesn't operate that way, and according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com, he wants two QBs to be behind Dalton on the roster in 2014.
One of them maybe former Cleveland Browns signal-caller Jason Campbell.
Indications Wednesday night were that the club had talks percolating with Hue Jackson- veteran Jason Campbell and they may be mulling going with three quarterbacks for the first time since Andy Dalton became the starter in 2011.
Reports on NFL.com surfaced Wednesday that the Bengals have interest in Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray, but they’ve pretty much said any position is open after the first round of the draft. There is room for a veteran and a rookie behind Dalton if they go back to keeping three QBs like they did for several years.
In Campbell, a veteran of 79 starts (32-47), they would be getting a seasoned reserve he knows. Campbell had the most victorious stretch of his career under Jackson in Oakland when he went 11-7 in 2010 (when Jackson was his offensive coordinator) and 2011 (when Jackson was his head coach).
The good thing about Campbell is because he had his contract terminated by the Browns, signing him wouldn't affect the compensatory picks the Bengals figure to get with the losses of Anthony Collins and Michael Johnson. Those losses should net them at least one third-rounder, and probably more.
The familiarity between Jackson and Campbell also makes this an ideal reunion. That puts him ahead of the curve against any other free agent QB, and he may know the offense better than current Bengals backup Josh Johnson -- a west coast disciple.