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The Cincinnati Bengals have released veteran running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, according to the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Can’t say it’s a surprise, but the #Bengals have released RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Invested in that position the last 2 years.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 29, 2014
Former #Bengals RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis was due $2.3M this year, which proved too much considering the youth there. $700K in dead money.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 29, 2014
It didn't help Green-Ellis that he was sidelined late in the week with a stomach virus that head coach Marvin Lewis said is spreading around the team.
With one year left on his deal, the 29-year-old Green-Ellis was hoping to to hold off younger and fresher legs in James Wilder Jr., Cedric Peerman and Rex Burkhead just to earn a spot on the roster as the Bengals' third or fourth RB.
With this news, one has to think Burkhead is healthy and will earn the final RB spot, along with Jeremy Hill, Giovani Bernard and Cedric Peerman.
It's also possible Green-Ellis is brought back later this year if no one else signs him.
His 1,094 yards in 2012 was a career-high and helped carry a Bengals offense that was still finding its way. Last season Green-Ellis carried the ball 220 times for 756 yards and seven touchdowns. That figures to be the floor in terms of production for Hill this coming season.
Speaking of Hill...
Meanwhile, this guy taking selfies —> RT @JeremyHill33: Selfies are always fun https://t.co/Xjad93xFJT
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 29, 2014