Bengals announce Tyler Eifert re-signed and Vontaze Burfict cut

On Monday, the Bengals brought back one talented veteran and let another go.

In the morning, the team announced that tight end Tyler Eifert had been re-signed to a one-year deal. When the offseason began, it was far from a certainty that Eifert would be back, especially after the Bengals gave C.J. Uzomah a three-year deal paying him starter money.

But there’s no question that the Bengals have been at their best when Eifert is playing, and that’s what they hope to see a lot of in 2019.

In fact, Eifert is ready to shed his injury-prone label and prove he’s still one of the league’s best tight ends.

“I’ve got all the confidence in the world right now. It does irritate me hearing it,” Eifert told Bengals.com. “I know what kind of player I am and I know what I expect from myself. So I plan on coming out this year with some fire.

“Cincinnati is home. It’s where I’m comfortable and where I know these guys. I want to have it go right.”

Unfortunately, the news of Eifert being re-signed was quickly followed by news that Pro Bowl linebacker Vontaze Burfict had been cut. Like Eifert, Burfict has struggled with injuries since his Pro Bowl season in 2013.

However, suspensions and on-field antics also made it easier for the Bengals to decide it was best to move on for both sides.

“As we continue to build our roster for the 2019 season, we felt it best to give both the team and Vontaze a fresh start,” said Bengals head coach Zac Taylor in a press release. “Vontaze has been a good player here — the team appreciates that, and I know a lot of fans appreciate that — but our focus is on the future. Our goal is to build a successful team for the upcoming season, and we felt that making this change now was best for everyone.”