Bengals Making Moves
Added on Apr 11, 2012 by Scott in
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Fresh off their surprising playoff appearance last season, the Cincinnati Bengals are positioning themselves to best ensure their chances of not falling back to the pack. Former Dallas Cowboys cornerback Terence Newman has reportedly agreed to terms on a one-year deal to help bolster a young secondary. In addition, the team has also traded linebacker Keith Rivers to the Giants in exchange for a 2012 fifth-round pick.
The Bengals already have Leon Hall and Nate Clements starting at corner, but Newman will at the very least provide veteran depth. A two-time Pro Bowler, the 34-year-old Kansas State product has 131 career starts and 32 interceptions in nine professional seasons.
The defensive secondary ranked ninth versus the pass in 2011, yielding 21 touchdowns and recording 10 interceptions. Serviceable numbers considering they lost starting cornerback Jonathan Joseph to Houston in free agency last summer. Newman will likely fill the nickelback role provided he can prove last year’s rough campaign was a mirage.
Meanwhile, Rivers, a first-round pick in 2008, has been plagued by injuries since entering the league. He missed the entire 2011 season recovering from wrist surgery and has clearly become expendable with the trio of Thomas Howard, Ray Maualuga and Manny Lawson getting the majority of the reps.
The Giants are known to bargain shop for linebackers, so Rivers would fit the description. He’s a gifted athlete who has yet to meet expectations. Perhaps a change of scenery to the defending Super Bowl champs will serve as motivation to get his career on track. Besides Michael Boley, Big Blue’s linebacking corps leaves much to be desired.
Cincinnati is trying to avoid regressing as they did in 2010 after qualifying for the playoffs the season prior. With rising stars like Andy Dalton, A.J. Green, Jermaine Gresham, Domata Peko and Maualuga leading the charge, prospects in Bengalland are looking up… for once.
Source: ESPN.com
