National Football League

Bengals pick Nugent as kicker

Published Sep. 4, 2010 11:55 p.m. ET

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Mike Nugent won the Cincinnati Bengals' kicking job on Saturday after proving he had recovered from a groin injury that limited him early in training camp.

The Bengals waived kicker Dave Rayner, who had a head-start in the competition after Nugent got hurt. Nugent finished strong, going 3 of 4 on field goal attempts, including two from beyond 50 yards.

Nugent replaces Shayne Graham, who left as a free agent after seven seasons in Cincinnati.

The Bengals also released receiver Matt Jones, who is trying to revive his troubled career. Jones didn't play in the NFL last year after Jacksonville released him because of off-field issues. Jones signed a one-year, $700,000 deal in February.

Jones was Jacksonville's first-round pick in 2005. He was arrested and charged with cocaine possession in 2008, drawing a three-game suspension from the NFL. The Jaguars waived him after he was jailed for violating his plea agreement.

Jones caught only four passes during the preseason.

As expected, cornerback Adam ''Pacman'' Jones made the team as a third cornerback and punt returner. Jones also is trying to revive his career after spending last season out of football.

The Bengals made 22 moves to get to the 53-man roster limit on Saturday. The defending AFC North champions open at New England next Sunday.

Among those waived were tight end Chase Coffman, a third-round draft pick last year who became one of the main subjects in HBO's ''Hard Knocks'' series with the Bengals summer. Coffman was used as a receiver at Missouri and struggled to learn how to block.

A pair of 2010 draft picks were waived: fifth-round guard Otis Hudson and sixth-round receiver Dezmon Briscoe.

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