In the past, whoever was the Bengals top free agent was a very good bet to be leaving for other opportunities. It happened three years ago with wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh and repeated itself last season with cornerback Johnathan Joseph.
So consider it a relief for Bengals fans when they heard the news that safety Reggie Nelson is returning to Cincinnati after signing a four-year, $18 million deal. Nelson ended up turning down a deal from the Jets to stay with the Bengals.
"Both Marvin and (Jets head coach) Rex (Ryan) were in Baltimore together and they can both be very persuasive but in the end I like what Marvin and Zim are doing and what the team has accomplished," Nelson said.
Last season, Nelson led the team in interceptions with four and was third on the team in tackles. He also had 2.0 sacks and eight passes defensed.
Besides Nelson being a good fit in Mike Zimmer's scheme, the signing was more important on the Bengals end considering what they faced had Nelson departed. Taylor Mays, Robert Sands and Jeromy Miles would have been among the favorites to replace Nelson but Mays has struggled in his two seasons in the league while Sands and Mays have not had much playing time. Now it looks like Nelson and Chris Crocker will remain the starting safeties.
In the event that Leon Hall's rehabilitation from an Achilles injury gets tripped up, the Bengals signed Jason Allen to a two-year deal.
Allen tied for the Texans lead in interceptions last year. He has 10 interceptions over the past two years and is one of only six defensive backs in the league to have 10 or more picks during that span. Allen was drafted by the Dolphins in 2006 but was waived midway through the 2010 season and claimed by Houston.
"I enjoy playing physical man-to-man coverage and that's what coach Zimmer likes," Allen said.
In assessing the role he could have here, Allen sees the Bengals defense much like the Texans - aggressive up front with pass rushers that can give the secondary the opportunity to make plays.
"These signings are obviously a huge plus for our secondary," Lewis said in a statement. "Reggie and Jason are physical players who have had success and are entering the prime years of their careers. Reggie helped us get to the playoffs last year, and Jason helped Houston get there and advance beyond us. They are good players who have the opportunity to keep improving."
With Nelson back that means the secondary has four former-first round picks in Leon Hall, Nate Clements, Adam Jones, Allen and Nelson after having five last season.
NOTES, QUOTES
Benson says goodbye to Bengals fans
After the Bengals signed running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis Thursday (March 22), Cedric Benson bid adieu to the team's fans. Benson is a free agent, and so far hasn't elicited much interest on the market.
"There are no hard feelings," Benson said on the team's website. I loved my time there. I can't thank the fans enough for the way they supported me. I am so forever grateful for the recommendation that I think came out of Chicago and for Marvin (Lewis) believing in me and for the Brown family for giving me a chance."
--With Peyton Manning's signing in Denver, that means an already long list of tough quarterbacks playing at Paul Brown Stadium this year just got a lot longer.
Besides Peyton and Eli Manning, the Bengals will host Carson Palmer, Tony Romo, Joe Flacco and Ben Roethlisberger.
--Speaking of Manning, he has a 7-0 record against the Bengals but his last trip to Cincinnati was in 2005 when he led Indianapolis to a win. Denver's last regular-season trip to Cincinnati was also memorable as that was Brandon Stokley's 87-yard reception off a tipped pass in the final seconds.
--One of the rule changes up for debate at the upcoming league meetings would add a 15-yard penalty in the event of a quarterback in the pocket receiving a horse-collar tackle. That did happen in one Bengals game this year where Andy Dalton got horse-collared during a sack in Baltimore.
Said Lewis at the time: "There are some things that unfortunately even the announcers doing our games don't know, with the ins and outs of the rules. They bring up the speculation on TV, and that causes the groundswell. We wish, for clarification purposes, everybody could understand the rules a little better."
--With Pro Days about to wrap up in another week, Lewis has been making a lot of trips to the West Coast. Over the past two weeks, Lewis has appeared at Oregon, Arizona State and Boise State.
QUOTE OF NOTE: "There are always things you can improve on. We've got a great group in the secondary and on defense. We just have to keep going and keep it together." - Safety Reggie Nelson on expectations this upcoming season.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
With the second wave of free agency well underway, the Bengals still need to address strong-side linebacker, defensive line and a second wide receiver.
It looks like the next area to be filled will be on the defensive line, which is down two ends and could lose tackle Pat Sims to free agency. The Bengals have had a steady stream of veterans in but have not reached agreement with any as of yet.
TEAM NEEDS
1. Guard: The Bengals have never drafted a guard in the first round but with Bobbie Williams and Nate Livings being free agents (Livings signed with Dallas), they need to find someone who they can plug in there for the next five years and not worry about. It would be a similar situation to tackle, where they are set with Andrew Whitworth and Andre Smith.
2. Wide receiver: A.J. Green can stretch the field and provide the big plays, but now the task is finding someone to pair with him. They also need to find a dependable option on short and medium routes.
3. Defensive line: With the losses of Jonathan Fanene (New England) and Frostee Rucker (New England), the Bengals are lacking depth on a line that had the deepest rotation in the league. They could sign a veteran and then opt for one in the draft.
MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: PK Mike Nugent (tendered at $2.654 million).
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--RB Cedric Benson has three straight 1,000-yard seasons with the Bengals but offensive coordinator Jay Gruden wants to go more with a running back by committee approach which Benson has balked at. Expect both sides to have a mutual parting of the ways
--CB Kelly Jennings was mainly the corner in nickel situations once Leon Hall went down due to injury. Considering the lack of depth in the secondary, they would like to re-sign him.
--LB Brandon Johnson has been a key backup at weak-side linebacker and has been one of the top players on special teams. He is looking for a multi-year deal after three straight seasons on one-year contracts.
--LB Manny Lawson ended up starting at strong-side linebacker but was not used in nickel situations. He struggled a little bit but the Bengals would like to have him back at the right price.
--TE Donald Lee was plagued by injuries the second half of the season but was a good mentor to Jermaine Gresham and Colin Cochart. He could return on another one-year deal.
--OT Dennis Roland saw his snap counts go down this season and was mainly used as a blocking tight end. Not expected to return.
--TE Bo Scaife spent all of last season on injured reserve after injuring his neck. He is not expected to be back.
--WR Jerome Simpson has plenty of athletic potential and set career highs in catches (50), yards (725) and touchdowns (four), but he is also facing a four-game suspension stemming from pleading guilty to marijuana possession. Could be re-signed in May depending on the team's activity in free agency.
--DT Pat Sims was one of the team's best interior run stoppers but has seen only spot starts during his four-year career. He is expected to test the market.
--OG Bobbie Williams went into last season with the team's longest streak of consecutive games but ended up serving four games for a violation of the league's policy on performance enhancing substances then fractured his ankle late in the season and missed the last three games. Going into his 13th year despite being entrenched at right guard, he is not a priority to re-sign.
--S Gibril Wilson saw a mix of defensive and special teams snaps after missing 2010 due to a knee injury. Could be back on a one-year deal.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--LS Clark Harris (tendered at $1.26M with seventh-round pick as compensation) has made 395 straight clean snaps.
--LB Dan Skuta (tendered at $1.26M with no compensation) started three games in the middle last season and could be looked upon more if Rey Maualuga begins the season on suspension.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS
--S Jeromy Miles (tendered at $540,000) was used almost exclusively on special teams and led the team in tackles with 15.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--OT Anthony Collins: UFA; terms unknown.
--DT Nick Hayden: Potential ERFA; $615,000/1 yr.
--CB Adam Jones: UFA; terms unknown.
--S Reggie Nelson: UFA; $18M/4 yrs.
--RB Cedric Peerman: Potential ERFA; $615,000/1 yr, terms unknown.
--FB Chris Pressley: Potential RFA; $2.1M/2 yrs.
--LB Vincent Rey: Potential ERFA; $450,000/1 yr.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--CB Jason Allen: UFA Texans; $8.2M/2 yrs.
--DE Jamaal Anderson: UFA Colts; terms unknown.
--RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis: UFA Patriots; $9M/3 yrs.
--DE Derrick Harvey: UFA Broncos; terms unknown.
--OG Travelle Wharton: FA Panthers; $10M/3 yrs, $3.2M guaranteed.
PLAYERS LOST
--WR Andre Caldwell: UFA Broncos; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
--DE Jonathan Fanene: UFA Patriots; $12M/3 yrs, $3.85M guaranteed.
--OG Nate Livings: UFA Cowboys; $19M/5 yrs, $6.2M guaranteed.
--OG Mike McGlynn: UFA Colts; terms unknown.
--DE Frostee Rucker: UFA Browns; $21M/5 yrs, $8M guaranteed.
