Addition by subtraction. That's a real thing in life, and in football. Sometimes teams are just better off parting ways with or walking away from a player, or two, or three.
Nearly two years ago, former Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo kept it when describing how much he didn't want safety Jessie Bates III (and Vonn Bell) leaving in free agency.
Cincinnati Bengals Have 99 Problems and the Cleveland Browns Aren’t One CINCINNATI – The Cincinnati Bengals made history by repeating it Sunday afternoon.
How many of the No. 1 overall picks from the NFL Draft since 1966 can you name in six minutes?
The Bengals have a 14-0 halftime lead over the Browns. Cincinnati is hoping to improve to 7-8 on the season. Here are our halftime observations: Ring The Bell The Bengals gave up a 66-yard run to Jerome Ford on the first play from scrimmage and it looked like the Browns were going to take a 7-0 lead.
With an established top tier and some young options revealing themselves last season, here is a look at where clubs' QB depth charts stand. Contracts and long-term outlooks do not factor in here; these rankings apply only to 2025 on-field capabilities.
CINCINNATI – Though he’s only been with the team for less than a year, Geno Stone has been the representation for the Cincinnati Bengals front office’s failure to competently address the safety position since letting Jessie Bates walk in free agency after the 2022 season.
Is it time for Jordan Battle to move into the Bengals' starting lineup? Veterans Geno Stone and Vonn Bell have struggled so far this season. Stone has a 37.8 overall grade according to Pro Football Focus.
It's no secret what Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo wanted as soon as NFL free agency officially opened this past March. The first call he made when legal tampering turned into open free agency was to his former strong safety of three years who was swiftly released by the Carolina Panthers.
Bengals safety Vonn Bell suffered a back injury during Thursday's practice. He missed Friday's session, but it sounds like the veteran is expected to play on Monday night against the Commanders.
A veteran could miss Monday Night Football, while another appears to be returning. The Friday injury report for the Cincinnati Bengals was similar to Thursday as the team prepares for the Washington Commanders.
The Bengals allowed 170 yards on 39 rush attempts in their 16-10 loss against the Patriots. Sometimes, the fundamentals decide football games, especially in the NFL.
ESPN's Dan Graziano likes Cincinnati's chances of turning its defense around this season. He listed that unit as a potential surprise group in 2024. "The Bengals went young at safety last season, and they believe it cost them in the long run," Graziano wrote.
When the Cincinnati Bengals made a run to the Super Bowl after the 2021 season, the future looked bright. The Bengals had the sixth-youngest team and fifth-youngest offense by snap-weighted age.
The safety signed back with the Bengals this offseason. The Cincinnati Bengals have something to prove this coming season as they look to bounce back after missing the playoffs last year.
Don't let Vonn Bell's contract with the Cincinnati Bengals fool you into thinking he's not going to play a lot this season. Cincinnati may be paying Bell
Cincinnati ranked 31st in the league in passing yards allowed last season, and the play of the team’s secondary will be worth watching closely in 2024.
When Vonn Bell and Jessie Bates left in free agency last offseason, it was viewed as a big deal, but we also saw every other starter and backup on the defensive side of the ball return to the Bengals, along with defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.
“Sensei” Bell is already taking charge in the back end. Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton said it best. “We’re a talented defense,” Hilton said toward the end of last season.
Bengals CB Mike Hilton said having S Vonn Bell back will help him as a defender and they already have good communication on the field. “With Vonn back, for me personally, having that extra voice at my rear, it takes a lot off my shoulders and lets me settle down and play my game,” Hilton said, via Geoff Hobson of the team’s site.
The Bengals named Dax Hill one of their starting safeties for the 2023 season. However, the 2022 first-round selection seems to have already lost the job following Cincinnati's flurry of offseason moves.
NFL rules prohibit players and coaches from contacting pending free agents during the legal tampering period leading up to the new league year. Once the clock hit 4:00 pm ET on Wednesday, March 13, all the phone lines (officially) opened.
He started 48 games as a Bengal from 2020-22 before spending one year in the NFC South. PFF slotted the ex-second-rounder as a top-25 option at the position from 2020-21 and placed him 35th in 2022.
Just one year after signing a multi-season deal with the Carolina Panthers, veteran NFL safety Vonn Bell has reportedly been released by the team at the start of free agency.
Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo said he didn't want to think about the "dark day" that it would be if he lost starting safeties Jessie Bates III and Vonn Bell this offseason. Now he has to.
The Jaguars guaranteed $158M in free agency last year, the most in the league, per Spotrac. It paid off.
Perhaps after receiving that hit, Smith-Schuester will reconsider his pregame ritual, as he may just be giving opponents extra motivation during the game.
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