A report by Newsday’s Bob Glauber has me a little confused.

According to Glauber (or at least Newsday’s headline), the Bengals are “ready to release Antonio Bryant.” Glauber writes that there is “plenty of speculation” that the Bengals are ready to cut bait on Bryant, who has been limited to just one training camp practice because of knee problems.

The idea makes sense if Bryant was playing on a cheap one-year deal, but he’s not. He signed a four-year, $28 million contract in March, which included $8.25 million in guaranteed money. They’ve already paid him $7 million thus far, so why wouldn’t they see if Bryant’s knee could hold up at the start of the season? It’s not like they need the roster space at the moment, seeing as how they only need to cut five more players by August 31 to meet the NFL’s roster guidelines.

The only way this makes sense is if the Bengals were convinced that Bryant wouldn’t be healthy enough to play this season. But even then, they could place him on IR, use the roster spot for a healthy receiver and then hope Bryant is healthy heading into next year. I don’t see how coming to terms on an injury settlement helps the Bengals at this moment, unless Bryant is walking around Cincinnati tipping over garbage cans and punching babies and the team just wants to get rid of him.

Considering he worked out on Wednesday, it would make sense for the Bengals to take a wait-and-see approach when it comes to Bryant’s health. There’s no reason to eat $7 million and not at least see if he will be healthy enough to suit up at some point this season.

The Bengals signed Terrell Owens to a one-year, $2 million contract on Tuesday according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. In other news, Marvin Lewis also became the spokesperson for Excedrin Migraine.

I like the signing. Actually to be more specific, I like the fit. T.O. could have been toxic to Sam Bradford or Mark Sanchez’s development had the Rams or Jets (two teams that had shown interest in the receiver over the last couple of days) signed him. But in Cincinnati he’ll play for a veteran quarterback in Carson Palmer who won’t take his guff and with Pacman Jones, Matt Jones and Tank Johnson already on the roster, there’s no way Owens could pollute the Bengals’ locker room more than it has been over the last couple of years.

But the biggest issue stemming from this signing is what it means to Antonio Bryant. Obviously the knee injury that slowed him in spring practices is still a major concern or else they wouldn’t have signed T.O. Think about it, if they were seriously interested in Owens then why didn’t they sign him before now? What has changed since March (or April, or June, or the first 26 days in July) other than Bryant’s injury worsening?

The other issue is that the Bengals signed Bryant to a four-year, $28 million contract despite there being concerns about his health. He underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee last August and it continued to bother him throughout the season. Yet Cincinnati still gave him a multi-year deal and he’s likely to slide to No. 3 on their depth chart with the signing of Owens.

Considering the Bengals will pound the ball on the ground again this year, they should be fine with Chad Ochocinco, T.O. and a hobbled Bryant in the passing game. (I’m also high on rookie Jordan Shipley, who was nothing short of outstanding as Colt McCoy’s top target at Texas.) But the signing of Owens raises major questions about why the Bengals decided to pay Bryant $7 million a year without being more cautious about his knee injury.

Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com reports that the Rams are serious about signing Terrell Owens to a contract, presumably because they want to stunt the growth of rookie quarterback Sam Bradford. (Just goofin’!…Kind of.)

The Rams asked Owens through his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, if he would consider a serious contract proposal, even though they are not considered a playoff contender. Rosenhaus told the team Owens would definitely consider it, sources said.

Apparently the Bengals are also still in the mix for T.O.

The Cincinnati Bengals, as reported by ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, are also engaged in talks with Owens. The Bengals signed free-agent receiver Antonio Bryant during the offseason but Bryant has struggled so far. According to a team source, that has motivated the Bengals to take another look at Owens.

One source said the Rams have gotten very aggressive in their pursuit of Owens and it’s possible that Owens will sign with the Rams or Bengals within the next 48 to 72 hours.

However, the Bengals still have given no indication they’re ready to offer a contract. They want to get a good look at their young wide receivers and have five preseason games to do it. They need some of those guys to play special teams. Chad Ochocinco, Bryant and Owens would not be special teams-type guys, so it’s uncertain how quickly the Bengals would react if they sensed he was about to sign with someone else.

The names listed on the Rams’ receiving depth chart aren’t going to stand out: Donnie Avery, Laurent Robinson, Mardy Gilyard, which is why signing T.O. makes sense on the surface. But believe it or not, all three of those wideouts still have a lot of upside and if they can stay healthy, I for one believe that St. Louis could have a solid receiving corps in 2010 and beyond. I wouldn’t view signing T.O. as a bad thing necessarily, I just don’t think it would be necessary for a team like the Rams.

The Bengals, on the other hand, make more sense. There wouldn’t be much concern that T.O. would damage the team’s locker room (really, how more can it be damaged?) and Cincy has a veteran quarterback in Carson Palmer who could deal with a personality like the one Owens has. Plus, a trio of Ochocinco, T.O. and Antonio Bryant would, at the very least, be an upgrade over the unit the Bengals had last year. Not that T.O. is an elite receiver or even a great No. 2, but he could be a decent complementary piece in an improved Cincinnati passing game.

According to beat writer Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Bengals had a positive meeting with free agent receiver Antonio Bryant today and even went as far as to push Terrell Owens’ visit back to Wednesday.

According to Reedy, Bryant is the team’s first choice at receiver, but is there room for both players in Cincinnati?

“Why wouldn’t there be? I think this is the year of no salary cap, if I’m correct. Hey, why wouldn’t there be?,” said Ochocinco, who was also talking about his upcoming appearance on Dancing With The Stars. “Let’s load it up, you know! We can get back to that firepower offense we were back in ‘05 and ‘06, when we were throwing it all over the place. Even though that’s not the makeup of our team right now, I think it can help. Period.”

However when asked if he had to choose which one, Ochocinco said: “I mean, it’s whatever. Both of them can help us.”

Neither player was very productive in 2009, although at least Bryant has an excuse because he battled injuries for most of the year. He’s also seven years younger, can still stretch a defense and is still efficient when healthy. It’s no wonder why the Bengals prefer him over T.O.

Photo from fOTOGLIF
]]> http://www.scoresreport.com/2010/03/09/t-o-or-bryant-bengals-trying-to-decide/feed/ 3 http://www.scoresreport.com/2009/08/11/training-camp-notes-smith-sanders-bowe/ http://www.scoresreport.com/2009/08/11/training-camp-notes-smith-sanders-bowe/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:10:35 +0000 Anthony Stalter http://www.scoresreport.com/?p=22501

Carolina Panthers:
Receiver Steve Smith is expected to miss at least two weeks with a strained shoulder after suffering the injury in practice on Monday. Dwayne Jarrett is expected to fill in for Smith while he’s out, which is kind of like going from a corvette to a station wagon. (Charlotte Observer)

Indianapolis Colts:
Safety Bob Sanders is expected to meet with orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews soon. Sanders had another clean up procedure done on his knee this offseason and the Colts don’t know when he’ll be healthy again. He hasn’t practiced or played in game since Week 16 of last year. (Indianapolis Star)

Kansas City Chiefs:
Receiver Dwayne Bowe isn’t currently practicing with the Chiefs’ starters and apparently is in new head coach Todd Haley’s doghouse. Haley appears to be making an example of Bowe, who hasn’t responded well to KC’s new disciplined training habits. (Kansas City Star)

New England Patriots:
Tom Brady has yet to miss one practice since returning to action following ACL and MCL surgery. Brady continues to work out with a brace on his knee, although he’ll likely have to play with the brace the rest of his career. (Boston Globe)

Tampa Bay Bucs:
Receiver Antonio Bryant will be out for the next 3-4 weeks with a torn meniscus in his knee. Bryant could miss the entire preseason, but is expected to be healthy by Week 1. Still, the Bucs are thin at receiver and are implementing a new offense so Bryant’s injury is of concern. (Pewter Report)

Earnest Graham is listed ahead of Derrick Ward on Tampa’s depth chart, but considering the Bucs paid Ward like a starter this offseason, it’s wise not to read too much into this. (Buccaneers.com)

Miami Dolphins:
Former Hawaii product Davone Bess has been starting ahead of Greg Camarillo in Miami. Carmarillo appears to be completely recovered from ACL surgery, but Miami likes Bess’ speed and playmaking ability and see him as a starting flanker. (Miami Herald)

Last week we looked at the top 10 fantasy quarterbacks from 2008 with a look toward 2009. This week, it’s about those who catch passes. Wide receivers have become almost as valuable as running backs, so it’s important not to overlook that when you’re preparing for your fantasy draft. And you are preparing, right? Or will you cram on Labor Day weekend? If you’re like me, you’re reading this stuff now because these long months without football suck. So, about those receivers….and keep in mind this Top 10 is based on scoring from one of my own fantasy leagues, and stats may differ from league to league:

1. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals—There should be no question remaining as to who has the best hands in football. In fact, I’ll just say it — that Larry Fitzgerald is the best receiver in football, and one of the best since the days of (dare I say it) Jerry Rice, or Lynn Swann. Yeah, he’s that good, and he’s just getting started. In ’08, Fitzgerald had 96 catches for 1431 yards and 12 touchdowns….and that’s with Kurt Warner having two other legitimate targets in Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston.

2. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions—This poor bastard put up huge numbers last year for an 0-16 team—78 receptions for 1331 yards and 12 scores. It’s difficult to draft anyone on the Lions, though.

3. Andre Johnson, Houston Texans—This guy is just a beast. I mean, a freaking beast. Johnson had SIX games of over 130 receiving yards, and wound up with 115 catches for 1575 yards and 8 TDs…all usually with two guys covering him. Like I said, a beast. Now what would he do with a real QB?

4. Anquan Boldin, Arizona Cardinals—Q wants the ball, and he may not get it in Arizona this season. But his numbers and skills have every other GM salivating. Last year, despite missing four games with injuries, Boldin caught 89 passes for 1038 yards and 11 scores. He even rushed 9 times for 67 yards.

5. Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers—Jennings has been on the verge of fantasy superstardom for a few years now, and I think the next two seasons may be peak years for him — especially with Aaron Rodgers coming into his own and Donald Driver losing a step or two. His 2008 numbers? 80 catches for 1292 yards and 8 touchdowns. This year, I’m saying 100-1500-12.

6. Randy Moss, New England Patriots—The fact that Moss still had a 1000-yard season catching passes from the yet-unproven Matt Cassel says a lot about Moss. Dude is a sick receiver. He had just four 100-yard games, but was consistent over the season with 69 receptions for 1008 yards and 11 TDs. He gets his boy Brady back in 2009, so look for 2007-ish numbers again.

7. Terrell Owens, Dallas Cowboys—He had one game over 200 yards, one more over 100, and every other game below 100. Owens managed 1052 yards on 69 catches with 10 scores, but by his standards the season was a bust. In Buffalo, I can’t imagine his numbers will be much better.

8. Lance Moore, New Orleans Saints—Marques Colston was never quite right after coming back from an injury, but Drew Brees kept throwing the ball to this guy, to the tune of 79 catches for 928 yards and 10 touchdowns—with three 100-yard games.

9. Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers—He was suspended for the first two games in 2008, but still racked up 1421 yards on 78 catches with 6 scores…and a whopping eight 100-yard games. Steve Smith is just money, and he should be a Top 5 receiver in every fantasy league.

10. Antonio Bryant, Tampa Bay Bucs—Bryant had his best season as a pro last year after missing the entire 2007 campaign, catching 83 passes for 1248 yards and 7 TDs…and he gets bonus points for doing it with the Tampa Bay Bucs!

With free agency ready to kickoff this Friday, February 27, hope once again springs eternal for fans across the NFL.

But it seems like more than any other year, the free agent market this offseason has been picked bone dry before teams have even had the chance to grab their shopping carts.

Nnamdi Asomugha?

Sorry, off the market after re-signing with the Raiders.

Julius Peppers?

Franchised, but teams can probably have him for two first round picks, a gazillion dollars and a six yachts.

Terrell Suggs?

Likely staying put in Baltimore after being franchised.

Karlos Dansby? Brandon Jacobs? Matt Cassel? O.J. Atogwe? Darren Sproles? Antonio Bryant? Dunta Robinson?

All franchised.

Are there any players left on the market to get excited about? Absolutely, there are plenty of quality free agents available and bargains to be had. But as in previous years, there are a ton of risks, as well.

Below are five free agents that might command a decent amount of money this offseason, but will also be worth the heavy price tag in the end. I’ve also complied a group of five free agents that could turn out to be thieves this offseason by commanding big bucks, yet those investments may not pay off once teams start strapping on helmets and shoulder pads again.

Bargains at any Price:

1. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR, Bengals
Forget his age (31) and the fact that he’s had the opportunity to play in a passing offense opposite Chad Johnson for most of his career – Housh is that good. He’s a solid route-runner, very dependable and unlike most receivers, he isn’t afraid to go across the middle to haul in a pass. He’s physical at the line of scrimmage and can adjust extremely well when the ball is in the air. He doesn’t have breakaway speed, but he’s fast enough to stretch a defense and he’s a fierce competitor. He’s going to command top dollar as the best receiver on the market, but any team that’s willing to spend to boost their wideout corps should pony up because chances are they won’t be disappointed.

2. Michael Boley, LB, Falcons
Two years ago Boley was considered a future Pro Bowler and a vital part of the Falcons’ defensive core. But he eventually lost his starting outside linebacker spot to Coy Wire late in the 2008 season because he didn’t fit Mike Smith’s defensive scheme. Boley’s strengths are in coverage and when he’s allowed to use his outstanding athletic ability in pursuit. But in Smith’s defense, the strong-side linebacker is required to stay home and make their biggest impact against the run, which isn’t one of Boley’s strengths. If the Falcons don’t re-sign Keith Brooking, there’s a chance they could re-up with Boley and move him to the weak-side position where he’d have more opportunities to run around and play in open space. But chances are Atlanta won’t break the bank to re-sign him and he’ll hit the open market, where he’ll surely make some team very happy. Boley isn’t overly aggressive, but given the chance to make plays, he’ll come up big and he’s one of the best coverage linebackers on the market.

3. Igor Olshansky, DE, Chargers
After Carolina franchised Julius Peppers, Olshansky and the Cowboys’ Chris Canty became the top defensive ends on the market. And with more teams switching to the 3-4 defense (the Packers and Broncos are the latest), linemen who can play in that front are at a premium. Olshansky won’t come cheap, but he’ll be worth it to a team like the Packers, who are in desperate need of 3-4 defensive ends. Olshansky has a great motor, is a blue-collar type of player and has been a starter for his entire five-year career. He’s not the quickest end in the league, but then again he doesn’t have to be playing in the 3-4. At 6’6”, 309-pounds, he has outstanding size and is steady in run support. He’s also only 26 years old and hasn’t shown signs that he’s peaked.

4. Ron Bartell, CB, Rams
Bartell will cost some team roughly $30 million over the next six years, but he might be worth the lofty price tag. His solid play was overshadowed by how bad the Rams defense was last year and on a better team, the 27-year old might excel. Along with Bryant McFadden and Domonique Foxworth, Bartell is the best cornerback on the market and the Rams might have priced themselves out of re-signing him after franchising safety O.J. Atogwe. At 6’1”, 205 pounds, Bartell has excellent size, can play safety in a pinch and is a solid tackler. Teams would be wise not to judge how bad St. Louis’s defense was last year in grading Bartell. He might not be the flashiest name on the market, but he’s a solid player nonetheless.

5. Jason Brown, C, Ravens
Matt Birk (Vikings) and Jeff Saturday (Colts) are bigger names, but Jason Brown is the best center on the free agent market this year. He’s likely to command $40 million over the next five years, which is steep for a guy who has never made the Pro Bowl. But he has Pro Bowl talent and at only 25 years of age, he could help anchor a team’s line for years to come. Brown has loads of experience, has outstanding size at 6’3”, 320 pounds, and displays excellent burst off the ball. Again, he won’t come cheap, but there are several teams in need of a center this offseason and he’ll be the top catch.

The Risks:

1. Albert Haynesworth, DT, Titans
With Nnamdi Asomugha, Julius Peppers, Terrell Suggs and Karlos Dasnby all off the open market, Haynesworth is easily the best free agent available. He’s also going to cost whichever team that signs him a king’s ransom and while his talent is unquestioned, one can’t help but worry about how he’ll play once he receives a big contract. His character has also been questioned in the past after he used Cowboys’ offensive lineman Andre Gurode’s face as a cleat-cleaner a couple years back. Haynesworth wants to become the NFL’s highest paid defender, which has to scare the bejesus out of teams that have multiple holes to fill. Can he be the league’s best defender? Maybe. But if you’re an NFL team, are you willing to spend $72 million over six years to find out?

2. Ray Lewis, LB, Ravens
Lewis is one of the most vocal leaders in the NFL and his mere presence makes players around him better. That said, the reality of the situation is that he’s turning 34 soon and is likely to command $9 million annually for the next three years. That’s too much money for a linebacker that wore down last season and will continue to do so as the years roll on. If he were willing to ease up on the contract demands, he’d probably be a bargain given his outstanding leadership and football instincts. But he’s already stated that he won’t take a discount to stay in Baltimore and therefore probably isn’t willing to take a discount anywhere else either.

3. Channing Crowder, LB, Dolphins
There’s no question that Crowder has loads of talent. He’s excellent in pursuit, is solid in coverage and is a tough linebacker. But his best season came in a contract year and he has a history of knee trouble. The Dolphins have already stated that they won’t re-sign him, which should be a warning sign to other teams considering he was Miami’s second leading tackler last year and is only 25 years old. Some team is going to shell out big for his talent, but they could be burned in the long run.

4. L.J. Smith, TE, Eagles
At the right price, Smith wouldn’t be a bad investment for a team in search of a pass-catching tight end. But given his injury concerns the past couple seasons, he’s too much of a risk for a team to hand him a decent multi-year contract. And after the Titans franchised Bo Scaife, Smith’s free agent value went up because the tight end market is weak on a whole this year. Considering the tight end draft class is strong this year, Smith probably isn’t worth what tight end-desperate teams will pay in the hopes that he returns to his 2005/2006-form.

5. Byron Leftwich, QB, Steelers
Leftwich is a popular sleeper free agent pick after he finished the 2008 season with a 104.3 QB rating in limited action. But people seem to forget how brutal he was the year before when he had the chance to resurrect his career in Atlanta. Due to his elongated release, he’s susceptible to turnovers and can be erratic. The big-armed quarterback has never been short on physical tools, but he would be much better off staying on a good team like Pittsburgh and being Big Ben’s backup than hitting the open market as a starter. In other words, he’s fine in small doses but shouldn’t be counted on to carry a team. Chances are teams will stay away, but there’s always one or two willing to pony up in hopes of striking gold.