Bengals make news with cuts

The Cincinnati Bengals cannot find a way out of the spotlight.

First they get attention by re-signing Chris Henry, Chad Johnson changed his name and then Mike Brown cut two big name players.

The most notable cut on cut-down day in the National Football League was the Bengals letting running back Rudi Johnson go. Even though the move was expected in Cincinnati it was still considered somewhat of a shock around the league.

Personally, I like the move and I was a fan of Rudi Johnson. However, last season he was not the same player he was in years past and Dede Dorsey gives the team a lot more. Unlike Rudi, Dorsey can return kicks, block punts and has the ability to make a big play on offense.

The other big name was Willie Anderson. Anderson had already “passed the torch” to Stacy Andrews to take over his starting spot at right tackle. While Andrews might not completely ready to start, Anderson is no shape to last entire season. Another smart move, but I would have liked the team to re-structure his deal. The team did attempt to work something out with Anderson, but he turned it down.

I think it was time to make both of these moves and my only hope is that the team does something to honor these players, especially if Anderson decides to retire.

Other moves of note were cornerback Deltha O’Neal, linebacker Ahmad Brooks and defensive end Eric Henderson.

I didn’t like the idea of letting O’Neal go, not because I am a big fan of the player, but because that leaves the team with only four corners. The team decided to keep six safeties, Herana-Daze Jones proved (according to the team’s Web site) that he could play corner during Thursday’s meaningless preseason game. We shall see if he can do it in a regular season game.

The cutting of Brooks is also a disappointment. It isn’t disappointing the team let him go, it is just a shame a player with that ability couldn’t make a bigger impact on a team without much at the linebacking position.

The Henderson move was upsetting, but he was later added to the practice squad.

All in all, the moves give the team a reported $8 million in cap savings, according to Bengals.com. Hopefully the team will attempt to sign wide receiver T.J. Houshmanzadeh and Stacy Andrews to multi-year deals.