The once loved Levi Jones (pictured) now wants out of Cincinnati and the majority of Bengals fans want the same. Jones, who became a fan favorite for playing through injury, has missed a lot of time because of injury of late and when he has played he has been awful.
BENGALSTRIPES – It almost happened once before and if the Cincinnati Bengals draft an offensive tackle this April, long-time offensive tackle Levi Jones could be traded away.
Right before the start of the 2008 NFL Draft, Jones demanded a trade. It is not known how close the Bengals were to dealing Jones, but it was reported by both ESPN and NFL Network that the tackle demanded a trade. Initial reports by both stations gave the impression that a deal had already been done.
Now, this offseason, we hear from the Chicago Sun Times “two league sources said Friday (March 13) that Cincinnati has been trying to trade offensive tackle Levi Jones for a couple weeks. The belief is if the Bengals can’t find a taker, they will release him soon.”
Since the short mention in the blog post, almost every Internet media source has run with the rumor.
Personally I can’t imagine the Bengals get much in return for the seven-year veteran, who has missed a lot of time due to injury since the 2005 season. From 2002-2005, Jones played in 63 of Cincinnati’s 64 regular season games, including 60 of which he started. Since 2005, Jones played in 31 of the team’s 48 regular season games and started only 28.
It appears as though their might be some interest in the tackle. I would applaud any move where the Bengals can acquire a solid pick in return. It is just hard for me to believe that Bengals could eat all that guaranteed money (signed a six-year $40 million deal in 2006). However in a year before the NFL goes without a salary cap, it could be a good financial move for Cincinnati (to eat all that money while the NFL is paying for it).
WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE THE BENGALS: If the Bengals can pull off a trade or actually release Jones, it would leave the team without its two starting tackles from a year ago (which is kind of insane when you think about how this team needs help on the o-line).
Right tackle Stacy Andrews has already signed a big multi-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles, as well as the Bears, might have interest in Jones.
Without Andrews, the Bengals will be left with 2008 fourth-round pick Anthony Collins and a bunch of other question marks.
Collins, who started the last six games at left tackle, is far from a proven player. However, the team has to be confident in his abilities considering that they are letting everyone else go.
Another option that has been discussed (by the media and fans) has been moving left guard Andrew Whitworth to left tackle and moving Collins to right tackle.
Personally, I am not a fan of this move. I like Whitworth, think he is a great guard or right tackle, but don’t want him blocking Carson Palmer’s blindside. Whitworth just doesn’t appear to have the quickness to get in front of the NFL’s top pass rushers.
Ideally, the Bengals will draft a left tackle. Unfortunately, he would have to learn under fire and start right away. Hopefully whoever that is, they don’t struggle with pass protection or the Bengals could be without their starting quarterback once again.
TACKLES WITHOUT LEVI:
73 Anthony Collins T 6-5 317 11/02/1985 Kansas
77 Andrew Whitworth G/T 6-7 330 12/12/1981 LSU
75 Scott Kooistra T/G 6-6 335 10/14/1980 North Carolina State
70 Kirk Barton T/G 6-4 305 11/04/1984 Ohio State
74 Dennis Roland T 6-9 325 03/10/1983 Georgia
Obviously, no one wants Kooistra, Barton or Roland to have to start on a regular basis. The key is to draft a left tackle at No. 6. Personally this is a great year to do it, there are currently three (Virginia’s Eugene Monroe, Baylor’s Jason Smith and Mississippi’s Michael Oher) that are well worth the pick. There is also Alabama’s Andre Smith, who could fall in the first round if the Bengals would want to trade down.
Nonetheless, their could easily be five tackles selected in the top-16 picks (happened in the 2009 All-Bloggers NFL Mock Draft). The Bengals have to select one of them, preferably their favorite.
