The Bengals have released linebacker Vontaze Burfict
William Jackson Jersey , making him a free agent five days after free agency began. So what’s next for one of the dirtiest player in the league?Last year, conflicting reports emerged regarding whether the Raiders were trying to trade for Burfict, a move that would have reunited him with former Bengals defensive coordinator Paul Guenther. Now that the Raiders have traded for receiver Antonio Brown, adding Burfict would become delicate and popcorn-inducing.It was an illegal hit from Burfict on Brown that helped the Steelers snatch victory from the Bengals in a playoff game to cap the 2015 season, prompting both Burfict and former Bengals cornerback Pacman Jones to suggest that Brown faked the concussion he suffered. The league suspended Burfict for the first three games of the 2016 season in response to the blow to Brown’s head.The Vikings, in theory, could be a destination for Burfict, given that coach Mike Zimmer served as defensive coordinator in Cincinnati before Guenther. And how about the Browns, where G.M. John Dorsey currently seems to be rolling the dice on anyone/everyone that can help the team win, character notwithstanding?Burfict
Cheap John Ross Jersey , despite his obvious flaws, has consistently been viewed as a guy who can get his teammates properly focused and motivated. However, Burfict’s habit of losing his focus has cost the Bengals dearly, including most importantly a play that kept them from winning their first postseason game since January 1991. Zac Taylor and the Bengals coaches could hardly hold their excitement in when talking about their first pick of a new era of Bengals’ football."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections #BITESIZEFilm RoomRoster Transactions and ContractsOrange & Black InsiderSalary Cap And CBAZac Taylor thinks Jonah Williams’ ‘tape speaks for itself’Zac Taylor and the Bengals coaches could hardly hold their excitement in when talking about their first pick of a new era of Bengals’ football.EDTShareTweetShareShareZac Taylor thinks Jonah Williams’ ‘tape speaks for itself’Kirby Lee-USA TODAY SportsThe Bengals added offensive lineman Jonah Williams out of Alabama with the 11th overall selection. It was surprising that the Bengals ended up having their pick of offensive tackles after the top 10, but head coach Zac Taylor and the Bengals feel like they got a good one in Williams.“We’re very excited. We thought highly of Jonah ever since this process started — starting at the combine from the first interview,” Taylor told reporters after the pick. “Obviously his tape speaks for itself, so it’s a really exciting addition to our offense and to our offensive line room. High football IQ, great football character, the game means to much to him, and that’s the type of player we’re looking to add to this team...“Let’s get him in the building and get it all sorted out with these linemen
Tyler Boyd Jersey , but we do have a great plan in place. He’s a guy that we were really excited about. He fell to us, quite frankly. So we felt like it really worked out in our favor.”Williams certainly does provide a question mark as far as what position along the offensive line he will end up playing this season. Initial thoughts would make you think he would be the starting right tackle, but Taylor doesn’t want to rule anything out.“He’s played three years in the best conference in all of (college) football,” Taylor said “He’s done a great job at left tackle for them. Certainly he can play guard. He has great flexibility here, so he enables us to get our five best linemen on the field. So we’re excited to get him into the mix...[Left tackle is] his most natural position, and he’s done a great job there. Again, he gives us a lot of flexibility coming into this building.”Whether Williams comes in and starts at left tackle Week 1 for Cincinnati remains to be seen. We know that the Bengals at least have their future left tackle on the roster for whenever they feel Cordy Glenn isn’t playing to their standards.Character was another common theme during the press conference, and that was one of Taylor’s main messages when he joined the Bengals.“Out of all the positions in any sport, I think chemistry in the offensive line rooms is one of the biggest — especially on football teams,” offensive line coach Jim Turner told reporters. “That chemistry in that room is a big part of the success or failure of that offense. The head coach (Zac Taylor) made a great point in our draft meetings about this young man that we just drafted — Jonah Williams — and what he can bring to the table
John Miller Jersey , and I felt the same thing. All we kept coming back to was his character.”It is always great to get a player who will likely be around for a very long time (Williams only turned 21-years-old in November) who seems like he could have a huge leadership role going into the next era of Bengals’ football.What held Williams back from likely being a lock to go in the top 10 picks was his size and athleticism. Many critiqued his short arms, which seems to be a common indicator of how easy of a time offensive lineman can play tackle in the NFL. Some even deemed Williams a guard at the NFL level. The Bengals don’t share those concerns.“A phenomenal athlete. When we went to work him out down there at Alabama... The thing you’ve got to remember is he blocks everybody in the SEC,” Turner said. “So you always go back to these little pieces on players, and you’re like, ‘Well, this isn’t good. This isn’t good physically.’ But then when you watch the tape, if he blocks all the best players in the country that are getting picked in the first round, he’s a first round pick, and he’s going to be able to do it at this level. Again, we’re very excited. He played at Alabama
Cheap Trey Hopkins Jersey , so not only is he blocking everybody in the SEC, he blocks everybody in practices, and practices against some of the best players in the country every day. So, it’s a big part of why he is the polished player that he is.”It is clear Cincinnati views Williams as a high character guy who has a very long and bright future in this league. His versatility means he should see the field early, but it is obvious that he is destined to end up on the left side of the offensive line. As far as the Steelers possibly taking away the Bengals top target at the time at pick No. 10, Taylor left little doubt if the team was disappointed when asked what the mood was when Pittsburgh moved up.“That Jonah Williams is right there at 11 (laughs).”