subject: Bengals Cut Bryant [print this page] Antonio Bryant was the first key acquisition at wide reciever for the Cincinnati Bengals during the offseason. However, it was the acquisition of the mercurial Terrell Owens that has led to Bryant being jettisoned from the Bengals before he had the chance to suit up in their uniform even one time.
Owens cannot be totally blamed. Though his strong preseason play opposite Chad Ochocinco is partially to blame, a lot of the reasoning can be blamed on Bryant himself. He signed with the Bengals this offseason coming off of knee surgery that had not fully healed. With Bryant at a slower speed, he struggled in minicamp and training camp. Once Owens was signed, it was unlikely that the Bengals would be keeping three highly paid receivers on the roster. However, it was up until the second last cut of the season that Bryant was released from the team.
The Bengals signed him to a four season, 28 million dollar deal at the start of the free agency period. Just short of eight million dollars of the contract was guaranteed, which the Bengals will have to pay him. Pretty expensive for a player who did not hit the field for them, even in the preseason. Bryant was solid in his tenure with Tampa Bay, and it is expected he will catch on with another team.
With Bryant being released, it leaves rookie wide receiver Jordan Shipley as the clear cut number three. Shipley is of the Wes Welker mode, short and fast, which will translate well into the slot, which he will spend most of his time. Quarterback Carson Palmer was impressed with Shipley since the beginning of mini camp, and the Bengals are going to need him to produce at a high level to keep some attention off of Owens and Ochocinco.
