The Bengals currently have 76 players on the roster and they must cut to 53 by Sunday night. Which 23 players will get the ax? Here is our best guess:

Definite Cuts: James Blair, Dane Uperesa, Maurice Purify, James Johnson, and Jordan Palmer on offense. On defense, Carl-Johan Bjork, sad to say but he will not be on the 53 man roster. He should be on the practice squad which will keep everyone happy; Antwon Burton, Simeon Castille, Anthony Hoke, Dan Howell, and John Busing will be gone.

Chris Henry will be suspended, so he will not count against the roster. That leaves 11 players left to cut. We believe these are most likely:

Nate Lawrie: Lawrie has been off and on with the Bengals for the past 2 seasons. He has size and receiving ability as TE and plays special teams. However, TE is suddenly a loaded position with the Bengals, filled by Reggie Kelly, Ben Utecht, Daniel Coats FB/TE, and new draft pick Matt Sherry. Lawrie probably will not break into that group.

Kyle Cook: Currently listed as the 3^rd center. Even though center is a weak spot for the Bengals, 2^nd stringer Dan Santucci was a draft pick by the Bengals, and Bobbie Williams has received work at center.

Michael Myers: An 11 year pro signed for depth will not survive the numbers game at Dline. The Bengals drafted 2 tackles in the offseason and will not cut either of them.

Angelo Craig: Current 7^th round draft pick also will not survive the Dline numbers load. Hopefully Craig will clear waivers and return to the Bengals practice squad to develop as a future DE.

Eric Henderson: Continues to show flashes of being a good pro pass rusher, but the Bengals cannot cut sure things for potential. Odom, Rucker, Geathers and Fanene will be the ends. Henderson has a shot to make the team depending on Odom’s health, and depending on special teams needs.

HeranaDaze Jones: The Bengals will keep 4 or maybe 5 safeties, 4 spots are locked: Jackson, White, Ndukwe, and Lynch. Jones could take a possible 5^th spot, but Kyries Hebert is higher on the depth chart and looked better in the preseason. Hebert also has more game experience being a 4 year pro in the CFL.

There are 5 players left to cut, and now things get very interesting. First, what do the Bengals do at RB? Currently, the only definite keepers appear to be Chris Perry, Kenny Watson, and Daniel Coats due to his ability to play TE and RB. That opens Rudi, Dorsey and Jeremi Johnson. If Rudi is healthy, he is in, but what have the Bengals seen this preseason? Do they think he is done? Dede Dorsey has shown speed and breakaway ability, too bad he has also shown a tendency to fumble, a lack of size in blocking, and many injuries. Do they risk a roster spot on him? And anyone who watched the game last night got to see just how fat Jeremi Johnson is. He made Jared Lorenzen look like one of the Olsen twins. Too bad the Bengals have not sought a replacement for Jeremi. Without another option, Jeremi may make the team by default and turn into the 21^st century James Francis.

Rookie drafted TE Matt Sherry also could be cut if the Bengals believe he can clear waivers and hit the practice squad. I do not think another team is eyeing Sherry, but we’ll see what the Bengals think.

Nate Livings, a backup guard could be a victim of the Bengals line versatility. Whitworth, Stacy Andrews, Scott Kooistra and Bobbie Williams all play multiple positions. Therefore the Bengals may not see a need for Nate Livings.

Besides those listed above, the Bengals will probably cut at least one more LB. Two years ago this statement would have been unbelievable, but the decision is between Ahmad Brooks and Jim Maxwell. Brooks was a 3^rd round draft pick with the enough physical ability to be handed the starting MLB job. Maxwell is an undrafted free agent out of Gardner Webb that has bounced around the NFL for 3 years. Brooks has not adapted well to the NFL, and Maxwell realizes his role with the team is to be a special teams standout and spot player on defense. Will the Bengals give up on Brooks and keep Maxwell for special teams?

Here is a prediction for the final 5 cuts: Dorsey, Livings, Sherry, Maxwell, and Kyries Hebert. We’ll see if there are any surprises on Sunday.

posted by Number 1 Fan at 1:04 PM ::