(09-03-2018, 09:05 AM)Beaker Wrote: Several have already alluded to this, but they cut him to be able to keep some of the younger players they drafted. As a vet, he was not subject to waivers. He became an immediate free agent and could sign with any team. Younger player would have to go through waivers and could be claimed by other teams without right of refusal. Once the young players made the 53, the Bengals are allowed to put them on IR.

Apparently the Bengals cut him with an agreement in place that they would re-sign him at the money he was going to earn anyway after they put a couple guys on IR. Some other teams came calling, but Johnson stayed true to the agreement and re-signed. The Bengals did right by him and resigned him for the full amount he would have gotten in his final year for the favor. It also benefited the Bengals by allowing them to go a little lighter on D line, and keep players at other positions. Once they were stocked and IRed, they resign Johnson and get back to proper D line depth.

It was another case of the Bengals continuing to do things they haven't done in the past and operate like a real NFL team. Good move.