Bengals working out Dwight Freeney

[Trademark]

CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Bengals this week are scheduled to work out longtime Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Dwight Freeney, a league source told ESPN.

After losing veteran pass-rusher Wallace Gilberry in free agency this spring, the Bengals are exploring their options in hopes of possibly adding depth there.

A midseason addition to Arizona's roster last October, Freeney made a major impact for the Cardinals defensively. Despite appearing in just 11 games and playing 245 snaps, the 36-year-old recorded eight sacks and forced three fumbles. His eight sacks led all Cardinals defenders. Pro Football Focus credited Freeney with having the sixth-best pass-rush productivity among 3-4 outside linebackers.

http://espn.go.com/blog/cincinnati-bengals/post/_/id/22766/dwight-freeney-to-bengals-source-says-team-to-work-out-edge-rusher

[*ochocincos*]

Can you tell we're all excited about this visit? This now makes three threads on this same topic (first two found in Free Agency sub-section).

Make it happen, FO!

[The Real Deal]

This would be a great get for the right price. Hope this comes to fruition.

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

Ehhh.. he's been literally just a pass rusher sub specialist for a couple years now, hasn't had 20 tackles since 2010. So if he's on the team, and a starter goes down, he can't replace them.

But I guess if they can figure that out roster-wise and think he's got something left, it's worth a look because Hunt and Clarke sure don't seem like the answer.

[Ricky Spanish]

Hell yes! Bring him in

[Au165]

(05-24-2016, 11:08 AM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Ehhh.. he's been literally just a pass rusher sub specialist for a couple years now, hasn't had 20 tackles since 2010. So if he's on the team, and a starter goes down, he can't replace them.

But I guess if they can figure that out roster-wise and think he's got something left, it's worth a look because Hunt and Clarke sure don't seem like the answer.

He is being brought in to be a pass specialist, so he fits what we need. If a starter goes down, one guy isn't replacing him it would be a committee. What this does is give us a situational guy who could rush from standing up or hand in the ground and allows us to slide Dunlap inside on passing downs to get more pass rush on the field.

[Hoofhearted]

Geesh! Fred finally got something right!  

[TGISunday]

(05-24-2016, 11:23 AM)Au165 Wrote: He is being brought in to be a pass specialist, so he fits what we need. If a starter goes down, one guy isn't replacing him it would be a committee. What this does is give us a situational guy who could rush from standing up or hand in the ground and allows us to slide Dunlap inside on passing downs to get more pass rush on the field.

Especially on the right side, where MJ isn't dominant in pass rush situations like Dunlap is on the left side.

[corpjet]

Would love to see a Syracuse player on this roster, as other shave stated he's one dimensional at this stage of his career but as we all know we could use another 3rd down pass rusher who has a nose for getting to the QB!

[BURROWorBUST]

It's a good sign for us that he wants to be here. When Freeney and Dansby want to play for your team, that says good things about your team.

Whatever role he plays is up to Guenther and Burney, I guess, based on how they view his performance. I'm just happy he wants to be in stripes.

[NATI BENGALS]

Not giving QBs 5+ seconds to throw 75% of the time in obvious passing situations like 3rd and long and two minute drills ... Would be glorious for our D.

Get the dude some Steelers steroids/hgh and sign him up.

[Shake n Blake]

(05-24-2016, 11:23 AM)Au165 Wrote: He is being brought in to be a pass specialist, so he fits what we need. If a starter goes down, one guy isn't replacing him it would be a committee. What this does is give us a situational guy who could rush from standing up or hand in the ground and allows us to slide Dunlap inside on passing downs to get more pass rush on the field.

Agreed. I think it's a perfect fit. We need a sub package DE to replace Dingleberry. 

Freeney has been thriving in limited snaps and will only play for a contender. Make it happen! 

[jj22]

Freeney owned Whit when they played Zona. Embarrassed him.

https://twitter.com/PFF_Sam/status/735113000487682049

[3wt]

Would be the final piece to a Super Bowl defense - the speed off the edge to go with the pressure up the middle.

Combine that with a variety of Guenther's menu of blitzes and it would be devastating in the 4th quarter.


Let's do this !!

[*ochocincos*]

If this deal were to happen, it would be the best offseason the Bengals have had in a LONG time.

I'm even willing to go out on a limb and say this team would be better on paper than last year's team.

[StLucieBengal]

This will be a better fit than Harrison was .... Situational 3rd downs only

[BURROWorBUST]

The goal is to win the Super Bowl this year. Can Freeney help with doing that? I think he'd fill an immediate need to improve our pass rush at DE. We're not looking too far down the road. This team is very close to being a serious Super Bowl contender. In fact, they already are. Our goals are very short term. They're doing the best they can to add pieces that will strengthen our chances of winning a Super Bowl now. It helps to get lucky. Freeney was out there. I think he'd be a great addition. If they spend the money it takes to sign him, we can see a real commitment to win a Super Bowl now. Just think of what our defense is beginning to look like? Adding a Dansby and a Freeney in one year? That would be fantastic. We could be very very nasty on D this year. Plus you add Billings? Dawson is coming up? William Jackson III? Resigned Pac Man and Iloka. We'll see how well Paulie G can use them, but our level of talent is really impressive. Players around the league see that. Who wouldn't want to be part of that? They've been winning alot of games. The loss of Andy last year was a serious blow. AJMc played well enough for us to win some games, but he doesn't have the command of this offense that Andy has. We were dominating other teams most of our games before his injury.

[CJD]

I wouldn't mind this signing at all.

He's old, but he was productive last year with no training camp or anything. If we can sign him early, get him back going in the 4-3, he should be a pretty good situational pass rusher for us, as he was with the Cardinals last year.

[CJD]

(05-24-2016, 12:52 PM)jj22 Wrote: Freeney owned Whit when they played Zona. Embarrassed him.

https://twitter.com/PFF_Sam/status/735113000487682049

His spin move is truly a sight to see. Not many can do it like that anymore.

[Bengalholic]

(05-24-2016, 01:40 PM)Shady Wrote: The goal is to win the Super Bowl this year. Can Freeney help with doing that? I think he'd fill an immediate need to improve our pass rush at DE. We're not looking too far down the road. This team is very close to being a serious Super Bowl contender. In fact, they already are. Our goals are very short term. They're doing the best they can to add pieces that will strengthen our chances of winning a Super Bowl now. It helps to get lucky. Freeney was out there. I think he'd be a great addition. If they spend the money it takes to sign him, we can see a real commitment to win a Super Bowl now. Just think of what our defense is beginning to look like? Adding a Dansby and a Freeney in one year? That would be fantastic. We could be very very nasty on D this year. Plus you add Billings? Dawson is coming up? William Jackson III? Resigned Pac Man and Iloka. We'll see how well Paulie G can use them, but our level of talent is really impressive. Players around the league see that. Who wouldn't want to be part of that? They've been winning alot of games. The loss of Andy last year was a serious blow. AJMc played well enough for us to win some games, but he doesn't have the command of this offense that Andy has. We were dominating other teams most of our games before his injury.

Agreed. If this D can stay relatively healthy, it certainly looks capable of being top 5 caliber.

I'm all for signing Freeney. At this stage in his career, he's a situational pass rush specialist (and a pretty good one)...and that just happens to be the one ingredient we are missing off the bench right now.