What Dey Doing?

The National Football League is officially in its offseason, and the free agency period is underway. Players whose contracts are up are free to shop themselves around the league in hopes of attaining a new contract, joining a Super Bowl contender, or both. During this process, the various NFL franchises have the duty of determining if they want to re-sign players or test the waters of free agency and see if they can acquire an established player or a young up and comer. Most teams make moves that generate a lot of buzz around the league. The Cincinnati Bengals however, are generating buzz for their apparent lack of moves.

The team preaches drafting well to obtain young talent to replace the veteran players who often leave via free agency. For the most part, it has worked well. Their run of five straight postseason appearances proves that the bengals were able to draft well and build a formidable team with 2015 being the peak of that draft success. After the end of the 2015 campaign, players like Mohmmed Sanu, Marvin Jones, and Reggie Nelson left the Bengals for new teams and more money. Bengals fans didn't think much of it. The team had lost players before and seemed to still do well the following season.

That was not the case in 2016. The team struggled on offense and defense and missed the playoffs. Draft picks like Cedric Ogbuehi did not pan out the way the fans and the franchise thought they would. Once free agency began, veteran players like Andrew Whitworth and Domata Peko headed out west for the Rams and Broncos respectively. Kevin Zeitler signed a massive contract with the Browns. Rex Burkhead is now a Patriot. A defensive stalwart, two of the best offensive linemen on the team, and a running back who had a breakout year are now gone.

The team was able to resign Dre Kirkpatrick and Brandon LaFell, but that does not seem like enough to stop the bleeding. The only big free agent signing they have had was bringing back Andre Smith, but his history with injuries makes him more of a liability than an asset. Fans aren't the only ones questioning the moves of the team. Defensive end Carlos Dunlap tweeted that he didn't know what the team was doing. When the players are confused about what the team is doing, that generally is not a good sign. Maybe the Bengals know something that we fans don't. I guess we just have to trust the process.

Who Dey!