Cincinnati Bengals
Palmer helped recruit new receiver
By Scott Priestle, CNATI.com Posted March 12, 2010 5:27 PM ET
Antonio Bryant caught 122 passes the past two seasons, despite playing through a nagging knee injury and playing with an underwhelming list of quarterbacks: Jeff Garcia, Brian Griese, Byron Leftwich, Josh Johnson, Josh Freeman.
Carson Palmer's presence attracted Bryant to Cincinnati. Palmer himself helped recruit Bryant.
A boatload of money didn't hurt, either.
The Bengals officially added Bryant to the roster Friday, though a deal has been in place for a few days. The contract reportedly is for four years and $28 million, roughly the same contract as the man he was signed to replace, the disappointing and recently released Laveranues Coles.
Bengals officials hope Bryant can complement Chad Ochocinco and aid Palmer in a way Coles could not. Palmer has expressed similar sentiments, publicly and privately.
"They figure if we can get the same production out of the run game and add a receiver, we'll be able to open things up for Chad and other guys and move around some things in the offense," Bryant said.
Bengals coach Marvin Lewis and offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski have insisted their priority remains establishing the running game, but adding a receiver with big-play potential at least makes opponents respect the passing game. Ochocinco faced double coverage on nearly every play, and outside of the late Chris Henry, the Bengals did not have a receiver capable of exploiting the mismatches that often result on the other side of the field.
Ochocinco and Henry were the only Bengals receivers to average more than 12.0 yards per catch and catch double-digit passes. Meanwhile, Bryant has averaged 15.3 yards per catch in his career and has a pair of 1,000-yard seasons.
It is why Palmer reached out to him when free agency began last week, a gesture that made an impact on the veteran receiver.
"You have to know that someone of that nature reaching out to you, there was some research done, some homework done about me and some conversations that had to take place about myself and guys on the team," Bryant said. "I'm happy that was done rather than going through outside sources, that people took time to look at film -- and I've made some plays in my day -- and being comfortable to bring me there."
Bryant's NFL history is checkered. He had a run-in with the coaching staff in San Francisco, was suspended by the league for violating the drug policy and sat out the entire 2007 season when no team was willing to sign him. Cincinnati will be his fifth franchise in nine seasons.
But the Bengals have had success in recent years with players who have a chip on their shoulder and a wisdom borne of experience. Bryant seems to fit the mold. The Bengals represent his best chance -- perhaps his first and last chance -- for stability on the field. He will be playing for an offensive coordinator who has been in place for nine years and a quarterback entering his seventh season as the team's starter.
"I've never been in a situation where the quarterback has had the continuity he's had," Bryant said. "Everywhere I've been I've had three quarterbacks a season, easily, every year. I don't know anyone who's had that mixture of QBs.
"Different head coach, different quarterback, two different offenses -- every year it always changes. It's not hard for me to learn a system. Hopefully I can go into something that has its own continuity and just apply my skills and make me better."
Bryant said he plans to arrive in Cincinnati later this month for the start of voluntary off-season workouts.
"I'm already behind the gun," he said. "I have to get in and study and get up to speed on everything."
Categories: Cincinnati Bengals, Featured Stories, News
Tags: Antonio Bryant, Bengals, Carson Palmer, Laveranues Coles
Comments (1)
Palmer helped to recruit Coles last year, and look how that turned out.
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