coordinator Gus Bradley said. "His skill set is very unique and it is our job to position

The Bengals early moves may not seem very important Womens Billy Price Jersey , but they will affect how the team looks at the draft."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections #BITESIZEFilm RoomRoster Transactions and ContractsOrange & Black InsiderSalary Cap And CBANFL Free AgencyAnalysisBengals Free Agency 2019How free agency may impact the Bengals’ draft plansNew,8commentsThe Bengals early moves may not seem very important, but they will affect how the team looks at the draft.EDTShareTweetShareShareHow free agency may impact the Bengals’ draft plansDenny Medley-USA TODAY Sports“This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang, but a whimper.”T.S. Eliot died in 1965, three years before the Bengals franchise was founded, so it is pretty clear he wasn’t talking about the Bengals when he wrote these words in his poem The Hollow Men. But hey, he could have been. Despite their former hashtag slogan, the Bengals never seem to roar into anything, especially not free agency. While other teams have used the legal tampering period to make huge offers to big-name free agents like linebackers Kwon Alexander, C.J. Mosley, offensive tackle Trent Brown and safety Landon Collins, the Bengals were working on bringing their own players back on deals which range from okay to infuriating.These moves could play an important role how the team looks at the draft. Re-signing Bobby HartThe Bengals brought in Bobby Hart on a one-year deal last offseason and after a being the weakest link on the offensive line it seemed obvious that the Bengals should move on. Unfortunately, there is no obvious when it comes to the Bengals. The contract may not be as bad as it was reported initially, but the fact that they prioritized bring him back is a major concern. Re-signing Hart most likely means that the Bengals will not be taking an offensive tackle at 11. This is bad news as there are a hand full of offensive tackles in this years draft, including Florida’s Jawaan Taylor, who could have been excellent options at that spot. The offensive tackle position is so front loaded with talent in this draft class, that it made a good default for the Bengals. Meaning that it would be more than reasonable to say that they should draft Devin White Womens Hardy Nickerson Jersey , Ed Oliver, or the best tackle available. Odds are there is going to be a good one there. At least better than... well you know.The point is that the Bengals seem to be comfortable with Hart moving forward. With Hart signed through 2021 and Cordy Glenn signed through 2020, the team likely thinks they have their bookend tackles for at least the next two seasons. In short, don’t get your hopes up for an offensive tackle at the 11th overall pick.Signing John MillerThe Bengals seem comfortable with the status quo at right tackle, but did look to upgrade the right guard position bringing in (surprise surprise) former Buffalo Bills guard John Miller. The Bengals moved to bring back Trey Hopkins and Alex Redmond. When you add in Clint Boling, Christian Westerman, and 2018 first round pick Billy Price, you have a complete two-deep on the interior line. For that reason, it is highly unlikely that the Bengals draft a guard at all. The position has depth and if Miller and Price can step up, they will have a talented group of starters,Re-signing C.J. Uzomah and Tyler EifertThe Bengals’ top three tight ends all had contracts expiringthis year. The Bengals resigned C.J. Uzomah and the injury-prone Tyler Eifert, while Tyler Kroft will be heading to Buffalo,While Uzomah was not able to bring the same spark to the offense that Eifert did, he is a good player who can be effective as long as he is not called on to be a top contributor. If the John Ross can take a step forward, then the trip of Ross, A.J. Green, and Tyler Boyd hopefully combined with effective use of Joe Mixon and Giovani Bernard will be the driving force in the passing game. Uzomah does not have to be a star. He is a good receiver who can line up spread http://www.thebengalslockerroom.com/authentic-john-miller-jersey , tight, or in the backfield and is an adequate blocker. Eifert is a wild card. His injury history means he cannot be counted on to make it through an entire season. If he can stay healthy and productive, he will certainly add something to the offense, but they must remain flexible. Signing Uzomah and Eifert should not have an impact on what the Bengals do with the position in the draft. Although they gave Uzomah a contract that indicates he is the starter, Iowa tight ends Noah Fant and T.J. Hockenson should still be under consideration at 11. They may look to add another player to the position and if it is not in the first round, adding a player like Texas A&M’s Jace Sternberger in the third round would be a great move. Re-signing Preston BrownPreston Brown came to the Bengals in 2018 after an impressive stint with the Buffalo Bills. He was known as a run stopper, but played fairly well in the passing game before injury shut him down for the season after seven games. Brown was not great, but he was the best linebacker in a poor group. Retaining him and hoping he stays healthy and returns to form under better coaching was a good move as long as they don’t feel it is the only move they need to make at the position, Brown is a good player, but if they are relying on him as a key pass defender, they could be in trouble. Ideally, he should be the guy coming off the field in nickel (or more accurately to today’s NFL the guy going on the field when it is not nickel) but his contract seems to indicate that they expect more of him.It is promising that the Bengals cut Vontaze Burfict because it shows that they understand the position needs to be overhauled. The Bengals needed more than just one player at this position, so re-signing Brown should have little to no impact on how they see the draft.Brown is a pure MIKE linebacker, so they may look to avoid this type, but that is a positive since outside backers are often better pass defenders. LSU linebacker Devin White should still be one of the top candidates at 11. He played middle linebacker, but has the athletic ability to play outside linebacker. After an impressive combine, Michigan’s Devin Bush could also be an option in the first round. It is highly likely that one of these two is the pick at 11. Alabama’s Mack Wilson could also be a great addition if he is available in the second round. He has a knack for making plays in the pass game Josh Malone Jersey White , which is something that the Bengals are lacking overall at the position. The Bengals should be looking to double down at the position and will hopefully add someone like Washington’s Ben Burr-Kirven, North Carolina State’s Germaine Pratt, or Akron’s Ulysses Gilbert in the middle of the draft. CARSON, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Chargers are coming off a 16-point comeback victory at Pittsburgh and have a crucial AFC West showdown next week at Kansas City. Before Anthony Lynn's team can turn attention toward the Chiefs, there is the matter of taking care of the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.The Chargers (9-3) are double-digit favorites against a Bengals squad that has dropped four straight and six of its last seven, but they are well aware of what can happen when they overlook an opponent. Denver, which had dropped five of six before facing Los Angeles on Nov. 18, rallied from a 12-point deficit to win 23-22."It was an emotional game last week, nationally televised and all of that, but that's behind us now. We have to lock in this week," Lynn said. Los Angeles is closing in on its first playoff spot since 2013. Cincinnati (5-7) appeared to be in the postseason conversation early after winning four of its first five before the bottom fell out, largely due to injuries. Its only hope now is to win out and then get a lot of help."You have to prepare for them like everybody else whether they're in it or out of it," Lynn said. "Their playoffs basically start this week. We have to be aware of that, the urgency that they're going to play with and what they're going to bring to the table."The Chargers come in with plenty of momentum after last week's 33-30 win at Pittsburgh, as they pulled off the largest road comeback against the Steelers. Philip Rivers has thrown two or more touchdown passes in every game this season and Keenan Allen has a TD catch in four straight games.The Bengals have been beset by injuries with QB Andy Dalton, WR A.J. Green, TE Tyler Eifert http://www.thebengalslockerroom.com/authentic-mark-walton-jersey , DE Carl Lawson and LB Preston Lawson on injured reserve."Last I looked, we're not out of it. We've dug a huge hole and need a lot of things to work our way out, but maybe with everything else that's gone against us, maybe we get some things to break our way," coach Marvin Lewis said.Things to watch as the Bengals and Chargers meet for the first time since 2015:DRISKEL'S SECOND CHANCEJeff Driskel's first NFL start didn't go so well. He took four sacks, threw an interception and lost a fumble during a 24-10 loss to the Broncos, his first game filling in while Andy Dalton recovers from surgery on his thumb. There were some problems getting everyone on the same page. He and offensive coordinator Bill Lazor are expecting things to be smoother the second time around."His poise was fine," Lazor said. "His communication was fine. There were a couple things in the huddle or at the line that weren't great, but I'm not sure that it was him."BACKFIELD BY COMMITTEE?With Melvin Gordon likely to miss his second straight game due to an MCL sprain to his right knee, the Chargers will go with the duo of Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson at running back. Ekeler was held to 21 yards on 13 carries, but Jackson came in during the second half and rushed for a season-best 64 yards with a touchdown."Surely, he'll be more involved early, but we didn't run the ball as much in the first half last week. It just depends on how this game goes," said Lynn about Jackson.The Bengals' defense is ranked last against the run and has allowed over 200 yards in three of the past four games. Cincinnati is 0-3 since Lewis took over running the defense after coordinator Teryl Austin was fired on Nov. 12.TURN MIXON LOOSEWith receiver A.J. Green out for the rest of the season with an injured toe, the offense is leaning heavily on running back Joe Mixon, who is averaging a healthy 4.9 yards per carry. The problem is the Bengals have fallen so far behind in games that they've abandoned the run. During the four-game losing streak, Mixon has carried 11 Womens Clint Boling Jersey , 12, 14 and 12 times, leaving him wondering what he could do with more chances."I'm definitely more than ready when the time comes," Mixon said. "Just have to stay patient. My time will be coming."JAMES MAKING IMPACTChargers rookie safety Derwin James has picked off passes two straight weeks and made a couple big plays in coverage last week against the Steelers. The first-round pick has once again started to make his presence felt in coverage, making a big hit last week along the sideline on Pittsburgh's Antonio Brown which prevented him from getting both feet down inbounds."He's a guy that we want to make sure he is around the ball. He's been consistent all year," defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said. "His skill set is very unique and it is our job to position him to make plays."James is the first rookie since Zach Brown in 2012 to have at least three interceptions and three sacks in a season.KEEP AN EYE ONChargers defensive end Joey Bosa, who missed the first nine games due to a foot injury, has three sacks since returning. Two of those came two weeks ago against Arizona, when he was matched up against Andre Smith, who was released following that game. Smith was signed by the Bengals, who drafted him in the first round in 2009, as injuries have wreaked havoc on the offensive line.