The REAL impact of T.O. on the Bengals

Basically, the way I see it, T.O. is a $2M insurance policy for Antonio Bryant's knee. The latest rumors have Bryant potentially going on the Physically Unable to Participate list (meaning he'd be out the first 6 weeks of the season) if his recovery from offseason knee surgery continues at a snails pace. Both guys are outside receivers primarily, although T.O. has played some slot, so I don't see a lot of Chad Johnson, T.O. and Bryant together (that's with Bryant healthy). The biggest concern the national talking heads are worried about is locker room chemistry. I'm more worried about how this impacts the roster, and how it impacts situational personnel packages.

I heard this morning, someone on 700 WLW refer to T.O. as the biggest free agent signing in the history of the Bengals. Really? Seems like they gave a 4 year, $28M contract to Bryant right after T.O.'s initial visit. Didn't T.O. just sign a 1 year, $2M deal? I'm no math wizard, but clearly Bryant has to be viewed as the bigger signing. He's the better player, when healthy, and would clearly be the starter opposite Chad.

So that said, my biggest concern is not how T.O. impacts Bryant or even Chad, but how he impacts Andre Caldwell and Jordan Shipley and even Jermaine Gresham. Caldwell had some great moments last year, as the primary slot receiver and a returner. Marvin Lewis has said that Caldwell is amongst the most improved players from last season. I do not want to see T.O. stunt his growth.

Shipley is a very promising player, primarily from the slot. I heard minicamp comparisons to Wes Welker, who has to be viewed as the best in the business at that position. Shipley also has return ability, which makes not only the 53 man roster interesting but the active 45 as well.

Gresham will not be impacted as directly, but I hope the coaches don't try to use more 4 wideout sets in lieu of 3 wides and Gresham in manageable down and distance passing situations. Gresham has the makings of a true impact player in the middle of the field, and a safety net for Carson Palmer. I don't want to see his development short changed for the sake of aging veteran receivers egos.

The Bengals will more than likely dress 5 wides on the game day 45 man roster, three of which will probably not contribute to special teams. If the first three are Chad, TO and Bryant, the last two will have to be slot guys AND teamers. That means Caldwell and Shipley.

The guy in the most precarious spot may be Quan Cosby, especially if Shipley or Pacman Jones or anyone else on the 45 can emerge as a legit punt returner. Hopefully they can, because I never want to see Cosby running routes again. He dropped as many as he caught last year, which is unacceptable for a role player.

Adding TO means even more of a scrum for the 6th and last receiver spot on the 53 man roster. Obviously, Jerome Simpson is more than likely done, going down as one of the biggest busts in the Lewis era. Matt Jones would not likely make the team now either. That leaves Cosby and Maurice Purify, a practice squad member, as the potential incumbents against new comers Dezmon Briscoe and Freddie Brown. The decision will likely come down to special teams ability, with the losers moved to the practice squad if not claimed.

The punt returner question is one to watch very closely in camp, and is a spot directly impacted by the signing of another non-teams receiver. Am I against the move? Absolutely not. It's nice to see and hear the Bengals get some national attention for a perceived positive reason. It's also nice to give Carson Palmer as many weapons as possible in a season where they have to play better offensively to get back to the playoffs. I'm not a TO fan however, nor am I a big fan of Chad's, so the soap opera doesn't interest me. What interests me is the development of a deep and lethal offense, AND dynamic special teams. TO impacts both.