Chad Ochocinco concedes that he might not be back with the Bengals in 2011.
"Changes will be made and they’ll be significant," said Ocho. To this point, he had sounded confident that he would return to the Bengals despite his $6 million option. Bengals owner Mike Brown has shown in the past that he places an extremely high value on Ochocinco, but the franchise also seems to be in line for an offensive facelift in the coming offseason.
Terrell Owens will not be re-signed by the Bengals, according to ESPN.com.
Our View: Owens, who was placed on injured reserve earlier today due to a torn meniscus, has played his last down in a Bengals uniform. Whether he hangs up his cleats or gets an offer from another team remains to be seen, but you can almost guarantee that T.O. will find a way to make it a highly publicized ordeal.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Bengals are not expected to re-sign Terrell Owens (knee, injured reserve).
SI’s Peter King reported the same thing Sunday. Owens underwent surgery Monday to repair torn cartilage in his left knee, but it’s likely not the knee that will keep the Bengals from bringing him back, and it’s not his lack of production, either, as he showed he can still play. Rather, the Bengals probably didn’t appreciate T.O.’s comments when he blamed the coaching staff for the team’s offensive struggles. The 37-year-old will be looking for another new home next season.
The Bengals have placed Terrell Owens (knee) on season-ending injured reserve, reports Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Our View: After tearing his meniscus in Sunday’s game, Owens has played his last down of the season and quite possibly in Cincinnati. There will be plenty of speculation throughout the off-season about whether or not his NFL career is over, and T.O. is sure to be vocal about it. The flashy wideout caught 72 balls for 983 yards and nine touchdowns this season.
Chad Ochocinco will undergo arthroscopic ankle surgery following the 2010 season, according to the Bengals website.
Our View: He had the same surgery on the same ankle after the 2008 season, but he’ll likely be making his return with a different team. He’s due $6 million next season, and the Bengals are expected to pay his $3.5 million buyout, making him an unrestricted free agent. He’s a poor play in any format Week 16.
Cedric Benson rushed for 150 yards and a touchdown on 31 carries as the Bengals outlasted the Browns 19-17 in Week 15.
The carry and rushing yardage totals were both season highs for Benson, and his 4.8 YPC average was his third best of 2010. The Bengals set out to focus on the run, finishing with 45 rushing attempts compared to just 23 passes from Carson Palmer. We’ve not seen Benson look as motivated as he was in Sunday’s victory, so he’s apparently now realizing it’s a good time to turn it on in a contract year. He faces the Chargers’ top-five run defense in Week 16.
Updating an earlier injury report, Terrell Owens has been diagnosed with a meniscus tear in his knee, according to Pro Football Talk.
Our View: The Bengals confirmed shortly after the conclusion of the game that he won’t be back this season. Owens, who failed to notch a single catch against Cleveland, finished the year with 72 receptions for 983 yards and nine touchdowns. T.O. is likely one-and-done in Cincinnati, and Jordan Shipley “could” enter the starting lineup next week against San Diego.
Coach Marvin Lewis revealed in his post-game press conference that Terrell Owens tore his left meniscus Sunday and is done for the year.
Carson Palmer didn’t light it up on Sunday, but also didn’t cost the Bengals the game, as he committed zero turnovers while completing 14-of-23 passes for 203 yards in the Bengals’ 19-17 win over the Browns.
Our View: The turnover-free day was just his third of the season. It’s nothing to celebrate, but is still a positive day nonetheless.
Cedric Benson shredded the Browns on Sunday afternoon, taking the rock 31 times for 150 yards and a touchdown in the Bengals’ 19-17 win.
Our View: The 151 yards surpassed his previous season-best total of 144 from Week 5. The 100-yard effort was just his third of the season. He’ll likely be back in Cincinnati in 2011, but it’s not a guarantee.