Laveranues Coles didn’t give the Bengals a lot of production for $9.75 million last year (514 yards), but Bengals coach Marvin Lewis says he brought something important to the team.
“Laveranues really came in and added a sense of professionalism that
that room needed — severely,” Lewis said. “And he did a great job in
that and was a great professional.”
That’s nice, but it didn’t answer the question asked, which was: Does Coles need to improve his play on the field to justify his roster spot?
Coles is due another $4.6 million this year and it defies logic that the Bengals will pay him that much just to be a good example to immature players. Lewis said the team needed to add more “chunk plays.” They are sorely lacking in vertical speed, and Coles lost his speed a few years ago.
Coles shouldn’t be cut anytime soon, but the Bengals need to make it a priority to add some talent at wide receiver and develop the young talent they have at the position.
If Coles’ teammates show something in training camp, we suspect professionalism won’t be enough to save his job.
We’ve seen before that Marvin doesn’t have final say when it comes to players, and if Brown thinks he can get more for his money from another player they will upgrade. Brown values his dollars way too much to waste that kind of money on Coles. Never thought I would say it after he became a little bitch last year, but I miss Housh.
What we need is some Ocho Uno for the Bengals soul.
Not unless Ocho Uno is one of the burners we draft.
There’s not much to say about his play….he sucks.
Haters!!! Ocho Uno would get it done….There are 2 maybe 3 corners that would shut him down….Revis, Namdi and maybe 1 other….Revis is on the schedule this year so while he would do his job you would leave Chad 1 on 1 with the other corner….Then our pass catchin TE(YOU will see Chase Coffman in 2010) will get some looks over the middle….
Coles sat on all the money after getting it……518 yards??? Andre Caldwell had more catches and yards……
Cut him or take a paycut…..
To all the people who think Ocho Uno is done, you are sorely mistaken.
I watched every Bills game this year, and I was in attendance for most of the Home-Games. Sitting in the upper-deck, on the 40 yard line, I was able to watch the receivers running downfield (something you can’t do when you watch a game on TV). I have to say, T.O. was WIDE OPEN, a lot of the time. Unfortunately, Trent Edwards was afraid to throw the ball downfield. But you can’t blame T.O. when he’s running free downfield, and nobody throws him the ball.
The guy definitely has something left in the tank. If I were him, I’d picket outside the Colts stadium until they sign him. Peyton could use another weapon.
@jwill007
That is a counterintuitive argument… If somebody like Revis can play 1-on-1 against one of the receivers, than the Jets, in this example, could double the other receiver with the #2 CB and a S, effectively eliminating both WRs, leaving the Bengals with no options (as a Jets fan, I’m happy with Carson throwing to Coffman with, say, Kerry Rhodes manned up on him).
The Bengals need depth and options at the skill positions. If they were to add a less expensive option like Burleson, a compliment to Benson who is a better pass catcher (Chester Taylor) and draft a slot receiver like Shipley or Gilyard, I think that makes a far more dangerous offense than sinking assets in one player like TO.
Geez one wide receiver dead the other a loud mouth who disappears in games that matter. not tough to be the most professional in that group.
And now they want to bring in TO to accompany the new criminal they just signed?
Wow
One receiver 70 years old and retiring every other season, the other a high draft pick that drops more balls that puberty
and now the ravens are jizzing in their pants about getting b marshall to accompany the newest member of murderers row they just signed?
The “Ocho Uno” you guys are talking about is Anquan Boldin right? Dude is going to get traded, I’d make a play. Coles has ZERO guaranteed money left on his deal, so he can be cut anytime.
Since Coles was way over paid last year and didn’t show up except in some leadership sense in the locker room – if Marv wants him to remain with the team “No Hands Coles” should be willing to play for $200K this season.