The Bengals have been pretty quiet since the start of free agency.
They’ve had a few players in for visits and watched a couple of others sign deals with other teams, but the only deal signed was defensive end Michael Johnson’s franchise tender. That could be changing soon.
Geoff Hobson of the team’s website reports that “indications” are that the Bengals are “closing in” on deals that will keep linebacker Rey Maualuga and cornerback Adam Jones in Cincinnati. Maualuga has drawn interest from the Cardinals and Giants, but remains a free agent and the Giants just signed Keith Rivers and Dan Connor. Bengals coaches said before free agency started that they’d like to have Maualuga back on a defense that carried the Bengals into the playoffs last season and his visits elsewhere likely set a price the Bengals are willing to pay.
Jones hasn’t garnered the same interest from others despite a solid 2012 season. He’d be a useful piece for them to bring back for sub packages and they’d also like to bring back Terence Newman. Newman visited the Raiders last week, but Hobson reports the team would like to get a deal done with him in the next week as well. The return of both corners along with Leon Hall and Dre Kirkpatrick would give the Bengals good depth in the secondary heading into next season.