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Bengals ink Bryant
Type: Latest News
11 March 2010 10:01 AM - Henry Hodgson
The Cincinnati Bengals have signed wide receiver Antonio Bryant, adding a complimentary receiver for Chad Ochocinco but possibly ensuring that Terrell Owens - who the team also hosted on Tuesday - will not be signed.
Bryant agreed to a four-year, $28 million contract. Bryant, 29, had career highs with 83 catches for 1,248 yards and seven touchdowns with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2008. He had torn cartilage in his left knee repaired during training camp last season, and knee problems limited him to 39 catches for 600 yards with four touchdowns.
Finding an experienced receiver was the Bengals' top priority in free agency. They lost T.J. Houshmandzadeh to the Seattle Seahawks in free agency a year ago and signed Laveranues Coles to a four-year contract, expecting him to fill the gap. Coles struggled to blend in and was released after only one season.
After meeting with Bryant on Tuesday, the Bengals welcomed Owens, who has the same agent as Ochocinco and was interested in being paired with his friend in Cincinnati. He flew into Cincinnati on Tuesday afternoon and had dinner with Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, then met with team owner Mike Brown and assistant coaches Wednesday.
Ochocinco was excited about the possibility of the Bengals adding Owens, tweeting to him that they would be like Batman and Robin in Cincinnati. When he heard of the Bengals' intensified negotiations with Bryant on Wednesday, Ochocinco tweeted congratulations and wondered if there was any way of still signing Owens, who's 36.
Owens' production has declined in each of his last two seasons. He had 69 catches for 1,052 yards and 10 touchdowns with the Dallas Cowboys in 2008, then dropped off to 55 catches for 829 yards with five touchdowns for the Buffalo Bills last season.
The Bengals also need help at tight end. On Wednesday, they re-signed backup tight end Dan Coats, who became a free agent when his contract expired at the end of the season. Coats played in all 17 games last season and caught 16 passes for 150 yards.
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