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Taking advantage of their newfound depth at defensive tackle to get younger at the position, the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday released 13-year veteran Sam Adams, one of the league's top interior run defenders during his career.
The move came only hours after the Bengals signed unrestricted free agent defensive tackle Kenderick Allen, who missed most of the 2006 season because of a foot injury. Adams' departure -- he played only one season of the three-year contract he signed in Cincinnati last spring -- likely elevates second-year veteran Domato Peko to the starting lineup.
Adams, 33, appeared in all 16 games for the Bengals in 2006, but recorded only 14 tackles and two sacks as his productivity waned. While never a player whose value was judged by his tackle totals, since he consistently commanded double-team blocking and freed up other defenders to flow to the football, Adams did not have as solid a season as Bengals coaches had hoped he would.
Last summer, coach Marvin Lewis, who is very close to Adams, held him out of practices the first few weeks of camp until the veteran shed weight and improved his conditioning. Adams typically played his way into shape and moved quickly into the starting lineup, but he suffered a knee injury during the season and it affected his performance.
Adams had arthroscopic knee surgery after the season.
The veteran run-stuffer had two seasons remaining on his contract, at base salaries of $1.5 million (2007) and $1.75 million (2008). Cincinnati will save about $700,000 in salary cap room for this season. But since the Bengals are well under the spending limit, the move is not seen as cap-related, bur rather an attempt to move younger players up the depth chart.
A former Texas A&M star, Adams was a first-round draft choice of the Seattle Seahawks in 1994, the eighth player chosen overall that year. In stints with Seattle (1994-99), Baltimore (2000-2001), Oakland (2002), Buffalo (2003-2005) and Cincinnati (2006), he registered 452 tackles, 44 sacks, six forced fumbles, five recoveries and 32 pass deflections.
If he is healthy, Adams, who has played in 195 games, could draw interest from teams that are seeking a veteran interior presence against the run.
Peko was a fourth-round choice in the 2006 draft and the former Michigan State player is a young defender the Bengals' coaches like a lot, a guy whose playing time the staff wanted to increase in 2007. He likely will join veteran John Thornton in the starting lineup.
Cincinnati has made it an offseason priority to add depth to the tackle position, and the Monday addition of Allen was another step in that direction.
The four-year veteran, who signed a one-year deal, is the second free agent tackle added by the Bengals in recent weeks. Cincinnati last month signed nine-year veteran Michael Myers, a well-regarded tackle, to a two-year, $1.65 million contract. The Bengals also chose former Oregon defensive tackle Matt Toeaina in the sixth round of the draft.
Financial details of Allen's contract were not yet available.
In 31 games, Allen, 28, has 54 tackles, three sacks and two fumble recoveries. The former LSU standout entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the New Orleans Saints in 2003, then played two years with the New York Giants (2004-2005), before signing with Green Bay last summer.
Allen appeared in just two games with the Packers, however, before suffering a season-ending foot injury.
At 6-feet-5, 328 pounds, Allen is built more like a nose tackle but is quick enough to also play some at the "under" tackle spot. His strong suit is defending against the run, but his three sacks in limited playing time demonstrate some ability to push the pocket inside.
Three other teams showed interest in signing Allen this spring.
Senior writer Len Pasquarelli covers the NFL for ESPN.com.
Bengals Sign Kendrick Allen
Maybe we will take on Adams for his experience??
