What are the Bengals going to do with Rey Maualuga?

[Bengalsman1983]

Rey was awarded Defensive Team Captain this season. That means a lot. How does one get awarded Captain and then released the next season? You have to predict at this point in time that Rey will be resigned this off season and be our starting MLB going into next year. I see no way that he gets awarded Captain and then Marvin allowing him to walk.

What does this mean for Burfict? Does he stay at WLB? If so, do we resign Howard? Howard was our best LB last season and should be playing WLB IMO. Does moving Burfict to SAM make any sense at all? That is the only solution that I see in which Howard makes it back on the field with Burfict.

I just can’t imagine Maualuga not returning and being our starting MLB for the next 4 years after he was given the Captain title. Please tell me I am wrong!!!

[PApinhead]

Maybe it's just me and my extreme disappointment with Rey, but who cares if he was Captain this year? He didn't get the job done(very well) and is not the answer at MLB. I say let him go or if we insist on keeping him, just keep him as a back-up, not a starter and find a new Captain next year.

Sorry, I don't mean to be condescending or anything, I just don't think the title of Captain means much when it comes to making sure you have the best players on the field the next season.

[FRAv]

Originally Posted by PApinhead

Maybe it's just me and my extreme disappointment with Rey, but who cares if he was Captain this year? He didn't get the job done(very well) and is not the answer at MLB. I say let him go or if we insist on keeping him, just keep him as a back-up, not a starter and find a new Captain next year.

Sorry, I don't mean to be condescending or anything, I just don't think the title of Captain means much when it comes to making sure you have the best players on the field the next season.

There's a good chance that he was made captain because Lewis thought that may be the only way to salvage his play for the rest of the season and make it through without having to rely on guys like Lawson or Rey. Maybe we can get lucky and talk Baltimore into taking him for a couple picks.

[Bengalsman1983]

Originally Posted by PApinhead

Maybe it's just me and my extreme disappointment with Rey, but who cares if he was Captain this year? He didn't get the job done(very well) and is not the answer at MLB. I say let him go or if we insist on keeping him, just keep him as a back-up, not a starter and find a new Captain next year.

Sorry, I don't mean to be condescending or anything, I just don't think the title of Captain means much when it comes to making sure you have the best players on the field the next season.

I completely agree with you. My argument is that these coaches have egos and egos might get in the way of making the right decision. I hope it doesn't but you just never know.

[Au165]

Someone call the Raiders........what picks do they still have left this year?

[PApinhead]

Originally Posted by FRAv

There's a good chance that he was made captain because Lewis thought that may be the only way to salvage his play for the rest of the season and make it through without having to rely on guys like Lawson or Rey. Maybe we can get lucky and talk Baltimore into taking him for a couple picks.

HaHa!! This may not be popular, but I'd be willing to just give him away! LOL

Originally Posted by Bengalsman1983

I completely agree with you. My argument is that these coaches have egos and egos might get in the way of making the right decision. I hope it doesn't but you just never know.

Oh, there is not doubt about that. It doesn't seem that Marvin and company want to admit that Rey just isn't panning out and that it is time to move on. But you're right, who knows what will happen. Maybe we will be surprised.

[RhodeIslandFan]

He's not very good. Plain and simple. This is not meant as a slight to Rey . It's just that you'd like see him at least be of Pro Bowl caliber if he's going to lead. That's not Rey nor will it ever be. Lewis was hoping by giving him capain statis, it would awaken something special in him, but Rey is what he is. Average...

[wcu]

I'm as down on Rey as almost anyone. However, I will say that over the past few weeks, I haven't really noticed him at all. Now, obviously, that means he isn't making any splash plays, but it also means he's not being a colossal screw up!

I'd prefer that he isn't our MLB of the future, but from what I've seen, he has improved over the 2nd half of the season. If the price is right, keep him for depth, but we certainly don't want to break the bank simply because he's a starter and a captain.

Usually, your middle linebacker looks like a friggin hero playing behind a defensive line like this. It's concerning that he still looks weak when you figure in our strong DT play.

[McC]

Hopefully, they thank him for his services and send him on to his next career. Maybe he can be an actor and play football players in movies. He does look the part.

[OMAHABENGAL54]

Rey is as of right now just an average at best lb. I neither love nor hate his play. Coming out of USC like he did and with who he came out with will always be a measuring stick

I say sign him for a 2-3 yr contract at above average for starting MLB's. Let him fight it out in preseason and worst case I think he would be a descent backup

I don't think Rey is great now but I do think he gets a lot of blame and very little credit

Just my .02

Who Dey !

[Jasonew6]

My guess is he is re-signed and remains a starter. Likely at MLB, possibly back to SLB.

[BengalRugby]

Have to get rid of him, release, trade, whatever, if the Bengals find a replacement.


He's been with the team too long, and is still too young, to simple fall into a back up role. I like the idea of finding a replacement in the draft and then dealing him to a different team. Only reason the Bengals should hold onto him until after the draft is in case there is a run on MLB's in the draft. This would stop the Bengals from having to reach due to need at linebacker, and would allow them to instead draft for value.


Hate the idea of having to stick with Rey for another season, but I could stand it if they upgraded at SAM, safety, RB, and CB instead. As long as they're addressing needs, I'm all for it. If they skip such need and draft more DT's due to value, not so happy...

[BritishBengal]

We need all the extra cash we can get if we wish to keep MJ, Smiths, Dunlap, Atkins and Gresham in the coming two seasons. Let Maualuga go. He flashed as a rookie but hasn't done anything else since. At his best this season he has been average, and that's nothing to get excited about.

[XenoMorph]

Originally Posted by PApinhead

Maybe it's just me and my extreme disappointment with Rey, but who cares if he was Captain this year? He didn't get the job done(very well) and is not the answer at MLB. I say let him go or if we insist on keeping him, just keep him as a back-up, not a starter and find a new Captain next year.

Sorry, I don't mean to be condescending or anything, I just don't think the title of Captain means much when it comes to making sure you have the best players on the field the next season.

His 2nd half the year is much better than the beginning he seemed to respond well to what the coaches were telling him...

I say right now... You give him a 2 year extenstion which gives him a year to earn a bigger deal.

[khamla]

I wouldn't mind him as a back up to Burfict int he middle.

[BengalbobZilla]

hopefully they cut him....he isnt that good of a player, and seems a bit timid, especially after Ward shattered his jaw

[wcu]

Originally Posted by BengalbobZilla

hopefully they cut him....he isnt that good of a player, and seems a bit timid, especially after Ward shattered his jaw

That was Keith Rivers.

[Paul from Dayton]

Originally Posted by BengalbobZilla

hopefully they cut him....he isnt that good of a player, and seems a bit timid, especially after Ward shattered his jaw

You're thinking of Rivers

[PApinhead]

Originally Posted by BengalsFan024

His 2nd half the year is much better than the beginning he seemed to respond well to what the coaches were telling him...

I say right now... You give him a 2 year extenstion which gives him a year to earn a bigger deal.

I will grant that he improved in the second half of the season. However, I still don't think he is good enough to keep around as our starting MLB. As a back up? Sure. But not as a starter. He's had enough time to prove himself and he hasn't done it.

[BritishBengal]

Originally Posted by BengalbobZilla

hopefully they cut him....he isnt that good of a player, and seems a bit timid, especially after Ward shattered his jaw

[et2house]

Burfict is destined for the middle and the sooner Rey is gone, the sooner we'll have a pro-bowl MLB. Thank Rey for his services and let him walk. He probably will fit better in the middle of a 3-4 anyways.

[XenoMorph]

Originally Posted by et2house

Burfict is destined for the middle and the sooner Rey is gone, the sooner we'll have a pro-bowl MLB. Thank Rey for his services and let him walk. He probably will fit better in the middle of a 3-4 anyways.

Burfict Plays Great on the outside.... Dont move him I like this core of backers and if we can transition Howard to Sam next year we will be even better.

[XenoMorph]

Originally Posted by BengalbobZilla

hopefully they cut him....he isnt that good of a player, and seems a bit timid, especially after Ward shattered his jaw

Fail...

And Rey is a Fine player... Hes no Rey Lewis but you dont find those very often.


Burfict is perfect for the Will Spot

We dont have a middle LB to replace Rey so our best bet is to resign him to a short term deal.

[Jasonew6]

Originally Posted by BengalsFan024

Fail...

And Rey is a Fine player... Hes no Rey Lewis but you dont find those very often.


Burfict is perfect for the Will Spot

We dont have a middle LB to replace Rey so our best bet is to resign him to a short term deal.

Burfict played the WLB spot well, but I do think his natural position is in the middle.

[TheLeonardLeap]

Originally Posted by BengalsFan024

Fail...

And Rey is a Fine player... Hes no Rey Lewis but you dont find those very often.


Burfict is perfect for the Will Spot

We dont have a middle LB to replace Rey so our best bet is to resign him to a short term deal.

Rey is not a fine player by any stretch of the word.. and the question is which is better for the Bengals? Burfict (who in 14 games, never playing a snap at WILL in his life, beat Maualuga in tackles) at MLB, and Thomas Howard (who also in his first season with the Bengals beat Maualuga in tackles) at WILL.....

.....Or Maualuga at MLB, Burfict at WILL, and Thomas Howard who was the Bengals best LBer in 2011 is let to go to another team to start.

All I know is Dhani Jones was considered an average MLB, with an above average grasp of the defense and knowing where people needed to be, and he still made more plays than Rey Maualuga is in MLB. Which brings me to another point, every time I watch the Bengals defense, why is it that either Vontaze Burfict or Chris Crocker are talking to Rey frantically and pointing at something which causes some players to shift before the snap? I really don't think Rey knows what he's doing and how to direct the defense.