Put simply, the Antonio Bryant situation is a mess. The team’s $7 million a year receiver is on the sidelines and its unclear when he might return. Today, the NFL Network reported that Bryant’s agent said the Bengals are not close to cutting Bryant. That’s good news I think.
As laid out by Joe Reedy, the team essentially has three options with Bryant. One, they can release him and eat the signing bonus and money they already paid him. Two, they can put him on injured reserve and save a roster spot for someone else (which is pretty valuable considering the depth at wide receiver). Or three, the team can keep him, pay his base salary for this season (only $1.55 million according to Reedy. The other cash Bryant received was in signing and roster bonuses).
According to a poll on Reedy’s blog, 31-percent think Bryant should stay on the 53-man roster, 40-percent think he belongs on injured reserve, and 29-percent think he should just be cut. Here’s what I think:
The team should keep Bryant around. Yes, keeping Bryant means someone like Jerome Simpson might have to get cut. But the Bengals are built to win now. And who gives the Bengals the best chance to make it to the Super Bowl? It’s not Simpson. So even if Bryant has to start the season inactive on Sundays, it makes sense to keep him around. The remainder of his salary isn’t that expensive so that shouldn’t be a deterrent. And if he can return to the field later in the season, the Bengals three-receiver sets will be dynamite.
The mistakes have already been made with Antonio. The medical staff should have looked at him more closely. The team shouldn’t have given him so much money. And Bryant sure as heck shouldn’t have practiced the first day, eliminating the option of the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list.
But there’s no need to get rid of him. Keep him around and hope he returns in time for a Super Bowl run. It’s the only option left that makes sense.
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Original Story:
http://stripehype.com/2010/08/27/my-t...
