Cincinnati Bengals aim for Keith Rivers’ trade after signing cornerback Terence Newman-NFL News
The Cincinnati Bengals are reported to have been weighing options for trade of their linebacker, Keith Rivers, to the New York Giants.
A couple of media reports have quoted an anonymous source as saying that the management is in contact with Giants with the proposal of a trade, but nothing much has been worked out on the deal front from either of the sides.
Rivers’ trade talk has emerged following confirmation from Bengals to have signed cornerback, Terence Newman, off the free agency.
Newman was released by the Dallas Cowboys this offseason due to the team’s lingering salary cap issue. Bengals have agreed to a one-year deal with him but did not disclose rest of the terms, including its value.
He becomes the first significant signing to the team’s secondary, which will provide them with more flexibility and depth at the position. Newman can be put in multiple roles.
It is difficult to ascertain if he is able to win a contract more expensive than $8 million as he was due to make in 2012 in the previous contract with Cowboys.
He had 53 tackles and four interceptions in the 2011 National Football League (NFL) season, but his form dropped significantly in the later part of the season.
A year earlier, in 2010, Newman was able to record his career-high 79 tackles. The year proved to be the best of his career and he seemed to have played the game to his optimum potential.
Newman was drafted in the professional league as a fifth overall pick in 2003 and has performed consistently well before being released by Cowboys. He has also made it to the Pro Bowl a couple of times.
Bengals now hope he continues to perform well for them in the next season. The team made it to the playoffs through the last wild card in the last season, but lost to the Houston Texans in the first game of the second round.
Meanwhile, Bengals are weighing options for some other positions. According to the initially available information, the management is planning for subtraction of a player from their linebackers group.
Since the information around the plan has come out to be very thin, it is difficult to assert if and when they are going to implement it.
The team is also reported to have been aiming for the trade of Keith Rivers with the New York Giants. Again, the proposed trade talk is limited to expression of the interest. It remains unknown who the team is aiming to bring in as an exchange for Rivers.
Giants have not confirmed the reports of the trade from their end, and in absence of details around the prospect, all the possibilities remain in the air.
Tags: