LB Blackstock agrees with Bengals
The Bengals have agreed to terms on a one-year contract this afternoon with Cardinals restricted free agent linebacker Darryl Blackstock, agent Brad Blank said.
He was a 2005 third-round pick from the University of Virginia, but the Cardinals declined to give him a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent, so the Cardinals are not entitled to match any offer he would receive and would not get draft-pick compensation from a new team.
Blackstock visited the Bengals on Thursday, the day after he was in Cleveland. Miami's interest waned.
Blackstock is 6 feet, 3 inches, 244 pounds, and he is listed as an outside linebacker. He has played in 46 games over three seasons with two starts. In 2007, he played in all 16 games for Arizona with no starts. He had 21 total tackles, three sacks and one forced fumble on defense.
He only played in four games on defense, Blank said. On special teams, Blackstock had 11 tackles and forced one fumble.
The deal is for the one-year minimum of $520,000 for a player with three credited seasons with a $40,000 signing bonus.
posted by Mark at 4:02 PM
20 Comments:
at 3/10/2008 4:40 PM 
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at 3/10/2008 4:44 PM 
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at 3/10/2008 4:50 PM 
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at 3/10/2008 5:14 PM 
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at 3/10/2008 5:21 PM 
Ankur Varma said...
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at 3/10/2008 5:24 PM 
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at 3/10/2008 5:27 PM 
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at 3/10/2008 5:43 PM 
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at 3/10/2008 5:44 PM 
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at 3/10/2008 6:40 PM 
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at 3/10/2008 6:50 PM 
Ankur Varma said...
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at 3/10/2008 6:51 PM 
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at 3/10/2008 8:11 PM 
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at 3/10/2008 11:00 PM 
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at 3/11/2008 12:33 AM 
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at 3/11/2008 3:59 AM 
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at 3/11/2008 8:46 AM 
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at 3/11/2008 10:23 AM 
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at 3/11/2008 10:57 AM 
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at 3/11/2008 2:33 PM 
SportsMania said...
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Post a Comment*How exciting can it be that we signed a guy that not even the Cardinals wanted. Every year there are more questions than answers with the Bengals.
woop-dee-doo.
What about Cowboy's LB, Akin Ayodele; since picking up Zach Smith, didn't they make Ayodele (who can play every LB position) expendable? Are the Bengal's involved with any trade talks with Jerry Jones? He wants to move up in the draft to get McFadden, doesn't he?
I just don't understand it! I am sure we didn't give a lot, but why not spend the money on Spikes? Yeah, Takeo is older, but he is wiser, has started in the NFL, and is an original Bengal. This guy here, has little to no experience and his numbers are, well judge for yourself. I guess with all the LB's we have now, and the opportunity to add leadership, I just don't understand the need to add another unproven guy.
Also I would like to comment on the issue of the draft! Many contributors around Cincinnati have made the statement that now since Odom was signed, the Bengals don't need to look at DE in the draft. WHAT? First off, Odom looked good last year, but his numbers and experience go back about A YEAR!!! He has to do that for the next 3-4 if we are to consider the spot solidified. Second, if Gohlston is staring you in the face at #9 you swallow him up quick, if you don't than you are....well, you are 7-9 again. If Ellis is gone, and Gohlston is gone, than yeah trade down to the middle of the round (perferably your 1st and 3rd for Dallas' two 1st) and still get Balmer, Merling, Campbell, or Harvey. BUT DON'T LET ANYTHING STAND IN THE WAY OF ADDRESSING THE D-LINE WITH THE FIRST 2 PICKS YOU MAKE.
firefly, Takeo is still an option, he should still be there after the draft when the Bengals have more of an idea of who they still need.
And Gholston will NOT be there when the Bengals pick. I'm guessing you're referring to the Hobson mailbag in which he suggests that they shouldn't take Gholston or Harvey at #9 if they're there because of Odom. I think there's a reason Marvin is in the draft room and Geoff is not. The Bengals have made questionable draft choices before, but if you think about it, most of them were the best player available at those spots.
I see this Blackstock signing as insignificant...it's probably good for depth and more of a special teams move. And the Cardinals had a better defense and deeper LB corps than the Bengals, so I'm fine with this signing.
Just wanted to state again! Since we haven't had a draft post yet from Mark.
Bengals draft outline:
If Ellis or Gohlston is there at #9 take him!
If neither are there, trade down and still get a reliable DT or DE.
Cincy trades its 1st round 08', 3rd round 08', and 4th round 09' to Dallas for its 1st round 08' #22 and 1st round 08' #28.
Select 2 of these 4 with those picks: Balmer DT, Harvey, Campbell, Merling DE.
You still have your second round pick for an O-Lineman (Guard/Center) or that most needed (Ha Ha) pass catching TE. AND---AND you probably still have a late 3rd round comp pick and a 4th, two 5th, and a 7th. Those can be used to select a young LB, young O-lineman, a project WR, and its a must that we select a RB and QB, for no reason other than to waste them like we do every year (sorry, sarcasim).
Whats everyone think of that?
It didn't take long for people to start crying over this signing.
buaaahhh buaahhh!! I'm a cry baby... I'm against everything the bengals do because I know nothing about football and I want the bengals to hire Lawrence Taylor, Cornellius Bennet and Ronnie Lot!! buaaaaahh buaaaah!!!
buaaaaahh!! I don't understand buaaaaahh!!!
I like the Blackstone signing... special teamer back-up LB, only a one-year deal, its a good move...
With the draft, I have a hunch that FINALLY, I think the Bengals will go after the guy they want and trade up.. Getting Dorsey or Ellis... Marvin isn't that dumb to relize his drafting has sucked and he has to go after the studs at the position they need help at..
Sure the Bengals have more holes on this team than a sieve, but sleep well tonight Bengal fans, with this signing we have just strengthened our punt coverage team. Leave the minutiae of the starting defense until training camp...
What I'm hoping is that the Bengals can sign Utecht (thus saving a draft pick) to trade up and get Ellis, Dorsey, or Gholston. That way they won't have to take a risk on Robertson and lose two picks in the process.
ankurv5: Good post! I HOPE Spikes is still there. I don't think we have to get him, but it would definately help this young corps. I also am not going to loose any sleep over the Blackstock pick up, I just think it is a wasted move in the end. You are right about Hobson, and there are others, but Marvin has proven that he (entire management) sometimes selects based on best available, rather than best at what we NEED! I appreciate your position though, good points!
Anon poster: My response is kinda like the cavemen commercial......HUH! Not real sure of your point, other than nothing about football. If you have a point or an opinion, please post it and let discuss.......
tommac: I think Dorsey and Ellis are both very good picks. And I would love to get one of them, but at what cost. I am not sure that they are worth trading up to get. Not at the price it would take.....I don't think there is enough seperation between them and a few others in the fact of changing a game. A couple years from now I could take that back and say I was wrong, but its not worth it. They are clearly a little better, and worth the pick, but not worth giving up an extra couple of picks to get, plus the money to sign them opposed to signing a couple lower picks. I hope Coach does get into the draft with the notion to FILL POSITIONS OF NEED, but I think clearly this is the year to trade down.
I expect and hope for Blackstock to compete for a starting job. Anyone who complains about this signing doesn't know football. 3 sacks last year, all in wins, for a team with a below average defensive line, and he didnt start one game? How many sacks did out OLBs have total? 5 maybe. He got to the QB equally as many times as the 2 front 7 starters that left via free-agency put together.
Is Marvin Lewis out of his damn mind?? Are you telling me that Dhani Jones is one of you're starting linebackers and you have no interest in talking to Takeo Spikes?? He is a tackling machine with attitude. Even if he is your 4th backer, he brings experience and attitude which this defense is sorely lacking. Instead you spend your money on a back-up LB from Arizona?? There is a reason this team is always rebuilding.
Yeah. But the problem right now with Spikes is the money he is demanding. You can't pay a second string backer starting backer money - which is what he wants.
They need to wait him out more. He's a bit over confident right now. Someone will pick him up in the next week or two, but not for more the $5 mil per year.
I like the Blackstock signing because it gives more depth. Last year was awful to watch in the first eight weeks because we had such a crushing set of injuries. What will be interesting to see is what this coaching staff can do with a consistent set of players. Remember, once they got settled in the last eight games, the Bengals were 5 - 3, that's with a patchwork LB corps. I understand the competition in the last eight games was not at the level of the first eight, but still, if they could have just had a little more consistency within the LB corps, I believe they would have won three, maybe four more games (remember those that they lost by a razor thin margin).
We'll see, but it will prove to be an intriguing year with the possible return of what was supposed to be the future of the defense - Pollock and Thurman.
The most important piece is going to be a solid anchor in the middle of that D-line. No doubt about that. That will make the LB corps a better unit because they'll be able to match up against blocks better and get to their gaps quicker.
i say the bengals trade their 2nd round pick this year and 7th rounder this year to minnesota, get their 2nd rounder this year and their 7th rounder next year, then take that 7th rounder and send it to pittsburgh for james harrison's attorney, then wheel the attorney to the jets for a 6th round pick in 2010, then the attorney can represent the new york governor. what the hell is it with you people and these stupid trade proposals involving this pick and that pick? ya nutz???
Awesome. Lets give Tom Tumulty a call to see if he can line up in the middle next to Blackstock. That would be quite a pair.
The deal is for the one-year minimum of $520,000 for a player with three credited seasons with a $40,000 signing bonus....
Did you happen to read this part?! We are getting someone who can strengthen our special teams and be a backup for peanuts? We didn't sign him to a huge deal and we only signed him one year, plus if he happens to perform outstanding then we'll look back and say damn we got lucky...if he doesn't oh well at least he'll be a solid Special teamer.
And with Thurman coming back he can become just as vocal and intense as a leader as spikes has been. Granted this is a reach but I know you all remember how much energy he brought to the field in 05 and became a monster in the middle. If he comes back to form and stays in line a few years down the road he will be every bit better than Spikes!
Where does Pollack's potential return fit into the DE question? Mark, I recall reading that if Pollack did come back, it would likely be at DE, since there is less chance of a neck injury at that position?
ChicagoRed-
I don't think you can count on Pollack at all at DE. If he comes back, great.
This Blackstock signing was a good move. Anytime you can get a decent player for league minimum it is a good move. Plus, Blackstock is probably a very motivated player. He probably signed with the Bengals since that is the team that he has the best chance of seeing playing time with, which is also the reason he signed a 1 year deal.
Takeo would be nice to have back, but not for the money he wants. Bringing him back on big money would be a big mistake.
Build a solid D-line and your linebackers will look good, neglect the D-line and I don't care if you have Ray Lewis, the LB core will suffer. Even ask Lewis, he like having Saragosa and Adams infront of him.
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