Cincinnati Bengals still trying to bolster thin linebacker corps
By Jason Marcum
The Cincinnati Bengals linebacking corp may be the thinnest position on the roster right now, and Marvin Lewis made it clear the team was going to look to add a sixth LB via waivers or on the free agent market after final roster cuts left them with just five backers. That simply won’t cut it in today’s NFL, but after failing to snag anyone off the waiver wire, they’ve been bringing in a number of free agents in for tryouts.
Thus far, they’ve worked-out former starting weakside backer Thomas Howard, former Minnesota Vikings special-teamer Tyrone McKenzie, as well as former New York Giants starting WLB Michael Boley.
On Tuesday, the team also worked out a pair of Ohio products: UC’s Maalik Bomar and Ohio State’s Etienne Sabino.
Bomar signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars following April’s draft, but was released when the Jags cut their roster to 75 players as well. The former Bearcat appeared in 47 games at LB, and his career totals include 178 tackles (133 solo), 15.0 tackles for a loss, five passes defensed, three sacks, two forced fumbles, two rumble recoveries and one INT.
Sabino, an undrafted rookie, suffered a broken fibula after playing eight games during his senior season. He notched 45 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two quarterback sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble, but the injury led him to going undrafted during the 2013 NFL draft. Later, Sabino signed as a college free agent with the New York Giants, but was cut during the first roster cutdown to 75 players.