Trimming the fat

So the Bengals cut DT Sam Adams. At least he has that lucrative partial ownership of the AFL-2 Cincinnati Jungle Kats to fall back on--so we know he won't go hungry. The macrobrew managed to play every game last year, but with questionable effectiveness due to a tweaked knee that was scoped this offseason.

Cutting Adams leave the Bengals with second year player Domata Peku and journeyman John Thornton as the likely starters at DT. Recent acquisitions Kendrick Allen and Michael Myers will fill in as backups--and late draft pick Matt Toeania could make some noise as well. In fact, given Allen's injury history, I think I'd give the early edge to Toenia. I suspect that one of the leading factors in the decision to cut Adams was the emergence of Peku as a rookie (his 44 tackles and 2.5 sacks were the best amongst the DTs).

Another big factor is Big Daddy syndrome. Former top pick Dan "Big Daddy" Wilkinson, another beefy DT, is known for shirking offseason training programs. This is pretty common amongst your veteran defensive tackles--you use an injury to keep out of offseason workouts and then just "play your way into shape" once games start. Right now, Big Daddy is refusing to report to the Denver Broncos (after being traded there by the Dolphins). I'll wager he changes his tune come August. He still gets paid, but avoids having to sweat off the pounds in the summer heat.

Adams, I think, is a similar case. Last year he never practiced with the team in the offseason, either due to injury or needing to get into shape (depending on who you ask). I think this frustrates the hell out of coaches. With Sam coming off the knee scope this year, I think Marvin read the writing on the wall and figured his veteran anchor would sandbag his way through the offseason again. Rather than put up with the distraction, he elected to cut Sam loose and see how Peku responds.