Vincent Rey

NFL Workout Updates: 11/1/19

The latest from the workout circuit around the league:

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Jacksonville Jaguars

New York Jets

Oakland Raiders

NFL Workout Updates: 10/1/19

Here’s a look at the latest workouts from around the NFL:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Cleveland Browns

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Ravens Work Out Vincent Rey

Linebacker Vincent Rey worked out for the Ravens on Tuesday, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Rey has been a core special teamer for the rival Bengals for years, but he could jump ship in 2019. 

[RELATED: Latest On Ravens’ LB Plans]

To date, Rey has spent his entire nine-year career with the Bengals. He’s appeared in all but two games over the last eight seasons, making 50 total starts. Rey’s usage dropped like a stone last year, however – he started in just two contests after running with the first-teamers for eleven games in 2018.

The Ravens are plenty familiar with what Rey can do when given a chance. In a 2013 meeting between the Ravens and Bengals, the linebacker sacked Joe Flacco three times.

Contract Details: Forte, Lewis, Rey

Here are a few of the latest contract details for players who have agreed to new deals and/or signed them in recent days. Unless otherwise specified, all links are courtesy of Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle…

NFC:

AFC:

  • Donald Stephenson, OT (Broncos): Three years, $14MM. $10MM guaranteed. $3MM signing bonus. $3MM salary for 2016 fully guaranteed. $4MM salary for 2017 guaranteed for injury at signing. Otherwise, Stephenson’s 2017 salary is guaranteed if he’s on the Broncos’ roster on the fifth day of the league year (Twitter links).
  • Matt Forte, RB (Jets): Three years, $12MM. $9MM guaranteed. $3MM signing bonus. $1M roster bonus due March 15. $1MM salary for 2016 and $4MM salary for 2017 guaranteed. $2MM stat escalator for 2017 and ’18 (Twitter link).
  • Marcedes Lewis, TE (Jaguars): Three years, $12MM. $5MM guaranteed. Jags must exercise $3.5MM club option for 2018 before 22nd day of the league year (Twitter link).
  • Vincent Rey, LB (Bengals): Three years, $10.5MM. $3MM guaranteed as a roster bonus on March 15. $500K roster bonus due on the fifth day of the 2017 league year. $500K playing-time escalator in 2017 and ’18. $12,500 per-game active roster bonus each year. (Twitter links).

Bengals Re-Sign Vincent Rey

1:23pm: Rey has signed his new three-year, $11.5MM contract, Coley Harvey of ESPN.com tweets.

10:32am: It’s a three-year deal worth roughly $11-$12MM, a league source tells Jim Owczarski of The Enquirer.

10:19am: The Bengals have reached agreement on a new deal with linebacker Vincent Rey, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. It was reportedly earlier today that the Bengals were working hard to close the deal with Rey and they have done just that. Vincent Rey (vertical)

Rey picked up interest from other clubs this week, including the Vikings where he has a connection with coach Mike Zimmer.

Rey performed admirably in place of injured starter Rey Maualuga in 2014 and posted 57 tackles, four sacks, five passes defended, two interceptions and a forced fumble. This past season, he registered 95 tackles with 1 sack in 16 games (8 starts). Pro Football Focus (subscription required) rated Rey as the No. 74 linebacker in the NFL last season with a poor grade of 43.8. The advanced metrics were pretty evenly down on his run defense, coverage, and pass rush across 557 pass snaps and 218 run snaps.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

AFC Free Agent Rumors: Hogan, Pats, Steelers

The latest free agent rumors out of the AFC:

  • Bills restricted free agent Chris Hogan is visiting the Patriots today, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The Pats could sign the wide receiver/special-teamer to an offer sheet that the Bills would have five days to match. Pats head coach Bill Belichick has done serious research on Hogan and he likes the fact that he could serve as a backup punter, Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News tweets.
  • Steelers H-back Will Johnson has talked with the Jets, Bears, Chargers, and Titans since the opening of free agency, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com writes. Johnson is a versatile blocker and special teamer, but Fowler adds that he could be looking for more carries, too.
  • The Chiefs weren’t close to matching the Raiders‘ offer for cornerback Sean Smith, per Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (on Twitter).
  • The Bengals are trying to close on re-signing linebacker Vincent Rey today, as Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com tweets.

Free Agent Rumors: Wisniewski, Browns, Pacman

The Browns have expressed interest in Jaguars free agent center Stefen Wisniewski, a league source tells Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer (on Twitter). The Browns are in danger of losing three-time Pro Bowl center Alex Mack to free agency and they could turn to the 26-year-old as a replacement. Hue Jackson was the coach in Oakland when the Raiders used their 2011 second round draft choice on Wisniewski.

The latest free agent rumors from around the NFL:

  • The Browns have expressed interest in free agent cornerback Adam Jones, a league source tells Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer (on Twitter). Jones, a Bengals free agent, has been heavily linked to Miami in recent weeks thanks to his connection with defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.
  • The Vikings and Matt Asiata are far apart on a possible contract, Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press (on Twitter) hears from a source. Several other teams expressed an interest in the running back on Monday, he adds. Asiata has previously stated that he would like to return to Minnesota.
  • 49ers free agent Alex Boone and Cardinals free agent Bobby Massie are two offensive linemen who could get north of $8MM per season, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (on Twitter) hears.
  • The Vikings have reached out to the representative of Bengals free agent linebacker Vincent Rey, per Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press (on Twitter). The Vikings are in need of a linebacker and Mike Zimmer is familiar with Rey from their previous time together.
  • Backup quarterback Drew Stanton is unlikely to return to the Cardinals, an NFL source tells Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic (on Twitter).
  • The Eagles had significant interest in signing wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey before he re-upped with the Steelers, as Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com tweets.

North Notes: Bengals, Manziel, Bears

Safety George Iloka is one of many key Bengals players who will be eligible for free agency this winter, creating some interesting decisions for the club once the season comes to an end. As Iloka tells Paul Dehner of the Cincinnati Enquirer, he thinks that he and his fellow free-agents-to-be have handled the situation well.

“The approach hasn’t been, let’s all try to play individually and get paid the highest amount we can get paid,” Iloka said. “We look at it as, man, this is our last whoo-rah. Who knows who will be back and who won’t, but we are only guaranteed this year. I feel like we have a pretty good squad, we have been together for a long time and I just feel like this is it. If there’s a shot it’s this year. I think that’s been our approach more than, oh, let’s get paid because everyone knows if you make the Super Bowl everyone’s next contract is inflated. Getting to the Super Bowl and winning is our main goal, if you do that the money thing will take care of itself.”

In Dehner’s view, Iloka is one of six Bengals players who should be top priorities for the team this offseason, along with cornerback Adam Jones, wide receivers Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu, defensive end Wallace Gilberry, and linebacker Vincent Rey.

As we wait to see how the Bengals approach their offseason, let’s round up a few more items out of the NFL’s two North divisions….

  • Asked today if Johnny Manziel might want out of Cleveland, Browns head coach Mike Pettine said he’s seen “no indication of that,” adding that talks with Manziel have been good (Twitter link via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com).
  • Joel Corry of CBSSports.com takes an interesting look at a number of players around the NFL whose performance – or simply ability to stay healthy – could make them some extra money this season, via incentives. One such player is Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, who will profit greatly if he’s able to have more postseason success than he had in his first four NFL seasons.
  • Bears chairman George McCaskey sat down for a Q&A with Dan Pompei, and discussed several past decisions, including multiple general manager and head coach changes, the signing of Ray McDonald, and the release of Jeremiah Ratliff.
  • In a piece for The Sporting News, former Vikings general manager Jeff Diamond says that if he were still running his old club, and could’ve received anything close to fair value, he would’ve traded Adrian Peterson in the offseason. As Diamond explains, the Vikings may not have had the same on-field success this year without their star runinng back, but moving him would’ve sent a “strong message” about the team’s expectations off the field.

AFC East Notes: Edelman, Sanchez, Cooks

As of last night, the Patriots and free agent receiver Julian Edelman were talking about a contract that would keep Tom Brady‘s most productive receiver in New England. Edelman visited the 49ers Friday, but CBS’ Jason La Canfora believes a deal with the Pats remains the most likely scenario (via Twitter).

Other Pats and Jets news and notes:

  • The Patriots were supposed to meet with Steve Smith, but they never got the chance, writes Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com.
  • In a detailed explanation, Jason Fitzgerald of overthecap.com writes the Jets are playing a game of poker with the Mark Sanchez situation.
  • The Jets have been “all over” Oregon State receiver Brandin Cooks in pre-draft preparation, according to ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini (via Twitter). That news could be telling, especially remembering back to last year when the team was reportedly fixated on Tavon Austin before the Rams swooped in. While not as versatile, productive or hyped as Austin, Cooks is also a smallish, playmaking receiver who brings an explosive element, something the Jets 31st ranked passing offense sorely needs, even with the signing of Eric Decker. Cooks, who is capable of working inside or outside, blazed 40-yard dash times in the low 4.3s at the Combine. He’s expected to go in the second round, where the Jets hold the 18th pick.

Vincent Rey Re-Signs With Bengals

Restricted free agent linebacker Vincent Rey, a “quintessential ‘locker room guy,'” has re-signed with the Bengals, according to Cincinnati Enquirer beat reporter Paul Dehner (via Twitter). Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com says the deal is for two years (via Twitter).

A solid backup and excellent special-teams player, Rey performed admirably in place of injured starter Rey Maualuga last year and posted 57 tackles, four sacks, five passes defended, two interceptions and a forced fumble. Rey, who was qualified at $1.43MM, made $630k last season.