It's official: Levi Jones released by Bengals today...

[T-post Tom]

Bengals cut Levi Jones
GEOFF HOBSON

Posted May 6, 2009

Jones was a first-round draft pick of the Bengals in 2002. (Bengals photo)

Updated: 12:40 p.m.

The much anticipated release of Levi Jones became reality Wednesday, another step in what looks to be the installation of first-rounder Andre Smith at left tackle.

Jones had the job since the second month of his NFL career, which began when he was the 10th pick in the 2002 draft. He started 89 games and emerged as one of the top left tackles in the game during a 2005 season he was voted a Pro Bowl second alternate. But knee and leg problems limited him to 31 games in the last three seasons and he played in only the first 10 last season when he suffered a leg injury against the Eagles.

Since there is no salary cap next season in the NFL, the Bengals assume what is left of Jones' pro-rated signing bonus in this year's cap. Since he was scheduled to make in excess of $3 million this season, that figures to be about a $500,000 hit.

The 6-5, 307-pound Jones, 29, had requested a trade before the 2008 NFL Draft, and the club told his agent this past March that it would either trade him or cut him. When the Bengals couldn't get any takers for a deal they decided to make the move three days after Smith made his Bengals debut on the practice field at left tackle.

As the Bengals attempt to shore up an offensive line that allowed 51 sacks last year, right guard Bobbie Williams and left guard Andrew Whitworth are the only members of the 2008 Opening Day line still on the roster with center Eric Ghiaciuc and right tackle Stacy Andrews departing via free agency.

There are now just two Bengals who were here when head coach Marvin Lewis arrived in 2003: Long snapper Brad St. Louis and wide receiver Chad Ochocinco.

"The Bengals made Levi the 10th pick in the draft and then made him one of the highest paid tackles in the league," said agent Kenny Zuckerman, who negotiated the six-year extension with $16.3 million in guarantees and $21 million in the first three years before the 2006 season. "He definitely appreciates what the Bengals did for him and now he's looking to continue his career elsewhere."

Jones had some public disagreements with the training staff and coaches as they grappled with his injuries and for the last couple of years he chose to work out in his native Arizona at Athletes' Performance Institute in Tempe.

What is probably the highlight of his Bengals career involved injury. In one of the toughest feats ever in franchise history, he played six days after arthroscopic knee surgery down the playoff stretch in December 2003.

Injury also played a part in his last Bengals appearance. He had to take himself out of the Eagles game because Trent Cole saw he could exploit Jones's physical problems. No one ever got into the specifics of the injury, but Zuckerman said Jones has had a good offseason and is healthy.

"We're not going to rush it," said Zuckerman of a new team.

The Bengals had to turn to rookie Anthony Collins to replace Jones in the last six games when Whitworth suffered an ankle injury in the same game and also missed the rest of the season. If Smith stays at left tackle, then Whitworth most likely stays at left guard while Collins, a fourth-round pick out of Kansas last year, appears to get the shot at right tackle.

http://www.bengals.com/news/article-...d-010172613abc