The Cincinnati Bengals have brought back DE Michael Johnson on a four-year deal after he spent one season with Tampa Bay.
SEE MORE:
(Video) Boxing news: Keith Thurman says he is Floyd Mayweather’s toughest fight
Chelsea player ratings vs Southampton: Matic poor but Hazard impresses
Oakland Raiders GM: Team not interested in signing domestic abuser Greg Hardy
ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that the Bengals had come to terms with Johnson on a new agreement after the Buccaneers cut him before the start of the free agency period this past Tuesday.
Bengals team website editor Geoff Hobson posted an image of Johnson back in the Bengals facility when he came over to sign his contract:
Welcome back Michael Johnson pic.twitter.com/u9Cj4feHjn
— Geoff Hobson (@GeoffHobsonCin) March 15, 2015
In 2012, Johnson recorded a career-high 11.5 sacks in his first full season as the starting RDE. The following season though he had a drop off in production and the Bengals chose not to re-sign him. But the Tampa Bay Buccaneers thought they had found their diamond in the rough as a pass rusher and signed Johnson for a $44 million contract with $23 million guaranteed.
However, Johnson simply was not the pass rushing force that Tampa Bay paid him to be and decided to cut their losses by releasing him.
In 2014, the Bengals finished 30th in the NFL in sacks with just 23. The addition of Johnson, assuming he can recover some of his pass rushing form, would likely be a boon for the Bengals defense.
COMMENTS