The Cincinnati Bengals wasted little time making one of the most predictable moves of their offseason before the agency-free opening cut off offensive lineman BJ Finney.
For those unfamiliar, Finney came from Seattle to Carlos Dunlap’s trade and saw no notable moment in the field.
As a low-risk addition to a trade dumpoff, the Finney reduction frees up $ 3.5 million of maximum space. It made no sense to keep him around that number as the team prepares to redo the offensive line under new linebacker (and back) coach Frank Pollack.
While the Bengals have plenty of room for cover, Finney is surely just the first domino to fall to the front of the cuts. Releasing Geno Atkins, for example, would release $ 9.5 million. Cutting Bobby Hart, another $ 5.8 million.
Finney’s play was by far the easiest to watch, probably the first, but certainly not the last, as the team prepares to spend another low season of major overhaul on the roster.