The Bengals added their fifth starter during a whirlwind Friday morning in free agency when they hosted, signed and introduced veteran tackle Riley Reiff via Zoom at Paul Brown Stadium.
Reiff, 32, one of the NFL's most consistent offensive lineman during the past decade, confirmed he'll be their Opening Day right tackle as the Bengals Zoomed to about $130 million in committed money for their new starters.
The Reiff signing came in the wake of Thursday night's hardcore recruiting effort in an upstairs room at Jeff Ruby's swanky east side eatery that included the four new defensive starters. Former Cowboys cornerback Chidobe Awuzie ordered The Precinct's Steak Burrow and later Reiff was convinced that he wanted to join the effort to protect high grade franchise quarterback Joe Burrow.
"I walked away from eating that steak wanting to block for that guy," Reiff said. "Really impressed with him. He looks great on film and he's even better off the field. Just the way he conducts himself. Down to earth. Cincinnati type guy. Tough. Midwestern. Blue collar. Comes to work."
Reiff was at a table with Burrow and right end Sam Hubbard and said he wanted to get the deal done after spending the evening with the entire Bengals contingent..
"I feel like I fit in here," he said. "You look at the foundation with the quarterback here. I assume he'll be here 10, 20 years."
Also involved in the recruiting effort was Ruby giving him one of his cigars.
"He said he'd give me another box if I actually did sign," Reiff said.
