Dwight Freeney had eight of his 119.5 sacks for the Cardinals last season.
Although Dwight Freeney is reportedly headed to visit Atlanta (according to ESPN's Jim Trotter) and he has been linked to a possible return in Arizona, he and the Bengals appear to be very much on each other's radar after Wednesday's visit.
Freeney, the 36-year-old future Hall-of-Fame pass rusher, left Paul Brown Stadium without a deal but with plenty of impressions.
After he watched practice, Freeney met with defensive coordinator Paul Guenther for about 90 minutes showing him how he envisioned he'd supplement a defensive line already boasting two Pro Bowler rushers in Carlos Dunlap on the outside and Geno Atkins on the inside, as well as seasoned veterans like Michael Johnson at right end and Domata Peko at nose tackle and some emerging young talent.
Freeney also spent time in the locker room talking to veterans on each side of the ball as well as meeting with head coach Marvin Lewis. Freeney is coming off an eight-sack season in Arizona as a 3-4 linebacker, but the 6-1, 265-pounder has racked up most of his 119.5 career sacks as a 4-3 Bengals' type defensive end. He's also looking for another Super Bowl title (he won one with the Colts in 2006) before he ends a career that is now heading into its 15th season.
SLANTS AND SCREENS; In other moves Wednesday, the Bengals are down to one unsigned draft pick when fourth-rounder Andrew Billings, the Baylor defensive tackle, joined the fold. That leaves only first-rounder William Jackson to get done . . .
North Dakota State fullback Andrew Bonnet, who has reportedly said he sees himself as an H-Back in the NFL, signed with the Bengals a week after the Panthers released him. Carolina signed Carson Wentz's fullback when he went undrafted after his teammate went No. 2 to the Eagles.
The 6-3, 250-pound Bonnet took part in State's five straight FCS national championships while playing in all 61 games after red-shirting in 2011. He's a physical sort who did it all in Fargo. NDSU coach Chris Klieman told the Forum newspaper of Fargo-Moorhead, "He's a fullback. He's a tight end. And to be honest, if it's third-and-2, I wouldn't mind lining him up by himself back there in a one-back set, because I think the kid would find a way to get two or three yards." . . .
The Bengals released rookie kicker Jonathan Brown (foot) under the Waived/Injured category. If he clears waivers Thursday he'll revert to the Bengals' Reserve/Injured list. Brown, who hurt his foot running sprints, had been brought in for a spring tryout. The Bengals already have two veteran kickers in Mike Nugent and Zach Hocker . ..
