CINCINNATI — The Bengals now have several starter-caliber options at tight end after re-signing TE Reggie Kelly earlier in May. Kelly, who missed all of last season with a ruptured Achilles tendon, is a solid blocker who equaled a career high with 31 receptions in 2008.

Kelly’s return helps Bengals’ offense

First-round pick Jermaine [...]]]> Courtesy: ProFootballWeekly.com

CINCINNATI — The Bengals now have several starter-caliber options at tight end after re-signing TE Reggie Kelly earlier in May. Kelly, who missed all of last season with a ruptured Achilles tendon, is a solid blocker who equaled a career high with 31 receptions in 2008.

Kelly’s return helps Bengals’ offense

First-round pick Jermaine Gresham will get every chance to play early because of his outstanding receiving ability, and second-year TE Chase Coffman will also get an opportunity to contribute after an injury-plagued rookie season. Kelly, 33, was part of Marvin Lewis’ first group of free-agent signees in his first offseason as Bengals coach in 2003, and he has been a key, if not flashy, part of the offense ever since.

In Kelly’s absence last season, the Bengals leaned heavily on J.P. Foschi  and Daniel Coats, but Cincinnati elected not to re-sign Foschi, and Coats’ role on the club could be in flux with Gresham, Kelly and Coffman locks to make the team.

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CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals have re-signed veteran tight end Reggie Kelly, who had become an unrestricted free agent on March 5th.

The Bengals on Thursday day re-signed veteran tight end Reggie Kelly.

Kelly, 33 and a 12th-year NFL player in 2010, has a lot of experience and holds [...]]]> By M. Bowman Staff / Wire Reports

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals have re-signed veteran tight end Reggie Kelly, who had become an unrestricted free agent on March 5th.

The Bengals on Thursday day re-signed veteran tight end Reggie Kelly.

Kelly, 33 and a 12th-year NFL player in 2010, has a lot of experience and holds a lot of respect in the organization, so bringing him back looks like a good move if his health problems are behind him.
Kelly joined the Bengals in 2003 as an unrestricted free agent from Atlanta and played in 90 games with 86 starts from 2003-08 with Cincinnati. He has played in 152 games with 133 starts and has caught 184 passes for 1718 yards and five touchdowns.

Kelly also provides intangibles to the locker room and brings a strong blocking presence when healthy. Reggie tore his Achilles tendon last summer during camp. By signing Kelly the Bengals have a mentor for first-round pick Jermaine Gresham and last season draft pick Chase Coffman.

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CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals re-signed restricted free agent Linebacker Brandon Johnson on Thursday. Terms were not disclosed.

Brandon Johnson re-signed

Last season, Johnson played in 16 regular-season games with three starts. He also started the team’s Wild Card playoff game. In the regular season, Johnson finished seventh [...]]]> By M. Bowman, Staff Writer and Wire Reports

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals re-signed restricted free agent Linebacker Brandon Johnson on Thursday. Terms were not disclosed.

Brandon Johnson re-signed

Last season, Johnson played in 16 regular-season games with three starts. He also started the team’s Wild Card playoff game. In the regular season, Johnson finished seventh on defense with 67 tackles, and he tied for second on special teams with 12 tackles. He also recorded 1.5 sacks, a fumble recovery and three passes defensed.

The 6-5, 243-pound Johnson originally was a fifth-round draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2006. He played in nine games over two seasons with the Cardinals in 2006 and ’07, then signed with Cincinnati as a free agent in March of ’08. He played in 16 games with nine starts for the Bengals that year, finishing second on the team with 112 tackles.

CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Bengals has re-signed cornerback David Jones to a one-year, $1.101 million restricted tender, the team announced.

Bengals re-signed CB David Jones to a one-year, $1.101 million contract.

Jones opened last season as the third cornerback, but missed preseason and the first four games of the regular season due to a [...]]]> Staff and Wire Reports

CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Bengals has re-signed cornerback David Jones to a one-year, $1.101 million restricted tender, the team announced.

Bengals re-signed CB David Jones to a one-year, $1.101 million contract.

Jones opened last season as the third cornerback, but missed preseason and the first four games of the regular season due to a foot injury suffered during an early camp practice.

He came back to play in 11 regular season games plus a playoff game.

He recorded six special teams tackles, three tackles on defense, and a pass deflection.

He played 14 games in 2008, with seven starts as an injury replacement, and had 44 tackles with seven pass deflections.

Cook, a third-year pro, is coming off his best season. The 6-foot-3, 312-pound player competed in only five career games - and on special teams - before breaking out in 2009.

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals announced Wednesday center Kyle Cook has signed a one-year tender contract for 2010.

Cook started all [...]]]> Staff and Wire Reports

Cook, a third-year pro, is coming off his best season. The 6-foot-3, 312-pound player competed in only five career games - and on special teams - before breaking out in 2009.

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals announced Wednesday center Kyle Cook has signed a one-year tender contract for 2010.

Cook started all 16 games at center for the Bengals in 2009 and was considered a key player on their offensive line helping Cincinnati set a franchise record with eight 100-yard rushing games by individual players.

“Kyle showed everyone last year that he’s a good player,” said Paul Alexander, Cincinnati’s assistant head coach and offensive line coach. “He’s big, he’s strong, he’s tough, and a leader — the brains of the operation.”

The 26-year-old Michigan State product was originally signed by the Vikings as a rookie free agent following the 2007 draft and was subsequently waived in September. He joined the Bengals’ practice squad for the remainder of the year and appeared in five games on special teams in 2008 before suffering a dislocated toe to end his season prematurely.

Frostee Rucker and the Bengals have agreed to a two-year contract extension that could pay him as much as $3.2 million.

CINCINNATI — One of the key components to a much improved Cincinnati Bengals defense in 2009 will be back in orange and black stripes next season.

Defensive end Frostee Rucker re-signed with the [...]]]> Associated Press

Frostee Rucker and the Bengals have agreed to a two-year contract extension that could pay him as much as $3.2 million.

CINCINNATI — One of the key components to a much improved Cincinnati Bengals defense in 2009 will be back in orange and black stripes next season.

Defensive end Frostee Rucker re-signed with the team on Wednesday. He had become a restricted free agent on March 5.

Rucker has spent his entire NFL career with the Bengals after they selected him the third round of the 2006 draft.

He played in 12 games last season, finishing with 22 tackles and one sack. Rucker also had a key interception in the Nov. 15 game at Pittsburgh that helped propel the Bengals toward the AFC North crown.

“I am excited to be here with this group of players and coaches,” Rucker said. “We’ve got something to really build on, but also the drive to do better in the playoffs. Call it a cliché if you want, but I think the sky’s the limit.”

Browns have re-signed offensive lineman Billy Yates

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns have re-signed offensive lineman Billy Yates.

Yates, who was an unrestricted free agent, was signed by the Browns last September. He spent five seasons with the New England Patriots before coming to Cleveland.

Yates played in seven games for the Browns last season. [...]]]> Associated Press

Browns have re-signed offensive lineman Billy Yates

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns have re-signed offensive lineman Billy Yates.

Yates, who was an unrestricted free agent, was signed by the Browns last September. He spent five seasons with the New England Patriots before coming to Cleveland.

Yates played in seven games for the Browns last season. He has made 11 starts and appeared in 32 career games.

Williams came to the Bengals last season after being let go by the Dallas Cowboys.

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals reached a one-year agreement to re-sign safety Roy Williams Saturday, according to his agent, Jordan Woy.

Williams and defensive tackle Tank Johnson were two of the primary free agents on defense the [...]]]> Staff and Wire Report

Williams came to the Bengals last season after being let go by the Dallas Cowboys.

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals reached a one-year agreement to re-sign safety Roy Williams Saturday, according to his agent, Jordan Woy.

Williams and defensive tackle Tank Johnson were two of the primary free agents on defense the Bengals needed to prevent from leaving in free agency. Johnson signed a four-year deal earlier in the week.

The Cowboys drafted Williams with the eighth pick in the 2002 draft when Zimmer was the Dallas coordinator and he went to four Pro Bowls in those schemes. With whispers growing into growls that he had nothing left, particularly in coverage, Zimmer brought Williams into Cincinnati last year for a one-year deal and he has done it again even though Williams has played just seven games the past two seasons.

Williams originally fractured his forearm in ’08, which limited him to just three games during his last year in Dallas after he had two plates inserted in the forearm. He went on season-ending injured reserve here after another fracture had been confirmed in November. He took a blow to the arm in practice leading up to the Oct. 4 game in Cleveland. He missed that win, had to leave the Oct. 11 win in Baltimore, and then missed the next three games. The fracture was apparently found after he took a shot when he returned to practice.

The Cincinnati Reds are bringing back right-handed pitcher Kip Wells.

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds are bringing back right-handed pitcher Kip Wells, who agreed to terms on a minor-league contract Thursday with an invite to spring training.

In 26 games with the Nationals and Reds last season, Wells was 2-5 with a [...]]]> Staff and Wire Reports

The Cincinnati Reds are bringing back right-handed pitcher Kip Wells.

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds are bringing back right-handed pitcher Kip Wells, who agreed to terms on a minor-league contract Thursday with an invite to spring training.

In 26 games with the Nationals and Reds last season, Wells was 2-5 with a 5.33 ERA. Overall for the Nationals & Reds last season Wells pitched in 33 games (7 starts) in which he was 2-5 with 2 saves, a 5.33 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. Wells has now pitched in 289 games (212 starts) in his major league career and he is 67-99 with 2 saves, a 4.71 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. Wells will likely be the long man in the bullpen for the Reds in 2010 and make some spot starts for them if needed.