Thursday, January 24, 2013
Andre Smith sticking in Cincy?
By Tim Kavanagh
One of the more under-the-radar impending free agents in the NFL this offseason is Cincinnati Bengals OT Andre Smith; it's a little bizarre, too, because he's listed at 6-foot-4, 335 pounds, so one would think he wouldn't be missed. In any event, Smith's recent legal issues -- he was arrested for trying to board an airplane with a loaded pistol -- cloud the situation somewhat, but we're getting hints now as to whether the Bengals will bring him back or let him find employment elsewhere.
As for the incident in question, Bengals.com scribe Geoff Hobson reports that Bengals HC Marvin Lewis spoke to the Alabama product, and it likely wasn't a very good time for Smith. "He's a smart guy that got involved in a dumb situation; an oxymoron," Lewis noted. "He's a smart guy that got involved in a dumb situation that caused him an embarrassment for a moment."
Meanwhile, Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer remains convinced that Smith will be back somehow in 2013, whether it's with a new multi-year deal or with a franchise tag. That's good news for Andy Dalton and Co.; despite a slow start to his NFL career, Smith has transmogrified into a monster on the O-line as of late.
