Bengals release WR Gabriel

By Neal Coolong  |   Friday, May 30, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

Cincinnati Bengals
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The Bengals signed free-agent WR Doug Gabriel two months ago. It took nine organized team activities for them to release the five-year veteran.

Cincinnati let Gabriel go Thursday in wake of the emergence of rookies Andre Caldwell and Jerome Simpson. Second-year man Marcus Maxwell -- an undrafted free agent in 2007 -- has also been impressive this offseason. Gabriel has played for Oakland and New England in his career, and has 101 catches in five seasons in the NFL.

Commentary: It's difficult not to question if this move -- or the indirect endorsement of much younger receivers in Cincinnati -- will impact Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, the two veteran Bengals players skipping OTAs. The Bengals went after receivers intensely this offseason and in the draft; this move shows they aren't going to show the same amount of patience with their players as they have in recent years.

Fantasy Impact: Caldwell and Simpson are two players to watch come training camp. With a quarterback as talented as Carson Palmer, and a field-stretching TE in new acquisition Ben Utecht, it's not a bad bet to think a lesser-heralded receiver could come in and put up some decent numbers if Chad and/or Housh aren't there.
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About Neal Coolong

Neal Coolong is a freelance sports writer with contributions to Scout.com, AOL and Steelers Live. He lives with his fiance in St. Paul, Minn., and saves every dime (that she knows about) for their wedding next June. He's already made the prediction that the Steelers 2007 draft class will be one ...
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