On the same day that the Bengals announced the signing of Kendrick Allen, a defensive tackle from the Packers, they released all of veteran tackle Sam Adams' 350 lbs. The big fella only suited up one year for the Bengals and posted 25 tackles and two sacks.
Adams, 34, spent most of training camp last year bulking up to his mammoth size and didn't make it on to the field until the 3rd preseason game, against the Packers. He then injured his knee early on in the season, but played hurt until he could have surgery on it.
This move was initially shocking to me, but under more analysis it makes sense. The Bengals spent the past month or so bringing in two veteran tackles and drafting another defensive lineman in the draft. This meant that someone had to go and it wasn't going to be John Thornton because of his locker room presence and it wasn't going to be the second year stand-out player Domata Peko, therefore it was the aging and injured Adams.
Also, Peko registered better stats in a backup role last year. He finished with 49 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. 49 tackles is a lot for a defensive tackle, especially for one that primarily comes in on passing downs. This means that the starting job next to Thornton is his to lose and he should get even better with more playing time and another training camp under his belt.
The Bengals saw that they had a quality player in Peko and keeping Adams on the team would have kept Peko off the field where his youth and skill can make plays. Although Adams could clog up the middle like cholesterol clogs up the heart, Peko will be a better fit.
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