Jake66
Practice Squad
BAM! Look who just became available - Kevin Hardy. I know he's 31, but big, strong, athletic, smart, productive, versatile, a leader and team player.
Per Pasquarelli at espn.com, here's an excerpt (not the whole article):
"In a move Tuesday that likely fast-tracks first-round draft pick David Pollack into the lineup, the Cincinnati Bengals released starting strong-side linebacker Kevin Hardy.
"Kevin's leadership and abilities and professionalism have been a huge asset to me and to our football team, and this is a difficult decision to make," Lewis said in a statement.
A nine-year veteran, Hardy began his career as a first-round pick of Jacksonville's in 1996, the second player chosen overall that year, and he spent his first six NFL seasons with the Jaguars. He signed with Dallas in 2002 and then Cincinnati the following year.
After playing outside linebacker his entire career, Hardy moved to the middle in 2003 to help fill a huge void in Lewis' defense, and he led the Bengals in snaps played that year. Last season, Hardy moved back to his more familiar strong-side linebacker slot, starting in 14 of his 16 appearances and registering 84 tackles.
For his career, the onetime Pro Bowl performer has 1,111 tackles, 36 sacks, 12 forced fumbles, seven recoveries, five interceptions and 44 passes defensed. The former Illinois player has appeared in 134 games, starting 128. Only twice in nine seasons has Hardy failed to appear in all 16 games."
Per Pasquarelli at espn.com, here's an excerpt (not the whole article):
"In a move Tuesday that likely fast-tracks first-round draft pick David Pollack into the lineup, the Cincinnati Bengals released starting strong-side linebacker Kevin Hardy.
"Kevin's leadership and abilities and professionalism have been a huge asset to me and to our football team, and this is a difficult decision to make," Lewis said in a statement.
A nine-year veteran, Hardy began his career as a first-round pick of Jacksonville's in 1996, the second player chosen overall that year, and he spent his first six NFL seasons with the Jaguars. He signed with Dallas in 2002 and then Cincinnati the following year.
After playing outside linebacker his entire career, Hardy moved to the middle in 2003 to help fill a huge void in Lewis' defense, and he led the Bengals in snaps played that year. Last season, Hardy moved back to his more familiar strong-side linebacker slot, starting in 14 of his 16 appearances and registering 84 tackles.
For his career, the onetime Pro Bowl performer has 1,111 tackles, 36 sacks, 12 forced fumbles, seven recoveries, five interceptions and 44 passes defensed. The former Illinois player has appeared in 134 games, starting 128. Only twice in nine seasons has Hardy failed to appear in all 16 games."
