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5 Veterans Who May Not Return For the Cincinnati Bengals

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By @ConnorFultonRS

5 Veterans Who May Not Return For the Cincinnati Bengals

Terence Newman Cincinnati Bengals
Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

As the Cincinnati Bengals gear up to face the Indianapolis Colts on Wild Card Weekend, the stakes could not be any higher. However, regardless of whether or not Marvin Lewis earns his first playoff victory as the Bengals’ head coach, it’s time to start thinking about the offseason. Here are five veterans who could be wearing a different jersey in 2015.

5. Jermaine Gresham

Jermaine Gresham Cincinnati Bengals
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

5. Jermaine Gresham

Jermaine Gresham Cincinnati Bengals
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Jermaine Gresham’s days in Cincy could come to an end by virtue of the Bengals’ high opinion of Tyler Eifert. One of the more consistent tight ends in football, Gresham will demand a big payday, and someone will bite. However, don’t expect the Bengals to break the bank for Gresham, as Eifert appears to be the long-term guy at tight end.

4. Terence Newman

Terence Newman Cincinnati Bengals
Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

4. Terence Newman

Terence Newman Cincinnati Bengals
Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Terence Newman has been an above-average cornerback in the NFL since 2003, but the 36 year old is on the downswing of his career. That much was evident in the Bengals’ victory over the Denver Broncos when Dre Kirkpatrick replaced a struggling Newman; Kirkpatrick proved to be more effective, making several big plays to seal the win. Darqueze Dennard also figures to play more of a role in 2015, so Newman’s days as a Bengal could be numbered.

3. Rey Maualuga

Rey Maualuga Cincinnati Bengals
Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

3. Rey Maualuga

Rey Maualuga Cincinnati Bengals
Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Without a doubt, Rey Maualuga will be one of the prized ponies of free agency. The Bengals will have to pay up if they want to keep the USC product around for the duration; should he hit the market, Maualuga will demand top-of-the-line money for his position. It’s hard to imagine a Bengals defense without Maualuga, who has been a staple for the team for six seasons now.

2. Brandon Tate

Brandon Tate Cincinnati Bengals
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

2. Brandon Tate

Brandon Tate Cincinnati Bengals
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

It’s not that Brandon Tate is a bad player — he’s a solid special teamer and useful in a limited role as a wide receiver — but it’s hard to see him returning to the Bengals in 2015 with Dane Sanzenbacher also a free agent and Marvin Jones coming back from an injury that forced him to miss all of 2014. There just might not be enough room on the wide receiver depth chart for Tate.

1. Jason Campbell

Jason Campbell Cincinnati Bengals
Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

1. Jason Campbell

Jason Campbell Cincinnati Bengals
Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

At age 33, Jason Campbell is in the twilight of his roller coaster career. That being said, he is still one of the better backup quarterbacks in the NFL, so the Bengals will have a big decision to make. Is A.J. McCarron ready to unseat the proven Campbell on the depth chart? Or is Campbell not worth the seven figures that he will likely earn on the free agent market?

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