The Bengals tendered linebacker Vinny Rey as a restricted free agent, but that didn’t keep them from talking about a longer contract.
Or agreeing on one. Rey signed a two-year deal with the team over the weekend, guaranteeing that he’ll be back in Cincinnati in 2014. The Bengals had tendered Rey at the original round level, meaning teams could sign him to an offer sheet without any draft pick compensation. That’s what happened with wide receiver Andrew Hawkins, who signed an offer sheet from the Browns, but Rey says he had no desire to look elsewhere.
“It was important for me to be here,” Rey said, via the Cincinnati Enquirer. “This was option No. 1. And I’m thankful I got what I wanted.”
Rey has been a special teams stalwart for the Bengals over the last three seasons, but handled himself well in three starts at linebacker last season. Rey finished the year with 57 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble. With James Harrison gone and that 2013 performance under his belt, Rey could be in position for more snaps on defense in 2014.
