Off his career year and a 17-game season away from tying Ken Riley as the Bengals' all-time leader in games played, Cincinnati's own Kevin Huber agreed to come back to the Bengals Monday for a 13th season as their punter.
Huber, who turns 36 a few weeks before training camp, chalked up career-highs in averages of gross and yards in besting the marks of his one Pro Bowl season in 2014. He took a one-year deal but wants to punt until he's at least 40.
"I think the last two years have shown I'm not trending in the down direction. I've got plenty of time left," Huber said.
The Huber deal signals the Bengals are settled into the second week of the NFL's new year with the draft creeping into center stage as a bevy of big schools are hosting pro days this week.
After walking out of free agency last week with five starters and an additional $30 million or so in charges under the 2021 salary cap, the Bengals continue to scour the free-agent board but the big-ticket items of last week are likely gone.
Still, important deals like the one for Huber can get done. Even after they finished off the five deals last Friday, they were in the hunt for the market's best receiver. A deal probably would have necessitated another veteran release on top of letting go defensive tackle Geno Atkins and right tackle Bobby Hart, but when Kenny Golladay got $18 million per year from the Giants, the Bengals (reportedly ready to pay $13 million) moved on.
Huber's return gives the Bengals' much-needed consistency for a kicking game in transition after a year they were ranked No. 9 by Football Outsiders.
Special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons has also retained his best all-round player in kick returner and second-leading tackler Brandon Wilson and long snapper Clark Harris, but lost in free agency his punt returner of the last five seasons in wide receiver Alex Erickson and last year's leading tackler in tight end Cethan Carter.
Heading into his 19th season here, Simmons is also looking at just his fourth regular kicker after Randy Bullock signed in Detroit. Indications are they'll bring in someone to compete with Austin Seibert, as well as cornerback Darius Phillips, the next man up, on punt return. Phillips has enormous ability in the return game, but he's had trouble hanging on to the ball and staying healthy after missing 13 of 48 games in his three-year career.
March 23, 2021 at 05:05AM
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Huber Hang Times History With Return - Bengals.com - Bengals.com
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