Bengals sign Victor Hobson

[Jetfan13]

The Bengals on Wednesday signed free agent linebacker Victor Hobson, a sixth-year NFL player with 76 career games for the N.Y. Jets. He has made 58 starts, including 14 last season. He has also played in three postseason games, with one start.

Hobson (6-0, 252; Michigan) was a second-round draft pick of the Jets in 2003 and completed his fifth Jets season in 2007. He signed on April 7 of this year as an unrestricted free agent with New England. He was released by the Patriots on Aug. 30, after playing in all four preseason games and posting 11 tackles. Hobson played in every game and started 14 for the Jets last season, logging 62 tackles with two sacks. His career totals include 334 tackles, 11 sacks, three interceptions and five fumble recoveries.

[NIGHT STALKER]

I didn't realize he was out there. I thought he had already hooked up with another team after the Pats had released him.

[124]

Good news for Victor. I was surprised to see he wasn't even on an NFL roster after the Patriots released him at the end of August. Good to see he's back in the league. He could be a very good spot starter / top reserve.

[JohnnyHector]

I thought the consensus on the interwebz was that he was going to be the next James Farrior after leaving the Jets for teh Pats???

[Boynton Beach Jets]

Sounds like the land of old Jets old bust and used up linebackers

[Sperm Edwards]

I thought the consensus on the interwebz was that he was going to be the next James Farrior after leaving the Jets for the Pats???

LOL - not the consensus, but we definitely had some who were pissed off we let him "get away" to the Pats:

PATS PLUCK HOBSON

Posted by Mike Florio on April 7, 2008, 2:42 p.m.

The tit-for-tat between the New York Jets and New England Patriots continued on Monday, with the Pats signing one of the Jets

[Larz]

any word from 128 if he is hanging out with the wrong guys ?

[Jetfan13]

Originally Posted by JCB92387

Anybody who is glad that Hobson has signed with the Patriots is insane. Just remember the last two linebackers that were with us, and then signed with them. Roman Phifer, and James Farrior. Who says Hobson can't be the next one of them? He has the potential, and most likely he'll find that potential with New England.

Did I miss something, when did Farrior play for the patsies*?

It was the Squealers , not patsies* that Farrior signed with...

[Boozer76]

Hobson is probably the worst LB in the league. It's an embarrassment that he started for us for so long.

[Sperm Edwards]

Originally Posted by JCB92387

Anybody who is glad that Hobson has signed with the Patriots is insane. Just remember the last two linebackers that were with us, and then signed with them. Roman Phifer, and James Farrior. Who says Hobson can't be the next one of them? He has the potential, and most likely he'll find that potential with New England.

Did I miss something, when did Farrior play for the patsies*?

It was the Squealers , not patsies* that Farrior signed with...

Not to mention the reason: Herm/Bradway decided to give the money (that would have kept him here) to Ray Mickens. You can never have too many DB's. Same off-season they signed Aaron Beasley & Donnie Abraham. Worst of all was that Farrior wasn't even expensive. Less money that Mickens got (4 yrs/$12M with $2.2M SB): Pittsburgh signed him for 3 yrs with a $1.7M SB, base salaries of $525K, $1.5M, and $1.4M (plus $450K/yr for playing 85% of defensive snaps & a $275K RB in 2004).

This was hardly the same situation. Hobson was only starting for us because we had no one else, not because he was so good. And we had people here saying he would go to the friggin' Pro Bowl - Victor Hobson to the Pro Bowl - with New England, who cut him before the season even started.

[Boynton Beach Jets]

Where is the bore hunter?

[Gibbon]

Hobson is probably the worst LB in the league. It's an embarrassment that he started for us for so long.

Hobson is hardly the worst LB in the league. He's a better linebacker than Trusnick, Spencer, Kassell -- all of whom, the last time I checked. were still on the Jets payroll. Just because a player gets cut doesnt mean he's the worst player at his position on a team. It could be the result of a difference in Special Teams play, injury concerns, money, not fitting a scheme, etc.

In addition, Hobson is a better linebacker than half of the LBs playing for the Bengals.

That doesnt make him a great LB or a difference maker, but he is a solid LB who could give a team some depth and be an effective part time starter.

[Gibbon]

Where is the bore hunter?

He got cut by the Bengals after the draft and has not been picked up by anyone.

[Boynton Beach Jets]

He got cut by the Bengals after the draft and has not been picked up by anyone.

I guess we can say he is another 3rd round bust, but a good leader

[Gibbon]

I guess we can say he is another 3rd round bust, but a good leader

I've probably posted too much and too passionately in defense of Schlegel on this site to have anything I post now taken seriously. But, I think Schlegel's NFL career is an interesting study of what can go wrong in an NFL career.

Here's what I mean:

Schlegel was projected as a 5th or 6th rounder by most. When the Jets picked him in the 3d round he was labeled a reach. He went to one of the worst possible teams for a young player for whom his draft position may have set expectations too high.

He was selected by a rookie coach that was one of the youngest in the league. No matter how assured he acts, Mangini must have been eager to prove his ability to manage a bunch of professional athletes and a team. At the same time he was so obviously self conscious about all his decisions that first year that he was barely capable of a smile or ever appearing relaxed. He was a hard ass who wanted to put a winner on the field from day 1. He hedged his linebacker bet by signing Brad Kassell, to go with the two LB veterans he had to play ILB in the 3-4 system he was implementing.

Schlegel played in all 4 preseason games and recorded 12 tackles. Unfortunately, in his second pro game ever he fell down in pass coverage (resulting in a TD) and had a pass interference call. He fell to 3rd on the depth chart.

To everyone's surprise the Jets won in the 06 season and remained injury free at LB the entire season -- limiting the playing opportunities for a rookie LB. The team went to the playoffs without Schlegel getting a single opportunity to take a snap on Defense. This is unusual even when a team second guesses its decision to draft someone. They almost always give them a chance to play.

Schlegel was limited to ST on 4 games. He made 1 good play, got one penalty, and unfortunately touched the ball while making the right play on an onside kick. A young player making mistakes on ST might not be a big deal except the Jets had the Grand Daddy of all ST coaches who doesnt cut anyone any slack ever and obviously is very influential with Mangini.

In the 07 Draft the Jets got a gift when several teams expected to choose David Harris let him fall to the 2nd round where the Jets -- who had him as one of their highest rated players -- snatched him up. This meant the competition at ILB included Kassell, Harris, Barton, Vilma and Schlegel. Kassell was ST captain, Barton and Vilma the veterans, and Harris the new higher picked rookie. Schlegel was released after a good performance in the final preseason game.

The Bengals picked Schlegel up immediatly and due to a series of devestating injuries to the LB corp he was starting by week 4. He developed turf toe in his first week with the Bengals. He got five starts and averaged 5 tackles per. He was effective against the run, but came out in nickle situations. The Bengals went 1-4 in his 5 starts.

In his final start against the Bills in Buffalo Schlegel sustained a back injury (cracked bones in his spine) and missed the next week. A Bengal veteran came back from injury that week and the Bengals realigned their LBs which meant by the time Schlegel came back, Dhani Jones was the starting MLB. Schlegel came back from his back injury after one week and played in all but two of the remaining games.

During the 08 offseason the Bengals were suddenly overwhelmed with LBs. Ahmad Brooks was healthy, Odell Thurman was unsuspended, and they drafted Keith Rivers in the 1st round. Schlegel, now with turf toe and a bad back and with Jones, Brooks, Thurman, and possibly Keith Rivers also at MLB on a 4-3 team was released.

Now he is a 27 year old FA with limited playing experience, two teams on his resume, and two health conditions that may be contributing to his continued FA status.

His story probably isnt all that uncommon, nor is it incredibly sad as human tragedies go, but it is instructive as in terms of all the things that can go wrong in an NFL players career.

I hope he gets healthy and is able to earn one more chance to play.

[Boynton Beach Jets]

I've probably posted too much and too passionately in defense of Schlegel on this site to have anything I post now taken seriously. But, I think Schlegel's NFL career is an interesting study of what can go wrong in an NFL career.

Here's what I mean:

.

Nice post and makes a lot sense, he was drafted a round or 2 to early he sounds like he might have made it as a role player. I just remember how slow he was. He was slow on punt and kickoff coverage to,

[Boozer76]

Hobson is hardly the worst LB in the league. He's a better linebacker than Trusnick, Spencer, Kassell -- all of whom, the last time I checked. were still on the Jets payroll. Just because a player gets cut doesnt mean he's the worst player at his position on a team. It could be the result of a difference in Special Teams play, injury concerns, money, not fitting a scheme, etc.

In addition, Hobson is a better linebacker than half of the LBs playing for the Bengals.

That doesnt make him a great LB or a difference maker, but he is a solid LB who could give a team some depth and be an effective part time starter.

Like clockwork I expected you to come rushing in. He's in the prime of his career, available for no compensation to any other team, can basically sign at the league minimum for a veteran, but yet he STILL spent 3/4's of the season unsigned by any NFL teams. If he was better than Trusnick, Spencer, Kassell, or half the LB's playing for the bengals or any other team he'd have managed to at least have a job by now. He sucks. Period.

[Gibbon]

Like clockwork I expected you to come rushing in. He's in the prime of his career, available for no compensation to any other team, can basically sign at the league minimum for a veteran, but yet he STILL spent 3/4's of the season unsigned by any NFL teams. If he was better than Trusnick, Spencer, Kassell, or half the LB's playing for the bengals or any other team he'd have managed to at least have a job by now. He sucks. Period.

There is a lot more to who gets cut and who gets picked up than you seem to understand.

First, many roster moves that involve LBs after the season opener usually involve picking up LBs to play special teams or to provide depth temporarily while someone recovers from an injury. In those circumstances why pick up a 5 year veteran minimum salary, particularly if its clear you arent making the playoffs, when you can pick up a guy whose making the absolute league minimum. You pick him up when your first or second string guy comes back, he's gone. Hobson is not a player you pick up to play special teams.

Second, younger/ project players are more likely to be kept by teams as their ST guys because you use that as an opportunity to see what they can do. It gives them a chance to prove themselves. They are expendable. You've invested nothing and there are 50 guys just like them you can pick up if you dont like them. Everyone knows what Hobson can and cannot do.

Third, and probably most important, guys like Hobson are not practice squad eligible. A guy who starts 5 games cant go on to any teams practice squad. So, teams fill their practice squad with LBs (because they can play alot of scout team positions). If their second string LB who plays Specials mostly goes down they call the practice squad guy up. He's been in the system, has cost the team almost nothing, and you only have to pay him the league minimum while he's up with the team. If he's good you've developed talent, in house, cheap. If he's not you cut him or send him back to the practice squad. He's easy and cheap to replace. As long as these guys never start you can move them back and forth, on and off the PS, as often as you want.

So, for a team to pick Hobson or Roosevelt Colvin (who also just got signed) a very particularl set of circumstances have to be true.

In Colvin's case he's being brought in to shore up the LB squad of a team that has suffered some injuries and is still in the play off hunt. Plus, Colvin is an ex Pat. He knows the players coaches and system.

Hobson is probably even luckier. The Bengals suck, so like Detroit and the other crap teams, that have refused to sign veteran help, you would expect them to just stand back and wait till next year. But in Cincy, Marvin Lewis is fighting for his job and his new D coordinator is fielding a defense only marginally better than the defense the guy he replaced put out there. They need to win a few games down the stretch or one or even both of them might be gone.

I never said that Hobson was great. But if you really think that Trusnick, Kassell, and Spencer were kept because they are better linebackers than Hobson you are out of touch with reality.

Hobson was released in his contract year by a team that had drafted LBs in the previous two drafts and was running a system for which he was ill suited. He was picked up by a division rival who was probably surprised at how well its rookie LBs played in preseason. They released him. By that time most teams had their rosters set. No room for Hobson.

There's a lot more to it than who the 7th best linebacker on a given team is.

[Boozer76]

There is a lot more to who gets cut and who gets picked up than you seem to understand.

First, many roster moves that involve LBs after the season opener usually involve picking up LBs to play special teams or to provide depth temporarily while someone recovers from an injury. In those circumstances why pick up a 5 year veteran minimum salary, particularly if its clear you arent making the playoffs, when you can pick up a guy whose making the absolute league minimum. You pick him up when your first or second string guy comes back, he's gone. Hobson is not a player you pick up to play special teams.

Second, younger/ project players are more likely to be kept by teams as their ST guys because you use that as an opportunity to see what they can do. It gives them a chance to prove themselves. They are expendable. You've invested nothing and there are 50 guys just like them you can pick up if you dont like them. Everyone knows what Hobson can and cannot do.

Third, and probably most important, guys like Hobson are not practice squad eligible. A guy who starts 5 games cant go on to any teams practice squad. So, teams fill their practice squad with LBs (because they can play alot of scout team positions). If their second string LB who plays Specials mostly goes down they call the practice squad guy up. He's been in the system, has cost the team almost nothing, and you only have to pay him the league minimum while he's up with the team. If he's good you've developed talent, in house, cheap. If he's not you cut him or send him back to the practice squad. He's easy and cheap to replace. As long as these guys never start you can move them back and forth, on and off the PS, as often as you want.

So, for a team to pick Hobson or Roosevelt Colvin (who also just got signed) a very particularl set of circumstances have to be true.

In Colvin's case he's being brought in to shore up the LB squad of a team that has suffered some injuries and is still in the play off hunt. Plus, Colvin is an ex Pat. He knows the players coaches and system.

Hobson is probably even luckier. The Bengals suck, so like Detroit and the other crap teams, that have refused to sign veteran help, you would expect them to just stand back and wait till next year. But in Cincy, Marvin Lewis is fighting for his job and his new D coordinator is fielding a defense only marginally better than the defense the guy he replaced put out there. They need to win a few games down the stretch or one or even both of them might be gone.

I never said that Hobson was great. But if you really think that Trusnick, Kassell, and Spencer were kept because they are better linebackers than Hobson you are out of touch with reality.

Hobson was released in his contract year by a team that had drafted LBs in the previous two drafts and was running a system for which he was ill suited. He was picked up by a division rival who was probably surprised at how well its rookie LBs played in preseason. They released him. By that time most teams had their rosters set. No room for Hobson.

There's a lot more to it than who the 7th best linebacker on a given team is.

Please man, spare me already. Good, HEALTHY, LB's don't sit at home unsigned for 3/4's of the season. Period. He sucks. Compairing Colvin, who has been nothing but a walking injury for the past 4 years, is laughable. Hobson has had a very healthy career. He just plain stinks.

[Greenseed3]

I'll say it. Hobson is a beast. He's going to make Cincy a contenderrr.

[Gibbon]

Please man, spare me already. Good, HEALTHY, LB's don't sit at home unsigned for 3/4's of the season. Period. He sucks. Compairing Colvin, who has been nothing but a walking injury for the past 4 years, is laughable. Hobson has had a very healthy career. He just plain stinks.

So then what you are saying is that every FA linebacker who has been signed by any team since the start of the season is a better LB than Hobson? Look at some of those guys who have gotten picked up -- their careers their production since getting picked up etc and tell me you still believe that it all depends on who is the most talented LB.

Here is the statistical comparison of Hobson's stats last year with three Jets LBs that he is better than:

Hobson in 07 -- 14 starts, 62 tackles, 2 sacks

Kassell is the only one of the three current Jets on by list of LBs worse than Hobson who has any kind of career to speak of. So, since they played on the same team last year here are Kassell's stats for last season.

Kassell in 07 -- 1 start, 27 tackles, 0 sacks

Here are the CAREER stats for Spencer and Trusnik:

Spencer (been in the league for about 5 years)

career -- 0 starts, 63 tackles, 0 sacks

Trusnik is young

career -- 0 starts, 12 tackles, 0 sacks

Can you honestly tell me that you think any of those three guys is as good a Linebacker as Hobson?

Remember, I'm not saying he's great. I'm not saying anything stupid like, he'll be a probowler. I'm just saying he's a solid LB that would improve that team and that more goes into whether or not a FA gets picked up than just talent.