Cincinnati Bengals fans weren’t the only ones watching and liking what the team did this offseason.
The Bengals keyed a roster overhaul by standing as one of free agency’s biggest spenders, which included bringing on star defensive lineman D.J. Reader.
And Reader saw what the Bengals were doing and just wanted to be a part of the movement, per his interview on GMFB:
“…a lot of times you don’t get to go places and put your stamp on it. That was really a big thing for me in free agency. I talked to a lot of people and they really wanted me. Coach Taylor and the guys…I was just really excited. I just saw it as a new opportunity. And then I started to see the guys they were singing around me and the guys that were already on the roster…I got really really excited about the opportunity…I just kind of fell in love with the team, that’s where I want to be at.”
Bengals fans haven’t often had the luxury of one of free agency’s biggest names — and one of the best outright players at his position — publicly making it clear he wanted to be part of the movement in Cincinnati.
Reader’s comments are the latest in a string of ringing endorsements for the plan and culture outlined by head coach Zac Taylor. The process is ongoing, but the first real offseason of major roster overhaul to complement some of the pieces in place seems like a huge step in the right direction.
And defensively, Reader’s leading that charge.
