By: John Sigler | 4 hours ago
The Cincinnati Bengals made their latest confusing personnel decision on Sunday by releasing longtime starting safety George Iloka. The Bengals are spinning this move as a financial consideration, as it saves them a little over $5 million in salary cap space. It also gives rookie safety Jessie Bates a clearer road to starting on the back end of their defense.
Iloka is hardly washed up, having just recently turned 28. Check out this bit from Pro Football Focus in the wake of his release:
{quote](Iloka) has averaged roughly 0.34 wins above replacement the last five years, never generating fewer than 0.26 (2016) and never more than 0.53 (2014). He’s been reliable in terms of availability as well, playing more than 715 snaps each of those seasons, and eclipsing 988 snaps in four of those five years. While coverage grades paint a somewhat-incomplete picture for deep safeties, he’s surrendered fewer touchdowns (seven) into his coverage than he has interceptions (nine), and passers earned only a 68.4 rating throwing at him a season ago.[/Quote] ...
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