The Cincinnati Bengals have made the playoffs the past two seasons, and are making strides towards being a perennial contender.
Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer is a big reason for their recent success, and told NFL Network, that the Bengals are “really close to being one of the AFC’s elite teams.”
“I think we’re really close,” Mike Zimmer told NFL Network’s “NFL AM” on Tuesday while at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. “The first year, we got thumped pretty good by Houston. This year was a lot closer. We’re right there. But we’re going to have to keep grinding and keep adding talent. We have a good nucleus of guys, and I think we’re exactly where we need to be.”
The Bengals surprisingly have the most cap room in the NFL this off-season, and will focus first on locking up pass rusher Michael Johnson and linebacker Rey Maualuga.