Will Grier chose a QB haven in signing with Bengals
Following the preseason performance of a lifetime, Will Grier had options as 28-year quarterback entering his fifth season in the NFL. It didn't take long for Grier to book his flight to Cincinnati after realizing his best fit was with the reigning AFC North champions. Why did Grier land on the Bengals? It starts with the […]
Following the preseason performance of a lifetime, Will Grier had options as 28-year quarterback entering his fifth season in the NFL. It didn't take long for Grier to book his flight to Cincinnati after realizing his best fit was with the reigning AFC North champions.
Why did Grier land on the Bengals? It starts with the position he plays.
"I heard there was a lot of good quarterback experience here and that it was a quarterback-friendly place," Grier told Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. "Honestly, it's also a good team. That was a big part of it. To go to a competitive team with a chance to make a run at the playoffs."
Grier, a phenom during his two years at West Virginia from 2017-18, was not led astray. Head coach Zac Taylor, quarterbacks coach Dan Pitcher, director of player personnel Duke Tobin, and president Mike Brown were all quarterbacks during their college days.
Not many organizations can boast that.
With experience comes wisdom, and the Bengals have showcased that with their star quarterback in Burrow. While teams like the San Francisco 49ers admit that they didn't design an offense to befit their first-round passer, the Bengals have structured everything around maximizing their face of the franchise. They'll further prove that with a hefty contract for him soon enough.
It's not exactly common knowledge, but the Bengals also have a rich history with quarterbacks. Ken Anderson and Boomer Esiason spearheaded the 1970s and 80s, while even Jeff Blake proved his talents during the rough decade of the 90s. After the turn of the century, Carson Palmer's career started off hot before injuries took a toll, and Andy Dalton put together a pretty successful run as a second-round pick.
Grier isn't going to become the next highest-paid quarterback, and may not even see the field any time this season, but he'll be practicing and in meetings with a franchise that knows how to develop the most important position in the game.
There are far worse places to get a weekly practice squad check from.
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Featured image via © Cara Owsley/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
