Laveranues Coles Signs with Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals have signed former New York Jets wide receiver Laveranues Coles to a four year, $28 million dollar deal, according to ESPN.

Just one day before this signing, WR TJ Houshmandzadeh signed with the Seattle Seahawks, leaving a void in the number two receiving role in Cincinnati. Coles was one of the best wide receivers available on the market, and the Bengals jumped right on to get him.

The Jacksonville, Florida native Laveranues Coles is 31 years old, but he has proven to his doubters that he can still be a productive wide receiver over time. Last season, he recorded 70 catches for 850 yards, adding on seven touchdowns. Coles has caught for more than 1,000 receiving yards three seasons out of his entire career-twice with the New York Jets, and one with the Washington Redskins.

Excluding an extremely disappointing touchdown output in 2004 with the Washington Redskins, Coles has not failed to catch less than five touchdowns from 2001-2009. This is extremely impressive, and is a testament to Coles' great knack for finding the endzone.

Compared to most NFL wide receivers, Coles is not as big as most. He is listed at a mere 5'11", 193 pounds. However, when people think of Laveranues Coles, the first thing that many people think is "fast." Coles has been known to be a speed demon since his days at Florida State University. He frequently utilizes his speed to get open and make spectacular catches, even in the endzone.

Perhaps what is most impressive about Laveranues Coles is his fairly high rate of production, despite playing with mediocre quarterbacks. For many years, Coles had to work with former Jets QB Chad Pennington, as well as some mediocre passers in Washington. In his decision to sign with the Cincinnati Bengals, Coles will have the ability to work with one of the best passers in the game in QB Carson Palmer.

Palmer, who has dealt with a fair share of injuries on his own, will appreciate the hard-working attitude that Coles will bring to the team. Working alongside the outspoken WR Chad Johnson should allow Laveranues to utilize his stellar speed and get open for big catches.

Despite being bugged by injuries in the past few years, Coles is a great signing for the Cincinnati Bengals, who needed to fill an immediate need opposite of current WR Chad Johnson. Coles should be a positive force and leader in a locker room that has been highly criticized as of late.

Source: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3952628