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| Rey Maualuga may have played his last down as a Bengal. (USATSI) |
Just over a month ago, Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga speculated that he may no longer be wanted in Cincinnati. Turns out he may have been right.
The team will likely pass on re-signing the fifth-year linebacker from Southern California, according to Adam Caplan of TheSidelineView.com
The former second-round pick started all 16 games in 2012 and had a career high 122 tackles, but it appears the Bengals are content with sliding Vontaze Burfict to the middle after a stellar rookie season. The team also signed former Buffalo Bills first-round pick Aaron Maybin.
None of this should come as a surprise to Maualuga, who said last month that he believed the playoff game against the Houston Texans was a tryout, of sorts.
“I felt as if the playoff game was sort of like, 'if I perform well, they would want me.' I don't know if they want me, but I do know I didn't perform well,” Maualuga said in January. “If I did well, good results will happen. I felt as if those plays cost our defense, due to my actions and where I was and how I didn't execute it. So who knows?"
It looks like Maualuga may have his answer.
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