Jeremy Hill Dares Cincinnati Bengals To Try Replacing Him

The Cincinnati Bengals haven’t been shy about sending a message to their roster that what happened in 2016 was not acceptable.

This includes their backfield tandem of Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard. Though the two are still young and very effective when healthy, it’s clear their accomplishments last season didn’t measure up to standards. Cincinnati finished 13th in the NFL in rushing. Bernard missed six games with injury and Hill failed to crack 900 yards. So in true business-like fashion, the Bengals set about looking for possible alternatives.

This included holding meetings with every top back in the draft including Leonard Fournette, Dalvin Cook and Joe Mixon among others. It’s a situation where Hill and Bernard easily could’ve taken offense to the move after putting in so much hard work for the team. However, Hill went on NFL Network recently and insisted that wasn’t the case.

Of course that didn’t stop him from sending his own message right back to the Bengals.

Okay maybe a little salty. Hill no doubt feels he has a lot to prove in 2017 and intends on doing so. The 24-year old is in the contract season and will be a free agent next year. If he can put together a career year, he’ll become available in his prime and likely collect a lucrative pay day. Hill has managed over 1,000 yards from scrimmage in two of his three seasons in the NFL with 30 total touchdowns scored. No doubt he’d love to prove that he can be that featured running back to the rest of the league.

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The trick will be how the Bengals offensive line shakes out. That unit took a couple of rough losses in free agency this year. Long-time left tackle Andrew Whitworth headed out to Los Angeles. Sturdy guard Kevin Zeitler went across the division to join the rebuilding Cleveland Browns. If Hill wants to reach his goals, he may have to work a little harder.