Jermaine Gresham: Latest News, Rumors and Speculation Surrounding Free-Agent TE

Jermaine Gresham has been a two-time Pro Bowler as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals, but he could well be on his way out in free agency this offseason. 

Continue for updates.

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Lewis: Gresham 'Still an Option'

Tuesday, March 24

Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com spoke with head coach Marvin Lewis, who said Gresham is "still an option."

On Feb. 20, Lewis discussed Gresham's free agency, saying the tight end had reached a "crossroads," according to ESPN's Coley Harvey: 

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Jermaine, he's got a lot of things ahead of him. And he's got to figure out what Jermaine Gresham wants to do. That's the most important thing. We were very fortunate to draft Jermaine when we did five years ago, and he's had five seasons where he's contributed to this football team.

He's at a crossroads. It's, whats Jermaine want next? When he commits to whatever he wants next, then things will work out.

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Bills Reportedly Considered Gresham Before Signing Clay

Friday, March 20

Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News reported that prior to his surgery, the Buffalo Bills were interested in signing Gresham, along with their newest signing, fellow tight end Charles Clay:

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Apparently, Charles Clay wasn't the only free-agent tight end the Buffalo Bills were interested in acquiring.

According to an NFL source, the Bills also were giving serious thought to signing Jermaine Gresham before he underwent surgery Thursday to repair a herniated disc. They were, the source said, willing to add Gresham in addition to Clay, whom they acquired Thursday after the Miami Dolphins chose not to match the offer sheet the Bills had given him as a transition-tagged player.

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Raiders Talks With Gresham 'Dead'

Friday, March 13

Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle reported that discussions between the Raiders and Gresham "are dead for now."

On March 8, Yahoo's Charles Robinson noted that the Raiders are expected to target Gresham in free agency.

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Browns Reportedly Targeting Gresham

Sunday, March 8

Robinson added the Browns to the list of teams potentially interested in pursuing Gresham.

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Bengals Beat Writer: 'Good Possibility' Gresham Doesn't Remain in Cincinnati

Sunday, Feb. 8

"Jermaine Gresham is all talent, no trust. His inability to play through injury and continued mistakes with fumbles and penalties make for a good possibility that he and the team part ways," reported Paul Dehner Jr. of Cincinnati.com.

There's no denying that Gresham has the physical tools to be one of the NFL's top tight ends, yet he has never put it all together to become the dominant force he's capable of being.

Some members of the Bengals coaching staff reportedly don't want Gresham to return in 2015, according to a previous report by Dehner:

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There are many coaches within the building who want zero to do with Gresham at this point. Not all, but some. A mantra of this organization has for a long time been about acquiring players you can trust. I don't know that this team can trust Gresham anymore. His low tolerance for pain and a career peppered with games missed when he probably could have played through the pain while others, in fact, did play through their pain doesn't help. His inconsistency with fumbles, penalties, etc., only adds to the lack of trust.

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That is quite an indictment on Gresham's work ethic, or lack thereof, and desire to capitalize on his immense potential. Such information could cause suitors to shy away from Gresham on the open market, or at least drive down his price tag.

Omar Kelly of the Sun-Sentinel alluded to how there are plenty of viable alternatives to Gresham at his position:

Despite already having five NFL seasons under his belt, Gresham will turn only 27 in June, so he should still have plenty of time left to live up to the hype. Perhaps a change of scenery or a new environment in general is what Gresham needs.

Cincinnati invested a 2013 first-round draft pick in Tyler Eifert, a dynamic pass-catcher who should ascend to the top of the depth chart in his third year whether Gresham is still around or not.

For what Gresham has lacked as a consistent, explosive receiving threat, he's at least done his part as a run-blocker. That type of all-around game should be appealing, not to mention the fact that Gresham has something to prove in 2015 and beyond.

The reported private disapproval from Bengals coaches should fuel Gresham to prove himself in this next phase of his career, wherever he winds up.