The Green Bay Packers mercifully ended the A.J. Hawk era in Titletown last offseason. The Cincinnati Bengals appear set to end the much more brief Hawk era in Ohio this offseason.
Source tells @SiriusXMNFL & @NFLonFOX that @Bengals are releasing @OfficialAJHawk
— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) April 26, 2016
That news likely also puts an end to Hawk’s career.
Hawk signed a two-year, $3.25 million deal with the Bengals after being released by the Packers. He began 2015 as a starter in Cincinnati, but things didn’t end that way.
Hawk played in all 16 games for the Bengals in 2015, but started just 11. He finished with a career-low 24 tackles.
The Bengals signed another veteran linebacker — Karlos Dansby — earlier this offseason. The only curious thing here is why the Bengals didn’t release Hawk then.
Hawk played nine seasons for the Packers after being the No. 5 overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. He was a Pro Bowl alternate in 2010.