Bengals deal Rivers; sign CB Newman

Published 2:33 am Friday, April 13, 2012

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Bengals traded linebacker Keith Rivers to the New York Giants on Thursday for a fifth-round draft pick, ending his four-year stay in Cincinnati marred by frequent injuries.

Rivers missed all last season recovering from surgery on his right wrist. He’s been limited to 35 games in four seasons.

The Bengals made Rivers the ninth overall pick in the 2008 draft and installed him as a starter. He broke his jaw on a hit by Steelers receiver Hines Ward in the seventh game and missed the rest of his rookie season. He missed time the next two seasons because of calf and foot injuries.

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The Bengals also waived cornerback CB Rico Murray, who played in the season opener last year before going on the practice squad.

The Bengals have agreed to a deal with cornerback Terence Newman, an unrestricted free agent from Dallas who struggled in pass coverage last season.

The 33-year-old cornerback was the fifth overall pick in 2003. He went to the Pro Bowl in 2007 and 2009. He was targeted in coverage last season, and the Cowboys released him last month.