The Colts did not match the the three-year, $9 million-offer to restricted free agent tight end Ben Utecht, meaning the 26-year old former Colt is officially a member of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Utecht, who was playing second fiddle to Dallas Clark in during his three seasons in Indianapolis, now gets his chance in the Queen City and easily becomes the best passing orienented tight end of the Marvin Lewis/Carson Palmer era. It is a breath of fresh air and a great opportunity for Utecht to showcase his talents.

The great tight end debate has existed with the Bengals for years, do they need a tight end? Marvin Lewis insists the team's system does not demand the need for a receiving tight end. Instead, the team's offense excels on solid blocking from the position. Reggie Kelly has provided great value to the team. His role often goes unnoticed and unappreciated by the casual fan.

I am on the side of the argument that believes that while Kelly (and a player of his type) is critical for the system's execution, the time to evolve the offense a bit has come. Some of the league's top offenses rely greatly on the play of a tight end as a receiver. It keeps the defense from doubling wide every time. Look at what the likes of Jason Witten, Kellen Winslow, Dallas Clark, and Antonio Gates have had on their teams' success.

The Bengals haven't had a receiving tight end that drew the opposing secondary's attention since Tony McGee and haven't had a player excel in that role significantly since Rodney Holman in the late 1980's. The team could look to address the need in the draft, but this year's crop of tight ends appears thin and there are greater needs to address in the portion of the draft where you could find a legitimate threat.

Utecht has only scored three TD's in three years with the Colts, but with size, speed, and hands he clealry will become a weapon in the red zone for offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski.

The Bengals haven't had a season where every tight end on the team combinehad for five scores since '97. In fact, hasn't had their tight ends combine 8+ TD's in any of the past 18 seasons, a span in which they've produced one winning season and one playoff appearance.