Jim Owczarski

jowczarski@enquirer.com

The Enquirer has learned that the Cincinnati Bengals have made sure to keep one of their more dependable players by bringing back linebacker Vinny Rey with a three-year deal for $11.5 million, per league sources.

Rey was set to become an unrestricted free agent, and his return solidifies a linebacking corps that will be without Vontaze Burfict for the first three games of the 2016 season due to a suspension.

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The deal represents a significant raise for the 28-year-old, who is coming off a 2-year, $4.2 million deal signed before the 2014 season.

Rey, an undrafted free agent out of Duke University, was originally brought to Cincinnati in 2010 and has seen his role grow over the last three years. He started 13 games in 2014 and eight last year, providing solid play in the absence of injured starters Rey Maualuga and Burfict.

Rey finished 2015 with 98 total tackles, one sack, one interception and one pass defensed. In 2014, he recorded a career-high 121 tackles. He will enter 2016 having played in 80 consecutive games.

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