Giving Andre Smith any sort of long-term guaranteed deal is a recipe for disaster.
Printable View
Giving Andre Smith any sort of long-term guaranteed deal is a recipe for disaster.
I guess Teo to the Bengals makes sense. He has an imaginary girlfriend and gets to play for an imaginary NFL team. :)
(And I am a Bengals fan).
Reedy stated in an article that he talked with several NFL front office people who speculated Smith would fetch between 8.5 to 9 million per season on the open market. Reedy believes it is 50/50 that Smith stays a Bengal at this point.
The Bengals usually let guys walk find out what the value is and than make an offer. I don't see an extension getting done before free agency hits.
I'll believe those F.O. folks when I see it, something clearly wrong with that statement. Just look at the numbers guys have been getting lately not close to that number to this point. Maybe the Cowboys would bite on him they did sign Livings to a stupid contract last year but I bet no smart team even attempts to sign him.
Plenty of teams with holes on the OL will bite. Each and every year there is someone who gives out stupid money to a FA because they play a premier position. The thing is, very few if any good/great ones hit the FA market. Most teams end up keeping their better offensive linemen for a long time. Therefor when one team needs one they end up paying the second tier top tier money. Playing OT in this league gives you the right to print money.
Reedy cited Doug Free in Dallas who the Cowboys gave a ton of money to knowing he was switching from the left side to the right side. He is on the books at about 8 million per season or so. Smith's last season of his rookie contract was paying him 6.5 million. Most guys in the NFL playing RT average around 4-5 million dollars, however it's just a matter of time before this position catches up. I can't see Smith's agent going backwards from his rookie contract. If he was averaging around 6-7 million he is going to want his client to have a raise. Most likely asking 9 settling for 7-8 with a nice chunk up front.
I do feel that Reedy is right in saying someone is going to pay Smith big dollars (Hmmmm Redskins and Philly). It really depends on how much the Bengals value Smith and if they feel his production can be replaced by a cheaper alternative (Collins or the draft).
Surprise the one team overpaying OL is Dallas (Nate livings anyone). What is funny is that I just heard Free's name brought up as a Cowboy "issue" on NFL32 the other day.
Someone very well may overpay him thinking they will be able to keep him in shape, because there is no doubt he has the talent to be the best RT in the game if one can keep him on the field and relatively healthy. I just hope it's not the Bengals I think the risk is too high without some way (contract stipulation) to minimize risk. I don't believe that team will be Philly but they did give Stacy Andrews a ton of money once upon a time, just not sure he is wise fit in that new scheme, seems like they will be looking for more athletic types on the OL.
The only way I would consider it is if he agreed to some pretty strict workout and weight restriction guidelines which would cost him money if not adhered to and would eventually give the Bengals power to nullify guaranteed dollars.
Based upon a story I heard Marvin tell about Chris' Proday workout at OSU, I'm not sure that Marvin is going to jump at Chris Gamble.