Bengals tag Justin Smith - RedsZone.com - Cincinnati Reds Fans' Home for Baseball Discussion

Matt700wlw · 02-15-2007, 03:27 PM

BENGALS DESIGNATE JUSTIN SMITH AS FRANCHISE PLAYER

The Bengals today designated DE Justin Smith as the team’s franchise player, under terms of the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The franchise tag gives Smith the option to play for Cincinnati in 2007 for a salary equal to the average of the top five defensive ends in the NFL for the previous season (2006 in this case).

Smith is presently unsigned for 2007, and he will become an unrestricted free agent on March 2 if he does not reach a contract agreement with the Bengals prior to that date. The franchise-player designation means that the Bengals could retain Smith by matching any offer sheet he would sign from another team, and that if the Bengals declined to match a signed offer, the team signing Smith would be required to give the Bengals its first-round choices in the 2007 and 2008 NFL Drafts.

“We are pleased to designate Justin as our franchise player,” said head coach Marvin Lewis. “He has been a consistent performer and worker. This move helps us keep our core players together, and it gives us an opportunity to continue negotiating for a longer-term contract with Justin.”

Smith has played all six of his NFL seasons with the Bengals. In 2006, he led the defensive line in tackles (110) for the fifth consecutive season, and he achieved his highest career ranking (second) in the team tackling standings. He had a 50-tackle lead over the second-place lineman (John Thornton). He ranked second on the team in sacks (7.5), and raised his career sacks total to 41.0, ranked fourth all-time on the Bengals. He also had a line-best 4 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery. He has started 91 consecutive games.

“The franchise option is designed to help a team retain the rights to a top player,” said Troy Blackburn, Bengals director of business development. “The players’ union supports it because it guarantees that player a salary commensurate with what he has accomplished.”

The Collective Bargaining Agreement permits a new agreement between Smith and the Bengals to be reached at any time prior to July 15.

guttle11 · 02-15-2007, 03:53 PM

Bah.

gonelong · 02-15-2007, 04:15 PM

He's a pretty servicable lineman (In the right situation he might even be a monster), but I don't think he is worth Cincy dropping a tag on him.

GL

Cedric · 02-15-2007, 04:22 PM

Dumb, IMO. He is not a play maker by any stretch.

Heath · 02-15-2007, 04:36 PM

Who else do they have to tag?

gonelong · 02-15-2007, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heath

Who else do they have to tag?

Steinbach?

Matt700wlw · 02-15-2007, 04:38 PM

I think Steiny's gone. I hope I'm wrong.

beb30 · 02-15-2007, 05:08 PM

Much rather have seinbach and I'd much rather use $8.6 Million to get Adalius thomas

WMR · 02-15-2007, 05:33 PM

Don't agree with this move. Don't think he's worth the average of the top five at his position. That puts his salary in some elite company.

DoogMinAmo · 02-15-2007, 05:46 PM

I think you transition Steiny and Franchise Smith. Steiny will go elsewhere and you get the extra pick to make up for Brooks. Either Smith stays and you have a one season stopgap until a draft pick can take over, or he goes and you get two comp picks, a win win. In this year's defensive FA class, it makes sense.

Buckeye33 · 02-15-2007, 05:54 PM

More than likely, Smith will either sign a new contract or he will be traded for a 2nd or 3rd round draft pick if they can not work out a new contract.

People who think the Bengals will just be able to sign Adalius Thomas aren't thinking clearly. The Ravens would be idiotic to not franchise tag Thomas, just like the Patriots are going to tag Asante Samuel. This tag is there so teams keep their best/better players. If Thomas got onto the open market, somehow I do not believe the Bengals would outbid every other team in the NFL.

Steinbach would have cost even more money from the tag than Smith will. Of course Smith is not worth 8.6 million per year, but the Bengals have players who can fill Steinbachs position better than they currently can fill Justin Smiths.

DTCromer · 02-15-2007, 05:57 PM

How much longer until Bengals fans realize Mike Brown is the same old Mike Brown? This further proves it.

redsmetz · 02-15-2007, 06:04 PM

I'm glad to see it. He's from my wife's hometown and my brother-in-law was a trainer for his high school there (among other places). Feels like hometown for our family!

Redhook · 02-15-2007, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beb30

Much rather have seinbach and I'd much rather use $8.6 Million to get Adalius thomas

Couldn't have said it better myself.

UKFlounder · 02-15-2007, 06:27 PM

Not quite an Eric Milton-esque deal, but it certainly gives him an awfully high reward for fairly average production (3 sacks in game 1, 4 in the final 15)

02-15-2007, 03:27 PM	#1
Matt700wlw Making sense of it all Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 26,131	Bengals tag Justin Smith BENGALS DESIGNATE JUSTIN SMITH AS FRANCHISE PLAYER The Bengals today designated DE Justin Smith as the team’s franchise player, under terms of the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement. The franchise tag gives Smith the option to play for Cincinnati in 2007 for a salary equal to the average of the top five defensive ends in the NFL for the previous season (2006 in this case). Smith is presently unsigned for 2007, and he will become an unrestricted free agent on March 2 if he does not reach a contract agreement with the Bengals prior to that date. The franchise-player designation means that the Bengals could retain Smith by matching any offer sheet he would sign from another team, and that if the Bengals declined to match a signed offer, the team signing Smith would be required to give the Bengals its first-round choices in the 2007 and 2008 NFL Drafts. “We are pleased to designate Justin as our franchise player,” said head coach Marvin Lewis. “He has been a consistent performer and worker. This move helps us keep our core players together, and it gives us an opportunity to continue negotiating for a longer-term contract with Justin.” Smith has played all six of his NFL seasons with the Bengals. In 2006, he led the defensive line in tackles (110) for the fifth consecutive season, and he achieved his highest career ranking (second) in the team tackling standings. He had a 50-tackle lead over the second-place lineman (John Thornton). He ranked second on the team in sacks (7.5), and raised his career sacks total to 41.0, ranked fourth all-time on the Bengals. He also had a line-best 4 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery. He has started 91 consecutive games. “The franchise option is designed to help a team retain the rights to a top player,” said Troy Blackburn, Bengals director of business development. “The players’ union supports it because it guarantees that player a salary commensurate with what he has accomplished.” The Collective Bargaining Agreement permits a new agreement between Smith and the Bengals to be reached at any time prior to July 15. __________________ An excited shade of Red

02-15-2007, 03:53 PM	#2
guttle11 Raaaaaaaandy Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 4,118	Re: Bengals tag Justin Smith Bah. __________________ "I saw Wedding Crashers accidentally. I bought a ticket for Grizzly Man and went into the wrong theater. After an hour, I figured I was in the wrong theater, but I kept waiting. That’s the thing about bear attacks. They come when you least expect it."-Dwight K. Schrute

02-15-2007, 04:15 PM	#3
gonelong Score Early, Score Often Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,128	Re: Bengals tag Justin Smith He's a pretty servicable lineman (In the right situation he might even be a monster), but I don't think he is worth Cincy dropping a tag on him. GL __________________ '02-'12 Prediction Thread Archive(s) ORG Compilation

02-15-2007, 04:22 PM	#4
Cedric Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Monroe Posts: 6,218	Re: Bengals tag Justin Smith Dumb, IMO. He is not a play maker by any stretch. __________________ This is the time. The real Reds organization is back.

02-15-2007, 04:36 PM	#5
Heath This one's for you Edd Join Date: May 2005 Location: Dayton Area Posts: 8,471	Re: Bengals tag Justin Smith Who else do they have to tag? __________________ Some people play baseball. Baseball plays Jay Bruce.

02-15-2007, 04:38 PM	#7
Matt700wlw Making sense of it all Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 26,131	Re: Bengals tag Justin Smith I think Steiny's gone. I hope I'm wrong. __________________ An excited shade of Red

02-15-2007, 05:08 PM	#8
beb30 University of Cincinnati Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Clifton, OH Posts: 701	Re: Bengals tag Justin Smith Much rather have seinbach and I'd much rather use $8.6 Million to get Adalius thomas __________________ THE University of Cincinnati

02-15-2007, 05:46 PM	#10
DoogMinAmo Porkchop Sandwiches Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Homebase, Ohio Posts: 2,540	Re: Bengals tag Justin Smith I think you transition Steiny and Franchise Smith. Steiny will go elsewhere and you get the extra pick to make up for Brooks. Either Smith stays and you have a one season stopgap until a draft pick can take over, or he goes and you get two comp picks, a win win. In this year's defensive FA class, it makes sense. __________________ "I'm a Cucumber, I'm a cucumber. I'm a cucumber, I'm a cucumber. I'm a cucumber, I'm a cucumber. Please don't send me to the pickle farm, bum." - Brak Record In Games Attended, 2007: 2-1 (1-0 GAB, 1-1 Jake)

02-15-2007, 05:54 PM	#11
Buckeye33 Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Columbus OH Posts: 2,410	Re: Bengals tag Justin Smith More than likely, Smith will either sign a new contract or he will be traded for a 2nd or 3rd round draft pick if they can not work out a new contract. People who think the Bengals will just be able to sign Adalius Thomas aren't thinking clearly. The Ravens would be idiotic to not franchise tag Thomas, just like the Patriots are going to tag Asante Samuel. This tag is there so teams keep their best/better players. If Thomas got onto the open market, somehow I do not believe the Bengals would outbid every other team in the NFL. Steinbach would have cost even more money from the tag than Smith will. Of course Smith is not worth 8.6 million per year, but the Bengals have players who can fill Steinbachs position better than they currently can fill Justin Smiths. __________________ Matta = Really good

02-15-2007, 05:57 PM	#12
DTCromer Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 1,325	Re: Bengals tag Justin Smith How much longer until Bengals fans realize Mike Brown is the same old Mike Brown? This further proves it.

02-15-2007, 06:04 PM	#13
redsmetz Redsmetz Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Winton Place Posts: 10,455	Re: Bengals tag Justin Smith I'm glad to see it. He's from my wife's hometown and my brother-in-law was a trainer for his high school there (among other places). Feels like hometown for our family!

02-15-2007, 06:27 PM	#15
UKFlounder Go Reds Go! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Northern KY Posts: 1,825	Re: Bengals tag Justin Smith Not quite an Eric Milton-esque deal, but it certainly gives him an awfully high reward for fairly average production (3 sacks in game 1, 4 in the final 15)

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