2012 Bengals discussion

[Joseph]

Originally Posted by sonny

A little surprised the Bengals haven't signed anyone yet in FA. even a second- tier player would send a message.

Are you really surprised? This is the Bengals after all.

[blumj]

I heard on the radio they're talking to BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

[Stray]

I'm not a big fan of going big in free agency. The desperate teams are overpaying early on and getting the biggest names available.

From what I've heard we'll have Green-Ellis and Michael Bush visiting soon, and maybe that Newman CB from Dallas. I'd like Newman for depth and a reunion with Zimmer, and of those two backs I'd rather have Bush.

[Boss-Hog]

Aaron Ross is also reportedly visiting. I'd rather have him than Newman and Bush over Green-Ellis (though the former's YPC drop concerns me).

[hebroncougar]

Bengals have reportedly lost Jonathon Fanene and Frostee Rucker to the Pats and Browns.

[The Operator]

What's the situation with Matt Forte? I know his contract situation was talked about a lot during the season and I'd love to see The Bengals make a run at him.

Do The Bears still have the ability to franchise him?

[Ohayou]

Originally Posted by hebroncougar

Bengals have reportedly lost Jonathon Fanene and Frostee Rucker to the Pats and Browns.

The Bengals boards are blowing up. It's hilarious.

Anyways, Kendall Langford is visiting tomorrow.

[bucksfan2]

Originally Posted by hebroncougar

Bengals have reportedly lost Jonathon Fanene and Frostee Rucker to the Pats and Browns.

Nice players, guys who do well when played the right amount, but two guys I am not going to lose sleep over.

[nmculbreth]

It's kind of disconcerting that with as much cap room as the Bengals have that they seemingly haven't reached out to some of the bigger name free agents. Carl Nicks would have been a great fit, he's relatively young and would have seemingly allowed the club to use their first rounder picks to address other needs.

[hebroncougar]

Originally Posted by bucksfan2

Nice players, guys who do well when played the right amount, but two guys I am not going to lose sleep over.

I won't miss Rucker. I thought Fanane was great.

[KoryMac5]

Originally Posted by hebroncougar

I won't miss Rucker. I thought Fanane was great.

Yeah Reedy tweeted that Zimmer was steamed the Bengals didn't resign him especially when he did not want to leave. Rucker was more of a plug and play guy that can be replaced through the draft easily.

Bengals said the plan was to keep their guys and to try and see how the market shakes out for mid tier free agents. So far I am pretty disappointed with this offseason as they really haven't made a move to keep anyone other than special teamers and a long snapper. However I have grown used to it over the last 30 yrs.

Don't know how Brown plans to put fans in the seats operating like this. If he doesn't get the message after last season he never will. Even Buffalo is trying to make a splash.

[Oxilon]

So what's Brown trying to achieve here? Next year, he has to spend to the cap. So what's he going to do, resign all these young players to extensions and than sign some second-tier free agents to over inflated contracts?

Look, I'm not claiming to be an expert on NFL contracts. And I don't want the Bengals to be the Redskins and "win" every March. But I just can't help to think Brown is completely over his head again here. He's always been a bargain shopper. But, especially with the new CBA, those days are over. And not to mention, the talent he'll eventually bring in won't be as good as the talent that it's replacing.

[LoganBuck]

Seriously the twitterverse of Bengals fans was all honked off yesterday over Fanane and Rucker. Both are solid, but average. In baseball terms they are Joe Randas. There are other players that are actually better out there. They have an entire draft coming up with 9 picks. They will be ok.

As for the handwringing over Nelson, he is also a dead average safety. Now I know that the position has been such a blackhole for the last decade that average looks good, but seriously how many times did you have to see Nelson out of position on runs, and passes, costing the Bengals D huge gains. Yes bring him back if you can, but lets not pretend that he was some All pro level player. He was just to the right of the middle of the safety play bell curve.

Gotta remember that in January and February, that the Bengals will need cap space to give huge extensions to Dalton, Green, Atkins, and Gresham. Those players will take up huge chunks. They are being relatively paid peanuts right now. Quick make a list of more valuable receivers in the league than AJ Green. The list is Megatron, Larry Fitzgerald, and ???. Those two above Green are being paid $120 million dollar deals.

Gotta lock the kids up.

[hebroncougar]

Originally Posted by LoganBuck

Seriously the twitterverse of Bengals fans was all honked off yesterday over Fanane and Rucker. Both are solid, but average. In baseball terms they are Joe Randas. There are other players that are actually better out there. They have an entire draft coming up with 9 picks. They will be ok.

As for the handwringing over Nelson, he is also a dead average safety. Now I know that the position has been such a blackhole for the last decade that average looks good, but seriously how many times did you have to see Nelson out of position on runs, and passes, costing the Bengals D huge gains. Yes bring him back if you can, but lets not pretend that he was some All pro level player. He was just to the right of the middle of the safety play bell curve.

Gotta remember that in January and February, that the Bengals will need cap space to give huge extensions to Dalton, Green, Atkins, and Gresham. Those players will take up huge chunks. They are being relatively paid peanuts right now. Quick make a list of more valuable receivers in the league than AJ Green. The list is Megatron, Larry Fitzgerald, and ???. Those two above Green are being paid $120 million dollar deals.

Gotta lock the kids up.

Green and Dalton are locked up through 2015. They are cheap. What am I missing? Now would be the time to spend money, while they ARE cheap. Gresham is signed through 2014, Atkins through 2013. None of them can go anywhere for 2 years, minimum.

[bucksfan2]

Originally Posted by Oxilon

So what's Brown trying to achieve here? Next year, he has to spend to the cap. So what's he going to do, resign all these young players to extensions and than sign some second-tier free agents to over inflated contracts?

Look, I'm not claiming to be an expert on NFL contracts. And I don't want the Bengals to be the Redskins and "win" every March. But I just can't help to think Brown is completely over his head again here. He's always been a bargain shopper. But, especially with the new CBA, those days are over. And not to mention, the talent he'll eventually bring in won't be as good as the talent that it's replacing.

There was an article a number of years ago about the impact of the top free agents in NFL history. The list was short and the impact of a lot of the major guys in free agency is kinda meh. Most of the teams keep their good and great players locked up until their productive days are ending. It may change with rookie contracts being only 4 years now but I don't see that happening as much.

I wanted to Bengals to make a run at Vincent Jackson, but not at what he signed for. The key would be to getting a true #2 WR and sign Green longterm. Most teams have been successful building via the draft and even with trades. Free Agency has been fools gold.