Bengals: Braham to retire

[Boss-Hog]

Originally Posted by guttle11

I think Steinbach is getting the franchise tag.

He'll be a Bengal at least 1 more year. They need him.

I believe using the franchise tag on him guarantees him a top five salary for all offensive lineman (not just guards). That being the case, there's no way they franchise him because the main reason he's not already signed is they don't want to pay a guard (even a good one) tackle-type money, especially since they signed Levi and Willie to big extensions in the past year.

[OesterPoster]

^^^ What Boss-Hog said. ^^^

No way you give a franchise tag to an offensive guard. You pay that kind of money to tackles, but not guards. Whitworth will be just fine at the guard spot, and he can move out to tackle if needed for Levi. I suspect Wilkerson will be a guy who can play anywhere along the interior line for injuries to Williams, Ghiachuic, or Whitworth...or if Whitworth has to move out to tackle for Jones. Andrews will back up Anderson.

I hadn't really given much thought to who the Bengals tag before now. I can't think of anyone on defense who is "franchise" worthy. Geathers perhaps? He's a restricted free agent who'll be getting a healthy pay raise for his double-digit sack total this year.