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Breaking down Bengals' 2015 top earners: 1-5


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CINCINNATI -- How important will the next free-agency period be for the Cincinnati Bengals?

Consider this: Of their current top-51 contracts, 25 will be expiring 12 months from now by the start of the 2016 league year. It means 49 percent of the 51 priciest contracts they're currently paying are going to players whose Bengals' tenures could, in theory, be over by next March.

Naturally, they will want to re-sign as many of them as possible by next offseason. Of those who could be free-agent eligible next summer, four command some of the Bengals' 10 largest cap figures for 2015. This week, we're looking at them and others, as we count down (with help from ESPN Stats & Information) the Bengals' most-expensive 2015 cap values; we began Monday with cap values 6-10:

5. LB Rey Maualuga

2015 cap value: $7,137,500

2015 base salary: $2,150,000

2015 bonuses: $300,000 (workout), up to $4,750,000 (roster)

How he'll be used in 2015: The Bengals' use of Maualuga will depend in part on whatVontaze Burfict will be able to give them. If Burfict bounces back successfully from offseason microfracture surgery as expected, Maualuga likely remains in his role as the Bengals' Mike linebacker. If Burfict struggles to get back in form, then Maualuga could shift into the Will role while free-agency addition A.J. Hawk plays the middle linebacker spot. However Maualuga is used, the run-stopping 'backer will still eat quite a large chunk of cap space as a result to the three-year extension he agreed to earlier this month.

4. DT Geno Atkins

2015 cap value: $9,000,000

2015 base salary: $5,700,000

2015 bonuses: $300,000 (workout), $100,000 (if NFL defensive player of the year)

How he'll be used in 2015: Hopes are tremendously high for Atkins, who had one of the worst years of his career in 2014. Last year, Atkins was rehabbing from an ACL tear all the way through training camp, slowing his prep process. He showed very little explosion. The Bengals made moves this offseason to aid defensive-line rotations that should give Atkins easier rush lanes than he had last season.

t-2. QB Andy Dalton

2015 cap value: $9,600,000

2015 base salary: $300,000

2015 bonuses: $200,000 (workout), $4,000,000 (roster), up to $3,000,000 (regular and postseason escalators)

How he'll be used in 2015: Not to belabor the point, but there will be no competition for starting quarterback this season. He'll be used the exact same way he has since he was drafted in 2011. Dalton's cap value for this season -- which came from his extension last August -- ranks 17th among quarterbacks, meaning it's comparatively low.

t-2. CB Leon Hall

2015 cap value: $9,600,000

2015 base salary: $7,700,000

2015 bonuses: $100,000 (workout)

How he'll be used in 2015: Much has been made by Bengals fans this offseason about Hall's massive 2015 cap figure, and perhaps rightfully so. Two of his past four seasons were cut short by Achilles tears. Although he played all but one game in 2014, he still appeared somewhat limited by the latest Achilles issue last season, getting beat occasionally. He contended he hadn't lost any speed due to his recovery from the injury. Hall is one of the four upcoming free agents.

1. WR A.J. Green

2015 cap value: $10,176,000

2015 base salary: $10,176,000 (fully guaranteed as part of fifth-year option)

2015 bonuses: $0

How he'll be used in 2015: Like Hall, Green's contract will expire next spring if the Bengals don't get him a longer term extension before then. He's slated to be this season's highest-paid Bengal because of the $10.2 million he's slotted for as the part of his fifth-year option. As the team's biggest star, it's probably fitting (option or not) that he's earning the largest salary. Cincinnati hopes to get even more production from him after an injury-filled Pro Bowl 2014 season.

 

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/cincinnati-bengals/post/_/id/16432/bengals-nfl-contracts-free-agency-cap-value-top-10

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How did we ever end up giving Rey that much?!?!?

 

There was a dollar store sale on M&M's ... so later that day while high on sugar, Mikey splurged and got carried away. :ninja_star:

 

 

Mike-Brown-Cincinnati-Bengals.jpg

Mike: "What more do you assholes want from me?

I gave you the playoffs!"

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