Willie Released

[TonyAPBTx]

This is why you can't blame the players for holding out and wanting new contracts. Willie signed a 5 year extension to make him "retire a Bengal" and gets cut not yet 1/2 way through the deal.

If a player was holding out or making a scene 1/2 way through their contract people would be pissed. The players have to get what they can, as we see her you can get cut for injuries and not get compensated for it. If both of these players were healthy least year the Bengals have a total different season and they are both starting.

I think this was a classless move by the Bengals especially in the wake of the Chris Henry signing. This creates a very bad precedent and may impact future free agent signings. We reward players who haven't performed as well and have screwed the team over due to their behavior and cut the consistent, well-behaving leaders. Willie and Rudi are two of the most respected, hard-working guys in the league.

With the problems the team has releasing two leaders could be a huge detriment. A team known for off the field issues, crunch time failures and locker room blow ups are releasing several of their most consistent performers on and off the field.

I hope neither sign in the division, especially Willie. $3.5 million for a pro bowl tackle is nothing for what players are signing for now. Even if some of the money is used for TJ (who hasn't sounded optimistic) a lot of extra money is going to be sitting there. What big signing are we going to make, Shawn Alexander?

This team really really needs a GM who is on the same page with the Coach or a Coach/GM.

[|Bunghole|]

[quote name='TonyAPBTx' post='693495' date='Aug 30 2008, 08:06 PM']This is why you can't blame the players for holding out and wanting new contracts. Willie signed a 5 year extension to make him "retire a Bengal" and gets cut not yet 1/2 way through the deal.

If a player was holding out or making a scene 1/2 way through their contract people would be pissed. The players have to get what they can, as we see her you can get cut for injuries and not get compensated for it. If both of these players were healthy least year the Bengals have a total different season and they are both starting.

I think this was a classless move by the Bengals especially in the wake of the Chris Henry signing. This creates a very bad precedent and may impact future free agent signings. We reward players who haven't performed as well and have screwed the team over due to their behavior and cut the consistent, well-behaving leaders. Willie and Rudi are two of the most respected, hard-working guys in the league.

With the problems the team has releasing two leaders could be a huge detriment. A team known for off the field issues, crunch time failures and locker room blow ups are releasing several of their most consistent performers on and off the field.

I hope neither sign in the division, especially Willie. $3.5 million for a pro bowl tackle is nothing for what players are signing for now. Even if some of the money is used for TJ (who hasn't sounded optimistic) a lot of extra money is going to be sitting there. What big signing are we going to make, Shawn Alexander?

This team really really needs a GM who is on the same page with the Coach or a Coach/GM.[/quote]
While I don't necessarily disagree on the GM point, two things:
Willie and Rudi are not leaders, and
Chris Henry is making absolute peanuts.
That is all.

[The Scales]

PEANUTS!



Now let's rock.

[TonyAPBTx]

It isn't the $$ amount that matters with Chris, its the precedent it sets especially when followed by releasing two vets like that.

What makes you think Willie isn't a leader? He is identified by players on the team as a leader. Isn't that what matters?

Or just because several people on the board don't think he is makes him not one?

[oldschooler]

[quote][size=5][b]JungleInsider.com Blog[/b][/size]

By Kevin Goheen
JungleInsider.com Editor


Welcome to the JungleInsider.com blog. Here you will find news, notes and tidbits of different sorts on the Bengals. Commence reading.


[b]Saturday 8/30/08, 4:53 p.m.[/b]

Just got off the phone with RT Willie Anderson, who confirmed the Bengals have released him. The Bengals asked Willie to take a pay cut and he refused. Anderson was paid a $2 million bonus in January and was due to make $3.15 million in base pay this season. The team is already paying Stacy Andrews $7.455 million this season after tagging Andrews as its franchise player in free agency.

“I’m not mad or bitter about this but I am disappointed in the timing,” said Anderson. “I thought I was competing for the job and I thought I showed that even after the injuries of last year that I can play and I can practice… I want to make it clear this was not about my ability to play at a high level.”

Combined with the release of Rudi Johnson, which wasn’t a surprise move, the first thing I thought of was how the team could do away with two of its best players in franchise history less than two weeks after bringing back Chris Henry. If that doesn’t emphasize how much of a business this is, nothing does.

[b]11:45 a.m.[/b]

So Chad Johnson now wants to be known as “Chad Ocho Cinco”, having gone so far as to legally change his last name.

And this is news for what reason?

If Chad is still bucking for a trade out of town, this should help. I can only imagine the lumps that will be on Marvin Lewis’ forehead after he finishes banging his head against the wall on this one. Remember when Bugs Bunny would ask his foil “One lump or two?” presumably for the number of sugar cubes the poor soul wanted in his coffee only to get pounded on the head with a mallet?

The Bengals had no official response to the reports. They are aware of the reports but have no comment, as of now.

Why would you want to respond to another headache?

To me, this is a strange way of showing your teammates that you’re only there to win games. It will be great for his personal marketing. Unfortunately we’ll have to talk too much about Mr. Ocho Cinco.[/quote]




[url="http://cin.scout.com/2/771336.html"]http://cin.scout.com/2/771336.html[/url]

[VonBlade]

[quote name='TonyAPBTx' post='693501' date='Aug 31 2008, 02:22 AM']What makes you think Willie isn't a leader? He is identified by players on the team as a leader. Isn't that what matters?[/quote]

I don't want leaders, I want players. You can have 53 really nice guys who do a lot of work for charity and all get along just fine, doesn't make them great football players though.

[MULLY]

[quote name='VonBlade' post='693582' date='Aug 31 2008, 07:18 PM']I don't want leaders, I want players. You can have 53 really nice guys who do a lot of work for charity and all get along just fine, doesn't make them great football players though.[/quote]


Willie gone, Rudi gone, you can pretty much say goodbye to Chad next season if things go his way. TJ is probably going to be heading somewhere else too. You better enjoy these stars while we have them. Starting in 2009 we're headed right back down the toilet for another decade.
MULLY
thank God we have Chris Henry

[oldschooler]

[quote][size=5][b]Last link[/b][/size]
By GEOFF HOBSON
August 30, 2008


Updated: 8-31-08, 7:10 a.m.


He is the last link to the 20th century, Boomer Esiason, and Riverfront Stadium.

But Willie Anderson, the greatest right tackle the Bengals ever had and so much more in a locker room that always seemed to have a radioactive glow, said he's still got a stake in Cincinnati even though he turned down a deal to stay Saturday and terminate what the books will say is his 12-year Bengals career.

"I'm not going to abandon my causes there," Anderson said from Atlanta Saturday night. "I'm not going anywhere when it comes to that stuff. I know how important this team is to the city."

Anderson is still going through with the opening of one of his Fat Burger franchises in October on Madison Road in Oakley. But he also admitted, "I feel free, like something has been lifted from me. I can't explain it."

While there was clearly a financial reason for the Bengals to re-do the deal (starting right tackle Stacy Andrews is getting $7.5 million), Anderson said his reasons for declining were one of principles and not money two years after he signed a $40 million extension. Of which he has received nearly half.

Anderson, the four-time Pro Bowler, had been stunned for the previous 24 hours when the Bengals first approached him about taking a pay cut from his $3 million salary for '08 as the backup to Andrews. He was just as stunned when head coach Marvin Lewis explained it Saturday in the ensuing news conference, "We haven't seen the day-to-day-to-day that you need. I know it's contrary to popular belief. But it's important that we start our season healthy."

Anderson said those type of concerns about his health are innuendos and unfounded and have been since he was limited to seven games last season because of a severely bruised knee

"It's just not true. BS." Anderson said. "I don't know why he had to say that. I'm not going to do that. I have too much respect for Carson Palmer, Levi Jones, and all my teammates. And I've got too much respect for the Blackburns and Mike Brown. They came to me, I turned it down. That's it. I'm going to be a stand-up guy about it."

Suffice to say the Bengals and Anderson just never seemed to have any kind of communication about where he was physically. He says dealing with all the non-football issues and what he feels were false whispers about his health "made me exhausted and I just didn't want to go through it any more."

Anderson seemed to practice pretty regularly until the last couple of weeks, but he did play a lot in the third preseason game and while he didn't play Thursday night in the preseason finale, so did some other veterans.

Anderson said he missed the game because the orthotics he had ordered were too tight and caused his toe to swell. He said he went home to Atlanta on Friday to get the new shoes and was "shocked" to get the phone call looking for him to redo the deal.

"I missed the game because of the orthotics and that's all," Anderson said. "Not because of anything lingering."

From Lewis' standpoint, he wants there to be fewer health questions clouding his Sundays this season. He wants to be able to count on guys for not only games but practices and with Anderson now 33 and a lot of tread, Lewis is just as resolute in saying he hasn't seen enough to be sure..

Lewis didn't close the door on him coming back. Neither did Anderson.

But everyone knows it's improbable. Anderson had no comment, but he'll be contacted by other teams and although he says he'll pray about his next move and consider a retirement an option, he is adamant in his belief he can still play at a high level.

Wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh can already see it.

"You know a guy like Willie who has so much pride is going to say, 'I'll show you I'm not hurt.' You just hope if (he) plays against us (he) doesn't play well."

If there are a couple of injuries on the offensive line, it could blow up. But the Bengals believe Scott Kooistra is a solid backup for Andrews. The move does appear to cut into the attractiveness of the Jurassic Line, which moved right guard Bobbie Williams to center, Andrews to right guard and Anderson off the bench.

And there is a huge impact in the locker room for guys like left tackle Levi Jones. Jones has often talked about how Anderson is role model on and off the field and once told the story of how he learned from him just getting off the tram at the Atlanta airport while watching him help a woman with a young child.

"Sad day for the Bengals all over," Jones said. "Not only sad, disheartening for me. They told him they wanted to see him practice and play and he did just that. Not only did he play well, he graded in the 90s when he did play."

Houshmandzadeh's Class of' 01 is rapidly becoming the Deans. The Dean of the Bengals is now Brad St. Louis, a seventh-rounder in 2000 who has long snapped in 123 games.

But Anderson's value always went beyond the field. A four-time nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award as a community leader (Boys and Girls Club, New Jerusalem Baptist Church scholarships, party sponsor at Cincinnati's Children Hospital), he also made his mark as the team spokesman who never failed to mince words.

"I'm shocked at how many texts and calls I've had from people who are sad," Anderson said. "I've heard from a lot of teammates, but I'm not going to get them involved. I'm going to leave them out of it."

Houshmandzadeh said Anderson's presence will clearly be missed, but he believes "from a leadership standpoint, we'll be all right."

"On offense it will be different," Houshmandzadeh said. "We've got myself, Reggie Kelly, and Carson. Carson's not as vocal as me and Reggie, but I think it will be OK. Just different."

Wouldn't you know that Anderson's best and worst memories in Cincinnati stem from the same day?

"The best was getting that home playoff game but it was tough not winning it with Carson getting hurt," Anderson said of 2005. "We seemed to be ready to win every year consistently, but we kind of fell back."

Asked why, Anderson said, "I really don't want to get into it. Stuff happens."

After 181 games, sixth on the Bengals all-time list in a tie with kicker Jim Breech, Anderson wonders what's next

"I'll wait and see and decide if I'll keep playing," Anderson said. "It's been quite a ride. We had some fun and we had some tough times."[/quote]



[url="http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=7001"]http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=7001[/url]

[sparky151]

I'm not upset about letting Willie or Rudi go. They are both near the end of their careers and had poor seasons last year. I wish them both the best and thank them for their years of excellence.

The team now needs to find a short yardage guy who can bull for a couple of yards when needed. I'm nervous about our CB depth with Deltha leaving. Keeping Jordan Palmer on the 53 man roster smells like front office nepotism working its way down to the field. Not a good thing. Thornton should be nervous. There are probably better DT values than him on the waiver list today.

[|Bunghole|]

[quote name='TonyAPBTx' post='693501' date='Aug 30 2008, 08:22 PM']It isn't the $$ amount that matters with Chris, its the precedent it sets especially when followed by releasing two vets like that.

What makes you think Willie isn't a leader? He is identified by players on the team as a leader. Isn't that what matters?

Or just because several people on the board don't think he is makes him not one?[/quote]
I wasn't really in favor of the Henry move either, at least initially, but it makes sense now that we know Chad has a torn labrum and we don't know what's up with TJ. It makes sense because it's cheap, Henry already knows the offense, and worse case scenario is that he fucks up again and he's gone from the NFL for good and the Bengals aren't out much money.

But what if Henry cleans his act up for good? What if he catches 10 TD's this year in 12 games? Then the Bengals look like geniuses and other teams that needed a WR (like Dallas and Philly) will be kicking themselves that they didn't pull the trigger faster.

As for Willie...well, I think he's not only old but hurt beyond repair. The Bengals gave him a ton more money when they didn't have to and probably shouldn't have. I appreciate everything Willie has done, but it's been my perception (and this is speculation) that he's turned into more of a bitch than a leader recently, and I feel exactly the same way about Rudi.

I also want to second the notion that cutting Deltha is very risky.

[Nordman]

[quote name='Bunghole' post='693608' date='Aug 31 2008, 04:47 PM']I also want to second the notion that cutting Deltha is very risky.[/quote]

I do agree with Deltha. Otherwise this cut was painful but neccesary. It's like breath of fresh air tbh.
Just get rid of overpaid, underperforming vets, period.

Justin
Landon
Madieu
Rudi
Willie

I would have loved to see Reggie and John there too but those guys are supporting cast and they really dont make any difference. Both are "just pro's" and I quess you need couple of those on field anyway.

[-GoBengals-]

[quote name='Patmo' post='693232' date='Aug 30 2008, 03:47 PM']Does character count ? HELL NO ![/quote]


yes, willie could be a politician, ... things arent as they seem,.