*UPDATED THREAD TITLE* Free Agency thread

[snarkster]

If they don't sign Nelson, hopefully some decent safeties (guards too) shake lose among all the jockeying to clear cap space and sign Free Agents. I don't want to hear any more about how Taylor Mayes, Robert Sands Jeromy Miles, Armon Binns, Clint Boling, Otis Hudson etc. are ready to break out. They're just as like to be on the inactive list as in the starting lineup. Right now it's all coaches speak and no one is more BS-ready than Marvin. I really do hope all of these guys pan out, but I don't want to have to go to camp relying on any of them.

At least at OG we have the option (albeit not a great one) of re-signing Bobbie for one more season. No such luxury at safety (I don't consider Crocker an option).

[oldschooler]

[b] Bengals free agency rewind, fast-forward[/b]
[b][b]1 minute ago[/b][/b] - by Paul Dehner Jr.

[b]Rewind:[/b]The Bengals have made little headway in re-signing their 20 unrestricted free agents. K [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/552599/mike-nugent"]Mike Nugent[/url] earned the franchise tag ($2.65 million) and the FB [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/1675028/chris-pressley"]Chris Pressley[/url] a two-year extension. But little to no progress has been made in discussions with top free agent S [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/564167/reggie-nelson"]Reggie Nelson[/url]. It now appears likely Nelson will hit the free-agent market, though, the [i]Cincinnati Enquirer[/i] reported the two sides are expected to talk Monday.[b]Fast-forward:[/b]Head coachMarvin Lewis admitted he isn't much for making a free-agent splash, so don't expect the dollars to fly this week. The Bengals' moves will likely be more calculated and economical. They'll focus on keeping as many of their own free agents while kicking the tires on running back replacements -- Oakland's Michael Bush leads the way -- along with second-tier receivers and offensive guards.




http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/17745837

[Tigris]

[quote name='Bengals1181' timestamp='1331522381' post='1104446']


I'd rather have both.


judging by the fact that the Bengals have 2 starting olinemen and 2 top backups as free agents, yes I'd very much like to have collins back. It saves you a draft pick, and also provides you with a lot of insurance considering andre smith is entering a contract year.

Nelson is a nice safety, but he's not anything special and is going to be overpaid for his services as it is, whether its here or somewhere else. For every interception against seattle, there was a TD or other big play given up against jacksonville. Let's stop treating nelson like Ed Reed just because he's better than the ohalete, hebert, crocker, and kaesviharn's of the world.
[/quote]

But you're saying you'd rather have Collins back than Nelson. It just blows my mind but to each his own I suppose.

No one is treating Nelson like Ed Reed. The reason why we want Nelson back is so we don't have to go back to Ohalete.

[EnglishBengal]

[quote name='Tigris' timestamp='1331558261' post='1104473']

But you're saying you'd rather have Collins back than Nelson. It just blows my mind but to each his own I suppose.

No one is treating Nelson like Ed Reed. The reason why we want Nelson back is so we don't have to go back to Ohalete.
[/quote]
As long as we don't overpay for somebody that's essentially 'damage limitation' (in your mind), I'm OK with getting Nelson back.

Nelson is ok and is better than what we've had in the past, but he isn't an all-pro. However, Nelson could be an all-pro if he is teamed up with somebody better than Crocker.

[oldschooler]

[size=6][b]Top 15 free agents in AFC North[/b][/size]
March, 12, 2012
By Jamison Hensley


Here are my rankings for the top 15 free agents in the AFC North:

1. Ray Rice

Ravens | Running back

Status: Franchise player

Comment: The only current free agents who have been more valuable to their team than Rice are Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. Rice produced an NFL-best 2,068 total yards in 2011.

2. Mike Wallace

Steelers | Wide receiver

Status: Restricted free agent

Comment: At the age of 25, he's one of the most promising wide receivers in the league. Wallace's 3,206 yards receiving are the second most during a player's first three seasons, ranking behind Anquan Boldin.

3. Ben Grubbs

Ravens | Guard

Status: Unrestricted

Comment: He's not flashy and he's not better than teammate Marshal Yanda. But Grubbs will make any offensive line significantly better and proved that last year when he returned from a toe injury.

4. Lardarius Webb

Ravens | Cornerback

Status: Restricted

Comment: He was the most improved player on the Ravens' team last season, going from a nickelback to one of the best cornerbacks in the division. Webb became so savvy that he began baiting quarterbacks into mistakes.

5. Reggie Nelson

Bengals | Safety

Status: Unrestricted

Comment: Nelson has gone from being a first-round bust in Jacksonville to a coveted free agent in Cincinnati. He allowed some big plays early last season, but he was stingy in pass defense late in the season.

6. Jarret Johnson

Ravens | Outside linebacker

Status: Unrestricted

Comment: Johnson won't give you much in the pass rush anymore but he'll give you all-out effort in stopping the run.

7. Cedric Benson

Bengals | Running back

Status: Unrestricted

Comment: He's a grinder who will gain 1,000 yards rushing and six touchdowns as your starting running back but won't break 4 yards per carry.

8. Peyton Hillis

Browns | Running back

Status: Unrestricted

Comment: Hillis has the potential to be a top-10 running back or the No. 1 distraction in the locker room.

9. Dimitri Patterson

Browns | Cornerback

Status: Unrestricted

Comment: He rebounded as the Browns' third cornerback and seems ready for another shot at a starting role, a position he struggled with in Philadelphia.

10. Phil Dawson

Browns | Kicker

Status: Franchise player

Comment: Few kickers have been more dependable at any distance than Dawson over the past decade.

11. Frostee Rucker

Bengals | Defensive end

Status: Unrestricted

Comment: Rucker has always been productive when healthy and he took the starting job from Michael Johnson midway through last season.

12. Manny Lawson

Bengals | Outside linebacker

Status: Unrestricted

Comment: Lawson was surprisingly more effective against the run than the pass in his first season in Cincinnati.

13. Jameel McClain

Ravens | Inside linebacker

Status: Unrestricted

Comment: A strong run-stopper who stepped up his play in Ray Lewis' absence but can be a liability in pass coverage.

14. Mike Nugent

Bengals | Kicker

Status: Franchise player

Comment: Longtime journeyman was the league's most accurate kicker until late in the season when he missed four field goals over the final three games.

15. William Gay

Steelers | Cornerback

Status: Unrestricted

Comment: Gay was a pleasant surprise for the NFL's top-ranked pass defense, taking back the starting cornerback job that he lost in 2010.





http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/43649/top-15-free-agents-in-afc-north

[oldschooler]

[size=6][b] [url="http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/03/11/free-agency-2012-bargain-hunting/"]Free Agency 2012: Bargain Hunting[/url][/b][/size]

March 11th, 2012 | Author: [url="http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/author/khaled/"]Khaled Elsayed[/url]

It’s easy to get seduced by the idea of spending big money on “name” free agents. After all the reason they command big fees because of their big talents right?
Well, over the years, if the NFL has proven anything it’s that that sometimes personnel men get it wrong. Very wrong. How else do you explain living in a world where [b]Kevin Kolb [/b]signed a six year, $65m contract? Or where the Buccaneers re-signed [b]Davin Joseph [/b]for the princely sum of $52.5m over seven years after handing [b]Quincy Black [/b]a five year, $29m deal despite the fact he’d never played in a three-down role during his NFL career.

What has been shown is that free agency is something of a gamble. So why not lessen that risk by looking at players who are under appreciated in a market that doesn’t seem to understand how good players actually are or could be? Look at how the Seattle Seahawks have turned their roster around by picking up players like [b]Alan Branch[/b], [b]Chris Clemons [/b]and [b]Raheem Brock[/b]. The NFL is a league where one man’s trash is another’s treasure, so [url="http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2011/07/11/free-agency-bargain-hunting/"]as we did in 2011[/url] when we said both [b]Antwan Barnes[/b] and [b]Evan Mathis[/b] would be a bargain for any team picking them up, we’re going to look at 10 players who could be the bargains of free agency this year.

[size=4][b]Geoff Schwartz, OT/ OG[/b][/size]
When the Carolina Panthers opted against tendering Schwartz, there was a collective gasp from the PFF team. Sure Ron Rivera wasn’t in charge when Schwartz managed to finish 2010 with a PFF grade of [color=#008000][b]+12.3[/b][/color] despite playing two positions, but it wouldn’t have been hard to watch some tapes and see he’s got more talent than anything they can currently put out on the right side of their line. Schwartz offers the kind of versatility and talent that brings to mind a poor man’s Marshal Yanda; good enough to make him the best right tackle available and possibly the best value guard too. He has a very real chance to be this year’s Evan Mathis for a team with a diligent scouting department.

[size=4][b]Derek Landri, DT[/b][/size]
It was back in the summer of 2011 that Sam Monson and I had one of our random chats about Landri, declaring him to have as good a first step as any DT in the league. Hyperbole perhaps, but watch his finish to the year with the Eagles and you see a guy who is a nightmare for guards and centers with his ability to get up the field. Best suited to a heavy rotational role (he wore down after a positive start with the consistently high snap count in Carolina), Landri finished 2011 our fourth-ranked defensive tackle on the year with positive grades in both run defense and pass rushing.

[size=4][b]Joel Dreessen, TE[/b][/size]
If Martellus Bennett has the kind of upside that makes him the No. 1 tight end available, Dreesen is the proven commodity with whom you know what you’re going to get. Expendable by the Texans as they try to get James Casey on the field more, Dreesen ended the year our sixth-ranked tight end with better work in the passing game than his 353 yards would suggest, and some excellent work as a blocker. A complete, every-down tight end, teams unable to find the next Gronkowski or Witten would be wise to count on him.

[size=4][b]Jerricho Cotchery, WR[/b][/size]
His 2010 year, playing with an injured hip, was pretty horrible, but even factoring that in it was surprising that no market developed for Cotchery. Hopefully, a solid year in Pittsburgh has now got people seeing his last year with the Jets as something of a blip. The veteran offers tremendous upside as a guy who can handle playing in the slot and, if required, step in for an underperforming starter. Worth noting that in 2009 the 29-year-old was our eighth-ranked WR.

[size=4][b]Anthony Collins, OT[/b][/size]
One of the biggest gambles here, every time the Bengals’ fourth round pick from the 2008 NFL draft has seen the field (outside of his rookie year) he’s looked like an NFL player. The problem is he hasn’t seen the field enough, only managing 834 snaps (including plays wiped out by penalties) over the past three years. The last two in particular have provided few opportunities (one of those being the league’s only third-down right tackle), but it should be noted he’s given up only four hurries on 225 pass blocking snaps. A small sample size for sure but in a very sparse field for right tackles you’d figure he’s got to be worth a shot.

[size=4][b]Chris Carr, CB[/b][/size]
It seems like Carr–an undrafted free agent from the 2005 NFL draft–has been around for ages, yet he’ll be just 29 when 2012 season kicks off. Surplus to requirements in Baltimore, Carr didn’t embarrass himself in 2011 after an impressive season starting for Ravens a year earlier. A competent outside corner, he brings with him the versatility of being able to play in the slot (he spent 47.9% of his snaps in 2010 there) and his contract demands will have been slashed after he found such a tough market in August last year. There aren’t enough capable cornerbacks in the league for someone like Carr not to find a job.

[size=4][b]David Vobora, LB[/b][/size]
One of the most entertaining linebackers to watch in the league, Vobora has something of the Bart Scott attitude in him. The ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ of the 2008 NL draft is just 25 and comes with little risk, and lots of reward. Take his 2009 season where he finished sixth in our 4-3 OLB rankings despite being limited to just 403 snaps, or 2010 where he finished the season with a [color=#008000][b]+4.3[/b][/color] grade despite playing only 232 snaps. You need to watch all of those snaps to truly appreciate what he can do for a team on gameday.

[size=4][b]Philip Wheeler, LB[/b][/size]
You may have noticed last year, but the Colts were pretty bad. So bad that anything mildly encouraging about them was overshadowed by the cloud of failure that loomed over a franchise that had failed to build any contingency for life without Peyton Manning. Well, one thing that was encouraging was how Wheeler played in his role as two-down linebacker. Pat Angerer got most of the attention as the Colts scorers infatuation with him coupled with Indianapolis’ inability to get off the field gave him ‘impressive’ tackle numbers (though not so impressive on the defensive stops front). However, Wheeler was the one who caught our eye. A solid tackler, he took a leap forward with his play, and is coming off a better year than Quincy Black had when he earned his big deal last off season.

[size=4][b]William Hayes, DE[/b][/size]
The majority of talk about the Titans free agents has revolved around Jason Jones, Cortland Finnegan, and in recent days the combo of Jake Scott and Dave Ball. A man who hasn’t garnered much attention after a disastrous 2011 is Hayes, the backup DLE. Hayes looked ready to break out after an encouraging 2010 showing he was capable of playing both pass and the run and highlighted his year in Week 12 with an absolute roasting of the usually excellent Eric Winston. Unfortunately, following a shoulder injury in week 1 last year he didn’t really get going and played over 200 snaps less than in 2010. He’s the type of player that you bring in for depth, but could very possibly play himself into a starting role if things go his way.

[size=4][b]David Garrard, QB[/b][/size]
Amenable to a backup role, it’s often forgotten just how solid a quarterback Garrard was for the Jaguars, even if he did fail to push them on. If his back heals fully after a season off, Garrard could prove a relatively cheap (talent wise) option at the QB spot that could provide competition for a struggling starter, or reliable backup for a team concerned with their quarterbacks health. On proven talent levels alone, Garrard trails only Manning in the passers available.





[url="http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/03/11/free-agency-2012-bargain-hunting/"]http://www.profootba...argain-hunting/[/url]

[oldschooler]

This is probably pretty obvious, but it’s important enough to mention that the next 32 hours will be huge in the Ravens’ quest to retain Pro Bowl left guard [b]Ben Grubbs[/b]. The Ravens have made what both sides have acknowledged was a substantial offer to Grubbs to convince him to eschew free agency and remain in Baltimore. All indications are that there isn’t much leeway to expand on the offer. Free agents aren’t allowed to negotiate with other teams until 4 p.m. tomorrow, but you can bet that Grubbs’ representative, [b]Pat Dye[/b], has already gotten a good idea about what teams are interested in his client and what they’re willing to pay. If Grubbs goes to free agency, that is a good indication that there will be another offer out there that surpasses the Ravens’ bid. And I wouldn’t be totally surprised if the Ravens then pull their offer and move on from Grubbs. That’s just my speculation based on them knowing they won’t win a bidding war with where they are with their salary cap situation.




http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-ravens-news-and-notes-20120311,0,7008854.story

[oldschooler]

Free agent OG Carl Nicks reiterated in an interview with WWL in New Orleans that he wants to be the NFL's highest paid guard.
"I plan to be the highest paid guard in the NFL," he said. "You can take that whatever kinda way but that’s my goal. So more than Logan Mankins got I guess." Mankins received a six-year, $51 million contract with $30 million guaranteed last August. "I don’t wanna sound cocky or anything but I busted my butt for four years, I made a couple Pro Bowls," Nicks added. "For my first three years I was the lowest paid guard of all the starting guard in the NFL." Mar 12 - 10:10 AM


[b]Source:[/b] [url="http://sportsradiointerviews.com/2012/03/12/carl-nicks-saints-contract-bounty-gate/"]Sports Radio Interviews [/url]



http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/4828/carl-nicks

[oldschooler]

[url="https://twitter.com/#!/joereedy"]joereedy[/url]Joe Reedy




[url="https://twitter.com/#!/search/%23bengals"][s]#[/s][b]bengals[/b][/url] announce re-signing of Chris Pressley, Cedric Peerman, Nick Hayden and Vincent Rey
[url="https://twitter.com/#!/joereedy/status/179286715754745857"]1 minute ago[/url]

[Bengals1181]

[quote name='oldschooler' timestamp='1331432885' post='1104253']

[b]Cap room[/b]

The final cap number is not expected to be released until Monday. There have been some reports the projected cap number would be $120.4 million. [b]According to an Enquirer analysis of NFL contract data, that would leave the Bengals approximately $31.2 million under the cap. They have carried over $15 million in unused space from last season, which increases the total to $46.2 million.[/b]

That does not take into account Chris Pressley’s contract, which he will sign on Monday, or the tenders for six exclusive rights and restricted free agents. Nor does that account for the roughly $7 to 8 million the team has to set aside for its eight draft picks or the $2 to $3 million teams set aside during the season to sign players off the street or practice squad to fill spots due to injuries.

Almost all the carred-over $15 million is expected to be used for contract extensions for those drafted in 2010 and ’11.



[url="http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120310/SPT02/303100075/Big-free-agent-targets-already-Bengals"]http://news.cincinna...already-Bengals[/url]
[/quote]


Here's how much the "Enquirer analysis" is worth: Joe Reedy is tweeting Adam Schefter asking him how much cap room the Bengals have.

[B.A.B.]

[quote name='oldschooler' timestamp='1331581164' post='1104571']
[url="https://twitter.com/#!/joereedy"]joereedy[/url]Joe Reedy




[url="https://twitter.com/#!/search/%23bengals"][s]#[/s][b]bengals[/b][/url] announce re-signing of Chris Pressley, Cedric Peerman, Nick Hayden and Vincent Rey
[url="https://twitter.com/#!/joereedy/status/179286715754745857"]1 minute ago[/url]
[/quote]
Good. Glad to see we're taking care of some guys. Wonder how the talk with Nelson went today.

[oldschooler]

[url="https://twitter.com/#!/joereedy"]joereedy[/url]Joe Reedy




That means of the exclusive rights guys, Jeromy Miles is the only one yet who has not re-signed or received a tender
[url="https://twitter.com/#!/joereedy/status/179289786887053312"]3 minutes ago[/url]

[texbengal]

[quote name='oldschooler' timestamp='1331581990' post='1104583']
[url="https://twitter.com/#!/joereedy"]joereedy[/url]Joe Reedy




That means of the exclusive rights guys, Jeromy Miles is the only one yet who has not re-signed or received a tender
[url="https://twitter.com/#!/joereedy/status/179289786887053312"]3 minutes ago[/url]
[/quote]

He's arguably their best ST player - IIRC, Simmons got him on the Pro Bowl ballot. They'd better sign him.

[texbengal]

[quote name='oldschooler' timestamp='1331581164' post='1104571']
[url="https://twitter.com/#!/joereedy"]joereedy[/url]Joe Reedy




[url="https://twitter.com/#!/search/%23bengals"][s]#[/s][b]bengals[/b][/url] announce re-signing of Chris Pressley, Cedric Peerman, Nick Hayden and Vincent Rey
[url="https://twitter.com/#!/joereedy/status/179286715754745857"]1 minute ago[/url]
[/quote]

Good to see - I think Hayden showed a little bit late in the season, from what I remember. He looked quick. Not very big, though.

Glad Peerman is back... and Rey is a pretty good ST'er, and can play some goal-line/sort yardage, but not a lot else. Depending on who they keep this coming year, he might be on the bubble.

[snarkster]

I'm not saying we sign a Free Agent at all these spots, but I would like to see at least three or four spots filled, with one top shelf guy. I'd be OK with a haul of (OG) Schwarz (WR) Crotchery (RB) Bush (DE) Mixey (if Rucker and/or Fanene leave) and (CB) Porter.

[b]OG[/b] - I didn't realize the Panthers didn't tender Geoff Schwarz. I see no hope what so ever that the Bengals sign Nicks and I'm only very slightly more optimistic about Grubbs. I'm less pessimistic about Mathis than most, but don't see him as likely either. If they miss on these guys and don't want to re-up Bobbie for one more year, I wouldn't mind if Schwarz was the next FA option. Not a fan of signing Jake Scott because he evidently struggles with run blocking and that is what we're trying to upgrade to begin with. I believe the Bengals must comeout of FA with one of Grubbs, Mathis Williams or Schwarz.

[b]WR[/b] - with the number of serviceable WR's hitting the market, I see not reason why the Bengals can't add a vet to pair with a draft pick to fill the 2nd and 3rd wideout spots. I don't see them going after the cream of thecrop (Wallace/Jackson/Bowe/Colston0/etc.). I kind of liked the thought of Reggie Wayne's experience paired with Green for a couple of years, but I firmly believe now that Reggie's destination will be wherever Peyton lands.

I still haven't ruled out the Bengals re-signing Rome, but I'd make the break. If they do, I think Pierre Garcon, Bobbie Meachem, Laurent Robinson, Mario Manningham, Early Doucet and Jerricho Crotchery may be more reasonable targets (especially the last two).

[b]RB[/b] - I like Tolbert and Green-Ellis, but I have a feeling that we sign Michael Bush.

[b]S[/b] - Nelson may not be an all-pro, but re-signing him would make things a lot less jumbled at safety. Not much else out there. Maybe Dwight Lowery, Craig Steltz or Jordan Babineaux. I've seen some decent reports on Haruki Nakamura and he is a former Bearcat.

[b]CB[/b] - I'd like the biggest a splash here. Make runs at Carr, Rogers, Finegan, Grimes and Porter. Porter might be the value here. [If they do sign a decent vet CB, what about drafting Dre Kirkpatrick and moving him to safety while also using him as your nickle corner?]

[b]DE[/b] - if Rucker and/or Fanene leave go hard after Mixey, possibly William Hayes of the Titans if that fails.

[b]DT[/b] - Likewise with Pat Sims. If he leaves, go after guys like Red Bryant, Brodrick Bunkley, etc.

[b]LB[/b] - I'd love to replace Rey in the middle with someone like Tulloch, Hawthorne, Lofton, Fletcher or Connor, but don't see any way it happens

[oldschooler]

[b] [size=6]Pressley officially in[/size][/b]

By GEOFF HOBSON
Posted 46 minutes ago



The Bengals officially announced the signing of fullback [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/chris-pressley/15ff1db3-1df6-44f6-8c20-b61eae6f91b3/"]Chris Pressley[img]http://www.bengals.com/assets/nflimg/icon-article-link.gif[/img][/url] Monday as well as the signings of exclusive rights free agents [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/cedric-peerman/fcb8072d-5378-4c61-962a-7f8b7aa45ecf/"]Cedric Peerman[img]http://www.bengals.com/assets/nflimg/icon-article-link.gif[/img][/url], [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/vincent-rey/5550e7d6-cb13-4ae1-8ae2-bb01fe4a7378/"]Vincent Rey[img]http://www.bengals.com/assets/nflimg/icon-article-link.gif[/img][/url], and defensive tackle [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/nick-hayden/5f484ebd-ac68-40f1-b34d-704bbc604002/"]Nick Hayden[img]http://www.bengals.com/assets/nflimg/icon-article-link.gif[/img][/url].

Pressley had been scheduled to become a restricted free agent when the NFL year begins Tuesday at 4 p.m. but reportedly reached a two-year deal last week.

Hayden and Peerman are third-year players and Rey is a second-year player. Hayden played two games at defensive tackle with three tackles after the Bengals picked him up Dec. 7 when [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/pat-sims/7394af12-2914-477a-af09-c0194967fd16/"]Pat Sims[img]http://www.bengals.com/assets/nflimg/icon-article-link.gif[/img][/url] went on injured reserve. Peerman played in 15 games and tied for second in special teams tackles (13) while Rey played in every game and had nine special teams stops.

The club didn't announce its one-year tenders Monday. The other exclusive free agent, safety [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/jeromy-miles/09dba302-ad70-4db5-9d2f-d05a423847b6/"]Jeromy Miles[img]http://www.bengals.com/assets/nflimg/icon-article-link.gif[/img][/url], figures to sign or be tendered. Other potential restricted free agents are linebacker [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/dan-skuta/1a013160-8ab3-4f48-88a4-3959b11bdc34/"]Dan Skuta[img]http://www.bengals.com/assets/nflimg/icon-article-link.gif[/img][/url] and long snapper [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/clark-harris/e5dda952-317e-4192-b234-2163bdf10f3c/"]Clark Harris[img]http://www.bengals.com/assets/nflimg/icon-article-link.gif[/img][/url].





http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Pressley-officially-in/5588d7b6-198a-490f-b7b4-c48b4e4efa31

[Oldcat]

[quote name='snarkster' timestamp='1331583045' post='1104600']
I'm not saying we sign a Free Agent at all these spots, but I would like to see at least three or four spots filled, with one top shelf guy. I'd be OK with a haul of (OG) Schwarz (WR) Crotchery (RB) Bush (DE) Mixey (if Rucker and/or Fanene leave) and (CB) Porter.

[b]OG[/b] - I didn't realize the Panthers didn't tender Geoff Schwarz. I see no hope what so ever that the Bengals sign Nicks and I'm only very slightly more optimistic about Grubbs. I'm less pessimistic about Mathis than most, but don't see him as likely either. If they miss on these guys and don't want to re-up Bobbie for one more year, I wouldn't mind if Schwarz was the next FA option. Not a fan of signing Jake Scott because he evidently struggles with run blocking and that is what we're trying to upgrade to begin with. I believe the Bengals must comeout of FA with one of Grubbs, Mathis Williams or Schwarz.

[b]WR[/b] - with the number of serviceable WR's hitting the market, I see not reason why the Bengals can't add a vet to pair with a draft pick to fill the 2nd and 3rd wideout spots. I don't see them going after the cream of thecrop (Wallace/Jackson/Bowe/Colston0/etc.). I kind of liked the thought of Reggie Wayne's experience paired with Green for a couple of years, but I firmly believe now that Reggie's destination will be wherever Peyton lands.

I still haven't ruled out the Bengals re-signing Rome, but I'd make the break. If they do, I think Pierre Garcon, Bobbie Meachem, Laurent Robinson, Mario Manningham, Early Doucet and Jerricho Crotchery may be more reasonable targets (especially the last two).

[b]RB[/b] - I like Tolbert and Green-Ellis, but I have a feeling that we sign Michael Bush.

[b]S[/b] - Nelson may not be an all-pro, but re-signing him would make things a lot less jumbled at safety. Not much else out there. Maybe Dwight Lowery, Craig Steltz or Jordan Babineaux. I've seen some decent reports on Haruki Nakamura and he is a former Bearcat.

[b]CB[/b] - I'd like the biggest a splash here. Make runs at Carr, Rogers, Finegan, Grimes and Porter. Porter might be the value here. [If they do sign a decent vet CB, what about drafting Dre Kirkpatrick and moving him to safety while also using him as your nickle corner?]

[b]DE[/b] - if Rucker and/or Fanene leave go hard after Mixey, possibly William Hayes of the Titans if that fails.

[b]DT[/b] - Likewise with Pat Sims. If he leaves, go after guys like Red Bryant, Brodrick Bunkley, etc.

[b]LB[/b] - I'd love to replace Rey in the middle with someone like Tulloch, Hawthorne, Lofton, Fletcher or Connor, but don't see any way it happens
[/quote]

OG, WR - Being able to fill these slots in FA will give us great flexability in the draft. We could pick a second at these in the top half of the draft, or not.
No need to give Jerome a contract in the near term - and I have no objection to a reasonable short thing with Bobbie, but I'm not sure we can count on either to be full time players.

S - I'd like to get Nelson back, but I'd also like to know what the team thinks of the ones we already have in reserve (Sands, and Mays and Wilson). These may make Nelson more losable than we out here imagine.

[oldschooler]

As for the three players fans have the most interest in retaining — Reggie Nelson, Frostee Rucker and Jonathan Fanene — there are no updates as of yet.



http://cincinnati.com/blogs/bengals/2012/03/12/bengals-announce-four-re-signings/

[The PatternMaster]

[quote name='Oldcat' timestamp='1331585211' post='1104618']

OG, WR - Being able to fill these slots in FA will give us great flexability in the draft. We could pick a second at these in the top half of the draft, or not.
No need to give Jerome a contract in the near term - and I have no objection to a reasonable short thing with Bobbie, but I'm not sure we can count on either to be full time players.

S[b] - I'd like to get Nelson back, but I'd also like to know what the team thinks of the ones we already have in reserve (Sands, and Mays and Wilson). These may make Nelson more losable than we out here imagine.[/b]
[/quote]

Good point, I know they are high on Mays as they traded for him and Wilson is guy who they brought back on a few occassions.

[oldschooler]

[size=6][b]Model model[/b][/size]

By GEOFF HOBSON

Posted 11 hours ago

With the Bengals heading into free agency using two of their nemesis as models, look for them to try to bolster one of the NFL's two youngest playoff teams via the draft, keeping their own, and signing solid players after the market peaks.

The Steelers and Patriots have been to four of the last six Super Bowls and since 2006 they've each signed just one big free agent in that stretch and none in the past four seasons. One, Steelers safety Ryan Clark, made it. The other, Patriots linebacker Adalius Thomas, didn't.

And ever since the NFL adopted free agency 19 years ago, it is that roll-the-dice aspect of the exercise as well as the money that makes the Bengals and others wary of the prospect.

(New England's biggest moves last year on the way to the AFC title? Guard Brian Waters signed a maximum two-year deal for $5.5 million and pass rushers Mark Anderson and Andre Carter signed one-year deals for about a combined $3 million.)

Meanwhile, since 2007 the Bengals have thrown big money at defensive end Antwan Odom and wide receivers Laveranues Coles and Antonio Bryant with production that didn't come close to the payout.

"You win by developing your own players and not overpaying for a guy you’re not sure how he’s going to work out until six, eight, 10 games down the road and maybe not then," head coach Marvin Lewis said last month. "That’s what’s been proven.

"There have been very few guys that have done that and it’s worked out to be productive. I believe we have to continue to draft. Do we need to supplement that with players? Yeah, and we’re going to try to do that. But what does aggressive mean? Aggressive doesn’t mean overpay and get stuck with both a bad contract and an average player. It doesn’t fit what we want to do."

When the NFL opens its year Tuesday at 4 p.m., the Bengals look to be taking into account their future free agents as well as this year's draft haul before rolling out mega contracts. With the deals for Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco, the Bengals have seven picks in the first five rounds of the April 26-28 draft and most of them figure to make the roster.

And although players like Pro Bowl defensive tackle Geno Atkins, Pro Bowl tight end Jermaine Gresham and left end Carlos Dunlap each have two years left on their deals and right end Michael Johnson and middle linebacker Rey Maualuga are going into their last seasons, the club appears to be keeping those potential numbers part of the process when dealing with this year's free agents.

With running back Cedric Benson expected to move on, it is a list that includes starting safety Reggie Nelson, starting nickel linemen Frostee Rucker and Jon Fanene that can play both tackle and end, and backup cornerback Kelly Jennings.

On Monday night Nelson's agent, Hadley Engelhard, said his client will test the market but says the Bengals are still in play.

Also expected to draw interest from the club are starting outside linebacker Manny Lawson and left guard Nate Livings, backup tackle Anthony Collins, backup cornerback Adam Jones, backup tight end Donald Lee, and backup defensive tackle Pat Sims.

Unclear at the moment is how the Bengals are going to deal with starters right guard Bobbie Williams and wide receiver Jerome Simpson. Williams, arguably the best Bengals free-agent signing as a bulwark for the last eight seasons, turns 36 early this season and is coming off surgery for a broken ankle. Simpson faces a potential NFL suspension for at least four games in a case stemming from a drug possession charge. It is likely the Bengals will go slow with both to monitor events.

Published reports have the Bengals under the $120.6 million salary cap ranging anywhere from $44-49 million. But with 34 players to be signed and with 14 starters or regulars that have to be signed or replaced, much of it figures to go quickly.

(On Monday, in the wake of stripping a total of $46 million in salary cap space from the Cowboys and Redskins for excessively dumping salaries into 2010's uncapped year, the NFL awarded every team but the Saints and Raiders $1.6 million more.)

If the average cap hit in 2012 for those 14 players is in the $2 million range, that accounts for about $30 million. Throw in an estimated $7 million rookie pool that includes two first-round picks and a couple or more restricted agents at more than $1 million each and that's about $40 million.

Plus, the Bengals usually keep a $4 million pad for injuries and possible extensions.

Like they do every year when free agency strikes, the Bengals contact dozens of players at every position, and with a record 600 players about to hit the market that looks to be more of the same.

Published reports have the Bengals seeking a running back to replace Benson, but with the club in a good position to draft a rotation guy in rounds two, three, or four, the more immediate need may be at starting guard and backup tackle. Livings, Williams and Collins are set to join backup guard Mike McGlynn and backup right tackle Dennis Roland on the market.

Lewis said last month at the scouting combine he wants his players back. Nelson, a No. 1 pick in Jacksonville in 2007, arrived in Cincinnati via a trade before the start of the 2010 season and revived his career with a solid 2011 in which he started all 17 games and led the team with four interceptions and was third in tackles.

Also in the mix is an inexperienced trio of second- and third-year safeties, Taylor Mays and Robert Sands, as well as special teams ace Jeromy Miles.

"We would like to have (Nelson) back, but we’ll see. We’re prepared to go either way," Lewis said. "We covered that spot last season and didn’t have to dip into the reserve tank at any point where we were fortunate. We had a taste of Taylor Mays and we were impressed with what we saw, Jeromy Miles got a chance of having a little bit of a role and we feel pretty good about where we are."

Indications are the Bengals have talked to some of their free agents, but Angelo Wright, the agent for Fanene, said Monday night he's perplexed he hasn't heard from the club.

Fanene (six sacks) and Rucker (four) each are coming off seasons they had career highs in sacks. Wright says he believes Fanene is going to be a part of the first wave of free agents that go in the first 10 days whether it is to Cincinnati or elsewhere.

"There aren't many linemen out there with his versatility who can play both tackle and end," Wright said. "The way he stops the run and rushes the passer, I think his value is going to high as players are signed."

The Bengals have said they want to retain Rucker and Fanene, but both sides are also impacted by what the Bengals are going to have to pay Dunlap, Atkins and Johnson in the future.

Nelson is the textbook case of what the next few weeks are about for players and teams. Is he worth more to another team than his team?

For instance, will the Bengals or some other team feel he is worth more or less than Thomas DeCoud, a safety with similar experience also coming off a four-pick season? DeCoud, who has played one fewer year than Nelson in the NFL, just re-upped with the Falcons in a deal that reportedly gives him $3.7 million per year.

Although the Bengals didn't reach a deal with Nelson, Engelhard said he'd still like to play there.

"We'll go to market and we'll see what happens," Engelhard said. "Right now, all 32 teams are in play."
Six of the Bengals free agents made CBSSports.com's top 100 free agents list with Nelson leading the way at No. 30. Three—Collins, Sims and Simpson—were in the final 15. In the end, it is all in the eye of the beholder.
Simpson may be viewed as a gamble. But Collins, sitting behind Andrew Whitworth and Andre Smith, could be seen as a good value by some in a market lacking tackles. That is, until Monday, when Eric Winston and Levi Brown hit the street.

Michael Lombardi, a former NFL general manager now writing for NFL.com, sketched out Monday why it takes time for a lot of deals to play out. Very few players get carried away in the first five-day wave, he says, when most of the big money deals occur.

"Agents want multiple bidders for every player to parlay the best deal. The best course of action if a team were interested in (a player) would be to lay low, waiting a week before making a call," Lombardi wrote. "Kind of like high school dating -- never show your interest too soon. And if (the player) were to sign with another team before a call was made, and then he probably went for more money than you were allocated to spend anyway. No big deal.

"Like high stakes poker, the best teams never sweat walking away, nor do they sweat when they lose a player. There has to be discipline in every decision. There's no place for emotions in free agency. Don't forget real games don't start until September, so there's plenty of time to improve a team."

After watching the Steelers and Pats deal the last five years, the Bengals seem ready for the pot to simmer.





http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Model-model/3efe5744-e768-4721-a66d-c2395cfe6f2d

[Phatcat]

[quote name='oldschooler' timestamp='1331638777' post='1104732']
[size=6][b]Model model[/b][/size]

By GEOFF HOBSON


Published reports have the Bengals under the $120.6 million salary cap ranging anywhere from $44-49 million. But with 34 players to be signed and with 14 starters or regulars that have to be signed or replaced, much of it figures to go quickly.

(On Monday, in the wake of stripping a total of $46 million in salary cap space from the Cowboys and Redskins for excessively dumping salaries into 2010's uncapped year, the NFL awarded every team but the Saints and Raiders $1.6 million more.)

If the average cap hit in 2012 for those 14 players is in the $2 million range, that accounts for about $30 million. Throw in an estimated $7 million rookie pool that includes two first-round picks and a couple or more restricted agents at more than $1 million each and that's about $40 million.

Plus, the Bengals usually keep a $4 million pad for injuries and possible extensions.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Michael Lombardi, a former NFL general manager now writing for NFL.com, sketched out Monday why it takes time for a lot of deals to play out. Very few players get carried away in the first five-day wave, he says, when most of the big money deals occur.

"Agents want multiple bidders for every player to parlay the best deal. The best course of action if a team were interested in (a player) would be to lay low, waiting a week before making a call," Lombardi wrote. "Kind of like high school dating -- never show your interest too soon. And if (the player) were to sign with another team before a call was made, and then he probably went for more money than you were allocated to spend anyway. No big deal.

"Like high stakes poker, the best teams never sweat walking away, nor do they sweat when they lose a player. There has to be discipline in every decision. There's no place for emotions in free agency. Don't forget real games don't start until September, so there's plenty of time to improve a team."


[/quote]

Drives me nuts when Hobson gets out his calculator! Three words: rule of 51.


A good take from Lombardi. And based on the fact there has been very little movement of team's signing their own outside of RFA tenders and ERFA's signings. Looks like the consensus of player/agents and teams is to see what the market demands. Frustrating, but no need to be stupid just because the Bengals have the cap space.

[B.A.B.]

I don't listen to Hobson articles regarding cap/FA

Also, since when is NE a nemesis of ours? lol.

[Bengals1181]

[quote name='Phatcat' timestamp='1331641003' post='1104737']

Drives me nuts when Hobson gets out his calculator! Three words: rule of 51.


A good take from Lombardi. And based on the fact there has been very little movement of team's signing their own outside of RFA tenders and ERFA's signings. Looks like the consensus of player/agents and teams is to see what the market demands. Frustrating, but no need to be stupid just because the Bengals have the cap space.
[/quote]


yea, maybe a dozen (if that) or so guys have signed extensions, but the Bengals aren't the only team not signing many guys. It's a league-wide thing.

Risky for free agents IMO to test the market, considering there's a record number of guys available.

[oldschooler]

[url="https://twitter.com/#!/JohnThornton"]JohnThornton[/url]JohnThornton




[url="https://twitter.com/#!/GeoffHobsonCin"][s]@[/s][b]GeoffHobsonCin[/b][/url] Patriot way works for Patriots. Everybody can't do that.
[url="https://twitter.com/#!/JohnThornton/status/179564309158969344"]6 minutes ago[/url]

[Jason]

[quote][b]Also expected to draw interest from the club are[/b] starting outside linebacker Manny Lawson and [b]left guard Nate Livings[/b], backup tackle Anthony Collins, backup cornerback Adam Jones, backup tight end Donald Lee, and backup defensive tackle Pat Sims.[/quote]

[b]NOOOOO[/b][b]OOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!![/b]