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Bengals agree to one-year deal with ex-Bucs DT Chris Baker


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Katherine Terrell
ESPN Staff Writer

Defensive tackle Chris Baker has agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal with the Cincinnati Bengals, according to a source.

The Bengals hosted Baker for a visit earlier this week. Baker, 30, was cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Feb. 20 just one season into a three-year, $15.75 million contract that he signed last March. He had only half a sack last season.

 

The agreement is the second the Bengals have reached this offseason. They signed offensive lineman Bobby Hart to a one-year deal after he was cut by the Giants. The Bengals also were one of several teams that pursued free-agent safety Kurt Coleman before he signed with the New Orleans Saints last week.

 

The Bucs had signed Baker to a three-year deal worth $15.75 million last offseason to be an upgrade at the defensive tackle position over Clinton McDonald.

 

Baker registered just 33 tackles, a half-sack and two passes defensed in 2017. McDonald, meanwhile, tallied five sacks in just three starts.

 

While Baker, 30, was considered a fun personality in the locker room, his effort in practice was a source of concern, as it was during his time with the Washington Redskins, with whom he spent five seasons.

Things reached a boiling point in Week 16, when Tampa Bay teammates Jameis Winston and Kwon Alexander confronted Baker over his lack of remorse following a costly penalty that led to the Carolina Panthers' game-winning touchdown.

 

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/22681088/cincinnati-bengals-reach-deal-chris-baker

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What it means: The defensive line doesn’t jump out as an outright need for the Bengals, but it actually is one they have talked about improving. That was a topic of discussion during a meeting with reporters at the combine, and it makes sense they would go after a player who has been good in the past. Baker’s last two seasons with the Washington Redskins were very solid, which led to a free-agent deal with the Buccaneers. However, his quick departure from Tampa does bring some questions.

 

What’s the risk: It’s questionable what he has left in the tank. According to ESPN Buccaneers writer Jenna Laine, Baker had problems with the team due to his effort in practice on more than one occasion. Another report said Baker was the subject of a screaming match between teammates late in the season. The report said some teammates felt he didn’t show enough remorse for a costly penalty in a loss to the Panthers. This deal will hinge on whether the Bengals can get the best out of Baker, and after last season, that's a big if. However, the Bengals have taken chances on more than one player with successful results.

 

 

http://www.espn.com/blog/cincinnati-bengals/post/_/id/29689/cincinnati-bengals-2018-free-agency-chris-baker-comes-with-baggage-but-could-help-d-line

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Jesus. This is the best we can do in FA? More redeeming projects? For fuck's sake. Can't we not be the stupid team for once? Be proactive? Actively TRY to improve the roster rather than stuffing it with fodder? Fuck this shit.

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16 minutes ago, Bunghole said:

Jesus. This is the best we can do in FA? More redeeming projects? For fuck's sake. Can't we not be the stupid team for once? Be proactive? Actively TRY to improve the roster rather than stuffing it with fodder? Fuck this shit.

 

 

Free Agency doesn't start until next Wednesday.

He was cut by the Bucs a couple weeks ago. So he could sign anytime.

 

This is a decent signing for now.

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You're right about FA, but there's been flurries of activity today. The Hawks traded Bennett to the Iggles (how INSANE is that pass rush going to be now?), and the Rams traded Olgetree to the Giants. THOSE are good players. Baker is NOT. 

 

We signed an underachiever to an area of limited need. We also tried to sign a safety, another area of limited need. Why are we not addressing the positions of need? Fuck, sign Solder, pay the man! Wait, I know...we'll address those areas of concern in the draft, because they are cheaper. PLUS we'll resign or own, like Russell Bodine, and he isn't very good. Mike Brown needs to die or pass control of this team to someone that understands 21st century NFL football. We haven't won a playoff game in 27 years. These stupid half measures are just...stupid.

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41 minutes ago, NASTYNATI said:

The talk radio hosts here in Tampa hammered this guy all season for being lazy and a cancer... seems appropriate. 

He had no issues whatsoever in DC though and now he's reunited with his old DC and DL coach from there .... really no downside to this.

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45 minutes ago, PatternMaster said:

Why didn't the Bengals try to get Ogletree, he's a quality player at a position of need?

Rhetorical question or do you want an answer to that? 

 

If you forgot which team you root for, I'll give you a hint for the answer... $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

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4 minutes ago, omgdrdoom said:

Rhetorical question or do you want an answer to that? 

 

If you forgot which team you root for, I'll give you a hint for the answer... $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

No way MB would give up draft picks and pay $10 million for a LB, even one as good as Ogletree.  

 

As for Baker, I look at it as a low risk move that could pay dividends if he can regain his form from 2015-2016.  He fits the profile of a typical FA signing by the Bengals in that he has some baggage and won't count against comp picks since he was cut.  

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3 hours ago, Bunghole said:

You're right about FA, but there's been flurries of activity today. The Hawks traded Bennett to the Iggles (how INSANE is that pass rush going to be now?), and the Rams traded Olgetree to the Giants. THOSE are good players. Baker is NOT. 

 

We signed an underachiever to an area of limited need. We also tried to sign a safety, another area of limited need. Why are we not addressing the positions of need? Fuck, sign Solder, pay the man! Wait, I know...we'll address those areas of concern in the draft, because they are cheaper. PLUS we'll resign or own, like Russell Bodine, and he isn't very good. Mike Brown needs to die or pass control of this team to someone that understands 21st century NFL football. We haven't won a playoff game in 27 years. These stupid half measures are just...stupid.

The DT position next to Atkins is an absolute need and Baker was great in 2015 when Jacob Burney was his coach. 

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Objectively this is a good signing purely from the standpoint that it addresses a position of need with a pretty damn talented athlete.

 

Dude is a shithead though. Whatever. Guys from other teams with clean records and a good locker room presence cost "real NFL salary" type of money and those aren't the players we're going to bring in.

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This is a bad signing and an example of why we can't have nice things. We give 3 mil to a 30 year old stiff like Baker instead of paying up for a good performer. We'll probably re-sign Bodine because he's cheaper than the alternatives and that 3 mil would have let us fix the hole in the middle of the line. 

 

A really stupid move.

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5 minutes ago, sparky151 said:

This is a bad signing and an example of why we can't have nice things. We give 3 mil to a 30 year old stiff like Baker instead of paying up for a good performer. We'll probably re-sign Bodine because he's cheaper than the alternatives and that 3 mil would have let us fix the hole in the middle of the line. 

 

A really stupid move.

Eh, I'd rather have Baker for $3M than to bring Pat Sims back yet again for $1-2M. I'd also be surprised if Baker's contract is fully guaranteed or anything close, there's probably an easy team out if he doesn't work out through the offseason.

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Wasn't Pat Sims making $3 million last year? Seems like it could be an upgrade to me, although this guy sounds like he could be a major shithead and we already have a few of those on defense.

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2 minutes ago, JC said:

Wasn't Pat Sims making $3 million last year? Seems like it could be an upgrade to me, although this guy sounds like he could be a major shithead and we already have a few of those on defense.

I don't believe we've ever paid Sims that much here for a single season but Baker is definitely worth $1-2 million more than what Sims would have cost to bring back for this year at least.

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