How is the team getting better again?

[futurebengal08]

Pardon my ignorance, but I'd really like someone to explain to me how the Bengals are getting better by "sitting out" on free agency. OK, so this draft is pretty deep...but I'm pretty sure that every team gets a pick in the draft. There is no way that we are moving past other teams who upgrade themselves not only through the draft, but also free agency. We have the money...why don't we spend it? The Cowboys started out with less cap space than us, and they made arguably the biggest move in free agency, instantly making them a potential NFC champion type team. I say if we improve through free agency, we improve all around. I'm tired of watching other teams (including teams in our own division) get better while we wait for an opportunity that has been extended to everyone in the league. And it's not like we have a high pick this year. We are a good team...taking advantage of what is offered us will make us a great team. I haven't really had anything against Mikey's MO until this year. I think that it's time to step up, big guy.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

How is this team getting better? Have you been paying attention?

1. We added a veteran safety who was the MVP of a Super Bowl not that long ago.

2. We added a punt returner and wide receiver to replace a gunner/wide receiver. A gunner is easy to replace, the punt returner is harder.

3. Our young men are more experienced. Odell isn't a rookie any more. David isn't holding out.

4. Carson Palmer is getting healthy.

5. We are trying to sign smart, not fast. Get the best backup QB we can for the right price. Keep our own guys again so that we can continue to grow.

6. We got rid of Schobel. That alone is an upgrade, even if we draft his grandmother's 3rd cousins hound dog as a replacement.

7. We are working to keep our offensive line intact.

Getting big name free agents, overspending in free agency, and trying to win via the Redskins route doesn't work. On the other hand, drafting smart, and continuing to embrace our own players and keep them does.

Take a look at all these teams being active in free agency and see what they have in common. Most of them are losing just as much as they are gaining.

[HoosierCat]

And don't forget, according to Hobson, we're gonna re-sign Kenny Watson!

Can I get a woo-hoo?

[HairOnFire]

WOO-HOO!!!!!!!

Re-signing Kenny Watson gives the Bengals an inexpensive insurance policy that will come in handy when Chris Perry hurts himself. Again.

[Stripes]

And don't forget, according to Hobson, we're gonna re-sign Kenny Watson!

Can I get a woo-hoo?

Woo - Friggin' - HOO!

Pardon my ignorance, but I'd really like someone to explain to me how the Bengals are getting better by "sitting out" on free agency.

How is this team getting better? Well I pretty much agree with TNBT here... Listen to him. The most important thing in my mind is that all our young talent (and we have a ton of it) will only be getting better, and more young talent is soon to be added to the roster through the draft.

[futurebengal08]

How is this team getting better? Have you been paying attention?

1. We added a veteran safety who was the MVP of a Super Bowl not that long ago.

2. We added a punt returner and wide receiver to replace a gunner/wide receiver. A gunner is easy to replace, the punt returner is harder.

3. Our young men are more experienced. Odell isn't a rookie any more. David isn't holding out.

4. Carson Palmer is getting healthy.

5. We are trying to sign smart, not fast. Get the best backup QB we can for the right price. Keep our own guys again so that we can continue to grow.

6. We got rid of Schobel. That alone is an upgrade, even if we draft his grandmother's 3rd cousins hound dog as a replacement.

7. We are working to keep our offensive line intact.

Getting big name free agents, overspending in free agency, and trying to win via the Redskins route doesn't work. On the other hand, drafting smart, and continuing to embrace our own players and keep them does.

Take a look at all these teams being active in free agency and see what they have in common. Most of them are losing just as much as they are gaining.

OK....

1. I liked the Dexter signing...he'll be solid, and will complement Madieu

2. I also liked the Chatman signing...mostly for ST...but that doesnt compensate for Chris Henry's stupid a$$

3. Our defense IS overall improved...Pollack will get more reps in camp, be more comfortable on the field...but he's still unproven. Odeeeeeel will tear it up...see #1...but how much more improved could we really be if we made a move to sign perhaps Sam Adams, Lavar...

4. Carson Palmer is GETTING healthy. As long as he is not 100%, we still have to plan for the worst, which is embracing the worst, which means we WILL be prepared for the worst.

5. Sometimes the only way to sign SMART is to sign FAST...when we sign "SMART", we get players like BRob, JT (not altogether smart signings, those were just the players available because we wait so damn long...If we gobble up some free agents before other teams are given the chance, we're 1 up.

6. I Never minded Schobel, didn't think he was necessarily an asset though...you're entitled to your opinion..

7. I'm not a capologist, but we should have enough money to extend the people we still want and still add an impact FA

Sometimes the draft doesn't work out...Bengals fans know this better than anyone...FAs are players that have already proven themselves, and most of them are worth the money. No FA we sign that wants 10 mil in guaranteed will not have an impact role...that's all we need.

[HoosierCat]

Getting big name free agents, overspending in free agency, and trying to win via the Redskins route doesn't work.

Yeah, not signing Ryan Pickett was a GREAT move, right? A deal averaging $3.5 million a year would have just broken the bank. And our d-line's gettin' better every minute!

[futurebengal08]

Getting big name free agents, overspending in free agency, and trying to win via the Redskins route doesn't work.

Yeah, not signing Ryan Pickett was a GREAT move, right? A deal averaging $3.5 million a year would have just broken the bank. And our d-line's gettin' better every minute!

Thanks Joise...we don't necessarily need those FA that the only thing bigger than their name is their desired income...the Bengals just can't see a good opportunity

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

Getting big name free agents, overspending in free agency, and trying to win via the Redskins route doesn't work.

Yeah, not signing Ryan Pickett was a GREAT move, right? A deal averaging $3.5 million a year would have just broken the bank. And our d-line's gettin' better every minute!

Hey, I'm with you on Pickett. But I don't think Sam Adams is worth 3.5 million a year.

And frankly in my mind Arrington doesn't fit.

[futurebengal08]

Getting big name free agents, overspending in free agency, and trying to win via the Redskins route doesn't work.

Yeah, not signing Ryan Pickett was a GREAT move, right? A deal averaging $3.5 million a year would have just broken the bank. And our d-line's gettin' better every minute!

Hey, I'm with you on Pickett. But I don't think Sam Adams is worth 3.5 million a year.

And frankly in my mind Arrington doesn't fit.

Any pro-bowl defensive player will fit on this team. He's got everything to prove, and he would ultimately have a positive impact. I know our scheme, but BSimmons, love him and all, isn't getting any younger. Lavar would be a good sign in my book.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

Getting big name free agents, overspending in free agency, and trying to win via the Redskins route doesn't work.

Yeah, not signing Ryan Pickett was a GREAT move, right? A deal averaging $3.5 million a year would have just broken the bank. And our d-line's gettin' better every minute!

Hey, I'm with you on Pickett. But I don't think Sam Adams is worth 3.5 million a year.

And frankly in my mind Arrington doesn't fit.

Any pro-bowl defensive player will fit on this team. He's got everything to prove, and he would ultimately have a positive impact. I know our scheme, but BSimmons, love him and all, isn't getting any younger. Lavar would be a good sign in my book.

LaVar isn't getting any younger either. He's only a couple years younger than Simmons you realize. He's also played more games over the past two years than LaVar too.

PS: When did Lavar go to the pro-bowl? Did he deserve it?

[HoosierCat]

Hey, I'm with you on Pickett.

Oh, I know, I was just bustin' your chops. Every time people suggest the bengals aren't spending enough you trot out your standard anti-FA rant, but then go elsewhere and pimp your own favorite FAs.

You are absolutely right that things are getting better in terms of Madieu coming back and Carson (hopefully) coming along on sked...but the fact remains that every team in the league is getting back injured players, has guys who were rooks last year with more experience, gets to draft a bunch of new talent, etc. The question futurebengal is asking here is one I've asked for years: what are they doing above and beyond what everyone else is doing to improve?

As usual, the answer is, not much. IF that at least means they get some of the o-line locked up, namely Levi and Eric, I can live with it. They still could do more in FA, even then, but I'll take that much as progress.

We shall see.

[futurebengal08]

He went 3 times, not sure of the years, probably from 01-03...and the question of whether he deserved it is all relative I guess...But it's my opinion that he's a much better LB than BSimmons (and probably the opinion of experts a hell of a lot more smarter than me)...he actually provides a rush, which wouldn't be too bad for us...

[ArmyBengal]

The other line of thinking the Bengals have employed in the past is signing players after the draft that get cut. They are always looking down that road as well. Now don't get me wrong, you won't find the Ryan Pickett's getting cut, but you never know either. I to have to remind myself that Marvin Lewis is smarter than me when it comes to this organization...

God I hope he is !!!

WHODEY !!!

[USMC203]

Head lines---- Bengals up grade D with the signing of 2 former number 1 draft pick, at LB Brian Bosworth and at DT 1999 1st rounder Demitrius Underwood. All though both were said by some to be 1st round bust. Bengals coaching staff and club president Mike Brown are able to stay under the cap and said they would look hard at FA in 2007. Both players were said to get a very nice signing bonus from the Bengals in the range of $27.50 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHY DON'T THEY TURN LOSS OF THE $$$$$$$ THEY CAN STILL SIGN 2 OL and have money left to get a DT.

[futurebengal08]

The other line of thinking the Bengals have employed in the past is signing players after the draft that get cut. They are always looking down that road as well. Now don't get me wrong, you won't find the Ryan Pickett's getting cut, but you never know either. I to have to remind myself that Marvin Lewis is smarter than me when it comes to this organization...

God I hope he is !!!

WHODEY !!!

Well, there's the knock on the Bengals...they consistently settle for mediocrity, and mediocrity is a generous term here.

[ArmyBengal]

I believe the way the Bengals go about FA works... Not spending big $$$ on players that may or may not impact your team, while keeping the cap within reason. Other teams may spend the big $$$ but two years down the road, they won't be able to afford those players due to the way they constructed the contracts. Look at Randle El who signed with Washington... Everyone said how great of a signing that was for them, but if you look at the contract, he won't be with them in two years because they won't be able to afford the cap hit.

I know everyone (myself included) would like to see some big name come here, but patience is the best approach in my opinion. I do get pissed when I see someone sign for what I believe to be something in the Bengals capability with another team, but it is what it is and I don't run the business...

WHODEY !!!

[futurebengal08]

I believe the way the Bengals go about FA works... Not spending big $$$ on players that may or may not impact your team, while keeping the cap within reason. Other teams may spend the big $$$ but two years down the road, they won't be able to afford those players due to the way they constructed the contracts. Look at Randle El who signed with Washington... Everyone said how great of a signing that was for them, but if you look at the contract, he won't be with them in two years because they won't be able to afford the cap hit.

I know everyone (myself included) would like to see some big name come here, but patience is the best approach in my opinion. I do get pissed when I see someone sign for what I believe to be something in the Bengals capability with another team, but it is what it is and I don't run the business...

WHODEY !!!

Good point...I suppose we have to leave it up to God...aka Marv

[kingwilly]

I consider "sitting out" to mean....not making ANY signings or hosting visits for key players. The Bengals have certainly done that.

You speak of impact FA's? I hope you are not looking at the signing TO as an example of what to do. That will implode faster than Jerry Jones can call the player association to review the new suspension policy.

Additions:

Dexter Jackson is an impact FA....at a key position and makes this team better

Antonio Chatman is an impact FA....at a key position and makes this team better

Additon by subtraction:

Schoebel...means we are getting a new, shiny top TE who will be better than any FA we could have gotten, making this team better

Clemons...means we are getting a new top DE who will be better than all but maybe Pickett and Abraham.

I agree that the next most glaring issue is who will be throwing the ball on Sundays till Mr. Palmer returns....and i am a bit burned they don't have that nailed down....

[Whur CHad At?]

PS: When did Lavar go to the pro-bowl? Did he deserve it?

He did when Marvin coached there in Washington in 02. He had like 94 tackles and 11 sacks. He has been another time, and possibly a third time I just don't remember....

[futurebengal08]

I consider "sitting out" to mean....not making ANY signings or hosting visits for key players. The Bengals have certainly done that.

You speak of impact FA's? I hope you are not looking at the signing TO as an example of what to do. That will implode faster than Jerry Jones can call the player association to review the new suspension policy.

Additions:

Dexter Jackson is an impact FA....at a key position and makes this team better

Antonio Chatman is an impact FA....at a key position and makes this team better

Additon by subtraction:

Schoebel...means we are getting a new, shiny top TE who will be better than any FA we could have gotten, making this team better

Clemons...means we are getting a new top DE who will be better than all but maybe Pickett and Abraham.

I agree that the next most glaring issue is who will be throwing the ball on Sundays till Mr. Palmer returns....and i am a bit burned they don't have that nailed down....

But we have the money...that's the thing, Bengals fans in general have become content with doing the bare minimum...well the bare minimum gets you 14 years playoff draught...And I know the team is on a higher tier more than they have been previously, but does that mean we should back off and make room for Cleveland at the top of the AFC North? We have the means to do so, so why don't we go for the kill?

And everyone in the Bengals organization seems to be fine with our tight end situation...releasing Schobel is not addition by subtraction, unless it ultimately brings a half-way decent tight end to Cincy. Same way with Clemons...apparently the organization isn't too concerned with signing a game-changing DE.

We signed Dexter, and Antonio Chatman will do alright, but I think we could do a lot more to improve. We patched up some holes, but we didn't help the literal holes in our d-line.

[HoosierCat]

We have the means to do so, so why don't we go for the kill?

I have to wonder if things would have been different if Palmer had been healthy.

Probably not...but the biggest argument against spending big in FA was always that the team had too many holes and too many problems for it to make sense. The big FA strategy, the logic goes, is best employed when an already good team is on the cusp, and that Pickett or Bernard or Arrington or whoever is/are the one/two guys who can send the team over the top.

Up until the second offensive play of the playoff game, the Bengals were at worst on the cusp. Even if we lose, we're still poised for 2006.

Enter Kimo von D*cklesswonderhoffen.

Now, shoot, is it worth it? Do you finally make the big play for FAs when your star QB could be out anywhere from not at all to all season? I have to think that's played into the Bengals' thinking this year.

[cincy9275]

we all know that marvin and mike are not big on free agency at all . they are the shot callers around here . since mike has brought in marvin this teams turn around is just incredible. we all do not like the fact the bengals are penny pinchers but as bengal fan we know it is coming every year.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

And don't forget, according to Hobson, we're gonna re-sign Kenny Watson!

Can I get a woo-hoo?

Wooooo hoooo!! He'll send us over the top!

I hear they may not have enough cap space to fit him in though....

Add Maddox to the mix and we're cookin' with gas in the Nati baby!

MaRvIn Is JeSuS!!!

[kingwilly]

I'm not sure I understand your problem.

The D-lineman who can help this team cost too much. Van den Bosch, Pickett, Abraham, Tripplett, Ma'ake, and Bernard all will take a gigantic amount of cash....even if you have it, you have to ask, "Is it worth it?". Why would you overspend so bad? because you can? That is not rational...

I have always held it against Brown for not signing up many decent FA's. Part of the probelm has been that noone would come here, even if the money was more...(Elvis Grbac)...this team was a loser and getting a big payday is not worth the "sentence" of having to play for Cincy.

now that the team has turned the corner and can actually get FA's to come visit...they do sign some. Would Van den Bosch or Pickett have looked good in stripes? Hell yes. Is it good value to sink that kind of money into one player....maybe...and to the Bengals (with ML seemingly gaining authority month-to-month) it was not.

The D-Line improved once S. Smith got into the rotation....not to take anything away from Larry Johnson but the KC debacle was more a symptom of not wanting to get hurt heading into the playoffs with the division lready in the bag.

Getting rid of Schoeble mean we will be geting a new TE on Day 1 of the draft. It is a very deep year for TE's, potentially the best ever. That is why it is addition by subtraction.

As far as Cleveland, the only impact FA's I think they got was Bentley and McGinest...Washington is a waste...Jurevicius wasn;t even a starter unitl Jackson got hurt. Keep in mind they lost several players as well, so they had more to go get.

Don't get me wrong, I wish they had made a run at Pickett and maybe Trevor Pryce. Kampmann and a couple of other guys should have at least gotten a look but with the need for a QB, S and maybe a WR (all costly positions) I can hardly blame them for not overspending on some of the second -rate guys still out there, as they would not be a big upgrade to what is here.....