Geathers gets extension

[HoosierCat]

For me it's a deal breaker since all but 1.5 million of the 21 million dollar hit is completely guaranteed,

The majority of the money is on Geathers, not Smith; you want to use Junior's extension as an excuse not to pay Smith. But under that logic, it would be equally wrong to shell out big bucks for, say, Nate Clements or Adalius Thomas. As for issue of Smith's contract length, I have little doubt that if the transition tender indeed represented his best offer come the end of March -- meaning he was worth far less as a FA than either of us believe right now -- he and the Bengals would work out a long-term deal.

[HairOnFire]

The majority of the money is on Geathers, not Smith; you want to use Junior's extension as an excuse not to pay Smith. But under that logic, it would be equally wrong to shell out big bucks for, say, Nate Clements or Adalius Thomas.

Well, the last time I checked Nate clements had never played a down at DE.

I think it's fair to say that every deal a team reaches at a position impacts their future dealings with other players who play the same position. After all, isn't it fair to describe the Bengals dealings with their own offensive lineman this season as a race for the coin that left the last man standing, Eric Steinbach, headed towards free agency?

[HoosierCat]

I think it's fair to say that every deal a team reaches at a position impacts their future dealings with other players who play the same position. After all, isn't it fair to describe the Bengals dealings with their own offensive lineman this season as a race for the coin that left the last man standing, Eric Steinbach, headed towards free agency?

Sure...but you also need more than one DE, and we have only one highly paid one on the roster, versus three well-remunerated o-linemen in Bobbie, Willie and Levi. But that said, it isn't the thought of Justin leaving that bothers me as much as the question of, what do the Bengals do with the "savings"?

If, for example, they were to not re-sign Smith, but instead use "his" money to secure the services of a player like Nate Clements, I'd be happy. Alternatively, if they were to bite the bullet and "overpay" for Justin, I could live with that, too. What I fear is that the Bengals will allow a talented lineman to walk and do nothing of consequence to offset that loss. That the "savings" will end up in the hands of more Robinson and Adams and Herring and Hardy and Webster type players, decreasing the overall level of talent on what IMHO is an already talent-poor D.

[HairOnFire]

If, for example, they were to not re-sign Smith, but instead use "his" money to secure the services of a player like Nate Clements, I'd be happy. Alternatively, if they were to bite the bullet and "overpay" for Justin, I could live with that, too. What I fear is that the Bengals will allow a talented lineman to walk and do nothing of consequence to offset that loss. That the "savings" will end up in the hands of more Robinson and Adams and Herring and Hardy and Webster type players, decreasing the overall level of talent on what IMHO is an already talent-poor D.

I can't argue with any of that.....mostly because I've got a nagging suspicion that the Bengals backup plan, unlike my own, doesn't involve using a high draft pick on a new DE.

[schweinhart]

I'd say it sounds what it looks like with Jumpy striking gold:

1. Jumpy gets the RDE money.

2. Justin gets lowballed and forced into free agency.

The Bengals look like they've made their choice but time will tell. A bulked up Jumpy didn't look too good there in '05. But Justin looked a lot better on the side he's used to rather than the other side. They'd miss his backside pursuit vs. the run but pass rush wise, they won't miss him at all.

No Justin, an aging B-Rob in the last year of his contract and the loss of down pass rush from Pollack should be enough for the Bengals to still prioritize some type of DE in the upcoming draft, be it a tweener who can transition into LB space, a bigger bodied LDE who can kick inside to pass rush at DT or a speed rusher. Between the IRed Rucker, the PUPed Fanene and the PS Henderson, somebody might emerge but a free agent or a draft pick would give the Bengals more options to make sure they're sound at the ends to start the season.

[BengalPimp]

Need i remind you, that reinard wilson had 9 sacks playing across fro J Smith. With out J Smith drawing the double, Geathers would not have the 10 sacks. This combo on a playoff will inflate their numbers sign them both now while their cheap. You want more sacks get a DT that can pass rush! (couldnt J Smith do that, go to DT on 3rd and long)

Need I remind YOU, that Geathers plays LDE, which means he faces the other teams Left Tackle on most downs, Left Tackles are usually the teams Best offensive lineman, as in most cases(right handed QB's) they are responsible for protecting the QB's blind side, also, in many passing situations the RB will also help block the left side.

So you cant really argue that J Smith draws all the double teams because while Smith may on occasion get blocked by the RT and TE, Geathers also gets blocked by the LT and RB's as well.

[Kazkal]

Problem with trans tag is poison pill contracts.

[schweinhart]

We'll see if the new CBA cleaned out the poison pills like the one the Vikes gave the Hawks over Hutchinson.

But I still don't see the Bengals re-signing Smith. Teams who probably go after Smith are the Skins and their mighty 19-sack rush defense, the Bucs who got an aging Simeon Rice set to make about $7.5 mill or Denver.

And Bengals Pimping sure ain't easy. Justin was the RDE, which face the LTs, except for 2005 when the Bengals switched him over on the O's right side and beefed up Jumpy to play RDE.