Forget about Adalius Thomas

[Whur CHad At?]

Ravens | Team could place franchise tag on A. Thomas

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 07:59:15 -0800

Jamison Hensley, of the Baltimore Sun, reports the Baltimore Ravens are expected to place the franchise tag on LB Adalius Thomas if they cannot sign him to a new contract by next month.

Nate Clements anyone? It is expected he won't be back to the Bills

[HoosierCat]

Not to put too fine a point on it, but I would recommend not getting your hopes up about any top-tier FA. Dropping big coin on guys from outside the organization isn't the front office's style to begin with, and their preferred methods of doing business tend to hamstring them in any kind of bidding war. Toss in the fact that this coming FA period looks to be an especially pricey one, and I think all the stars are aligned for an exceptionally frustrating FA period for Bengals fans. Ought to keep site traffic high, tho.

I think that if they *do* sign any top-tier FAs, they will be named Eric Steinbach and/or Justin Smith, simply because they retain the ability to tag them and thus a right to match.

[Kazkal]

Well even if we did sign a top tier FA it won't be a freaking corner o_O

Sorry WCA but your homer dreams won't come true.

[Whur CHad At?]

I can dream can't I? And quit calling me a homer Kaz

[HairOnFire]

Toss in the fact that this coming FA period looks to be an especially pricey one, and I think all the stars are aligned for an exceptionally frustrating FA period for Bengals fans.

It'll be pricey because of two reasons. First, this years crop of FA's is as weak as any I can remember. Second, the increase in the salary cap means almost every team has money to spend so the competition for what little talent is available will be intense....and short sighted.

As for the level of frustration, I doubt I join the ranks of the downtrodden. I actually like the Bengals strategy of signing their own important free agents instead of endlessly chasing grossly overpaid outsiders, and if the Bengals can sign two or three complimentary free agents (2nd Level) it should be enough to free up their draft day options. That works for me.

[Dawg BpG]

Good luck with FA signing, the Browns have $33 million in free cap space.

Some people mention thomas - I said hell NO, what is this his 7th year in the NFL, and his first above 10 sakcs? Chilin no thanks

Nate Clements is a hometown Ohio boy, and I think we can get him.

Your boy...Steinbach, lol you better sign him now because we are gonna gobble him up. LOL

Sands from Oakland

Leanrd davis from Arizona....probably not unless he takes guard money.

[HoosierCat]

First, this years crop of FA's is as weak as any I can remember.

Actually, to me it looks like the best crop in recent years, but we'll see how it looks come March.

[Kirkendall]

Some people mention thomas - I said hell NO

A little note here. Compare Thomas' numbers to Brian Simmons' since 2001, and Simmons smokes Thomas in virtually every number except sacks... just food for thought. And no, Simmons isn't as versatile. Then again, we need talent, not versatility.

[Whur CHad At?]

I don't know who would want to play for the Browns? Yes you will get paid, but you will most likely end up injured most of your time there, totally ruining your career. Plus the Browns are horrible, if they were to offer me $40 million to play there I would def. turn that s**t down

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Defense has stunk here for too long. Time to lop-off the players that have been here too long and haven't been a part of improving it.

You can start with Justin Smith, Brian Simmons, John Thorton and Tory James!

Take that $ and spend it on some fresh blood, and what this defense truly needs - an impact player or two, or a worthwhile CB, DT, LB or DE.

[Whur CHad At?]

Agreed SHula..I am sick of these s**tty old FA's we bring in. TIME TO BE A LITTLE LIBERAL WITH OUR MONEY!

[HoosierCat]

Smith and James are already gone, from a salary perspective, so there's no more savings there. Letting Simmons and Thornton go would add about $6 million in cap space, but I dont think that buys you quality upgrades for both positions. One, perhaps.

[Whur CHad At?]

Charles Grant would be a nice upgrade

[Kirkendall]

Smith and James are already gone, from a salary perspective, so there's no more savings there. Letting Simmons and Thornton go would add about $6 million in cap space, but I dont think that buys you quality upgrades for both positions. One, perhaps.

Wouldn't be so sure about Smith. The Bengals are working hard to get him signed soon...

[HoosierCat]

Smith and James are already gone, from a salary perspective, so there's no more savings there. Letting Simmons and Thornton go would add about $6 million in cap space, but I dont think that buys you quality upgrades for both positions. One, perhaps.

Wouldn't be so sure about Smith. The Bengals are working hard to get him signed soon...

I just meant in terms of giving us more money to go chase FAs. We've already reaped Justin's "savings." Personally I'm all for re-signing him.

[Kirkendall]

Smith and James are already gone, from a salary perspective, so there's no more savings there. Letting Simmons and Thornton go would add about $6 million in cap space, but I dont think that buys you quality upgrades for both positions. One, perhaps.

Wouldn't be so sure about Smith. The Bengals are working hard to get him signed soon...

I just meant in terms of giving us more money to go chase FAs. We've already reaped Justin's "savings." Personally I'm all for re-signing him.

I wonder if a lot of us (media and fans) are expecting the team to 'overpay' Smith. In other words, I wonder if we're expecting more than what Smith is really wanting.

[Whur CHad At?]

I wouldn't be suprised. I bet smith wants something more than what Geathers got

[HairOnFire]

Your boy...Steinbach, lol you better sign him now because we are gonna gobble him up. LOL

If you think it would help...I'd happily pay Steinbach's cab fare from Cincy to Cleveland. I'll even tip the driver if you promise to try Steinbach at LT.

[GregCook]

Bengals won't try for Thomas, he's too old and others will over pay for him. Good CB's are very pricey in FA, so don't think so. Tight end might work. Defensive tackle might work. Safety might work too. Besides Thomas who else is a Marvin Guy in UFA?

[Kazkal]

Good luck with FA signing, the Browns have $33 million in free cap space.

Bengals aren't that far behind and they also have being a contender and promise of no staff infection on their side

[HairOnFire]

First, this years crop of FA's is as weak as any I can remember.

Actually, to me it looks like the best crop in recent years, but we'll see how it looks come March.

By the time the March winds begin to blow I'm betting an already bad free agent crop will look dramatically worse.

[Kazkal]

Your boy...Steinbach, lol you better sign him now because we are gonna gobble him up. LOL

If you think it would help...I'd happily pay Steinbach's cab fare from Cincy to Cleveland. I'll even tip the driver if you promise to try Steinbach at LT.

agreed,I don't want steinbach longterm most I still want out of him is a franchise tag and then trade him.

Sands from Oakland

Why would you want a 6'7 nose tackle? look at all the successful 3-4 NT's their all under 6'3.

[HoosierCat]

I wonder if a lot of us (media and fans) are expecting the team to 'overpay' Smith. In other words, I wonder if we're expecting more than what Smith is really wanting.

I haven't heard anything about what his demands might be, but you have to think the Geathers deal becomes a jumping off point, right? If Junior gets $19m in he first 3 years, what's the comparable figure for Justin, maybe $22m minimum? Solid but not spectacular DE who'll be 28 next season...I could see a 6-year deal with $12m in SB and salaries of $3-3-4m over the first three years, then bogus bucks out the waz (meaning the Bengals axe him in year 4 and eat $6m in dead money) to inflate it to typically ludicrious proportions.

Worth it? Probably not. But if you're like me and doubt the Bengals will do anything else with the money -- other than fritter it away on the usual collection of bargain-basement FAs -- what's to lose?

Your boy...Steinbach, lol you better sign him now because we are gonna gobble him up. LOL

If you think it would help...I'd happily pay Steinbach's cab fare from Cincy to Cleveland. I'll even tip the driver if you promise to try Steinbach at LT.

Steiney would definitely be an upgrade to the Browns' line -- but that's less an indication of his abilities and more an indictment of Cleveland's o-line.

Of course, if they put him at center he will suffer some career ending injury before the season.

[schroomytunes]

Well from a salary cap perspective I also agree with Shula, I am sick of seeing our defense being in the bottom 10 percent every year. Our defense has no leadership, it lacks tackling, and it lacks a killer instinct to win in this league. Here is my opinions on the salary cap/FA/ and the draft this offseason.

1)get rid of every overpriced underachiever on this team- Thornton, B.Robinson, Tory James, Brian Simmons.

2) Tag Steinbach as the Franchise player then if someone wants him work out a trade. Also let Justin Smih walk this years draft guys are good.

3) with the salary cap savings I would go after good solid FA's- Na'il Diggs(OLB) and Asante Samuel(CB) these 2 guys with a good draft upgrades our defense.

4)resign the solid role players we have-R.Kelly, KK, Landon Johnson, Caleb Miller, and Kenny Watson.

5)The draft- I would look at a solid guy on the front 7 for defense in rounds 1-2

-rounds 4-7 I look for all defense except I take a developmental QB somewhere in there.

[Kirkendall]

1)get rid of every overpriced underachiever on this team- Thornton, B.Robinson, Tory James, Brian Simmons.

All this from my perspective. Nothing more...

Thornton is due $6.75 million over the course of the next two seasons. Simmons is due $7 million over the same time period. I can honestly see the team extending Simmons just to reduce his hit. Simmons will likely retire as a Bengal (think, neck injury). Robinson is only getting $1.5 million... however, disappointing results from over-expectation really hurt this guy from my perspective.

BTW, James' just-under $3 mil will be a nice addition (by subtraction). I fear though if the team signs him the city's crime will break yet another record.

2) Tag Steinbach as the Franchise player then if someone wants him work out a trade. Also let Justin Smih walk this years draft guys are good.

I see it this way. If the Bengals intend to sign Steinbach, they'll just go ahead and do it and avoid the tag. Otherwise, I say tag James.

3) with the salary cap savings I would go after good solid FA's- Na'il Diggs(OLB) and Asante Samuel(CB) these 2 guys with a good draft upgrades our defense.

I did a small piece on this and dug up some things about Diggs. One, he's had an awful year with a group of defenders (Carolina) that's just a bad group. But I don't suspect Diggs will get a starting job anywhere after his recent play.

I say LONDON FLETCHER! He's a free agent, getting older and is averaging 145+ tackles per game since 2001. Want good tackling, I say we go after him first and foremost.

Yes, I know the equation. Good FA on the market + Cincinnati Bengals = another team.