Forget about Adalius Thomas

[Whur CHad At?]

I wouldn't mind seeing Fletcher in stripes, but I wouldn't mind seeing CHarles Grant either in stripes. He would fill in nicely for Smith. I think we could get him at nice price, lets say $27 million over 6 years.

[schroomytunes]

I still say the best route to go with Steinbach is to ender him the franchise tag, and if possible trade him for a 2nd and a 4th in this years draft. It will help us to replace the lost 3rd rounder by taking Brooks. Also it lets us draft another backup OL man in the 4th to complement the line, you can get good interior lineman in the middle rounds.

So here is what I will do regarding this year's FA, after listening to some comments:

1) I still let Thornton, B.Rob, James,and Simmons go for salary cap reasons, they are all underachievers and we need to get better now!

2)Here is my offseason targets in Order of need:

a)London Fletcher-he is solid and at 32 still produces, will stabilize the MLB spot for next 3 years

b)Asante Samuel-up and coming CB only 25 and would be an instant upgrade.

c)Michael Myers-big run stuffing guy on the D-line will provide some stability after losing B.Rob and Thornton. and allow us to draft a guy in the early rounds

--I cant see us going after anymore FA's from the outside than this

Our Defense would now look like:

DE's-geathers,Rucker

DT's-Myers,Adams,Fanene,Peko

Lb's-Fletcher,Miller,Johnson,Brooks

Cb's-JJ,Ratliff,Samuel,Oneill

S's-Jackson,Williams,KK

-So based on the above I would target in the draft: Lb/S/DE

[agreen_112]

I still say the best route to go with Steinbach is to ender him the franchise tag, and if possible trade him for a 2nd and a 4th in this years draft. It will help us to replace the lost 3rd rounder by taking Brooks. Also it lets us draft another backup OL man in the 4th to complement the line, you can get good interior lineman in the middle rounds.

So here is what I will do regarding this year's FA, after listening to some comments:

1) I still let Thornton, B.Rob, James,and Simmons go for salary cap reasons, they are all underachievers and we need to get better now!

2)Here is my offseason targets in Order of need:

a)London Fletcher-he is solid and at 32 still produces, will stabilize the MLB spot for next 3 years

b)Asante Samuel-up and coming CB only 25 and would be an instant upgrade.

c)Michael Myers-big run stuffing guy on the D-line will provide some stability after losing B.Rob and Thornton. and allow us to draft a guy in the early rounds

--I cant see us going after anymore FA's from the outside than this

Our Defense would now look like:

DE's-geathers,Rucker

DT's-Myers,Adams,Fanene,Peko

Lb's-Fletcher,Miller,Johnson,Brooks

Cb's-JJ,Ratliff,Samuel,Oneill

S's-Jackson,Williams,KK

-So based on the above I would target in the draft: Lb/S/DE

Samuel would be huge. I doubt NE lets him go after what he's done this post-season. But then again they let Ty Law and others go pretty easily.

I say this year we will sign some big FA's. We get burned a lot with our 1st picks and we need to get better NOW. The draft can only do so much, the get better NOW upgrades have to come from FA's.

I'm with you on releasing all of those guys except Simmons. I'd keep him around just because he's been so loyal and he deserves that SB victory, just like Willie..

[walshfan]

London Fletcher averages around 140 tackles a year ...

ultimate pro..

his age (32) makes him suspect for a longterm deal though.

Would he sign for 3 years.. if so what would he want?

[AMC]

It's all fun to talk about, but with the increase in the salary cap very few top-level players will be moving from team to team....It's yet to be seen what the Bengals will do in this regard even given the signing of Geathers. Will they use the tag???? Probably not....

Kirk....Why should we tag James???? It's an interesting concept, would like to hear more of a reasoning from the Bengals standpoint....The youth of JJ. The mistrust of Keiwan? The situation with O'Neal? Seems logical. But also seems like a strange tagging, given the price to tag a CB.....

[Kirkendall]

Kirk....Why should we tag James????

Because the open market will demand the services, while degrading, of a veteran cornerback that can.... ok ok ok, I can't continue. I'm laughing too hard.

[AMC]

Kirk....Why should we tag James????

Because the open market will demand the services, while degrading, of a veteran cornerback that can.... ok ok ok, I can't continue. I'm laughing too hard.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Trade Thorton and Simmons for whatever you can get for them.

I'd let James walk - and pack his bags for him.

[jditty47]

Trade Thorton and Simmons for whatever you can get for them.

I'd let James walk - and pack his bags for him.

you are crazy.

[HairOnFire]

Trade Thorton and Simmons for whatever you can get for them.

That's just it. You probably can't get anything for them. No team is going to trade a draft pick for an aging veteran who is playing in the last year of his contract.

Some of you guys need to get it through your thick heads that more often than not the strategy of moving on without a player means you cut that player. You simply don't get anything for the players you cast off...including a handful of magic beans.

[jditty47]

and im sorry, simmons and thornton or guys you do not just cast off, they will be around for the entirety of their contracts at the minimum, and i would be absolutely shocked if they dont resign simmons once his does come up.

[Stripes]

I'd also be surprised if Thornton and Simmons don't play out their contracts here, Thornton especially. It'll just be nice to have Joseph starting out there over Tory Toast.

[Spor_tees]

Simmons was drafted as a Bengals and will retire as a Bengal. Thorton on the other hand.eh.

[Kazkal]

Simmons could be staying next year for quite smaller contract...just for his vet leadership but I doubt he's a starter for much longer...JT should be cut simply because 4million cap number could be better spent...

[jditty47]

how do you not see simmons as a starter? have you seen 3 players on our roster even give us a hint that simmons is benchable? give me a break.

[HairOnFire]

I'd also be surprised if Thornton and Simmons don't play out their contracts here, Thornton especially. It'll just be nice to have Joseph starting out there over Tory Toast.

I think you can make as strong an argument for cutting Simmons and Thornton as you can for keeping them. You simply have to decide if the things they bring to a team are important enough to dictate that you keep paying more than a replacement would cost.

For example, last season I was in favor of keeping Thornton but cutting Simmons and James due to the money that could be saved. In hindsight, I'm pretty comfortable with all of those choices as neither James or Simmons were worth what they were paid. And most important, one year later I can make an even stronger case that they're not likely to be worth an even higher salary.

As for Thornton, I still lean towards keeping him, but yeah.... I think you have to put him on a bubble.

[HoosierCat]

I think you have to keep Simmons just because the LB position is such a wreck right now. Thornton I could see letting go, especially if they take a day 1 DT.

[Kazkal]

I said not for much longer so I see him the starter next year...but I'm not sure if you know but players start to slow down as they get older and well simmons is getting older.Then again AT isen't much younger then simmons ala if were gonna spend big bucks should be on Briggs

[HoosierCat]

On the subject of linebackers and what they might cost…

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2735236

The Jacksonville Jaguars, who have been proactive in recent years in retaining their best young players, have signed third-year veteran linebacker Daryl Smith to a five-year extension through the 2012 season.

The deal, ESPN.com has learned, is worth $25 million and includes $10 in bonuses. Smith will earn $15 million in the first three years of the deal.

An excellent athlete and well-suited to the Jaguars' defensive style, Smith demonstrated his versatility in 2006 when he moved from weakside linebacker to middle linebacker to replace starter Mike Peterson, who had suffered a torn left pectoral muscle, for the final 11 games. He made a quick transition to the middle, a position he had played in college, and finished with a team-high 170 tackles.

The former Georgia Tech star has appeared in 47 games, with 45 starts, and has 365 tackles, nine sacks, three interceptions and two forced fumbles.

$5 million a year for a guy whose story and stats are fairly comparable to Landon J's: 48 games, 36 starts, 285 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 pick, 6 forced fumbles.

Is Landon worth $20-25m over 5 years? He's an RFA so they can hold him with a tender offer for one more year, but I don't see how he has any incentive to sign a long-terms deal for less than that now…

EDIT: Dunno where espn got Smith's tackle numbers but he only has 221, not 365, per nfl.com.

[Kazkal]

Ya but how many times did smith get ran over?then again he has stroud & henderson infront of him.

[HoosierCat]

Ya but how many times did smith get ran over?then again he has stroud & henderson infront of him.

That helps.

[Dawg BpG]

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.

No way, the only way he comes here is to play guard.....that's why he is a guard. He isn't good enough to play 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.

Steinbach if he signs for guard money will be a nice addition to our line, unless we draft two guards in the draft, which would be a dream.

Interesting point on sands, but he would probably come cheap, and he is 335lbs. I trust Phil savage in his decisions, but I would like to see him in in browns uni.

[Sox]

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.

No way, the only way he comes here is to play guard.....that's why he is a guard. He isn't good enough to play 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.

Steinbach if he signs for guard money will be a nice addition to our line, unless we draft two guards in the draft, which would be a dream.

If Steinbach is willing to sign for guard money,he'll be signed by the Bengals.

Why on earth would he settle for guard money,just for the privilege of playing for the team destined to finish in the AFC North cellar for the next few years?