Justin Smith

[Kazkal]

CAP STUFF: Word is the Bengals are keeping the option open of using the franchise tag on defensive end Justin Smith when free agency opens in about five weeks. At the very least if they put that $8 million number on Smith, they could do with him what they couldn’t do with Takeo Spikes and trade him. Or just play the season with him if they can’t extend his contract or find a suitable replacement.

That would mean they would have about $13 million committed to their pass rushers in ’07 and it reflects how the past two seasons of giving big numbers to Chad Johnson and Carson Palmer have made them tighter against the cap than many clubs the past few seasons.

Not only could $13 million be committed to Smith and Geathers, but they will probably put about $5 million out in tender offers to their restricted free agents and another $4 million figures to be committed to the draft. So that is already $22 million spoken for before they work on deals for tight ends Reggie Kelly and Tony Stewart, running back Kenny Watson, and safety Kevin Kaesviharn, guys they figure to keep. That’s about another $7-8 million.

So if they don’t do Smith, they probably have room for one major free-agent signing. The thing to keep an eye on are the restricted offers to punter Kyle Larson and offensive lineman Stacy Andrews.

Teams have three options on tendering their RFAs: A first-round designation at $1.8 million, a second-round designation at $1.3 million, and a $850,000 designation in which the compensation would correspond to what round the player was drafted in if the Bengals didn’t match.

But if they lost Larson, their best punter since Lee Johnson, they wouldn’t get any compensation since they signed him as a college free agent. Andrews would net only a fourth-round pick, which might make him attractive to another team.

Well if we decide that hes not in our future hopfully we can trade him for something...thats if we do tag him ^_^Viking fans seem to love the idea of getting him in the offseason.

[HoosierCat]

The tag-and-trade concept has always struck me as a pipe dream. No team is going to trade for a tagged player unless they can work out a new, long-term deal in advance, so the tag effectively gives the player a veto over any trade. And I agree with something Hair said in the geathers thread, namely that I think Justin would trip over his own feet rushing to sign a franchise tender from the Bengals.

Transition tag? Maybe. But frankly if they are going to franchise him they may as well just offer him something like a 5 year, $35m deal and get him inked cheaper and for longer.

[HairOnFire]

And I agree with something Hair said in the geathers thread, namely that I think Justin would trip over his own feet rushing to sign a franchise tender from the Bengals.

It seems to me that there's no reason to point out examples of me being right. In fact, let's just assume that I'm always right and we'll all get along very well.

Smith would welcome the tag and would sign the tendered contract before the ink was dry because doing so gives him 8 million guaranteed dollars one year prior to signing a long-term offer that would provide another 12-14 million guaranteed dollars. Frankly, I like Justin Smith plenty, but we're now talking about crazy money that he doesn't deserve....and the same is true of any scenario that includes the transition tag. So sign him to a long-term deal before active free agency arrives or wave goodbye fondly.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

I say wave good bye fondly and say good riddance.

[Spain]

Spain , the football god will speak. He is underrated player. Not a franchise. If he had help he would be! I have spoken.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Spain , the football god will speak. He is underrated player. Not a franchise. If he had help he would be! I have spoken.

He doesn't get double teamed and his rushing mate had 10.5 sacks.

He apparently needs an awful lot of help.

[Kazkal]

Mybe the QB is so scared of smith they run at geathers lol...ok i'm done

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

The tag-and-trade concept has always struck me as a pipe dream. No team is going to trade for a tagged player unless they can work out a new, long-term deal in advance, so the tag effectively gives the player a veto over any trade. And I agree with something Hair said in the geathers thread, namely that I think Justin would trip over his own feet rushing to sign a franchise tender from the Bengals.

Transition tag? Maybe. But frankly if they are going to franchise him they may as well just offer him something like a 5 year, $35m deal and get him inked cheaper and for longer.

Well, it worked for the Jets with Abraham, but it can fall apart as with the Eagles and Simon. It can work if there simply isn't a player available better than the one you're dangling (like Abraham), and the player is worth more, at that time, than the franchise tag. Also bear in mind that the player probably wants to get out after they've been jacking him with the franchise tag, and that by getting traded he gets the security of a long-term deal instead of a 1-year tender. So I'm not seeing a guy "veto the trade" if he was trying to leave via FA in the first place, unless he thinks he can cause enough problems to force the team to remove the tag (Simon). Of course, he can always call the team's bluff and sign it, too - which is why this thing probably only works for guys who are legitimately worth more than the tag.

So, advantage to player: gets longer term deal and likely more per year than the tag. Also gets to leave.

Advantage to new team: gets an elite player at a position of relative scarcity in FA.

Advantage to old team: gets something for nothing.

That said, I doubt Smith is of the caliber for it to work, because, as mentioned, I don't think another team will offer more than the tag.

[jjakq27]

Spain , the football god will speak. He is underrated player. Not a franchise. If he had help he would be! I have spoken.

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain......