Curnutte Calls BS on Bengals FA Efforts

[HoosierCat]

From Mark Curnutte's blog. Takes a few whacks at Hobs and the Bengals PR dep't. Cant argue with much he says...

Bengals defense vs. Bears, Colts defenses

MIAMI -- Studying defenses the likes of the Bears' and Colts' and comparing them to the Bengals, one major point stands out: The Bengals do not have a difference maker that offenses have to account for on every play.

There's no Brian Urlacher, the Bears middle linebacker. There's not even any Bob Sanders, Indianapolis' hard-hitting safety.

So the question becomes do the Bengals re-sign free agent defensive end Justin Smith? Why? They haven't done much with him in six seasons, one playoff game, one playoff loss, a defense that could never match its No. 9 ranking of Smith's rookie season in 2001.

So you look around at defensive free agents the likes of Bears outside linebacker Lance Briggs, Baltimore free agent end/linebacker Adalius Thomas or New England cornerback Asanti Samuel. Samuel might be the single best player in free agency this year. He doesn't want to re-sign with the Patriots. He could come in and fit any system. The Bengals might want to consider breaking the bank to sign the best cornerback of this class.

Never mind the excuses leaking out of the Bengals' front office onto various Web sites that they don't have the money or salary cap space to re-sign Smith or go after an A-list free agent. They have plenty of both. What might be lacking is the will. I get a message through the Bengals PR staff once in a while that the front office is unhappy with and thinks my analysis of their cap room is inaccurate. Yet they are reluctant to offer any proof that I can print.

The Bengals could do whatever they want to financially. If I were a fan of the Bengals, I wouldn't be happy with their efforts in free agency. They keep signing players who have little impact or are four, five or six years past the point when they could have made a big difference.

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis likes to talk about how a defense plays with 11 players. OK. So did the Baltimore defenses he coordinated. But he had 11 great players when the Ravens won the Super Bowl, including safety Rod Woodson, a younger and more mobile Sam Adams at defensive tackle and Ray Lewis in his prime as an inside linebacker.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

"Lack of effort" or willingness would be my major complaint against the Bengals' in FA.

Kudos to Curnutte for calling it like it is. And the PR memos he gets are so typical of the Bengals' PR staff.

Bryan Robinson's, Dexter Jackson's and Sam Adams' types aren't going to get them over the hump. Adding one of those guys to an already very good defense would be a different story - like the Broncos adding Lynch. But that isn't the case here.

[ThortonMelon]

What a horrible article. Curnette has such a sophomoric understanding of football. All of the players that he named that must be "accounted for" (Urlacher, Bob Sanders, Lance Briggs, Asante Samuel) were drafted, not signed in free agency, by the team they play for. Players like that dont make it to free agency. They are resigned or tagged by the team that drafted them. Big money free agents are dissapointments 9 out of 10 times because if they were truly worth the money they get in free agency their original team wouldnt have let them go. Successful teams like the Steelers and New England never sign big money free agents because they know it is fools gold. (and dont throw out Rodney Harrison because he wasnt a big money free agent, he was cut by the Chargers and was at the crossroads of his career when NE signed him).

The Bengals do a great job of resigning their own players before they hit free agency. They dont have a star on defense because they havent been able to find one in the draft, not because they dont spend money in free agency.

[HoTbOy]

I would repectfully disagree, that FA's our fools gold, If I had the chance to get ASamuel i would jump all over that... If the Bengals can't draft a superstar what does that say about their scouting dept, because alot of other teams seem to be able to draft 1...The only fools gold FA's our the 1's the Bengals get...

[Kazkal]

Bring in Lance Briggs he'll be in 5th year.

[Whur CHad At?]

I agree with Curnutte. Our coaches say that we need to go out and get that impact player, but yet, they dont even try to get them. Bryan Robinson, Dexter Jackson, and Sam Adams aren't impact players. Bring in Clements, Briggs or Samuel, I beg you@!

[HoosierCat]

Free agency is always a roll of the dice. Sometimes it doesn't work out -- Lavar Arrington, for instance -- sometimes it does (Burress, O-gun, Rivers, to name a few). But Curnutte's point that the Bengals never even try is dead on.

As for their own FAs, yep, they've done a good job securing their own quality players. But that raises a point ThortonMelon ignores: there's no more quality in-house FAs to be secured. Unless you count Steinbach and Justin, who I am reliably informed aren't worth big money. (Personally, I'd applaud resigning them both but you wouldn't be able to hear me clapping over the screams of outrage.)

So...who do the Bengals use their cap space on? Even the Hobsonizer admits that even if you subtract out the rookie pool and RFA money and Junior's deal and an injury reserve and all the rest, the Bengals still have enough coin to make a run at just about anyone they want.

Was there ever a better time? Was there ever a time when making a big FA play carried less risk? I don't recall one.

[Riagogogoindanati]

THE SAD THING IS WHEN JUSTIN WAS SIGNED HE WAS MEANT TO TAKE OVER FOR REINARD. WHEN IN ALL ACTUALITY WHILE PLACING JUSTIN ON THE RIGHT AND REINARD ON THE LEFT (NOT JUST ON THIRD DOWNS) REINARD WAS ACTUALLY DOING BETTER THAN HE HAD IN PREVIOUS YEARS. SO HERE THEY GO, AGAIN.

[HairOnFire]

Warren Sapp

[Riagogogoindanati]

WHILE I WANTED THEM TO SIGN QB KILLA, HE IS NOW TOO OLD AND HIS TIME IS ALMOST UP. WHEN YOU GO FOR THE $ AND END UP SOMEWHERE LIKE OAKLAND IT MEANS ONE THING...........

PASTURE.

[Stripes]

Why do folks (like Curnutte) so confidently assert that the Bengals won't even try to sign these guys? Where did that come from?

Why do folks (like Curnutte) so confidently assert that these players will be worth their weight in cap space? That's never a guarantee.

We hear these same empty complaints every offseason. In 2004, the Bengals made a run at Warren Sapp (whom would have been horrible). In 2006, the Bengals signed the best (arguably) free agent DT available, and one of the top five free agent SS's. Year after year they make sure to keep their own best free agent players on the team.

What do they have to do?

[HoosierCat]

Sam Adams was not the No. 1 DT available. In fact, no one wanted him except us.

[Stripes]

Sam Adams was not the No. 1 DT available. In fact, no one wanted him except us.

It is arguable, but who else was there? Grady Jackson? Kemoatu?

[fattyjay]

The idea that going after FA's is a waste of time is ridiculous. Overspending in free agency (Redskins) is not the way to go, but efficiency signings can be beneficial. In cases where a certain position needs some shoring up or veteran leadership, the best way to accomplish those goals is through free agency. However, if the goal is to get top name players at several positions only to cut them a year or so down the road due to cap issues, then of course free agency sounds bad. This is more than a black or white issue. Free agency is like the Kenny Rogers song...you gotta know when to holdem, know when to foldem, know when to walk away, know when to run.

[HoosierCat]

Sam Adams was not the No. 1 DT available. In fact, no one wanted him except us.

It is arguable, but who else was there? Grady Jackson? Kemoatu?

Rocky Bernard was the clear No. 1 -- and the deal he ended up signing was under $5m/year. Keo was also on the list. There were others whose names escape me at the moment but Adams' wasn't on anyone's list that I saw. Sam drew virtually no interest.

Dexter you're right about, he was generally ranked second behind Archuletta, but again it was clearly a money thing. When Archuletta's asking price went above the X the Bengals had pencilled in they abandoned him and switched to Dexter.

[membengal]

I said it elsewhere and was yelled at by pimp, but nice to hear it from Curnutte as well, breaking the bank for Samuel makes a ton of sense. The defense would be immediately improved.

But, they won't do that, so this pipe dream must end.

[HoosierCat]

Related note: an article from the Sun-Times on the chances of the Bears' franchising Briggs.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/be...mully30.article

Contains special bonus laugh line for Bengals fans from Bears prez Ted Phillips:

"The franchise tag isn't used that often leaguewide. I can't remember the last time we used it. Bryan Robinson? That one didn't work out so well.''

[Kirkendall]

What a horrible article. Curnette has such a sophomoric understanding of football. All of the players that he named that must be "accounted for" (Urlacher, Bob Sanders, Lance Briggs, Asante Samuel) were drafted, not signed in free agency, by the team they play for.

Point is that they WILL be free agents this coming off-season.

Why do folks (like Curnutte) so confidently assert that the Bengals won't even try to sign these guys? Where did that come from?

History.

What do they have to do?

Call Spain - resident football god.

When Archuletta's asking price went above the X the Bengals had pencilled in they abandoned him and switched to Dexter.

Hey, look at Arch. now.. he's a special teams guy. I guess if there was a description of "over-paying" THAT would be it.

[WretchedOne]

The idea that going after FA's is a waste of time is ridiculous. Overspending in free agency (Redskins) is not the way to go, but efficiency signings can be beneficial. In cases where a certain position needs some shoring up or veteran leadership, the best way to accomplish those goals is through free agency. However, if the goal is to get top name players at several positions only to cut them a year or so down the road due to cap issues, then of course free agency sounds bad. This is more than a black or white issue. Free agency is like the Kenny Rogers song...you gotta know when to holdem, know when to foldem, know when to walk away, know when to run.

You're flawless logic and reasoning have no place on a Bengals fan site.

[schroomytunes]

Well here is my 2 cents on what the Bengals need to do this offseason. I somewhat agree with Curnette's thinking but not wholeheartedly. The Bengals do a great job in identifying talent that they currently have and retain them, but they do a piss poor job in scouting the market for FA's. Granted I liked the Dexter Jackson signing, but the Sam Adams signing screamed bust from the get go, too old past his prime. So IMHO, and fire away by all means this is my offseason targets to accomplish

RFA's-

S.Smith-non tender

G. Brooks-non tender

C.Miller-850

K.Larson-1.3

S.Andrews-1.8

L.Johnson-1.8

UFA's-

R.Kelly

K.Kaesviharn

K.Watson

M.Wilkins

-I would let J.Smith and E.Steinbach walk and draft for their replacements, we simply cannot afford to pay them 10 million combined when we have other holes to fill. Whitworth/Andrews can replace Steiny, and Rucker or a draft pick can replace Smith.

Roster cuts to free cap space-B.Robinson and John Thornton

FA additions-

1)Asante Samuel or Nate Clements(CB's)-allows us to have an above average secondary.

2)London Fletcher(MLB)-gives our defense the identity we lack, and allows more patience with Odell

Thoughts?

[Stripes]

The idea that going after FA's is a waste of time is ridiculous. Overspending in free agency (Redskins) is not the way to go, but efficiency signings can be beneficial. In cases where a certain position needs some shoring up or veteran leadership, the best way to accomplish those goals is through free agency. However, if the goal is to get top name players at several positions only to cut them a year or so down the road due to cap issues, then of course free agency sounds bad. This is more than a black or white issue. Free agency is like the Kenny Rogers song...you gotta know when to holdem, know when to foldem, know when to walk away, know when to run.

You're flawless logic and reasoning have no place on a Bengals fan site.

And I'd argue that in recent seasons the Bengals have done a fine job of that. They've built primarily through the draft, and they've brought in a few free agents to shore up positions of need for the short term.

[Kirkendall]

The problem is the guys they are bringing in through the draft on defense, aren't making the impact we thought they would.

There are no starters on the defensive line that Marvin has drafted -- Geathers was often in after Robinson started. There's been two corners drafted that can't start over POS O'Neal and the legendary Tory James unless it's injury or character related.

What's the count of Marvin draftees that start?

Landon, M.Williams, Geathers (he'll start now with the bling he's making)??? Odell and Pollack could be out all next year. Hummmmm....

MY POINT isn't what Marvin is drafting. Just that the draft isn't close to being a reliable way to building a team.

As Billy always says, the draft is nothing more than a crapshoot. Personally, I think it's like shooting crap, but we all come from different regions of the world.

[Stripes]

The problem is the guys they are bringing in through the draft on defense, aren't making the impact we thought they would.

There are no starters on the defensive line that Marvin has drafted -- Geathers was often in after Robinson started. There's been two corners drafted that can't start over POS O'Neal and the legendary Tory James unless it's injury or character related.

What's the count of Marvin draftees that start?

Landon, M.Williams, Geathers (he'll start now with the bling he's making)??? Odell and Pollack could be out all next year. Hummmmm....

MY POINT isn't what Marvin is drafting. Just that the draft isn't close to being a reliable way to building a team.

As Billy always says, the draft is nothing more than a crapshoot. Personally, I think it's like shooting crap, but we all come from different regions of the world.

I disagree that the draft is a crapshoot. Good teams seem to have consistent success in drafting well, and I doubt that's any coincidence. If there's one place on defense where I believe Marvin could have done a better job, it's on the line. We are in agreement there. Still, he has always said that our defensive woes aren't the line's fault (whether he is right or not is up for debate) and hence he hasn't spent any first day picks on defensive lineman as a head coach aside from Frostee Rucker. Only recently with Peko and Geathers (both 4th round picks) have we seen a Marvin drafted defensive lineman make a noteable impact. He just doesn't draft many of them.

Marvin has placed heavy emphasis on linebackers and defensive backs, and he has done a pretty good job in that regard IMO. Madieu, Landon, Thurman, Pollack, and Joseph have all played well and showed flashes of the upside that young defenses should have. Thurman is a big question mark now, for obvious reasons... But I'm not sure how much blame Marvin should face for that. Pollack was really coming on towards the end of last season, but obviously nobody can forsee a broken neck. I also credit Marvin and crew for some great work in the late rounds, i.e. Tab Perry and Ethan Kilmer.

In free agency or elsewhere, he has brought in Tory James (who admittedly sucks, but he did make a Pro Bowl as a Bengal before he sucked), Deltha O'Neal (inconsistent, but he owns the Bengals INT record for a season), Sam Adams (I like him, I'm in the minority) and Dexter Jackson (good pickup by most accounts). Hell, then there's Jeanty.

I don't mean to sound argumentative, but I really think the complaints in articles like Curnutte's are heavily overstated.

[HoosierCat]

FA additions-

1)Asante Samuel or Nate Clements(CB's)-allows us to have an above average secondary.

2)London Fletcher(MLB)-gives our defense the identity we lack, and allows more patience with Odell

Thoughts?

I'd be happy with either of the CBs in 1).

As for Fletcher, put me on the fence. At 32 he's past his prime, but still produces. I think I'd rather roll the dice with Ahmad.

[Spor_tees]

The Bengals last possible "Dynasty" was ended by free agency, or actually the lack of the Bengals activity into free agency. After the Bengals 1989 Super Bowl trip, the NFL started "free agency," and this is where the dismantling began. Bengal's fans watched player after player leave as other teams threw money at what was the foundation of the Bengals team. Paul and Mike Brown refused to spend money in free agency and so the "decade of woe" began. Imagine if the Bengals would have been a player in free agency from the get go, maybe the decade we all wish to forget now, would have never had hapened, and instead a decade that included multiple trips to the Super Bowl would have replaced it.