Why can't Whitworth play RT?

[HairOnFire]

Jake Long from Michigan is Howie Long's kid?

No, Chris Long, the DE from Virginia is Howie's kid. Highest rated DE on most boards.

BTW, just to make you guys throw up in your own mouths......the scouting report from PFW describes him as a cross between Bengal OLB David Pollack and Bengal DE Justin Smith. Stronger than Pollack...not as fast as Smith.

[HoosierCat]

Well, why did you think the franchise tag was best used on Smith? Wasn't it because doing so bought the Bengals a much needed starting DE for another year?

We certainly need a starting DE -- but again, given how Smith has played to date this year it's hard to argue for the choice now. I'd be willing to bet some combo of Robinson, Fanene and Rucker could manage 17 tackles and 0 sacks.

And how would all of the second guessers feel about this very subject if next years perfect hindsight focused on a franchise tagged Eric Steinbach approaching an even more inflated free agenct market...still refusing to sign a long-term contract?

According to Eric's agent, he was willing to sign long-term here, and for substantially less (a $5.2 million/year average) that he got in Cleveland.