We've offered Derrick Ward a contract!

[BengalszoneBilly]

I think they should figure out how to get him and Benson together in the backfield. Sign 'em both.

I'm good with this if it should happen.

[COB]

Is anyone reading anything about Ced Benson? Dance with the one what brung ya, Cedric. Sign with the Bengals.

[Clackwoods]

If their is a deal...it would prob be in the $36-39 Mill range. Similar to the Michael Turner Contract last year.

He is NOWHERE near Michael Turner, and it would be a HUGE mistake to give this guy that big of a contract. Turner was a guy who you could see being an every-down back. Derrick Ward IS NOT.

That money would be better spent elsewhere(defense,O-Line) Let's also not forget, this guy will be

29 when the season starts, and has a career total of JUST 342 carries 1750 yds 5 TD's.

I SERIOUSLY DON'T GET IT ? When did things change so much to where a guy who BARELY broke

1,000 yds (1,025) and scores 2 TD's, would be commanding that kind of money? Can you smell the desperation? This guy is not a feature back, and shouldn't be paid like one. He can thank the Carolina defense for his contract, and that 215yd game......Sound impressive? Then how's this? THE GUY ONLY HAS 3 CAREER 100 YARD GAMES with 2 coming last season.

Sure give the dude 35-40 million.........

I am going to be pretty upset if the guy gets more than 3 and a half million per year. I think a 4 year 15 million with about 10 million guaranteed should get it done!

U both are dip s**tz, he's not asking for Turner money, fuk nut, he's better than anything we got now, and how is Ced suddenly this Top10 RB, would u be surprised if u woke up tom. and he got arrested...? Fukn idiots!

I see that you just joined, did Mommy and Daddy finally get you a puterrrr?

I don't remember anyone on this site saying that Benson was a top 10 RB. If he was a top 10 RB he would have been signed by now. I would much rather have a rookie RB than overpay for another (Less productive) version of Ahman Green. Injury prone and old.

http://www.nfl.com/players/ahmangreen/care...ts?id=GRE035797

Just a little reminder for you about what happens when teams sign old, injury prone backs to big contracts.

With all that being said, I do like Ward and I have been saying that since the season ended, I just don't want to see them overpay for him.

PS: You need to watch your mouth when your talking to adults or we might just have to call your parents and let them know what a bad boy you have been.

I know you won't get this until you are finished watching your Saturday morning cartoons, but I look forward to your response.

[kurgan74]

Detroit signed Maurice Morris so they might be out the running for Ward.

[Kazkal]

Detroit signed Maurice Morris so they might be out the running for Ward.

Being that they alrdy have Kevin Smith, I think it does.

[jjvolt]

if by 32 yr. old slot rec., you mean tj, BITE YOUR TOUNGUE. I' d put tj against any rec. in the bengals crappy history.

check out his td totals compared to cj. I don't totally disagree with the bengals not breaking the bank on tj but PLEASE spare me the "he's not a bengal anymore so let's downplay his talents" bit. tj is an excellent player and for his sake, I'm glad he's out of this dunghole that mike brown and the attending fans think is an actual nfl franchise.

Yet here you are a registered member on that dunghole teams message board.

Please do me a favor and be more productive with your next 8 posts.

oh, sorry. my post count is appearently too low. what must I do?

yep, this is only the eighth time in the entire history of my watching the bengals since 1973 that I've ever posted about them... ( sarcasm, for those of you scoring at home). what were you doing in 1973, skippy?

I just don't want to see people start degrading tj just because he might flee from nfl siberia.

if you kids are too green behind the ears to see that this franchise is a prime example of white collar crime that's your prob.

whatever the case, let's not stoop to trashing tj for making the best decision of his professional life by getting the H-E-DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS out of mike brown's joke of an org.

[Ox]

oh, sorry. my post count is appearently too low. what must I do?

yep, this is only the eighth time in the entire history of my watching the bengals since 1973 that I've ever posted about them... ( sarcasm, for those of you scoring at home). what were you doing in 1973, skippy?

I just don't want to see people start degrading tj just because he might flee from nfl siberia.

if you kids are too green behind the ears to see that this franchise is a prime example of white collar crime that's your prob.

whatever the case, let's not stoop to trashing tj for making the best decision of his professional life by getting the H-E-DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS out of mike brown's joke of an org.

Hmm. Not sure what me doing in 1973 has to do with your out-of-the-blue derogatory franchise remarks in the most random of threads, but ok.

I'll tell you one thing that's going to happen though. All the weird bickering, hostility and name calling is going to stop real quick. Seems like that's what a few folks are doing around here anymore just to hear themselves talk.

If it means anything to you though, OLD TIMER, I agree with you on the TJ take.

[jjvolt]

oh, sorry. my post count is appearently too low. what must I do?

yep, this is only the eighth time in the entire history of my watching the bengals since 1973 that I've ever posted about them... ( sarcasm, for those of you scoring at home). what were you doing in 1973, skippy?

I just don't want to see people start degrading tj just because he might flee from nfl siberia.

if you kids are too green behind the ears to see that this franchise is a prime example of white collar crime that's your prob.

whatever the case, let's not stoop to trashing tj for making the best decision of his professional life by getting the H-E-DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS out of mike brown's joke of an org.

Hmm. Not sure what me doing in 1973 has to do with your out-of-the-blue derogatory franchise remarks in the most random of threads, but ok.

I'll tell you one thing that's going to happen though. All the weird bickering, hostility and name calling is going to stop real quick. Seems like that's what a few folks are doing around here anymore just to hear themselves talk.

If it means anything to you though, OLD TIMER, I agree with you on the TJ take.

I agree with you on the dancing girl with the big juggies.

I just can't stand it when homers and mike brown lovers begin to degrade a player just because he exits via free agency. tj has been a solid guy and an excellent player for a crap-pile of a franchise. even I with, *SHRIEK*, 8 posts can see that.

[Kazkal]

what were you doing in 1973, skippy

Swimming around in my dad's testicles.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

I was thinking the same exact thing. How about Ced Benson playing the Ickey Woods role to Ward's J.B.? If the Bengals could somehow manage to sign them both, I would consider this to be a decent offseason, sans Jason Brown.

Consider the source, but that's the Bengals plan in a nutshell, according to Lance.

Now that you mention it, Ward does in fact remind me a good bit of James Brooks. Benson's not exactly Ickey - I've seen no evidence of quality endzone dancing - but I'm seriously stoked by the idea of that 1-2 punch.

The key is going to be getting Ward to share carries. After last year where they went with a 3-man rotation, I imagine he doesn't want any part of that. What he probably doesn't know about himself is that he can average 5 YPC at 15 carries....not 25.

Really, though, if we got Ward and Benson, even having to let TJ go...this offseason would be coming together better than I'd initially hoped by a wide margin. If they get TJ too, all the better.

[mgilgris]

Crazy thought but I think the Bengals may be playing a good set of cards here. Bring in a RB throw the money on the table (low money) see which one jumps first for the starting gig.

That said, I want to talk about Free Agency strategy in general. I say you attempt to cripple the Ravens by making them bid higher to hold onto ray lewis. I do think Ray in on the decline but what would be better than driving down there cap space to hold onto him. A clever team would see that the ravens are scrambling to hold onto their defense as much as they could. Taking ray or driving up the price makes life difficult for them.

Just thoughts.

[HAPPYJAQ]

Crazy thought but I think the Bengals may be playing a good set of cards here. Bring in a RB throw the money on the table (low money) see which one jumps first for the starting gig.

That said, I want to talk about Free Agency strategy in general. I say you attempt to cripple the Ravens by making them bid higher to hold onto ray lewis. I do think Ray in on the decline but what would be better than driving down there cap space to hold onto him. A clever team would see that the ravens are scrambling to hold onto their defense as much as they could. Taking ray or driving up the price makes life difficult for them.

Just thoughts.

Yeah, I don't know how much interest Ray is generating throughout the league. The Jets passed, after it was reported that Ray's camp made some ridiculous demands and you would think the Cowboys would've signed him by now, if they were truly interested. With his age, it might be a while before he gets signed. What kind of offer do you make to a guy like Ray Lewis, that will be 35 next season and has been injured some in recent years?

[HAPPYJAQ]

Anybody have any news on how the Ward visit?

[Whur CHad At?]

Think they were having dinner tonight? Thats all I know.

[Whur CHad At?]

UPDATE:

DENVER IS THE NEXT STOP FOR DERRICK WARD

Posted by Mike Florio: Saturday, February 28, 2009 6:23 PM

With his free-agency visit to Cincinnati completed, running back Derrick Ward is on his way to Denver, according to a league source.

Ward will meet with Broncos officials on Sunday.

He's regarded as one of the top running backs on the market, and several teams have expressed interest. His age (28) could be impacting the magnitude of any offers he has received.

Going to Denver makes no sense but oh well.

[Kazkal]

Well if he wants to be starter hes wasting his time... wonder if and what we offered :|

[Baraka]

must not have been enough

[HAPPYJAQ]

Another FA uses the Bengals for contract leverage. Brilliant.

Goes back to what I was saying; The Bengals will ALWAYS have to grossly overpay to get quality guys here. I will admit, I thought this one was in the bag, though. I guess the Bengals are waiting for dollars around the league to dry up.

[Whur CHad At?]

Well they have $26 mill to use. Guess all of that is going to TJ and Benson?

[Baraka]

ward hasn't signed with anyone has he?

[Kazkal]

ward hasn't signed with anyone has he?

No but he's going to the Broncos who signed 2 RB's alrdy this offseason

[Baraka]

that's what i thought so i would say the bengals are very much still in play for ward, i think i still perfer benson, even though wards leadership as a former super bowl champion would be a welcome addition to the bengals lockeroom, benson has more upside.

[James_Brooks21]

Another FA uses the Bengals for contract leverage. Brilliant.

Goes back to what I was saying; The Bengals will ALWAYS have to grossly overpay to get quality guys here. I will admit, I thought this one was in the bag, though. I guess the Bengals are waiting for dollars around the league to dry up.

People can't use the Bengals for leverage, people know the Bengals are cheap and whatever numbers the agents are saying are made up. Bengals fans know that we are not signing anybody significant in the first days of free agency they are at always at the discount rack waiting for the mark down items we need to stop kidding ourselfs every year to believing that we are signing anybody.

[HAPPYJAQ]

Another FA uses the Bengals for contract leverage. Brilliant.

Goes back to what I was saying; The Bengals will ALWAYS have to grossly overpay to get quality guys here. I will admit, I thought this one was in the bag, though. I guess the Bengals are waiting for dollars around the league to dry up.

People can't use the Bengals for leverage, people know the Bengals are cheap and whatever numbers the agents are saying are made up. Bengals fans know that we are not signing anybody significant in the first days of free agency they are at always at the discount rack waiting for the mark down items we need to stop kidding ourselfs every year to believing that we are signing anybody.

The only reason we find out about who's going where is because these players' agents leak that information to the media. UFA's come to Cincinnati, get a modest offer and that offer is used as a starting point for the player's negotiations with other teams. We've seen this for years, from James Hasty to Warren Sapp. Our own players, or players that hit free agency that we attempt to re-sign (Steinbach, Justin, Madeiu, Stacy, etc.) even do this. Sometimes, we even create markets for some of these guys and I believe that's the case with Ward. If he was truly a #1 target for the Broncos, they wouldn't have signed 2 FA RB's already. I also think that Ward is kind of in the T.J. boat with teams concerned with his age and questioning whether or not he can be a #1 option in the running/passing game.

I believe we're still in the running, but he wants to see the offer increased (or another team can come close to the Bengals offer). If you remember from last season, Odom was on his way to the airport when the Bengals increased their offer right before he was leaving to go to Minnesota.

It doesn't help that we routinely low-ball these guys, either.

[firemarvinNOW]

that's what i thought so i would say the bengals are very much still in play for ward, i think i still perfer benson, even though wards leadership as a former super bowl champion would be a welcome addition to the bengals lockeroom, benson has more upside.

Benson has more upside? Are you kidding Benson is not a starting NFL RB. Last year he rushed for 3.5 yds per carry!!!! He only played 3 games were he averaged over 4 a carry. He had 5 games were he averaged 3.0 or less a game per carry. 2 of his 3 100yd games were the last two MEANINGLESS GAMES against Cleveland and K.C. He has a history of getting in trouble which is why he came here,NO ONE ELSE WANTED HIM, and my guess is they still dont.