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Bengals sign Manny Lawson


ct_bengal

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meh?

Guys this is a very solid football player. Zimmer makes players better because he teaches them to play like a team.

I'm stoked at this move.

Thomas Howard, Lawson, Clements.... hardly Tory James, Landon Johnson & Brian Simmons.

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I was hoping that the Bengals would consider signing Lawson to fill the need at SLB. This is really good news. No risk at 1-year, and if he can make the transition to a 4-3 he will earn an extension. Lawson is still young and very talented. Welcome aboard,Manny!

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I don't think he's very solid. I didn't even like him much as a draft prospect though, so I hope I'm wrong.

Most of what I've read is he's a good player was a bit of a let down when it came to Passrushing as a 3-4 LB...But people felt he was more suited for 4-3 where his coverage skills were more important...With his talent I don't mind seeing what Zimmer can do with him since he seems have knack for avg /castaway players.

as well as covering tight ends and jaming them at the line, a problem the past few seasons.

This will be welcomed tired of seeing Tight Ends torch us.

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I don't think he's very solid. I didn't even like him much as a draft prospect though, so I hope I'm wrong.

Marvin wanted him coming out in the draft i was suprised he didnt go after him earlier. He is a very productive player, that will help this team. 14.5 carrer sacks, sounds better then any of our LBs we have now. Im actully really excited about this move, and i really like the LB spot all of sudden.

Lawson,Rey,Howard, that is going to be one fast LB crew.

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Surprising reaction from you tdb. He profiles as a really nice fit in a Zimmer defense and we have a crying need at LB. I love the signing and like that it is for one year, giving them some time to see if he fits in. If he does, they have oodles of room to extend him during the season.

6'5" 245 pounds, and has the ability to cover as well as rush. Yes please. We have that job opening big time.

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Marvin wanted him coming out in the draft i was suprised he didnt go after him earlier. He is a very productive player, that will help this team. 14.5 carrer sacks, sounds better then any of our LBs we have now. Im actully really excited about this move, and i really like the LB spot all of sudden.

Lawson,Rey,Howard, that is going to be one fast LB crew.

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So right now it looks like Howard, Rey, and Lawson as the starters. I can dig it (At least until Rivers gets back... I'm not sold on Howard as a true starter).

Howard and Lawson are both very good in coverage. And the run defense should be pretty stout. But none of these guys are pass rushers. I hope MJ, Atkins, and Dunlap continue to improve... because the entire pass rush is going to have to come the D-Line. Some things never change.

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I don't think he's very solid. I didn't even like him much as a draft prospect though, so I hope I'm wrong.

Most of what I've read is he's a good player was a bit of a let down when it came to Passrushing as a 3-4 LB...But people felt he was more suited for 4-3 where his coverage skills were more important...With his talent I don't mind seeing what Zimmer can do with him since he seems have knack for avg /castaway players.

as well as covering tight ends and jaming them at the line, a problem the past few seasons.

This will be welcomed tired of seeing Tight Ends torch us.

Speaking of that, did I hear that the Ravens released Todd Heap?

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Love the player but not the one-year deal.

Don't see the problem. They will clearly have tons of money to extend people during season if it is working out. So if he is indeed a good fit here, they can go multi-year with some idea of his fit.

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So right now it looks like Howard, Rey, and Lawson as the starters.

My God, we are in trouble this year. I like the Howard and Lawson signings but the defense is still void of playmakers. We possibly have one in Dunlap. This defense is being held together by glue and as soon as the injury bug hits we're through.

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So right now it looks like Howard, Rey, and Lawson as the starters.

My God, we are in trouble this year. I like the Howard and Lawson signings but the defense is still void of playmakers. We possibly have one in Dunlap. This defense is being held together by glue and as soon as the injury bug hits we're through.

That seems like a bit of an overstatement to me. LB wasn't exactly full of playmaker's in '09. There was just a lot of solid depth and interchangeable parts.

With Lawson and Moch at SAM, Howard and Rivers at WILL, I still think Brandon Johnson is a must to play both spots... especially not knowing how long Rivers will be out or how Moch will develop.

And with Muck going down, Cincy definitely needs to go out and get another solid MIKE. But assuming they do those two things, the LB position looks pretty damn solid to me. It may not seem sexy... but if Brandon and Dhani come back, I'll be pretty damn happy with the current LB corps.

The D-Line just needs to step up and carry it's weight. Something it hasn't done much of in the Marvin era.

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So right now it looks like Howard, Rey, and Lawson as the starters.

My God, we are in trouble this year. I like the Howard and Lawson signings but the defense is still void of playmakers. We possibly have one in Dunlap. This defense is being held together by glue and as soon as the injury bug hits we're through.

That seems like a bit of an overstatement to me. LB wasn't exactly full of playmaker's in '09. There was just a lot of solid depth and interchangeable parts.

With Lawson and Moch at SAM, Howard and Rivers at WILL, I still think Brandon Johnson is a must to play both spots... especially not knowing how long Rivers will be out or how Moch will develop.

And with Muck going down, Cincy definitely needs to go out and get another solid MIKE. But assuming they do those two things, the LB position looks pretty damn solid to me.

The D-Line just needs to step up and carry it's weight. Something it hasn't done much of in the Marvin era.

I think pick-ups like Lawson, Howard, and Clements make much more of an impact on a team with some solid playmakers. This defense has way too many holes, or better yet, it has way too many ok to good players. As it stands right now, I truly believe we have 2-3 players that would be starters on a decent team.

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If things had gone different the Bengals would have drafted Lawson instead of Joseph. So in a weird wayto look mat it, it took this long to acquire the guy that they had targeted back on the distant draft day.

Hopefully he is as good as advertised against TE/WR's in coverage. That has been a very large hole in the D for a long while.

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I think pick-ups like Lawson, Howard, and Clements make much more of an impact on a team with some solid playmakers. This defense has way too many holes, or better yet, it has way too many ok to good players. As it stands right now, I truly believe we have 2-3 players that would be starters on a decent team.

Time will tell I guess.

2009's defense finished in the top 5 with a roster full of back-ups because of a litany of injuries. Zimmer's scheme is based on fundamentals, not flash. And the players they are bringing in meet that description.

This defense is far more physically gifted than the one in '09. We'll just have to wait and see if they are as fundamentally sound.

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Love the player but not the one-year deal.

Don't see the problem. They will clearly have tons of money to extend people during season if it is working out. So if he is indeed a good fit here, they can go multi-year with some idea of his fit.

One would hope that's the way it would play out, but I'm not so sure. I think the Bengals are eyeing 2013, when the 89% spending minimum hits, and are focused on spending the least possible in the two "unfloored" years of 2011 and 2012.

With the Lawson signing, the Bengals should be somewhere around $74 million in spending. Just as an example, were every other team to spend up to the $120 million cap, the Bengals would only have to spend about $82 million for the league to hit its 99% promise to the players. I think it's these kind of calculations that are driving Bengals' spending this year, not so much the one-year-tryout concept. Given how high Marvin was on Lawson back in the draft, it's hard to see him arguing for a one-year tryout now.

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Love the player but not the one-year deal.

Don't see the problem. They will clearly have tons of money to extend people during season if it is working out. So if he is indeed a good fit here, they can go multi-year with some idea of his fit.

We had tons of Money to extend Joseph,Yet it didn't get done I would have prefered atleast a 2 year deal but ohwell he may have not wanted it.

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I would have prefered atleast a 2 year deal but ohwell he may have not wanted it.

I'll buy that. Lawson probably believes that he wasn't used properly in the 3-4, and a one year deal in the 4-3 will get him noticed... and that will mean a big payday.

Whether or not it plays out like that, we'll see. But Lawson wouldn't be the first player to come to the Bengals on a cheap 1-year contract in hopes of earning a big contract the following year.

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Love the player but not the one-year deal.

Don't see the problem. They will clearly have tons of money to extend people during season if it is working out. So if he is indeed a good fit here, they can go multi-year with some idea of his fit.

One would hope that's the way it would play out, but I'm not so sure. I think the Bengals are eyeing 2013, when the 89% spending minimum hits, and are focused on spending the least possible in the two "unfloored" years of 2011 and 2012.

With the Lawson signing, the Bengals should be somewhere around $74 million in spending. Just as an example, were every other team to spend up to the $120 million cap, the Bengals would only have to spend about $82 million for the league to hit its 99% promise to the players. I think it's these kind of calculations that are driving Bengals' spending this year, not so much the one-year-tryout concept. Given how high Marvin was on Lawson back in the draft, it's hard to see him arguing for a one-year tryout now.

I'm befuddled by the 1 year contract as well, but your explanation doesn't really make sense. If he accepted a 1 year contract, he likely would've accepted a 2 year contract at a slight per/year discount to that. So over 2 years it would cost the team less. As is, next year they either have to re-sign him or get somebody else. If Lawson has a great to good season, there's no question that the signing level for another year will go up. So, if they're trying to scrimp, they're going about it the wrong way. I won't disregard that possibility, but I see this as more of them wanting to see if he's got the drive left (ala Ced) with the full recognition that if the answer is yes (and he doesn't punch somebody on a corner in Austin at 4:30 a.m.) they'll have to pay him more next year to renew than they would to lock him in for next season now.

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I'm befuddled by the 1 year contract as well, but your explanation doesn't really make sense. If he accepted a 1 year contract, he likely would've accepted a 2 year contract at a slight per/year discount to that. So over 2 years it would cost the team less.

Probably true, but I think part of the strategy is committing to as little spending as possible in 2012, too. Teams are allowed to go $3 million over the cap this year, and in theory if all 31 other teams spent to $123 million the Bengals could have a payroll of $0.00 and the league will still make its 99% commitment. So I think the Bengals want to start at the lowest point possible in 2012

As is, next year they either have to re-sign him or get somebody else. If Lawson has a great to good season, there's no question that the signing level for another year will go up.

Right -- and they'll just let him walk and grab another guy next year (or just put Moch or Muck or Skuta or whoever in the spot).

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I'm befuddled by the 1 year contract as well, but your explanation doesn't really make sense. If he accepted a 1 year contract, he likely would've accepted a 2 year contract at a slight per/year discount to that. So over 2 years it would cost the team less.

Probably true, but I think part of the strategy is committing to as little spending as possible in 2012, too. Teams are allowed to go $3 million over the cap this year, and in theory if all 31 other teams spent to $123 million the Bengals could have a payroll of $0.00 and the league will still make its 99% commitment. So I think the Bengals want to start at the lowest point possible in 2012

As is, next year they either have to re-sign him or get somebody else. If Lawson has a great to good season, there's no question that the signing level for another year will go up.

Right -- and they'll just let him walk and grab another guy next year (or just put Moch or Muck or Skuta or whoever in the spot).

They could put any of those guys (except Muckelroy I suppose) into the spot right now and not even bother signing Lawson, so I don't really get where you're coming from.

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