Official Salary Cap Thread

[ArmyBengal]

Derek, couldn't agree more. Once again, thinking along the same lines.

Finnegan and Grubbs would both be upgrades and free up the draft.

That is my hope with free agency.

Not that they break the bank on one guy, but that they find suitable upgrades to what they currently have and allow them to really hit in the draft. Now should they decide to break the bank, there are guys I wouldn't mind seeing it happen with, because even one will allow them to move differently come draft time.

As much as I wasn't real exicted heading into last years draft, i'm f*cking beyond stoked heading into this one.

[Sea Ray]

I think we ought not get too giddy with all this cap space. Obviously the main reason we have all this cap space is because we have so many FAs from last yrs team

[BengalszoneBilly]

I think we ought not get too giddy with all this cap space.

Not a problem here. I spent all my giddiness when we unloaded Palmer on Oakland.

[ArmyBengal]

It's not about getting all giddy about cap space. I don't think any Bengal fan thinks that way when talking about FA aquisitions. However, if the numbers are accurate, it does in fact present an opportunity to improve our roster. In regards to them being our FA's, I say good, many of them can be upgraded. More importantly, NEED to be upgraded. I simply enjoy the thought of how they go about doing that and freeing up the draft.

Even a single starter at a position of need in FA will free up the draft and change what they do.

Yeah, that excites me when considering our picks in the draft.

[Sea Ray]

It's not about getting all giddy about cap space. I don't think any Bengal fan thinks that way when talking about FA aquisitions. However, if the numbers are accurate, it does in fact present an opportunity to improve our roster. In regards to them being our FA's, I say good, many of them can be upgraded. More importantly, NEED to be upgraded. I simply enjoy the thought of how they go about doing that and freeing up the draft.

Even a single starter at a position of need in FA will free up the draft and change what they do.

Yeah, that excites me when considering our picks in the draft.

My guess is it'll play out like this:

MB will either re-sign our existing FAs or sign comparable replacements (sorry not upgrades) and then after all those 20 or so signings he'll say we don't have any more money for FAs because "we have to leave room for injury settlements, bonuses, etc". You know the drill. We've heard that song and dance before

[ArmyBengal]

Well for what it's worth, I don't ever recall a time they were supposedly this much under the cap and if we are going by historical stats, Mike Brown typically spends pretty close to the cap even though most wouldn't think that was the case. With THAT thought, i'm interested to see how he does it. You can't spend money on scrubs and many of our FA's don't need to come back. Then again, I guess you could spend it on scrubs, but not if you are trying to build a winner around a young group of guys who are very talented.

There's not a better opportunity to not only build a winning team for this coming season, but for many seasons to come.

They just have to get aggressive in their approach.

If not, so be it. Song and dance continues.

[HoosierCat]

Here's Pete Prisco's top 50 FAs list:

/>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/17188691/top-50-free-agents-former-top-pick-williams-is-top-player-on-open-market

Thoughts glancing through it...

Would love to see the Bengals sign Mario Williams. Would also love to win the Powerball...

I wouldn't complain about Ray Rice but I think he'll be back in Baltimore.

Tracy Porter might end up being a reasonably affordable corner.

Pierre Garcon anyone?

I'd like to see 43 and 50 back.

[walzav29]

Pierre seems perfect. We have an endless supply of slot guys. Garcon would be a great compliment to AJ. Is used to not being the man, and doesn't seem to have a giant ego like Reggie Wayne for example.

[ArmyBengal]

My thing is, I don't think many will hit the market. It is said Super Mario will in fact be able to test FA and I say why not make a run ?? Brandon Carr, Carl Nicks ?? Both top players that would fill holes at a position we are talking about taking in the first round, so I think considering that is a no brainer as well. Cliff Avril ?? Yes please. Finnegan is another that would appeal to me. There is no way in hell Ray Rice leaves the Ravens. NONE. I've thought about Garcon as well, but always thought he was a bit inconsistent. Could be wrong. Marshawn Lynch. Yep, him to. Concur with Nelson and Sims coming back.

[volcom69]

Just saw Standford Routt just got relesed by Oakland, he had a great 2010, and begining of this year, but kind of fell off at the end of the year. I think he could be pretty good next to Leon Hall, and keep somebody like Jennings.

[HoosierCat]

Hensley with the latest on the cap front:

/>http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/42202/afc-north-projected-2012-salary-cap-space

The basics:

Bengals have $44 million in cap space

Browns have $21 million in cap space

Ravens are $10 million under the cap after Ricky called it a career and can create another $9 million in space by dumping Foxworth and Lee Evans. Ray Rice and Ladarius Webb will be costly to keep, tho.

Steelers are now just $10 million OVER the cap after cuts (McFadden, Battle)) and restructurings (Timmons, Woodly). ADDED: knock off another $3 million after they redid Ike Taylor's deal.

[ArmyBengal]

So again, we are 44 million UNDER the cap. Some of our players won't be coming back anyway around.

With the ones that remain, does anyone think they will cost 44 million ??

If they were to want to upgrade a position with a top end free agent where's the loss ??

I haven't looked at who is coming up for free agency next season, but they could spend there as well I suppose.

[Stripes]

I expect the Bengals to spend. I'm not saying they'll bring in two top five FAs, but they're not going to just drift through it after a few re-signs either. This franchise has changed a lot in recent years and I don't expect them to revert to their old standards after a successful season, especially with ticket sales being such a pressing issue.

[HoosierCat]

My guess at how things will go:

1. Over the next couple weeks we will hear from Hobson about how the $44 million number isn't accurate, doesn't take into account some (unspecified) incentives or escalators, yadda yadda yadda. So they really don't have that much to spend.

2. Before FA begins the Bengals will sign a few low-cost guys like Nugent, Skuta, Roland and/or Livings. Hobson will explain how these signings take up $30 million of cap space and combined with the rookie pool and the injury reserve means the Bengals are hard up against the cap.

3. FA opens. Initial flurry of big signings over the first few days/first week. Bengals are rumored to have "made a call" about this or that top-tier guy but they all sign elsewhere.

4. Reggie Nelson, Pat Sims, sign new deals with other teams.

5. Bengals re-sign a couple more of their own guys, maybe Jennings and/or Lawson. Are rumored to be interested in some tier-B talent but are only offering minimum deals. Hobson says they have almost no cap space left.

6. Finally a couple weeks after FA opens the Bengals sign a couple B/C tier guys still out there to 1-year deals. Hobson writes a bunch of stories about how these guys are the missing pieces. Cap space, he writes, is all used up.

Maybe I'm too cynical...

[volcom69]

If Reggie Nelson signs with another team i will be pissed. He should be there top guy to sign, and if they cant do that they are stupid! This team needs safety help, and with Nelson being there best one of the year, they need him while grooming Mays.

[cHaD711Johnson]

Rumblings of Pat Sims being gone because he wants to pursue a full-time starting job versus being in this rotation. I feel like he can be replaced, though. Sign Red Bryant in the off-season.

[jjakq27]

With his leg issues will he get the attention he wants in free agency? He may end up getting a better deal here.

[HoosierCat]

As expected, Wines Hard is on his way out in Pitt. That will shave another $4 million off of Pitt's cap.

[Spor_tees]

As expected, Wines Hard is on his way out in Pitt. That will shave another $4 million off of Pitt's cap.

Awesome that just might solve the Bengal's #2 WR problems.

[jjakq27]

As expected, Wines Hard is on his way out in Pitt. That will shave another $4 million off of Pitt's cap.

Awesome that just might solve the Bengal's #2 WR problems.

After disliking that guy for so long, I'd have a hard time rooting fit him. Did that with TO last season...it was hard.

[Spor_tees]

As expected, Wines Hard is on his way out in Pitt. That will shave another $4 million off of Pitt's cap.

Awesome that just might solve the Bengal's #2 WR problems.

After disliking that guy for so long, I'd have a hard time rooting fit him. Did that with TO last season...it was hard.

I was mostly joking, but could you imagine? Some people think Keith Rivers is skittish now after the Ward hit, could you imagine how he would be with Ward in the locker room with him? He wouldn't be able take a $hit or shower without being worried about a blindside hit.

[ArmyBengal]

Hines Ward ?? Glad you were joking.

[jjakq27]

Looks like Wines wants to retire as a Squealer.

/>http://usat.ly/zGygpO

[Spor_tees]

Looks like Wines wants to retire as a Squealer.

/>http://usat.ly/zGygpO

With all this Hines Ward talk, it reminds me of another guy. Where is Limas Sweed these days? I know a lot of guys on this board wanted the Bengals to draft him back in the day before the Steelers took him. According to his Wikipedia page, he hasn't latched on anywhere since leaving the Steelers under a waived/injury deal.

[jjakq27]

Wasnt he in the same draft with Jerome Simpson?