Crazy Talk: Should the Bengals Tag Nelson?

[volcom69]

Bullcrap Mays had proved nothing Sands has proved nothing I'm so sick of them losing players because they don't want to pay! Nelson wasn't the best but they got a lot out of him, zimmer should be pissed if they can't get him back! Will just make the secondary worse then it already is

[ArmyBengal]

I think if they lose Nelson this secondary is f*cked. There's no replacement on the team and little FA help out there.

Counting on the team to get much younger in 2012 I guess...

[volcom69]

I get the younger thing, but they have to keep players on this team that made a difference! I loved watching Nelson play this year, and to give the job to players who have not proved themselves just because u liked them coming out in the draft is just wrong. Horrible move if they don't bring him back.

[membengal]

Army, Nelson is replaceable.

[ArmyBengal]

Army, Nelson is replaceable.

Never said he wasn't.

Should have specified "this season" and for the reasons I already gave. There is no FS currently on the roster that makes me feel anything near comfortable. Free agency FS's ?? Goldson is horrible in coverage and his supporting cast in the secondary and front 7 isn't near what he had in San Fran last season. Adams from the Browns is freakin' 31 and Lowrey from the Jags was worse down the strech than Nelson was and injured. Nothing else after that.

If you look to the draft, you are either hoping they draft a CB early and move him to that spot or wait until the 3rd or 4th and hope one of the lower rated players is better than their draft position and can give you what Nelson was capable of giving last season. So for me it's not a matter of getting a future pro bowler at FS, it's finding someone who can give us what Nelson gave last year.

I'm just not as confident we will find that in the draft or FA as others are I guess.

[membengal]

Army, Marvin more than just hinted at the combine that Mays and Sands are ready.

Are they?

Got me. This is a spot where I kinda have to defer to the coaches.

But if Marvin and Zim really think those two are ready, then I can see them saving that coin that Nelson would cost and spending it on other FAs.

Nelson was fine last year, but had huge flaws in his game that detracted from the overall presentation from where I sit.

[Stripes]

Nelson is our most overrated player, imo.

[membengal]

I sure dont disagree with that sentiment.

[HoosierCat]

Army, Nelson is replaceable.

Hell, everyone is replaceable. That isn't the issue; the issue is, when do you stop the churn? When do you quit letting the perfect be the enemy of the good?

Just like WR, the Bengals go through safeties like water. Over the last five seasons we've had (in no particular order and I'm probably forgetting some) Madieu Williams, Chinedum Ndukwe, Marvin White, Chris Crocker, Reggie Nelson, Robert Sands, Roy Williams and now we're off to Taylor Mays-land.

I submit that this is not helping.

[membengal]

U stop the churn when u have someone who is worth no longer churning. I dont think nelson for the tag is reasonable given the holes in his game.

[HoosierCat]

I disagree. Nelson is good enough and the tag is peanuts.

Interesting comparison here: per PFT, the 49ers will tag safety Dashon Golden,a guy you could argue has some serious holes in his game as well (particularly in coverage). Last year, Golden had 67 tackles, 9 passes defensed, 6 picks, 1 FF and no sacks in 14 games. In contrast, across 16 games Nelson had 85 tackles, 12 passes defensed 4 picks, 2 FFs and 2 sacks.

[ArmyBengal]

Army, Marvin more than just hinted at the combine that Mays and Sands are ready.

Are they?

Got me. This is a spot where I kinda have to defer to the coaches.

But if Marvin and Zim really think those two are ready, then I can see them saving that coin that Nelson would cost and spending it on other FAs.

Nelson was fine last year, but had huge flaws in his game that detracted from the overall presentation from where I sit.

And like I said, we are talking about Sands and Mays. Both of which play SS not FS, so I don't see why what the coaches think about them matters in regards to what they do with Nelson. While Sands could possibly fill that spot, that wasn't the thought process when he was drafted. So again, who fills the spot if they don't bring back Nelson ??

Don't get me wrong, I am NOT saying he can't be replaced. I'm saying WHO do you replace him with that doesn't result in us having both a rookie CB and rookie safety starting in our secondary ?? Remember that will also involve either Mays or Sands at the other safety spot...

The tag is nothing for safety this year and is less about him being worth it and more with making sure we something more than what we are considering for at least one more year. It allows them to not invest in him long term and continue to look for his eventual replacement. Not only that, it's hard to say what more he could do with OTA's, camp, and preseason to pull it all together. If that is the given for everyone else, it surely has to be a consideration for a first year player even though he's not a rookie.

[HoosierCat]

Reggie's price tag is going up as the safety market shrinks. The Raiders have franchised Tyvon Branch. So, if you put any stock in Pete Prisco's top 50 FA list, Nelson is now the best safety available in FA.

On the plus side, that means the Bengals can take a run at Bush if they want to.

[volcom69]

Well nugent is the tagged player so guess they will let Nelson go or give him a longt term deal

[HoosierCat]

Well nugent is the tagged player so guess they will let Nelson go or give him a longt term deal

Am I the only one who finds that just a little pathetic? I mean, there are other teams out there that have gotten new deals done with players that involve far more money than what it would take to resign a freakin' kicker. It's stuff like this that keeps the "cheap" label stuck on this team.

Oh well. Bye, Reggie. I hope Jeromy Miles is ready for his close-up.

[volcom69]

Nope I'm right there with u Hoosier! I understand where people say nelson was replaceable but it wasnt going to cost u an arm and leg to tag him, now if he leaves we will have a very inexperienced safety group to go along with a weak secondary. Horrible move by the bengals they have all this money and they can't sign there kicker to a deal! I'm just sick of these guys grooming players then just let them walk away

[ArmyBengal]

This from Reedy the other day. The whole article is at the link...
/>http://cincinnati.com/blogs/bengals/2012/03/06/time-running-out-for-bengals-and-nelson/

After being acquired by the Bengals from the Jaguars in 2010, Nelson moved into the starting lineup late that season and started five of the last six games. Last season he led the Bengals in interceptions with four and also had two sacks and two forced fumbles. After Landry and Nelson, the other free agents of note are the Jets Brodney Pool and Jaguars Dwight Lowery with the Bears Craig Steltz possibly being a name to keep an eye on as a value signing.

With DeCoud averaging $3.5 million per year in base salary over five seasons, I asked a league source who tracks deals throughout the league what Nelson could command. He said given the deals of Danieal Manning and Charles Godfrey last year, Nelson could have a market value in the $5-5.5 million/per year range with a guarantee of $2-2.5 million per year. That is still lower than the $6.4 million than what the cost of a franchise tag for Nelson would have been this year, but it was still a gamble to tag Mike Nugent instead of Nelson.

DeCoud’s contract was $17.5 million over five years which means if the Bengals stick to their pattern of four-year contracts, they are looking at $20-22 million with $8-10 million guaranteed. Considering the salary cap room the Bengals have and the needs in the secondary, most would say that can be done.

[UK Bengal]

Believe it when I see it get done otherwise he's out of here

[ArmyBengal]

It wasn't saying it was going to get done, only that the Bengals have put a priority on resigning Nelson.

That being said, I don't think there's any reason for him to hang tight to see what the Bengals offer when there will most certainly be offers from other teams. Oddly enough, it said the Bengals were waiting to see what the final CAP number was going to be, regardless of the fact they have a buttload of cash and other teams are taking care of their priorities.

I think he's gone as well...

[HoosierCat]

Oddly enough, it said the Bengals were waiting to see what the final CAP number was going to be, regardless of the fact they have a buttload of cash and other teams are taking care of their priorities.

No doubt. I rolled my eyes and laughed when I read that, too. The FO never runs out of excuses, does it?

As for Nelson I wonder if Reedy is underestimating what he might get. With bubkis at safety in the draft and three teams thinning out the FA crop by tagging safeties, Nelson is in a great spot to cash in. Per Hensley over at espn.com, the Dolphins are going to make a run at him. I doubt they will be alone.

And I agree, I don't think he'll be getting his payday from the Bengals.

[ArmyBengal]

Oddly enough, it said the Bengals were waiting to see what the final CAP number was going to be, regardless of the fact they have a buttload of cash and other teams are taking care of their priorities.

No doubt. I rolled my eyes and laughed when I read that, too. The FO never runs out of excuses, does it?

It really is sad when you think about it. Other teams are wrapping things up, the Bengals have a buttload of cash, have a player they call a "priority" to resign, and then give an excuse for why they can't sign a player to a contract that isn't anywhere near the high end of things.

I'm guessing they are just moving on, but if that is in fact the case, then quit calling the guy a "priority" to get signed and make it seem he's really needed. Smokescreens really don't apply here. Who are they trying to fool ??

[volcom69]

That's the problem a lot of times with the bengals they just let there players walk and I hate that. I'm sorry but I see this secondary being very week again, not saying Nelson is great but was worth the tag I thought. All this money i think it's time to sign some guys back and fill some holes, but it sounds like they will be cheap.

[HoosierCat]

Well, per Jay Glazer the cap will be announced Monday at $120.6 million, basically unchanged from 2011. In other words, exactly what's been expected for weeks. Not, of course, that it will matter since the Bengals are already hard up against the cap, as Joe Reedy demonstrates.

How is this? Well, first, remember that $15 million they carried over? That's just going to continue to be pushed into the future for extensions for draft picks in 2010 and 2011. Then subtract another $10-11 million for rookies and the injury cushion. Then subtract another $10-11 million for Rucker, Fanene and Nelson. Don't forget to take another $5-6 million out for RFA tenders and Chris Pressley's new deal.

Per the Enquirer's analysis, that would leave the Bengals only $5-6 million under the cap.

So nope, all done, FA over in Cincy, no room to sign anyone. Nothing to see here, move along.

[ArmyBengal]

And when there are no sell outs next season, minus Pittsburgh, they have no one to blame but themselves.

Stop saying the fans need to start supporting the team more and how they should be ashamed.

This is a f*cking joke...

When we do finally have to do a big contract for Green, I wonder how many starters they are going to have to cut to keep him.

I mean, because you know something will have come up to account for where the money went that they were saving for three seasons.

I just don't get how they can't figure things out...

[ct_bengal]

Joe Reedy is just joe smoe who makes alot of assumptions, he is actually quite Hobson-esque in his articles. No one knows whats going to happen, I wouldn't expect anything over the top but I think there wll be at least one semi-splash in free agency (Brandon Carr/ Tracey Porter-ish).