Bengals 1# In Cap Space

[Kazkal]

49.9 Million,Would be nice to see us get atleast one top tier Free Agent for once "Cough Nicks" and still bring in other Talented players "cough Michael Bush"

Well Keeping our own and extending young guys.

[UK Bengal]

If it happens I'll be very surprised and it will confirm the coaches have more power than ever if not then it will reaffirm mike brown as a I don't give a s**t If we win as long as I make money sob.

[BengalszoneBilly]

If it happens I'll be very surprised and it will confirm the coaches have more power than ever if not then it will reaffirm mike brown as a I don't give a s**t If we win as long as I make money sob.

There is the possibility the front office is just being patient. Not wanting to give up too much for too little. They did exceptionally well in the last draft by taking Green 1st and Dalton 2nd. Some may call it genius, and others may say even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.

Personally I don't know.

Looking at years gone by, it has been a hodge podge of hit and misses. Mostly misses, but in my book they're (in baseball terms) getting a little more wood on the ball. Let the draft come and see what happens.

[ArmyBengal]

We were discussing this in the Nelson thread I believe and basically, all the money is accounted for.

No top tier and lucky to get a 2nd tier. You know how hard it is to run an NFL football team and all.

I mean 2015 has to be taken into consideration on the chance we might actually have to pay someone more than peanuts.

[walzav29]

They need to sign Fanene, Nelson, and Rucker. Then get a G,Corner, #2 wr in FA then draft well.

[ArmyBengal]

They need to sign Fanene, Nelson, and Rucker. Then get a G,Corner, #2 wr in FA then draft well.

I think Fanene and Rucker will be back. Nelson has no reason to take less from the Bengals and will be gone.

Any of the Guards I want (Nicks/Grubbs) will cost to much.

Any of the CB's I want (Finnegan/Carr) will cost to much.

WR's ?? Meachum.

That's right, Fanene, Rucker, and Meachum.

That's what 49.9 million is going to get you.

No, i'm still not happy about that story yesterday...

[ArmyBengal]

You know I was thinking about something...

Where would this team be right now had the pay scale had not been implemented and we had to pay AJ Green better than the 60 million Trent Williams got at the #4 slot the year before ??

[HoosierCat]

Oh, in that case the Bengals would only be about $40 million under the cap instead of nearly $50 million, and would be talking about how they needed to cut everyone making more than the vet minimum or face bankruptcy.

It's funny, the Bengals have the most cap space in the league, yet all we get from the FO is talk about how they are in no position to spend a dime. Meanwhile, out in Arizona, the Cardinals, who are still $16 million over the cap, are desperately trying to land Peyton Manning, who will surely cost a ton of money.

[volcom69]

It seems to me like they are afraid to sign any bigger name FA because they want the young players to succeed in the worst way. I guess they want to be the youngest team in the league maybe that's there goal! They could really do some nice things in the draft if they would fill some holes in FA.

[ArmyBengal]

Oh, in that case the Bengals would only be about $40 million under the cap instead of nearly $50 million, and would be talking about how they needed to cut everyone making more than the vet minimum or face bankruptcy.

It's funny, the Bengals have the most cap space in the league, yet all we get from the FO is talk about how they are in no position to spend a dime. Meanwhile, out in Arizona, the Cardinals, who are still $16 million over the cap, are desperately trying to land Peyton Manning, who will surely cost a ton of money.

That's my whole point Hoosier. The Bengals dodged a huge 60+ million bullet when the new BCA had a rookie wage scale included and now when they are almost 50 million UNDER the cap, they are talking about the day that may never come and big contracts of their own to consider. If that's the case, this should never expect to actually field a consistent winner. NEVER.

It's not just me being mad about yesterdays story, it's just bullsh*t. A team worried about sell tickets shouldn't be putting things like this out there. If they aren't, they should be telling thier beat guys to not discuss it.

If they truly don't make at least one significant move in FA, I think they will have to resort to giving away tickets again in 2012. By significant, I no longer mean Nicks or Super Mario. One of either Bush or Grubbs would suffice, but both should be possible. When all we get out of almost 50 million is f*cking Fanene and Rucker, I call bullsh*t. BULLF*CKINGSH*T more precisely.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Time to give Nate Livings that 5 year, $30 million contract, and extend Andre Smith!

Then cue Baghdad Hob piece about no more cap room and struggles due to performance incentive escalators in 2017.

[derekshank]

I think it's a little early for outrage.

First of all, Mike Brown has shown a willingness to pay extremely high prices for guys that he has drafted. He made Palmer the highest paid QB at the time, Levi Jones the highest paid LT at the time... and Chad's contract was in keeping with the top tier WRs at the time.

Also, the Bengals gave big contracts to both Whitworth and Hall just last year. Many Bengals fans cried that they were bad contracts... that Mike Brown paid too much. Meanwhile they complained that Joseph got away. You can't have it both ways.

Mike Brown didn't just pocket the money he would have paid to Joseph either. He went out and signed Clements, Howard, and Lawson. There are several Bengals players that are making significantly less money than they deserve... and I expect Mike Brown will give contract extensions to a couple of those guys once FA is over.

As for the FA market this year... the Bengals have been very active in recent memory. I expect a similar period this year. It won't be Mario Williams... because that's not how the Bengals want to do things. They are trying to do things the right way, by drafting well, and keeping their own top tier talent. But the Bengals will likely go fill some holes with mid-tier role players like Bush, Cotchery, and Mincey... with the hope being that these guys will compliment the young stars that have been drafted in recent years.

If they continue drafting as well as they have the past couple of years... they'll have no problem spending the 99% cap requirement, because Atkins, Dunlap, Dalton and Green will get paid like stars. That shouldn't be something to complain about. That's how great teams are built.

[ArmyBengal]

Yeah and they were ready to give JJoe a bunch of money last season and I guess that was spent on last seasons injury settlements or some horsesh*t like that. I look at the free agents out there that NO DOUBT would be upgrades to what we have in the roster and it just pisses me off to think they are saying they won't be players in that group of players.

At this point, i'm hoping against hope that it's bullsh*t and they go out and get a player or two to help.

Hoping they are just keeping things to themselves and not wanting to tip the hat.

I don't believe that, but at least I have some time to hold on to it.

Seriously, look at some of the guys on here and tell me it wouldn't be worth seeing the team spend some of that 50 million on what some of them would bring to our team knowing we have 2 first round picks to add to them.
/>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/eye-on-football/17738633/top-100-2012-nfl-free-agents

[derekshank]

I get what you're saying Army. You know I've been the leading the charge for signing Mike Wallace - but I think quoting the $50 million in cap space is a bit misleading.

Do people realize how many players the Bengals have to re-sign/replace?

Offense:

Benson, Peerman, Simpson, Caldwell, Scaife, Lee, Collins, Roland, Livings, McGlynn, Bobbie, Nugent

Defense:

Rucker, Fanene, Sims, B. Johnson, Lawson, V. Rey, Jennings, Pacman, Nelson, G. Wilson, Miles.

23 players that the Bengals need to replace or get re-signed (many of them are incredibly important role players in the surprisingly successful 2011 season).

Now, consider that the Bengals went to the playoffs last year as the youngest team in the AFC... meaning that the majority of their star talent comes on inexpensive rookie contracts. Replace those 22 players with guys of similar talent, and give extensions to a couple of the guys that deserve it... and that cap space dries up really fast.

And if you don't think it's a good idea to plan ahead for the big contracts that guys like Dalton, Green, Atkins, and Dunlap are going to demand... ask the Steelers how their offseason is going.

Side Note: I just read that $15 million of that $49.9 million in cap space was money that Mike Brown had to apply for to be carried over from last year. He didn't have to apply for it... meaning that the cap number could have been $35 million. Why would he do that if he's not planning on spending it? The answer is that he is planning on spending it - but I'm betting it's going to be primarily on keeping their own talent in stripes.

[derekshank]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/12/league-strips-cowboys-redskins-of-millions-in-cap-space/

If I'm reading this correctly, the Bengals just got an extra $1.6 million in cap space. Meanwhile the Redskins and Cowboys both went from under the cap to over the cap. Interesting.

[membengal]

Pre-outrage is the best kind of outrage...

[Sea Ray]

I didn't know there was a rule against dumping salaries into the uncapped yr. I'm no fan of the Daniel and Jerry but wasn't that the idea?

[membengal]

not if intent was to cheat the cap.

[Kazkal]

Make that 51.5 Million Teams each team got extra 1.6 million in cap space because of Cowboys & redskins cheating last year.

[Kazkal]

Time to give Nate Livings that 5 year, $30 million contract, and extend Andre Smith!

Then cue Baghdad Hob piece about no more cap room and struggles due to performance incentive escalators in 2017.

Extend Andre would be fine,Nate livings on the other hand I rather see the "Best Guard in Football" go play for the eagles.

I didn't know there was a rule against dumping salaries into the uncapped yr. I'm no fan of the Daniel and Jerry but wasn't that the idea?

No the League warned teams not to do it,Redskins and Cowboys Ignored the warning figuring they could do what ever they like.

[combatbengal]

I say we give all our cap money to Payton! Just kidding! I'm sold on our Dalton! We need to do more than just resign our own players. Benson will be gone so we'll need a RB. No idea how Hall will be when he returns so we need a DB. Simpson may not be on the team next year and not sure how Shipley will do after his recovery so we need a WR to help Green out. Oh shoot Randy moss is trying to come back.... I'm kidding again. Will Rivers ever play again for us? What will happen to Ray and his legal issues, will he be around? So we have a lot to address.

[HoosierCat]

Outraged? Nah, just disappointed. I think the Bengals have a great opportunity to make some noise in 2012. Instead they're pulling out empty pockets and concern trolling about 2014.

[ArmyBengal]

Yep, disappointment is the word of choice in this regard.

Save all the money to plan for the future ?? I get that, but lets not pretend there's not money to spend THIS year.

How is it other teams manage to hold onto thier probowl talent, but we only have enough for 2nd tier or less players ??

How is it, we have to save our nickels and dimes in the hopes of getting a large dollar contract doen in 3 more years ??

How many other teams have this much space under the cap and yet have no money ??

I'm just sick of watching other teams make moves to improve their rosters while the Bengals think Fanene and Rucker are the missing pieces.

While I like both of them, lets not pretend they couldn't be upgraded as well.

Seems like a lot of pretending and again, if it's just smoke and mirrors, I will be more than happy to come back and say how pleased I am with the moves. It's simply baffling and disappointing. I've said it numerous times. Even one free agent starter that allows them to consider other options in the draft would be absolutely HUGE.

Guess we just hope the first four picks are all starters in 2012 ??

To bad that would still leave holes to fill...

[derekshank]

How is it other teams manage to hold onto thier probowl talent, but we only have enough for 2nd tier or less players?

The short answer is that you aren't looking very closely at the way other teams are behaving.

The Steelers have been cleaning house and renegotiating contracts with anyone who will listen to make enough money to keep Wallace, and prevailing wisdom is he'll still be gone. And they'll be the exact same position next year with Antonio Brown.

The Ravens had to choose between Rice and Grubbs.

Houston is letting Mario Williams walk... and just cut one of the best RTs in the NFL.

The Saints are losing Nicks, and potentially both Colston and Meachem in the same season.

The Chiefs are willingly giving up one of the best CB combos in the NFL by not even attempting to keep Carr.

According to Finnegan, the Titans didn't even attempt to bring him back.

Meanwhile, teams like the Raiders, Redskins, and Bears ignore the draft and focus all their energy in free agency. The Bears are rumored to be in Mario Williams and Vincent Jackson sweepstakes. And I'm sure there will be whispers of a Super Bowl if they get those guys... just like when they traded for Cutler, and signed Peppers... and still sucked. Ask an Eagles fan how it feels to win Free Agency.

In other words... there are plenty of teams losing their top talent. And there are plenty of teams that will break the bank with disappointing results. The Bengals are trying to avoid both trends.

[membengal]

So pre-disappointed then. Carry on with your pre-disappointment. A few of you are working into an awesome pre-disappointment lather.