Andre Thread

[Stripes]

April Fools.

I'm a terrible person.

Edited April 1, 2013 by StripesInSuffolk

[ArmyBengal]

I hate April 1st.

It's been an equally sh*tty day at working dealing with this stuff.

At least I will be able to have some beers while watching opening day this evening.

THANK YOU GOD !!!

[volcom69]

It's reported he his not happy with what the bengals are trying to give him. If he was smart he would take the deal I don't think he is going to get much more!

[kingwilly]

April Fools.

I'm a terrible person.

Well played.

Cock.

[combatbengal]

I hope he waits and nobody signs him. I really don't care about this guy. The Bengals gave him a huge contract after we drafted him and how many years has he produced for us? 1 out of four, and the one was a contract year. Oh and didn't he hold out and miss a good portion of training camp? I think he owes the Bengals money for allowing him to wear our uniform. He's fat, out of shape and always hurt. We had guys step in for him and got the job done. Plus, we have the draft to find a replacement if he doesn't want to sign. And one more thought, if this guy is so great, why isn't any other team trying to sign him?

[bwillycuse]

I hope he waits and nobody signs him. I really don't care about this guy. The Bengals gave him a huge contract after we drafted him and how many years has he produced for us? 1 out of four, and the one was a contract year. Oh and didn't he hold out and miss a good portion of training camp? I think he owes the Bengals money for allowing him to wear our uniform. He's fat, out of shape and always hurt. We had guys step in for him and got the job done. Plus, we have the draft to find a replacement if he doesn't want to sign. And one more thought, if this guy is so great, why isn't any other team trying to sign him?

Yes he held out and then his feet broke under the massive weight and sat out a ton of time. Bengals even had to put in strict weight clauses.

Mind boggling that an employer of a professional athelete has to put in contractual clauses forcing them not to be fat.

This is where I am starting to go with this whole thing. Andre already had his payday.

[COB]

Zimmer inspires his players to re-up, they want to play for him that much. Alexander inspires his players to hold out, even when there is no one else to bid against your only suitor.

[ArmyBengal]

You guys are killing me.

[HoosierCat]

You guys are so mean! Leave Andre Smith ALOOOOOONE!!!!!

/>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtYcUAIEW5w

[combatbengal]

Army, you're my brother in arms but I have to disagree with you on this guy. He's a bum, has no work ethics, has no pride, and is only in it for the money. You and I busted our butts for this country and nobody had to tell either of us to stay in shape or prepare for a APFT. When we went in front of a promotion board, we made sure that we were prepared and ready for anything! We had enough pride in ourselves to do that for our Soldiers, our unit's, the Army and the US! Plus you and I never got paid anything like what this guy has made and wants to make. This guy is not our answer. I know for a fact, if the Bengals offered you or I 400K a year to be a bench warmer, we'd prepare to be the best bench warmer in the NFL and we'd be ready to take the field when we were asked to go in!! Smith, show's up late, over weight, out of shape, and ony thinks of himself!!

Now, if he takes a one yar deal to prove himself and earn a huge contract next season, then I'll shut up.

[TJJackson]

Yeah, it needs to be a one year contract --or-- a multi year contract that is mostly incentive-based (including but not limited to being within a certain fairly tight range of weights prior to every practice, scrimmage, preseason game, game, and postseason game)

[Kazkal]

I'd say offer 7.5 million a year doesn't want it walk away April Fools Andre no ones getting insane dollars take the money >.<

[combatbengal]

We lost Leonard to the Bucks! I really liked him; he produced for us when he was in the game!

[walzav29]

I'm saying Andre won't re-sign. Forget it. The 1st 2 years were a debacle, and I think it is painfully apparent to the coaching staff that he doesn't have a good work ethic. They knew he was playing for a contract last year. They didn't extend him when they had the chance after 2011. They must have offered him like 5 million. I think a team will offer equal and he'll leave. I say draft Kyle Long at the top of the 2nd round.

[ArmyBengal]

Army, you're my brother in arms but I have to disagree with you on this guy. He's a bum, has no work ethics, has no pride, and is only in it for the money. You and I busted our butts for this country and nobody had to tell either of us to stay in shape or prepare for a APFT. When we went in front of a promotion board, we made sure that we were prepared and ready for anything! We had enough pride in ourselves to do that for our Soldiers, our unit's, the Army and the US! Plus you and I never got paid anything like what this guy has made and wants to make. This guy is not our answer. I know for a fact, if the Bengals offered you or I 400K a year to be a bench warmer, we'd prepare to be the best bench warmer in the NFL and we'd be ready to take the field when we were asked to go in!! Smith, show's up late, over weight, out of shape, and ony thinks of himself!!

Now, if he takes a one yar deal to prove himself and earn a huge contract next season, then I'll shut up.

Here's my thing. I don't have to like the guy personally, but I don't know anything about him in that way.

I don't know if he has no pride or work ethic on that level.

I also think it's hard to make that assumption. Why ??

Because with all the issues he has with that 40 yard dash, his weight and injury concerns, he worked himself back to solid to above average 2011 and by the end of last year, he was rated as one of the best (if not the best) RT in the league. Was that money making him do that ?? Hard to say, but I ask, don't all players play hard to get that payday ??

As much as I might want to compare what I did in the military, the fact of the matter is they are not Soldiers and i'm not an NFL football player. While I believe they should have the same determination I had, there are also plenty of Soldiers that are dirtbags and there is no accounting for youth. I sure made some dumbass decisions in my 20's, wasn't making millions, and still did all right.

Smith is 26 and has done exactly what you want a player drafted in the top 10 to become, one of the best at thier positions.

If they were to offer him a deal at less than what he wanted, but still reasonable for 2-3 years, he will still stand to have another big pay day and force him to keep his eyes on the prize.

Everyone wanted Jason Smith in that draft, swore he would be the better player, and Smith went before Dre even though he wasn't the better player through his college career. Now I think Jason Smith is a free agent and hasn't done anything in his career. Eugene Monroe would have been a great option, but we weren't taking a LT with Whitworth on the roster at that time.

People also can't be concerned about the Bengals being able to afford him either, because his cap hit has been in excess of 8 million during both of Dre's last two seasons. The money should be more than doable, expecially since the Bengals should be able to get him for less than what he was asking. Now if Dre is scoffing at a reasonable offer, that's on him, but none of us know that at this point in time.

I simply think people focus to much on that 40 yard dash and the first two seasons when he was hurt.

People also need to stop with the whole, "he just wants to get paid" crap as well. ALL players want to get paid.

Don't think so, look at all the free agent movement that happens each year with players that want to stay where they are.

Again, I don't have to like him, but he's worked himself into exactly what the Bengals thought they were getting when they drafted him. To let him walk away and draft his replacement in the first round is a waste of another pick that could be used to improve the team. We dont move forward and for those that still don't think the Bengals are doing enough, Smith leaving has to be viewed as something that would suck even more.

[HoosierCat]

I'm saying Andre won't re-sign. Forget it. The 1st 2 years were a debacle, and I think it is painfully apparent to the coaching staff that he doesn't have a good work ethic. They knew he was playing for a contract last year. They didn't extend him when they had the chance after 2011.

I wondered about this too, but all reports are that the Bengals do indeed want Smith back. There is no question that an offer is on the table and that the two sides have talked, though nothing has come of it. It just looks like Smith wants a bigger payday than the Bengals want to give him, and there is no outside pressure from other teams to force them to up their ante.

I do agree Smith may end up elsewhere, but if so I expect it to be on a one year deal.

[blueridge]

April Fools.

I'm a terrible person.

no,you're just a dick.

[HoosierCat]

Yet another data point: 49ers extend RT Anthony Davis, 5 years, $37.2 million, $17 million guaranteed. So just a bit shy of $7.5 million/year.

[ArmyBengal]

See, that's along the lines of what I was thinking moneywise now, but maybe only a 3-4 year deal and maybe up the guaranteed coin a bit.

7.5-8 million per year for 3-4 years with 20 million in guaranteed money.

That would still allow him to hit free agency again by age 30.

I really don't know why this is such an issue, but it really is irritating.

It's the business side to the game and I dislike it.

[walzav29]

But whats confusing is that no other team is offering a better deal.

[HoosierCat]

But whats confusing is that no other team is offering a better deal.

Well, if he really is asking for $9 million a year in this market, that's not surprising.

[BengalByTheBay]

But whats confusing is that no other team is offering a better deal.

Maybe I'm just missing it, but has anyone even heard any talk of him visiting or talking with any other team? It's just weird isn't it. If he doesn't like the Bengals' offer, shouldn't his agent be shuffling him around to get free meals and provide some leverage?

[HoosierCat]

There was a report a while back that the Iggles took a look, but there wasn't a visit or anything. If it was true, I assume they heard "$9 million" and politely hung up the phone.

It will be interesting to see if the Bengals turn up the heat. I'm sure Smith's side would prefer to wait until after the draft and see if any teams come calling after not filling a tackle need there. But Smith being unsigned effs up the Bengals' draft and likely forces them into going OT with one of their top 3 picks, meaning one of the three big areas of need (safety, LB and RB) gets shafted.

So do they tell Moobs that if he's not signed before the draft they are moving on?

[combatbengal]

If he doesn't sign before the draft, I say move on. We have 10 draft picks correct? We can find some talent for safety, LB, RB and OT throughout the draft!!

[ArmyBengal]

Ok, here's a scenario I could live with:

Draft Fluker in the first.

Draft a RB/LB with either of our 2 seconds.

Draft Bacarri Rambo in the third.

We draft all three positions of need and get a younger and hopefully less of a headcase RT.

If I have to consider the thought, that would be a way that I would walk away and be happy.

If we get into a position where he is forcing our hand with the draft, I immediately go into full "F*CK YOU" mode in regards to Smith.