Bengals and Free

[joseph]

First things first, no one should be beotching or moaning about Rudi Johnson's comments about sitting out if the Bengals tag him. I said it last year, and still think that if I was Rudi I'd do the same thing. Rudi came in last offseason put in the work on a one year contract last year, and put his butt and his finacial security on the line all season. Then came out a put up a solid season. The simple reality of it is football is a violent game, and RB get more wear and tear than probably any other position on the football field. Most only get one chance in their career to cash in, and it's Rudi's turn to get paid. The difference between playing under the franchise tag and a long term deal is gigantic in monetary value. Under the franchise tag the only money he's guaranteed is that one year salary which is somewhere around 6 mil or so. If he signs a four or five year contract he'd probably be looking at around a 10 mil signing bonus and a 4-5 mil per year contract. I'm not a math guru or anything, but I know enough to know the difference in 6 mil guarunteed money and 15 mil guarunteed, and it's a lot. Also it must be taken into account that when Rudi came into the league he was only a 4th round pick meaning he didn't get a lot of jack (by NFL standards) coming out of college. Plain and simple I would think he would be a freagin fool to come back and play under a 1 year deal and risk getting injured. Hopefully Rudi can keep his cool and say all the right things until he gets a deal done, and rember it's stictly business and nothing personal when it comes down to the dollars and cents of the game. With all that being said though, if I was the Bengals I wouldn't give him the kind of money it sounds like he's asking for. RB is probably one of the most overrated positions in the game, and Rudi just isn't the kind of back that you lock up for that much money. He's good, but he isn't great. Come Feb 8th Rudi should be tagged and the Bengals should move quickly as possible to trade him. I'll take my chances with an extra second round pick and spending that 6 mil in cap room somewhere else.

Next T.J. Houshmanzada, I really don't know what to do about this guy. I just don't have a good feel on how talented he really is. You can't argue with his production down the stretch. The million dollar question though, is whether that is due to talent or match-ups. In reality it probably somewhere in the middle. He just doesn't seem fast or sudden by any means at all, but the guy gets open somehow. I'm sure right now they are some 1 mil apart in yearly salary. T.J. is probably looking at getting an annual salary in the 3.5 mil range, while the Bengals are somewhere in the 2.5 range with their offer. The biggest question in determing T.J. value to the Bengals really comes down to Peter Warricks health. One things for sure though, if the Bengals are expecting to make the playoffs next year, they better have a proven veteran reciever to start opposite Chad. Kelly Washington could be an option seeing as he's coming into his 3rd year when a lot of WR finally start to put everthing together, but that would be pretty risky to count on him to get the job done. My opinion, say goodbye to T.J. thanks for the professionalism and best of luck to you in the free agent market. Replacement Bengals take the lower of there 2nd round picks (after trading Rudi of course) or maybe a 3rd, and ship it over to Redskins for Rod Gardner. Seriously Gibbs seems to be losing it. He made the bone head move of the year in trading for and signing Brunell to a long term deal last year. Now he's getting rid of a highly talented Gardner, because of a disappointing year. Gibbs should maybe focus more on his crappy quarterback (Brunell) and crappy offense, when trying to explain Gardners season. But whatever if the guy want to be a fool, then let him be a fool. Plus Gardner's stock is on the lowside right now and could probably be signed to a long term contract similiar to what the Bengals could pay T.J., and Gardners talent level is far, far superior to T.J., imo.

Last and most important the Bengals need to take the money saved on Rudi and use it to sign a top defensive lineman in free agency. Corey Simon or John Abrams. This by itself would go a loooong way to correcting both the problems of stopping the run and getting a better pass rush. It would probably be better to go after Simon, since he'll probably be cheaper, and it looks like the draft is shaping up as them having a much better chance of getting a impact pass rusher at DE. Either way though this is the offseason where they need to land that one big name free agent who can come in and change the current dynamics of the front 4 on D.