jjakq27 Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 from bengals.comRudi signs tender3/7/2005 - 3-7-05, 11:40 a.m. BY GEOFF HOBSON Running back Rudi Johnson joined up for the Bengals’ 2005 season Monday when he signed the one-year franchise tender of $6.3 million. Whether he’ll be here longer than that may be decided in the next nine days because the two sides have until March 16 to agree to a long-term term deal before a four-month blackout. “I’m ready to play and do what I do best. I’m glad to still be a Bengal. I like my teammates and this city and our fans,” Johnson said in a news release. “The fans have always been great to me. Their support helps me be a better player, and I think our team can give them a lot to cheer about this year.” Johnson, who had threatened not to play under a one-year deal, accepted the tender offer of $6.3 million due him under terms of the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement when the team named him its franchise player in free agency. The $6.3 is the average of the top five paid running backs in the NFL. “I’m happy for Rudi and our fans that he continues to be a productive and exciting member of the Bengals,” said Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis in the same release. “By signing the tender, Rudi has shown his commitment to being a pro. We will continue to have discussions with Rudi’s representatives to come to terms on a longer contract.” Johnson rushed for 1,454 yards last season to break the Bengals record of 1,435 set by Corey Dillon in 2000 while also breaking Dillon’s carries record with 361. Johnson tied the team record for 100-yard rushing games in a season within five, and he led the Bengals with 12 touchdowns. If the Bengals can’t come to a long-term agreement with Johnson by March 16, they can begin discussions again July 15. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schweinhart Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 Good.Barring a trade, I hope Rudi takes full advantage of the offseason and pre-season to work on his receiving skills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirkendall Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 THANK GOD! Now we can STOP talking about Rudi for about 3 months.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skyline Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 Yep. Definitely sounds like a trade is NOT going to happen.Should be an interesting year at the RB spot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turningpoint Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 lol cool, means he'll be there for the offseason workouts.. cause he honestly coulda just sat around and vegitated until mid august.Anyways I hope he trains well, and would love to seem him as our featured 1 and 2nd down back.... with Perry coming in every once in a while....and in on every 3rd down..I'd also love to see them noth in at the same time with., Perry in as a wide out for 4 and 5wr formations...that guy can easily beat a nickel corner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierCat Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 THANK GOD! Now we can STOP talking about Rudi for about 3 months.... Oh, yeah, right. Like I'm going to let that happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucktkd Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 I would rather he stay...Look at Jamal Lewis....He can't catch the ball either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bengalboomer7 Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 I remember seeing something about his workout regime. He works very hard and I'm gald we'll see him in the offseason workouts and minicamps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShulaSteakhouse Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 As one of the #1 Rudi pimps here I'm happy this is on paper now - even if it is for one year.My thoughts are a healthy Perry will make Rudi a better weapon just as Dillon did when he was here, and that they will compliment each other. If Rudi matches or comes close to last year's production he will also get a huge pay day and a long term deal from someone, if the Bengals don't sign him. I just can't see the Bengals screwing him on one year deals after this season again - and if I were him I would hold out until I got a LTC if he has yet another good season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bengalboomer7 Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 Even though we haven't done anything much this free agency period you would figure that friggin Hobson would have enough time on his hands to put something new on his website every now and again. That's the first time he's updated it in three days. And if you look at some of the other team sites, ours doesn't even compare to his. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HairOnFire Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 With a simple stroke of a pen, a million words of trade fan fantasy evaporate into the wispy vast nothingness from which they earlier sprang. Hand me a towel. (Time to clean up.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BengalNation1281 Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 With a simple stroke of a pen, a million words of trade fan fantasy evaporate into the wispy vast nothingness from which they earlier sprang. Hand me a towel. (Time to clean up.) And HairOnFire spoke the words, and it was good (very poetic, HOF...made me a bit misty)And DPM, upon hearing the news, cried softly into his pillow, and it was also good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierCat Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 With a simple stroke of a pen, a million words of trade fan fantasy evaporate into the wispy vast nothingness from which they earlier sprang. Uh, actually...no. The big problem with the trade talk was that he hadn't signed, and so couldn't be traded, any more than a team can trade any other FA. Now that he is under contract, a trade could be brokered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R-U-D-I Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 Uh, actually...no. The big problem with the trade talk was that he hadn't signed, and so couldn't be traded, any more than a team can trade any other FA. Now that he is under contract, a trade could be brokered.My thoughts exactly. I almost think this gives more credibility to the fact that he could be traded... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTBengalsFan Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 Another good thing about Rudi playing for us, is it is again his contract year, so he has to strive to perform if he still wants that big contract. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DontPushMe Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 With a simple stroke of a pen, a million words of trade fan fantasy evaporate into the wispy vast nothingness from which they earlier sprang. Hand me a towel. (Time to clean up.)And HairOnFire spoke the words, and it was good (very poetic, HOF...made me a bit misty)And DPM, upon hearing the news, cried softly into his pillow, and it was also good. Actually i think this is great news. I didnt want RJ to sign a long term deal here, him signing this 1 year deal keeps the door wide open for a trade, yet pretty much assures us that there will be no long term deal -ever-. Why would i be upset about that? Its so funny that you guys think hes so good, yet the coaching staff and GMs refuse to give him contracts longer then 1 year, drafted a RB in the first round last year, and brought in a good FA rb this year. It should be clear to anyone that RJ is not in the bengals long term plans.I would rather he stay...Look at Jamal Lewis....He can't catch the ball either. Yes he can? 110 catches for 1059 yards in 4 years is solid for a runningback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HairOnFire Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 Uh, actually...no. The big problem with the trade talk was that he hadn't signed, and so couldn't be traded, any more than a team can trade any other FA. Now that he is under contract, a trade could be brokered. Perhaps you guys are on to something. So let's get it straight. You're all arguing that the odds that Rudi Johnson won't play for the Bengals this season actually INCREASED now that the Bengals and Rudi Johnson have a signed contract agreement. Oh my. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HairOnFire Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 It should be clear to anyone that RJ is not in the bengals long term plans. The Bengals have already offered Rudi a 5 year deal that paid enough coin to brand Chris Perry as a true backup in every sense of the word. Thus, backup running back...backup plan. Face facts, any remaining plan that ends with Chris Perry as the Bengals starting RB means the Bengals primary offseason strategy failed, and they were forced to consider options they didn't prefer....like trades. Rudi > Perry Perry = Backup Plan B = Perry Playoff Run - Rudi = SOB Rudi + Perry = ?!?!?!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierCat Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 You're all arguing that the odds that Rudi Johnson won't play for the Bengals this season actually INCREASED now that the Bengals and Rudi Johnson have a signed contract agreement. No...I'm saying that it was not possible for Rudi to have been traded prior to his signing the tender. If you go back and look through my earlier comments on other threads, that's a point I made repeatedly...that all the trade talk was well and good, but that nothing could happen until Rudi signed on the proverbial dotted line. You can't trade a FA, and even though he was tagged, Rudi was still a FA.I wouldn't know whether it's more or less likely. I only know that it is possible now, whereas yesterday, it wasn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierCat Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 Face facts, any remaining plan that ends with Chris Perry as the Bengals starting RB means the Bengals primary offseason strategy failed, and they were forced to consider options they didn't prefer....like trades. Assuming, of course, that one buys into the idea that Chris Perry was drafted as a backup...which I don't.If the bengals viewed Rudi as their long-term solution, they would have inked him last offseason...or during the year...or earlier in the offseason. All that the delays have done is to drive up his price, a throughly predictable occurance.IMHO, any long-term deal for Rudi now indicates the failure of their plans last year when they drafted Perry and declined to sign Rudi to a long-term deal. (Citing, of course, his mere half-season of success. Maybe from the signing of TJ they've learned something, eh?)If they don't deal Rudi, I will be surprised if they reach a long-term agreement, unless Rudi decides to fold and come down to their offer... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HairOnFire Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 I wouldn't know whether it's more or less likely. I only know that it is possible now, whereas yesterday, it wasn't. What's your gut tell you? Mine tells me that Rudi signing the tender put an end to all but the most nagging of trade speculation. Yeah, trade possibilities remain, but pointing out that Rudi needed to be signed in order to be traded ignores the fact that he also needed to sign some form of contract before playing for the Bengals again. Seriously, it could actually be that simple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrishcovga Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 Well i'll add fuel to the fire since it's been long suggested the minute Rudi was franchised was for the soul purpose of being traded for draft picks. I mean didn't Marvin say back in January that he wanted to add more picks..? How else is he gonna get them unless he shops some of his better players and trades down as well.* Compensatory picks will be announced in the next couple of weeks, and we've got 9 days before a contract has to be announced to Rudi. Anthony Thomas coming to town can't be a coincidence !* So like I hope the Eagles make the trade for Rudi, and we get # 31 and # 35, or # 31,# 63, and a later pick; the minute this trade is announced I will begin my campaigning for Marion Barber III. Vernand Morency and Ciatrick Fason are good options as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HairOnFire Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 Assuming, of course, that one buys into the idea that Chris Perry was drafted as a backup...which I don't. If Perry was drafted to be the starter...why have the Bengals attempted for two straight offseasons to sign Rudi Johnson to a very rich long term contract? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skyline Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 My take:The Bengals won't trade Rudi. He's here for one year. They also won't sign him long-term yet. If Perry comes on strong this year, then he's gone. If not, then they'll get a long-term deal done either next offseason or during this season. Unless of course, Rudi insists on testing the market. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierCat Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 Assuming, of course, that one buys into the idea that Chris Perry was drafted as a backup...which I don't.If Perry was drafted to be the starter...why have the Bengals attempted for two straight offseasons to sign Rudi Johnson to a very rich long term contract? ...and failed to get it done. Again, delay only plays into Rudi's pocketbook, which anyone with a passing knowledge of the NFL can predict. They are clearly reluctant to drop the big coin on him, and it's beginning to reach the point of sheer stupidity.On that note, I will retract one thing I said earlier, namely that I would be surprised if they signed a long-term deal. Upon reflection, I think it will be even more surprising if they let him play under the one-year tender. Because if Perry does go bust, and Rudi performs on anything like his 2004 level, they will have no choice but to drop a bomb on him next year. That means something like a 5 year, $30-35 million deal with a $10-12 million bonus. Which means that Mikey will have paid something like $16 million over two years to Rudi.They will bite the bullet one way or the other, I think. Either Rudi goes or he gets his $6 million/year... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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