HoosierCat Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 per Curnette in the Enquirer:Hartwell, a four-year pro who played for Bengals coach Marvin Lewis in Baltimore when Lewis was Ravens defensive coordinator, is a prime target for the Bengals. The club is trying to arrange a visit.Another one I'm filing under "too good of a pickup to actually happen." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirkendall Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 per Curnette in the Enquirer:Hartwell, a four-year pro who played for Bengals coach Marvin Lewis in Baltimore when Lewis was Ravens defensive coordinator, is a prime target for the Bengals. The club is trying to arrange a visit.Another one I'm filing under "too good of a pickup to actually happen." What's got me a little confused is we're going after an established linebacker. When the off-season started, I thought the LB position was all but sealed up and didn't think we'd need to aggressively go after anyone -- as we're obviously doing. Two things come to mind; as said in a different post. 1. Webster is in bad shape health-wise. 2. We're going to a 3-4 as the base defense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierCat Posted March 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 Curnette speculates that it's 1.We don't have the personnel to do 2., even with Hartwell, IMHO. We need a big ol' NT and we don't even have a big ol' DT. Neither Thornton nor Smith strike me as particularly well-suited to end in a 3-4 and Clemons certainly isn't. I suppose we could convert Smith and Geathers to Lbs but then why chase the likes of Hartwell?Fuggedabouddit. Heck, we barely have the personnel to play a decent 4-3! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skyline Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 Even if the lbs we look at are good fits in a 3-4 scheme, I don't think that's why Marvin would go after them. If you have a linebacker that can play the 3-4, shouldn't they also have no problem in a 4-3? Knowing Marvin, I would guess he's looking for good players, period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShulaSteakhouse Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 What's got me a little confused is we're going after an established linebacker. When the off-season started, I thought the LB position was all but sealed up and didn't think we'd need to aggressively go after anyone -- as we're obviously doing.I mentioned this numerous times during the season that the Bengals' LB's are not very good and need help. Simply putting a big fat guy upfront for protection is not enough - the LB's here can't stop the run and are sideline-to-sideline types with exception of Hardy.There was a reason the defense was so bad last year - the LB's are one of them. I think they'd like to put Johnson on the outside and someone like Hartwell in the middle - if they did get Hartwell you wonder if either Webster or Hardy or both of them would be cut as a result at some point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirkendall Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 Curnette speculates that it's 1.We don't have the personnel to do 2., even with Hartwell, IMHO. We need a big ol' NT and we don't even have a big ol' DT. Neither Thornton nor Smith strike me as particularly well-suited to end in a 3-4 and Clemons certainly isn't. I suppose we could convert Smith and Geathers to Lbs but then why chase the likes of Hartwell?Fuggedabouddit. Heck, we barely have the personnel to play a decent 4-3! That's why I'm still suggesting it be implemented in 2006. They've already admitted the 3-4 won't be the base defense -- but it'll be used much more than 2004. Which has me guessing, with the addition of a LB, the team will actively hunt (via draft or FA post 2005 season) a nose tackle. Who knows. It's a good topic for discussion during this BORING period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierCat Posted March 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 Well, they are definitely going to have to hunt up a tackle, nose or otherwise. And the guy they are supposedly interested in from Atlanta, Jasper, played NT for them year before last, I think. (Note that D wasn't very good and got better with Coleman and the switch to a 3-4.)But I think most of the 3-4 talk is just smoke to keep other teams guessing. We heard the same thing last offseason and not much came of it in '04. Maybe it'll be different this time.But 3-4 or 4-3, I'd like to see them sign hartwell first... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bengalboomer7 Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 With the deal Bell just got I'm sure hartwell is not going to be cheap. I know he's already wisited the Cardinal but not sure about anyone else. Quick Question, where can I officilayy find the visits lists for FA's, if anyhwere? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierCat Posted March 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 With the deal Bell just got I'm sure hartwell is not going to be cheap. I know he's already wisited the Cardinal but not sure about anyone else. Quick Question, where can I officilayy find the visits lists for FA's, if anyhwere? Hartwell's price tag is precisely why I don't think it'll happen. Too many teams chasing him.Haven't seen a list of visits; you could just scroll through the last week's worth of kffl...kind of a pain tho... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjakq27 Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 With the deal Bell just got I'm sure hartwell is not going to be cheap. I know he's already wisited the Cardinal but not sure about anyone else. Quick Question, where can I officilayy find the visits lists for FA's, if anyhwere?Hartwell's price tag is precisely why I don't think it'll happen. Too many teams chasing him.Haven't seen a list of visits; you could just scroll through the last week's worth of kffl...kind of a pain tho... http://www.nfl.com/freeagencyFrom NFL.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bengalboomer7 Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 I was looking for listings of visits, but thanks though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whur CHad At? Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 No chance he will come here...Mark My Words Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_justdmb Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 Keep in mind that they aren't sure whether Landon Johnson will be ready for camps. Does anyone have any idea what happened to him? All of the sudden they start talking this injury. That combined with Caleb Miller dropping in the coaches' eyes seemingly every week, and Nate's injury and Kevin Hardy being a step slow and a possible cap casualty, it would be a huge and significant signing. Like it stated above, it's too good of a signing think it's going to happen, but it's STILL possibly the biggest FA signing in club history. Especially considering our free agency history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TippCityRick Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 I emailed Hobson about Hartwell earlier this week and his response was that the Bengals had contacted his agent early in free agency and the price tag was too high. I doubt that situation has changed, but he is one of the players I thought the Bengals would target this year. The man can PLAY, and I'd love to see him at strong side replacing Hardy. Alas, I don't think I'll get my wish cuz the price tag will be near Bell numbers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HairOnFire Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 Hartwell's price tag is precisely why I don't think it'll happen. Too many teams chasing him. Yeah, very poor odds....but maybe Marvin can finally attract a player he used to coach capable of providing a real impact. I guess I'm happy to hear there's some interest, but it's a bad sign for Webster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bengalboomer7 Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 Landon's got that old shoulder injury form college they are finally trying to fix right, but yeah, they will never get hartwell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cincy9275 Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 i don't think we will sign him. but if we did i don't think webster would have anything to worry about just because of one injury you don't cut a guy that can start and be a good player. hardy would be out the door. unless he took a huge pay cut. and the only reason to give up on webster would be if he could'nt recover from his injury! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin's Maniax Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 Would I like to have Hartwell? Yes. Will we get hartwell? No. We just don't have the money unless we made some cuts and that is not going to happen yet. I think if the bengals do cut players it will be in June because if they were going to cut players logic would say that they would have done it before free agency to free up money they did not do it. I think if the bengals at 17 see Crowder from Florida there he will be a bengal. The bengals will be taking some real hard looks at LB this draft and they should be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whur CHad At? Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 I agree with that we will draft Crowder, and i agree Hartwell is too much, because he is one of the top free agents in all of FA. And know nothing will happen to Webster. He is a good player, and Marvin really likes him. He will be ready to play and i think he is the best player on our D(even though we have only seen 3 games) but he is fast and can tackle well. Besides when they draft Crowder, he can play OLB, and thats where most experts prefer him to play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierCat Posted March 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 It's not about the money so much as it is about the will to spend it.Hartwell wouldn't cost more than they have. He wouldn't even cost more than they can afford. And there are numerous ways to free up cap space, some -- like redoing Big Willie -- which will be done soon anyhow, unless they want to go into next season with both OTs set to hit FA!Hartwell would simply cost more than they are willing to spend. Which wouldn't bug me much except that, this year, everyone appears to cost more than they're willing to spend (unless you are a. already on the team, and even then it happens, ask Rudi, or b. suck so bad you can't get better than minimum offers). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whur CHad At? Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 According to Sportsline.comGM Ozzie Newsome denied a rumor that the team is shopping Peter Boulware, according to the Baltimore Sun.Now Peter Boulware is good, but I don't think anyone, including us would have any type of interest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schweinhart Posted March 10, 2005 Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 Hartwell would be a longshot to sign dollarwise but could he play MLB in a 4-3 if he was signed to a bonanza contract? Not many 250-lb backers choring MLB in 4-3. Can't see forking out top dollar just to replace Hardy on the strongside but Hartwell does have the bulk of a promising career ahead of him.The MLB situation does seem like it will be adressed bu more likely through draft. Webster's patella tendon tear sounded like a severe one and I thought Landon has problems with both shoulders popping of out their sockets. But I doubt the Bengals will make a high-dollar move at the position because Simmons, Miller, and Hardy can all play it in an emergency (although I would not want any of them to have to). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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