Jamie Sharper

[jjakq27]

Tho I'm on record as saying they won't get him, I will say that I'm hoping to be proven wrong. C'mon, Mikey. Get your fat butt off your wallet and don't let this guy leave town without a deal.

Is it Mikey's wallet or is it Marvin's wallet?

It seems like when there is some doubt about signing a guy or paying the big bucks (see: Warren Sapp, Troy Vincent, Takeo Spikes) then folks automatically believe it is MB being a tight-wad. But when do sign someone or even overpay, according to some (see: Rudi and TJ) then it must be Marvin's ability to get things done because he knows what he is doing.

Personally I do think that it is Marvin's wallet. I believe that he is the one that nixed the Sapp deal (not Mike Brown) and I also believe that he realized that early in the deal TJ and Rudi would be overpayed but at the end of the deal they would be a bargain. ML strikes me as a very astute judge of talent and "the system" and he seems to shoot for a balance rather than having all of the teams money tied up in three or four guys.

I also hope that they do sign Sharper. I believe that he would be an asset to this team even at the expense of dumping Hardy and even PDub. However I am not holding my breath on that one.

[HoosierCat]

Personally I do think that it is Marvin's wallet.

Well, then, Marvin should get off his fat butt and pay the man. My intent here isn't to start a "who lost Sharper" debate between the "Mikey pulls the strings" and "Marvin has control" crowds. That isn't the point. The point is we have a chance to get a heck of a player at a position of need -- and get more freedom to maneuver in the draft to boot. I also believe that they have, or can create, the cap space to get a deal done. What I don't believe -- and here you can blame the person of your choice, Marvin, Mikey, Katie, Mickey Mouse, whoever -- is that this team has the will to get the deal done.

[HairOnFire]

My gut instinct is to say that if Sharper is in Cincy and his agent is chatting up the Seahaks, then the visit to Cincy isn't serious...but that's only speculation.

It's just...weird.

A fair point, but in most examples players and their agents don't dictate if contract talks get to the serious stage. Teams do. If a team isn't serious from the start then things never progress very far past the handshake and what-do-you-want-to-have-for-dinner stage. As for actual contract negotiations with an agent whose out of town, it might make a quick deal less likely, but it shouldn't prevent the two sides from exchanging serious contract proposals. We're not hearing that.

These guys were supposedly negotiating BEFORE the meeting took place, right? If things aren't serious YET then the Bengals level of interest from the very start wasn't as great as implied...OR....after hearing Sharpers asking price the Bengals decided both sides were too far apart to attempt serious negotiations now.

Weird? Maybe, but it's pretty hard to judge based upon how little information was gleaned from that update. But I'll agree it doesn't feel right.

[HairOnFire]

Personally I do think that it is Marvin's wallet. I believe that he is the one that nixed the Sapp deal (not Mike Brown) and I also believe that he realized that early in the deal TJ and Rudi would be overpayed but at the end of the deal they would be a bargain. ML strikes me as a very astute judge of talent and "the system" and he seems to shoot for a balance rather than having all of the teams money tied up in three or four guys.

I said almost exactly that in an earlier post. If Marvin really wants this guy he can make it happen and I don't believe for a second that Mike Brown will stand in the way. But who knows just how serious/expensive Marvin's interest is?

To put things in nutshell terms, I don't doubt he'd prefer Sharper over a Chris Draft, Tommy Polley, or drafting Project X...but at what price?

[chrishcovga]

To put things in nutshell terms, I don't doubt he'd prefer Sharper over a Chris Draft, Tommy Polley, or drafting Project X...but at what price?

Hey, Heatmiser Don't beat'em , join'em.

In my perfect world, we end up with O'Dell Thurman, and I'd take him over Sharper any day of the week.

-Don't forget, Sharper was a contributor on a very good Ravens defense, and has just been productive, not a Super-star in Texas. - I'm not exactly thrilled with the Idea of a Kevin Hardy type Payday for another underachieving free agent.

[schweinhart]

-Don't forget, Sharper was a contributor on a very good Ravens defense, and has just been productive, not a Super-star in Texas. - I'm not exactly thrilled with the Idea of a Kevin Hardy type Payday for another underachieving free agent.

If Sharper can't play MLB any better than Hardy did after he signed, then it could seem to be that type of signing.

But I'd like to see Sharper get the shot to play MLB in stripes. Worse case scenario (barring injury) he shifts to SSLB and Landon, Miller, and maybe Webster later in season chore the middle. Sharper at strongside is an upgrade over Hardy IMO.

[JPW]

Is Agone in Seattle so that the Hags don't feel stiffed because Sharper's inclination is to sign on with Marvin? Hell, I dunno...but it's weird that they're split up like this. My gut instinct is to say that if Sharper is in Cincy and his agent is chatting up the Seahaks, then the visit to Cincy isn't serious...but that's only speculation.

It's just...weird. 

Well another thing to look at is that his visit to Cincinnati is a 2 day deal.

That sounds rather serious to me.

My gut instinct is that Sharper is right where he Wants to be but at the same time his agent wants to make it very clear that they have Options ...

[San Antonio Bengal]

Being a Texans bangwagon fan (mainly so I can be even more anti-Cowboys in a city full of Cowboys fans), Sharper was a very bright spot on a not-so-good defense. I think that if the right dollar amount (within reason, of course) is there, Sharper will choose the Bengals over the other teams going after him. I have no logical basis for that; it's just a feeling. Hopefully, that feeling will be right!

[HoosierCat]

My gut instinct is that Sharper is right where he Wants to be but at the same time his agent wants to make it very clear that they have Options ...

Could be. Like I said, I wasn't sure what to read into that. This a.m.'s (slight) expansion of last evening's report quotes Agnone as saying there's "no significance" to him not being in Cincy along with Sharper...so take that for whatever that's worth.

Certainly doesn't sound like anything is imminent, tho.

[HairOnFire]

Hey, Heatmiser Don't beat'em , join'em.

In my perfect world, we end up with O'Dell Thurman, and I'd take him over Sharper any day of the week.

Heatmiser? C'mon, I know the target never gets to decide what he's called, but I think I deserve a better nickname than that. Just call me...Uma.

As for Thurman over Sharper, you're talking about a perfect world scenario that has this team ignoring a proven option over an unproven one. Worse, the world isn't perfect [DING!!] so in reality....your plan involves targeting a player that any team in the draft can have just by calling his name. We both know the level of uncertainty surrounding the draft is far too great to assume that you can pass on Sharper and get Thurman. Instead, it's Sharper versus an undetermined draft pick. In other words, it might be Odell Thurman...might be Barrett Rudd...might be Marcus Lawrence...might be Robert McCune.....might even be some late round pick named Phil Indablank.

That said, I agree the draft will offer cheaper alternatives and that coupled with the desire to build around a young player may be limiting this teams interest in Sharper. Then again, maybe things are playing out perfectly behind the scenes and he'll still end up in stripes.

Fingers crossed.

[redsfan2]

Is Agone in Seattle so that the Hags don't feel stiffed because Sharper's inclination is to sign on with Marvin? Hell, I dunno...but it's weird that they're split up like this. My gut instinct is to say that if Sharper is in Cincy and his agent is chatting up the Seahaks, then the visit to Cincy isn't serious...but that's only speculation.

It's just...weird. 

Well another thing to look at is that his visit to Cincinnati is a 2 day deal.

That sounds rather serious to me.

My gut instinct is that Sharper is right where he Wants to be but at the same time his agent wants to make it very clear that they have Options ...

Coach Lewis' M.O. has been to sign the guys he wants before he lets them leave town. With Sharper having gone on with his tour ...... I'm thinking that the chances slimmed considerably.

[Bobcat Bengal]

I wish they'd just g'head and sign this dude already.

[HairOnFire]

Asked about possibly reuniting with Jamie Sharper the NFL Network reported that Marvin Lewis responded "...he would be an aid and an addition if we agree to agree."

Wow, you've got to love Marvin Lewis. Absolutey nobody deliberately says less more often than our guy.

[Whur CHad At?]

I can't believe that people would take Thurman over Sharper. Are you kidding. Have you forgoten that Sharper led the league two years ago in tackles with 164, beating out Ray Lewis of all people. He is not another Hardy, because he is quick and healthy. 128 starts out of the last 129 games is pretty impressive. I can't beleive I was seeing that! You would rather take a rookie, over a proven Veteran. I mean do you want our D to suck next year? Do you want us to loose? Are you kidding.

PS. Gotta Love Marvin, he just love to play games with our minds

[HairOnFire]

Asked about possibly reuniting with Jamie Sharper the NFL Network reported that Marvin Lewis responded "...he would be an aid and an addition if we agree to agree."

Wow, you've got to love Marvin Lewis. Absolutey nobody deliberately says less more often than our guy.

I take it all back. There's an update on the Enquirer website that has the entire quote. Sheesh, I'm drooling.

"We're adding a football player that I feel comfortable with and a guy I know can enhance the rest of our guys."

[Whur CHad At?]

Hmm? What does this mean?

[Bobcat Bengal]

Hmm? What does this mean?

It means he's being sarcastic.

[Whur CHad At?]

dang

[ShulaSteakhouse]

I would be really excited if they sign Sharper.

[jjakq27]

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art.../304080002/1066

Thursday, April 7, 2005

Bengals visit with free agent Sharper

Webster's status still unclear

By Mark Curnutte

Enquirer staff writer

The Bengals this afternoon confirmed the free-agent visit of linebacker Jamie Sharper, released last week by Houston.

Sharper, 30, visited Wednesday and today with Bengals officials and coach Marvin Lewis. Lewis was Baltimore defensive coordinator when the Ravens drafted him.

Lewis addressed Sharper’s skills and what he could bring to the Bengals after a workout this morning at Paul Brown Stadium.

“I see that as an aid and an addition if we decide to agree to agree,” Lewis said of a possible reunion with Sharper. “We're adding a football player that I feel real comfortable with and a guy I know can enhance the rest of our guys.”

The Bengals appear to be in the market for a veteran linebacker because of the condition of veteran middle linebacker Nate Webster. Webster said he had to undergo a second operation in December on his patellar tendon, originally injured in Game 3 in September.

Lewis said today that Webster’s status or ability to return won’t be known until later this summer.

[Whur CHad At?]

intesting, maybe an agreement has been made?

[redsfan2]

Hmm? What does this mean?

Reference " Troy Vincent " from last years free agency for an explanation as to what this means.

Everybody remember how that one turned out ????

[Bobcat Bengal]

Hmm? What does this mean?

Reference " Troy Vincent " from last years free agency for an explanation as to what this means.

Everybody remember how that one turned out ????

Urhhh.......

How about Warren Sapp, or maybe Bobby Taylor for good measure?

s**t, Bobby was on MTV Cribs a while back.

[chrishcovga]

I can't believe that people would take Thurman over Sharper. Are you kidding. Have you forgoten that Sharper led the league two years ago in tackles with 164, beating out Ray Lewis of all people. He is not another Hardy, because he is quick and healthy. 128 starts out of the last 129 games is pretty impressive. I can't beleive I was seeing that! You would rather take a rookie, over a proven Veteran. I mean do you want our D to suck next year? Do you want us to loose? Are you kidding.

PS. Gotta Love Marvin, he just love to play games with our minds

Hey Hair on Fire - Every time I see your Forum name I can't help but to think of the Heat-Miser from one of those Christmas clay-mation kids movies we all grew up watching. He was sort of like a puppeted-Don King, but that's another subject.

But as to O'Dell Thurman vs. Jamie Sharper, I know Sharper is a proven vet, relatively young at 30..?? He's solid in all aspects, but he's not a spark ! He doesn't play with reckless abandon and put fear into opponents. I've watched Thurman play for the last 3 seasons, and he's relentless. Not so much as in Pass rush, but just all over the field, knocking people the hell out! He's a playmaker, he causes a lot of turnovers, both from hits, as well as making plays while the ball is in the air. Sharper is a very good linebacker, but when is the last time Cincinnati had a defensive player teams were actually scared of..?

David Fulcher maybe..? Mike Reid..? - It's been a long ass time.

[TJJackson]

We don't have that player on D, but on special teams coverage units....Hello, Mr Myles :-)

<----- see pic to the left