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Warrick faced with pay cut or being cut


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Straight from Len Pasquarelli

Warrick faced with pay cut or being cut

Unless he agrees to a pay cut, one that reduces his 2005 salary cap number and his scheduled base salary of $2.2 million for this season, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Peter Warrick could be cut by the team.

Warrick, who has not practiced in training camp as he continued his rehabilitation from a leg injury that limited him to four games in 2004, visited with Dr. James Andrews, the renowned Birmingham, Ala.-based orthopedics specialist earlier this week and was told he could return to the field. But the Bengals, wary of the injury and suddenly deeper at wide receiver than in recent years, might not clear Warrick to practice unless he agrees to rework his contract.

The decision for Warrick could come down to acquiescing to the Bengals wishes or being released and hoping there is interest in him as a free agent. It is also possible Cincinnati might trade Warrick if any potential suitors stepped forward.

The fourth overall selection in the 2000 draft, Warrick enjoyed a career season in 2003, with 79 receptions for 819 yards and seven touchdowns while working principally out of the slot. But the leg injury scuttled his '04 campaign and the former Florida State star had only 11 catches for 127 yards in four appearances.

Cincinnati coaches have privately questioned Warrick's diligence in rehabilitation and indicated in training camp that they were prepared to play without him. Even Warrick said this week that he did not "know my role in Cincinnati [anymore]."

Certainly the wide receiver landscape has changed in Cincinnati, where the Bengals have become young, talented and deep at the position. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who replaced Warrick as the starter opposite Pro Bowl performer Chad Johnson in 2004, is coming off a career year and this spring signed a new four-year contract to stay with the club.

In what is a make-or-break season for third-year pro Kelley Washington, the former Tennessee standout is having a solid camp. And the coaches are high on rookie Chris Henry, a third-round choice from West Virginia.

Coach Marvin Lewis said two weeks ago in camp that the team "has moved on" in regard to Warrick, meaning the coaches were preparing as if he would not be available. "Once we did that last season," Lewis said, "we became a better team."

Warrick has appeared in 66 games, and started 55, in five seasons. He has 264 receptions for 2,811 yards and 18 touchdowns.

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The are talking about the warrick deal on 1360 now. They played a sound byte of Marvin Lewis answering a question on it. Lance McAlister made a good point that it is the first time ever that Marvin sounded like he was "tap dancing" for Mike Brown.

They have the video of the press conference on bengals.com. He does look to be "tap-dancing" a little. I suspect this is purely a dollar situation and Mikey wants to make sure PDub is truly ready for the season before handing him over $2.2M - both for cash flow and salary cap reasons.

I bet you PDub is not activated/cleared for Friday night so the team can see what Washington and henry do in live action.

I think PDub's days are truly numbered unless he decides to restructure his contract. Unforuntaely for him, they control him this year.

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They have the video of the press conference on bengals.com. He does look to be "tap-dancing" a little. I suspect this is purely a dollar situation and Mikey wants to make sure PDub is truly ready for the season before handing him over $2.2M - both for cash flow and salary cap reasons.

The thing is, keeping him on the sideline right now doesn't have any cap or salary benefit. Whatever portion of his cap hit represents the last bit of his prorated signing bonus is a hit the Bengals will take regardless of whether he's here or not. And as far as I know his salary is not guaranteed, meaning they can cut him at any point and that's that.

The Bengals (read: Mikey) may not want him to practice because if his knee acts up again, that would be evidence of injury and would probably mean they would have to reach an injury settlement (i.e. cost Mikey more money) before releasing him. If they just cut him now, when he's been certified healthy -- or just keep him from practicing from who knows how long while they use the preseason to get a read on their other WR talent -- it costs Mikey nothing he already hasn't spent.

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If you listened to Lance, Dave Lapham was on there and Dave said it's all confusing to him because on Thursday, Warrick looked as good as he's ever looked and why he wasn't cleared was all the more confusing.

Marvin, or Brown, or Blackburn, or someone, needs to get behind the podium and at least clear some of this up -- at least a direction. We deserve, as customers, that much.

AYE-AYE.

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I have a guess on his value. A conditional pick, ranging between a 4th and 6th rounder, IF THAT.

If you can't play, you shouldn't get pay. Now this has exceptions, such as when a talented player has more years on his contract and is rehabing well. (See TJ) When a talented player is on the last year of his contract and is not recovering, he has no value.

I don't blame Mike Brown for saying hey, we've got plenty of depth without him, lets use the money we would pay him to extend our 2006 free agents and sign David Pollack.

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Anyone guess on what his value might be?

My guess is not very much, if anything. He is physically impaired - whether or not he could practice and play, he is quite possibly not ever going to be able to move and cut like he used to do. I do think some other team can use a smart, experienced slot receiver if they can get him for nothing. However, it took him a couple of years to adjust to the Bengals' system so I don't know if he could step right into another team's offense or not.

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And as far as I know his salary is not guaranteed, meaning they can cut him at any point and that's that..

From Bengals.com

Lewis didn’t get into specifics, but there are clearly big financial implications if Warrick is activated from the physically unable to play list but his knee isn’t up to it. Once the team passes him on the physical and puts him on the field, then it is liable for his $2.2 million salary.
A sign and trade might be best for everyone.

He is already under contract.

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Anyone guess on what his value might be?

Not much. Why trade for a guy who, per Lenny, is about to be cut?

Kirk: I don't think it's confusing; it explains it. Do the Bengals turn him on and put him in when a) if his knee flares up again they either have to pay him to sit or pay him (injury settlement to leave, and B) if he makes a comeback, they can't afford to keepp him next season and have already drafted a replacement in Henry?

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And as far as I know his salary is not guaranteed, meaning they can cut him at any point and that's that..

From Bengals.com

Lewis didn’t get into specifics, but there are clearly big financial implications if Warrick is activated from the physically unable to play list but his knee isn’t up to it. Once the team passes him on the physical and puts him on the field, then it is liable for his $2.2 million salary.

big financial implications if Warrick is activated from the physically unable to play list but his knee isn’t up to it.

Yes, they would be liable for his salary and have to reach an injury settlement.

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If you listened to Lance, Dave Lapham was on there and Dave said it's all confusing to him because on Thursday, Warrick looked as good as he's ever looked

Did Lance ask Lapham whether he's changed his mind about Warrick having a degenerative condition and likely never returning to the same level of play as two years ago.

Science, training, and medicine today is a wonderful thing..

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Kirk: I don't think it's confusing; it explains it. Do the Bengals turn him on and put him in when a) if his knee flares up again they either have to pay him to sit or pay him (injury settlement to leave, and B) if he makes a comeback, they can't afford to keepp him next season and have already drafted a replacement in Henry?

I guess the confusing thing, on my part, is what his true medical condition is. First Lap says he's good, Lance said he looked ok, Marvin says he doesn't look good, EVEN THOUGH he delegated the choice to return to Peter himself (who said is ready)?

Riddle me that!

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A sign and trade might be best for everyone.

He is already under contract.

Yes, a contract that will be terminated. :P

Warrick's only hope is to renegotiate so that another team will find it to be an attractive gamble. He might be able to make the dough over two years for another team with the Bengals getting a conditional draft pick.

When I looked for his contract I noticed a link to a Bears message board speculating on a trade for him. :)

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1) renegotiate P-dubs contract

2) Get him thru at least 1 week of training camp without getting hurt

3) showcase him in an exhibition game against 2nd tier DB's

4) Trade him to Eagles for a 6th rounder, with every 200 yards worth an additional round.

5) Draft some DL depth with Philly's 2nd round pick in 2006.

See . . . this stuff's easy!!!

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