Marvin Lewis needs to make an Ultamatum

[BlackJesus]

Marvin Lewis has built up the clout with the fan base in Cincinnati (where he would instantly win Mayor) and Marvin has built up the clout with his players (who admire him, and don't even dare say a questionable thing about him).

With that said... He is obviously mad at David Pollack for being a little ****. So I think Messiah Lewis should just give a final ultamatum.

If Marvin walked to the microphone tomorrow morning and said the following:

"Hello Media and Fans, this is not a press conference as much as it is as chance to communicate with David Pollack. (camera zooms in) I have called this press meeting to announce to David Pollack that are final offer is on the table. There will be absolutley no more negotiating of anykind. David Pollack has 24 hours to accept the offer on the table or we will begin deducting 100 thousand from the contract every 24 hours. If he does not eventually agree to this declining number, then we are determined to let him enter the 2006 draft and press his luck at achieving a higher draft position and ultimately more money for himself next year after a year out of football. His advisors and agent would be wise to discuss the ramifications of such a move with him and reiterate that whatever number he achieves next year will most likely be lower and ultimately with a years loss of pay for this season. This is the last time I will speak the name David Pollack until he signs the contract or until he contacts us to let us know that he wishes not to be a Cincinnati Bengal. If and when he signs all will be forgotten, however if he does not sign we wish him the best of luck.

Thank you"

make this gesture......

and walk off stage

= Pollack would sign within the hour I guarantee it

[BlackJesus]

Marvin Lewis would instantly be the hero to the entire NFL fan base.... and would be held up as the new icon against the TO greed taking over the Sport that was built by the broken face bones of men in leather helmets.

If Pollack called our bluff, then f**k it....(we go on without him) just the principle in my mind would be worth it.... and I can guarantee you another thing.... the Bengals would not have any future holdouts next year or any year while Lewis was coach.

[LABengalsFan09]

Bold.

Veeeery bold my friend.....

[BlackJesus]

Then I should drive to Pollacks Parents house, knock on the door, ask for Mrs. Pollack (davids Mother), go with them and sit at the table to have a cup of coffee, say "excuse me for a second", walk outside, put on a 70's suit , walk back in the kitchen, and share with Mrs Pollack what a great kid she raised....................................

..................................

[BlackJesus]

I am so mad at Pollack right now.....

just let me in the ring

[DontTakeAkili]

This is the oddest post I have ever read, and I love it. I'm not ready for Marvint o go public, but I would love for him to declare this to Pollack in person (minus the deductions). I mean, we have all the leverage right now. Other than maybe WR and RB, where could the Bengals be deeper than LB? Pollack loves football and its a matter of time until he tells his agent enough is enough. And you anre right, it sets a GREAT precendent for future draft picks.

[BlackJesus]

This is the oddest post I have ever read

[bengalindian]

I love you Black Jesus.

[Ickey44]

Man, I never get tired of watching that. Hilarious.

[ackley1]

wherever marvin goes i will follow.

[BengalsDieHard1]

I say pollack signs today by 5 p.m.

[Section 310]

Again, I say Pollack has no leverage. He is up against the September 11 clock.

If the guy doesn't sign by then he: #1) looks like a horse's ass for being the last holdout; and #2) loses 1/16 of his salary for the season.

It isn't realistic to think that he will sit out the season...that would be financial suicide. He would never get picked at #17 again and would never make up the lost income from this year. I think by missing all of training camp Pollack's window of opportunity has come and gone. He needs to sign.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

I don't think the entire fan base would agree with an ultimatum. I for one, wouldn't. Pollack has leverage. He has a unique set of skills that Marvin and the rest of the coaching staff coveted enough to use a first round pick on. Granted, being able to get Odell in the 2nd round made it somewhat less necessary to have David as a linebacker, but he adds a dimension to our defense that cannot be overlooked.

[joshh967]

I say he needs to do it soon, but not right just yet. I would definatly agree that if hes not on by next preseason then do it. By the way, what the hell is in that one picture black jesus. the one where the chick is having milk poured on her

[Semper_Fi_Dawg]

When I was in the Corps, I woke up one morning with something that favored the one in the milk picture(not the girl, the other thing] but she was bigger than that one. Knew I had made a mistake when I tried to slip my briefs on in the dark and they fell down to my ankles. They were hers, not mine. Havn't been back to Kentucky since then, and that was in 86.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

It isn't realistic to think that he will sit out the season...that would be financial suicide. He would never get picked at #17 again and would never make up the lost income from this year. I think by missing all of training camp Pollack's window of opportunity has come and gone. He needs to sign.

At some point a team needs to send a holdout mid-late first rounder back to the draft (just preferably not the Bengals). After camp starts, their actual value *does* go down every day. If they go back into the draft, they won't go first round again. Even Mike Williams dropped half a round by spending a year off, and that was because of a failed lawsuit, not a holdout. But until some player gives up first-round money and a year of their career for a bluff, players will continue to hold teams hostage.

The real problem is the fact that the agents get a lot more out of a holdout than a player does. Agents for rookies aren't so much working for their clients as they are advertising themselves to the next year's draft class. Until one of them completely screws up against a team that plays hardball, I see no end in sight.

Hey, maybe the Eagles will do it.

[HoosierCat]

The real problem is the fact that the agents get a lot more out of a holdout than a player does. Agents for rookies aren't so much working for their clients as they are advertising themselves to the next year's draft class.

For those small and one-man outfits, I'd agree...but IMG is very successful. I don't think there's any real "advertising" value for them in Pollack mess. In fact, I'd argue it's at the point where it could start to hurt them. After all, agents are hired to get players signed, not to hold them out. Other agencies, especially ones who've done first-round deals with Cincy, will be able to point to that and say, look they can't even get their guys signed and now they lose chances to make money in bonuses and incentives! Sign with me kid and I'll get you in camp.

[HairOnFire]

After all, agents are hired to get players signed, not to hold them out. Other agencies, especially ones who've done first-round deals with Cincy, will be able to point to that and say, look they can't even get their guys signed and now they lose chances to make money in bonuses and incentives! Sign with me kid and I'll get you in camp.

Just for the record, I had to check TWICE to make sure I hadn't written your post.

[TJJackson]

1) Terminate any/all current offers 8 business hours following the announcement.

2) Create a new contract based on the most recent team offer changing the salary structure to 5 years at mininum nfl salary and reducing the signing bonus to 200K less than it was in the last offer

3) Take 100k of that reduction and place it into an incentive clause based entirely on defensive downs played (the incentive here to be the best every down player you can be, so you're in most if not every defensive down)

4) repeat daily until either he signs or all the signing bonus money is gone.

5) once the signing bonus money runs out, start chewing down any other guarenteed money

6) repeat daily until either he signs or all the guarenteed money is gone.

7) When all the guarenteed money is gone, let him sign a nfl minimum contract at any point we still own his rights

8) when his rights expire, he'll re-enter the draft and probably go no higher than late round 2, and will probably not ever be able to get back to what he could have been, in performance or in pay

I'm thoroughly disgusted with this player at this point and his value drops every day. I say pay him at his value. Value drops, pay drops. If he goes back into the draft next year, so be it.

[HoosierCat]

After all, agents are hired to get players signed, not to hold them out. Other agencies, especially ones who've done first-round deals with Cincy, will be able to point to that and say, look they can't even get their guys signed and now they lose chances to make money in bonuses and incentives! Sign with me kid and I'll get you in camp.

Just for the record, I had to check TWICE to make sure I hadn't written your post.

You and membengal agree with me in the same day? Man, I'm on a roll!

But the bottom line is tha not matter how you want to portion out the blame...the holdout has reached the point of senselessness. It serves no one's interest, not the agent's, not Pollack's and not the team's.

Personally, I have to wonder where Pollack is in all this. I think his concerns are legitimate...but at the same time Mike Brown does not have a track record of screwing people over. Neither does Marvin. Would he run a risk signing the deal on the table? Yeah. Is it a justifiable risk? Yeah, I think so.

All that said, I'm sticking with my September signing predition.

[cincyhokie]

Pollack is being manipulated by his agent, BADLY.....his wife is pulling his strings too....no question.

Also, the dude is getting the first piece of ass he has ever had. How many of you remember your mindset when you were getting laid on a consisent basis for the first time?

My GPA at school went from ok to the crapper in one semester.