Bengals Long Term Plan

[cincygrad]

And that's how teams like Oakland have $32 million in dead money on this years cap. The Bengals have a terrible track record of high profile FA signings. Why do you have faith in that now? They have been drafting we'll in recent years.

Bengals recent "draft success" is completely oversold.

 

[The Duke]

Bengals recent "draft success" is completely oversold.

We've made the playoffs 3 of the last 4 years with our draft picks leading the way. We need to take that next step, but they need secure their core players first. Manipulate the cap 2015-2018 while we keep adding difference makers to the ones we already have.

 

[kramer1]

23 years and counting. Building towards a future that never comes.

Can I get a Who Dey?!

 

[The Duke]

23 years and counting. Building towards a future that never comes.

Can I get a Who Dey?!

Pissing it all away on overpriced players in FA isn't much of a plan. Year after year teams "win" free agency and it doesn't translate to the field.

 

[kramer1]

Pissing it all away on overpriced players in FA isn't much of a plan. Year after year teams "win" free agency and it doesn't translate to the field.

Nonsense. Complete and utter nonsense.

 

[The Duke]

Nonsense. Complete and utter nonsense.

The Bills "won free agency" last year, how'd their year go?

 

[DanBengalfan]

could MB do this plan?
or is it illegal?

average minimum is 89%

2013 spend 78% of the cap
2014 spend 78% of the cap
2015 spend 78% of the cap
2016 spend 122% of the cap to bring it to an even 89% average

 

[flamingrey]

Pissing it all away on overpriced players in FA isn't much of a plan. Year after year teams "win" free agency and it doesn't translate to the field.

The teams that win consistently have very good to great QB's. Every other team has to look at making splashes in FA along with hanging onto their best players in order to get to the elite level. SF did this while they had Alex Smith. IIRC, much of their defense is made up of FA acquisitions, several of whom came from the Bengals.

Furthermore, EVERY team fills skill positions through FA. The Patriots are constantly shuffling their receivers. 49ers did this. Seattle is doing it. Green Bay does it. The Saints do it. But the Bengals do not.

 

[cincygrad]

The teams that win consistently have very good to great QB's. Every other team has to look at making splashes in FA along with hanging onto their best players in order to get to the elite level. SF did this while they had Alex Smith. IIRC, much of their defense is made up of FA acquisitions, several of whom came from the Bengals.

Furthermore, EVERY team fills skill positions through FA. The Patriots are constantly shuffling their receivers. 49ers did this. Seattle is doing it. Green Bay does it. The Saints do it. But the Bengals do not.

Exactly.

The 49ers have more draft picks than anyone, but it doesn't stop them from being aggressive to push them over the hump. Did they wait to add receiving talent through the draft? No, they traded for Boldin. The Bengals count on 3rd and 4th rounders at key positions..... You say they would be blowing their money on FAs because of their past performance. What about their past performance with mid-round draft picks. How many of them, outside of Atkins, have paid off?

 

[flamingrey]

The Bills "won free agency" last year, how'd their year go?

Silly argument.

The Bills acquisitions didn't work out for them as they hoped, so we should avoid FA altogether, otherwise we're doomed.

 

[flamingrey]

Exactly.

The 49ers have more draft picks than anyone, but it doesn't stop them from being aggressive to push them over the hump. Did they wait to add receiving talent through the draft? No, they traded for Boldin. The Bengals count on 3rd and 4th rounders at key positions..... You say they would be blowing their money on FAs because of their past performance. What about their past performance with mid-round draft picks. How many of them, outside of Atkins, have paid off?

Heck, I would settle for filling major needs at skill positions with proven veterans.

Last season we needed a #2 receiver in the worst way. We wanted to go through the draft or try one of the no-named guys we already had. The season came and went and we still need a #2.

Last season we needed defensive back help. Again, we decided to skip FA (settled for the leftovers - 3rd tier guys). The safety position we decided to try CB's at and had to settle for a guy we released in the offseason at midseason. CB's we missed out on guys like Tracy Porter who would further solidified one of the biggest weaknesses (DB) on the strength of our team (defense).

Had we spent even a little bit of money on even solid options at WR and DB - we aren't talking about big time splashes - our team would have been much better. We wouldn't have backed into the playoffs nor would we have gotten embarrassed while in it.

Some fans will never get it.

 

[ckhokie]

Heck, I would settle for filling major needs at skill positions with proven veterans.

Last season we needed a #2 receiver in the worst way. We wanted to go through the draft or try one of the no-named guys we already had. The season came and went and we still need a #2.

Last season we needed defensive back help. Again, we decided to skip FA (settled for the leftovers - 3rd tier guys). The safety position we decided to try CB's at and had to settle for a guy we released in the offseason at midseason. CB's we missed out on guys like Tracy Porter who would further solidified one of the biggest weaknesses (DB) on the strength of our team (defense).

Had we spent even a little bit of money on even solid options at WR and DB - we aren't talking about big time splashes - our team would have been much better. We wouldn't have backed into the playoffs nor would we have gotten embarrassed while in it.

Some fans will never get it.

but...but...but.... Laveranues Coles!!!

Seriously though, I have no idea how so many Bengal fans are totally fine with the fact that we never do anything in FA, and try to convince themselves that we don't ever need to.

 

[cincygrad]

I agree! I'm not looking for us to go out and sign the big prize -- Though I would have been happy with getting Mike Wallace! But there are some really good players that can add to critical needs. It's embarrassing that we still haven't acquired a serviceable safety. In fact, our only decent safety in the entire Marvin Lewis era came through a trade (Reggie Nelson).

 

[vancelot23]

The key is to find a balance. We can't be the Miami Dolphins or Eagles, just signing players like crazy, over-paying in many instances, and hoping they work out. However, signing a few solid, starting-quality guys, or one big name, especially at safety, should be the plan.

 

[ckhokie]

The key is to find a balance. We can't be the Miami Dolphins or Eagles, just signing players like crazy, over-paying in many instances, and hoping they work out. However, signing a few solid, starting-quality guys, or one big name, especially at safety, should be the plan.

This is (at least) the 2nd time you have made that point. How are you so worried about 'over signing FAs' when we don't sign ANY?

 

[vancelot23]

I didn't say I was worried about anything. I'm saying we should sign somebody.

 

[The Duke]

The key is to find a balance. We can't be the Miami Dolphins or Eagles, just signing players like crazy, over-paying in many instances, and hoping they work out. However, signing a few solid, starting-quality guys, or one big name, especially at safety, should be the plan.

I'd agree with that. I think Michael Huff would be a good fit at the other safety spot.

Also, Cincinnati isn't exactly a preferred destination for a lot of people.

 

[cincygrad]

I'd agree with that. I think Michael Huff would be a good fit at the other safety spot.

Also, Cincinnati isn't exactly a preferred destination for a lot of people.

And Buffalo is?

These guys don't care? They like money.

 

[vancelot23]

Yeah, I just don't think we're making offers. Marvin Lewis said in an interview that they have a plan, and things are going according to that plan.

 

[kramer1]

could MB do this plan?
or is it illegal?

average minimum is 89%

2013 spend 78% of the cap
2014 spend 78% of the cap
2015 spend 78% of the cap
2016 spend 122% of the cap to bring it to an even 89% average

Yep, that's legal.