ESPN gives us a....

[Cincyfan78]

Imho, re-signing Lawson, Nelson, Jones, and Sims only deserves a C, since they lost Fanene and Rucker and once again imho replaced them poorly with Anderson and Harvey.....now you add BJGE, Allen, and Wharton and let Livings and McGlynn leave and you're moving into the C+/B- area.....they could have gotten an A if they had signed Nicks, Grubbs, or one of the top DBs available, but we all know that just isn't how we roll......

Nelson, Lawson, and Jones would alone be a C as you said, but they upgraded at Guard (hard not to) and while it may not be a ton, they did upgrade at RB.

People put too much value on Fenene and Rucker. Last year was like the first time both were healthy all year long in their entire career (or so it seems). I think Fenene could have been kept with a decent deal, but he's a backup getting really decent money from N.E. Rucker got over-paid Renard Wilson style from Cleveland. Point blank.

The people they've brought in may not be great guys, but they are back-ups, not starters. If they had brought these guys in to be starters, then I would be a bit more concerned. They didn't.

 

[bengaldoug]

You're right, in that it was the first year both had been healthy all year, but it can't be denied they both made major contributions last year, and would probably have done so again this year if both were healthy again.......whether either or both were overpaid is debatable, I tend to think Fanene deserved his contract and more, Rucker, not so sure, because last year was the first year he really contributed a lot........

 

[futballiscool]

The Bengals have more cap space than any team in the NFL, and they didn't signifgantly upgrade a single position on the roster..

that's a D in my book..

if you want to compare them to the Steelers, the Raiders, and Giants (teams with no cap space) it looks like a good offseason..

If you compare them with the Bills, Broncos, and Bucs (the teams that had similar cap space to the Bengals at the begining of the offseason) they look terrible

 

[vancelot23]

Wharton and BJGE are significant upgrades over Livings and fumblebucket. Bringing back most of the key guys-Nugent, Nelson, Sims, Lawson keep the D and kicking game intact.

 

[futballiscool]

Wharton and BJGE are significant upgrades over Livings and fumblebucket. Bringing back most of the key guys-Nugent, Nelson, Sims, Lawson keep the D and kicking game intact.

I don't think BJGE is much better than Benson. playing for NE inflates numbers, and this guy still averaged 3.7 ypc in their offense last yr..

I have no clue on Wharton, but quality OL in this leauge are rarely cut unless there's an issue with their age or a decrease in ability. he's obviously on the downside of his career

 

[vancelot23]

You don't have to add a high-priced FA to be successful. BJGE has a career 4.0 ypc, is a TD machine, and hasn't fumbled...ever.

 

[flamingrey]

The Bengals have more cap space than any team in the NFL, and they didn't signifgantly upgrade a single position on the roster..

that's a D in my book..

if you want to compare them to the Steelers, the Raiders, and Giants (teams with no cap space) it looks like a good offseason..

If you compare them with the Bills, Broncos, and Bucs (the teams that had similar cap space to the Bengals at the begining of the offseason) they look terrible

Bingo!

Had the team been hovering around the cap and made these changes, you couldn't really complain. They wouldn't have had the ability to make major improvements, so small improvements here and there is all you could hope for. However, given the space available, they should've made a much bigger splash. Despite everything we had to work with, we skipped over the 1st tier and 2nd tier guys and settled for 3rd tier guys at every position (minus BJGE and Wharton who I might say are 2nd tier). And great point about Wharton. Teams don't just let o-lineman go, and Wharton didn't get much attention in the offseason either.

The 'D' was very average last year, so simply keeping it intact isn't anything to gloat about. And losing 2 pieces - Fanene and Rucker - of the strength of our defense doesn't constitute "intact".

I'd give them a D+, but could buy a C-.

 

[vancelot23]

And you people wishing for a big splash are going to be disappointed for the remainder of your lives. Enjoy your pity party.

 

[ckhokie]

And you people wishing for a big splash are going to be disappointed for the remainder of your lives. Enjoy your pity party.

When you have more holes than you can fill in the draft, you address those in free agency. When you have the ability to address those needs and don't, it's blatant neglect and shows ownership isn't serious about winning.

I just don't know how you can stand back and look at FA so far and say 'We did all we could to improve the team'

 

[vancelot23]

Didn't say we did all we could, but we improved at some positions, brought back key guys, and are still talking to others. Can't say it was a fail either.

 

[ckhokie]

Didn't say we did all we could, but we improved at some positions, brought back key guys, and are still talking to others. Can't say it was a fail either.

If what you say is true, I think think that is why guys are questioning your 'grade.'

I feel the same way, but couldn't label this offseason anything better than a 'C' so far. It has been nothing short, or better, than average.

 

[Tubbs1518]

I bet you are the same people that gave the Redskins A's every year in free agency too huh?

 

[vancelot23]

Wharton is an upgrade, and since Livings is awful, a pretty big upgrade. Benson is addition by subtraction, even if we hadn't signed anybody, so BJGE is a fairly big upgrade. Jason Allen is much better than Jennings(name?). Getting Sims back is huge. Same with Nelson and Nugent. If we sign Okoye, then with Anderson, I consider the D-line losses evened out. I'd say we improved the team overall, therefore, a B.

 

[ckhokie]

I bet you are the same people that gave the Redskins A's every year in free agency too huh?

not going to get in it with you today, troll.

 

[ckhokie]

Wharton is an upgrade, and since Livings is awful, a pretty big upgrade. Benson is addition by subtraction, even if we hadn't signed anybody, so BJGE is a fairly big upgrade. Jason Allen is much better than Jennings(name?). Getting Sims back is huge. Same with Nelson and Nugent. If we sign Okoye, then with Anderson, I consider the D-line losses evened out. I'd say we improved the team overall, therefore, a B.

Fair enough. I'm hesitant about calling BJGE a 'huge upgrade' so far just bc I'm not sure he is a feature back and I still don't even think the 'committee' is that great if it is him and Scott. I agree with most of the other stuff. D-line is about equal.. I'll still call it a C.

 

[futballiscool]

And you people wishing for a big splash are going to be disappointed for the remainder of your lives. Enjoy your pity party.

I'm not disappointed. It was entirely expected..

but given the cap space, the new rules regarding spending, and the across the board quality of FA this yr, I still think it sucked

 

[Tubbs1518]

Lol I'm a troll because I like Milled better than Wilson. Check.

 

[flamingrey]

And you people wishing for a big splash are going to be disappointed for the remainder of your lives. Enjoy your pity party.

Hence why we give the Bengals bad grades. We assume the same "baseline" for the entire league, not gift the Bengals with a lower "baseline" than the average team because we know they aren't going to spend.

 

[flamingrey]

I bet you are the same people that gave the Redskins A's every year in free agency too huh?

Actually, I've never graded the Redskins. I don't follow them closely enough to be able to weigh their needs against other factors such as cap space and the magnitude of certain needs at one position relative to needs at another.

 

[ckhokie]

Lol I'm a troll because I like Milled better than Wilson. Check.

Nope, that's not it at all.

It's because you are the only person on this board who gets totally butthurt every single time anyone has a differing opinion. And almost 100% of the 'facts' you post, are completely false or self-fabricated.

but seriously, keep up with the good discussion contribution like that which can be found on post 32