Frostee Rucker signs with Cleveland

[augustisback003]

Looks like we're going to lose Rucker, Fenene and Sims along the Dline. Same old Bengals.

 

[vancelot23]

Rucker hasn't signed yet, but expected.

 

[icehole3]

Rucker = USC bust

 

[bengaldoug]

Rucker was arguably the top performer in last year's DE rotation......

 

[Be Weary of Query]

Rucker's health has been the question, he was great (along with Fanene) last year. Good thing they are gone.

*bangs head on desk*

 

[jgreene95]

Yeah, now we won't win a playoff game without those guys.

Time for some new blood on that line.

 

[DanBengalfan]

don't worry, we'll pad the line with some filler free agents that no one wants...

maybe we're trying to get compensatory draft picks for losing all these free agents.

 

[augustisback003]

Rucker's deal to Browns per league source is $21 million over five years with over $8 million guaranteed

https://twitter.com/#!/joereedy

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Rucker is a good player, but it appears that they are overpaying for a backup player in hopes he can become a full time starter. Maybe he can, but they are gambling right now.

 

[flamingrey]

Rucker is a good player, but it appears that they are overpaying for a backup player in hopes he can become a full time starter. Maybe he can, but they are gambling right now.

People keep talking about "overpaying", but that isn't the case in the slightest. The intent of the new CBA was take some of the money from the rookies and give it to the veterans. And we're seeing the result of exactly that. Teams now have more to spend in FA and a minimum they have to reach (next year) with a limited number of roster spots, so that money will be divvied up as so.

These new salaries are now the norm and for good reason.

 

[cincygrad]

This is sad.... Even if you resigned yourself to the idea that the Bengals wouldn't be players for big name free agents (and you'd be crazy if you didn't), you would still at least hope they would stick to their "plan" and keep a current strength of the team (d-line depth). As it stands now, we are now in need of d-linemen and this will have to be addressed in FA or the draft. I suspect we'll end up with some folks with legal or injury histories.

 

[Servo]

People keep talking about "overpaying", but that isn't the case in the slightest. The intent of the new CBA was take some of the money from the rookies and give it to the veterans. And we're seeing the result of exactly that. Teams now have more to spend in FA and a minimum they have to reach (next year) with a limited number of roster spots, so that money will be divvied up as so.

These new salaries are now the norm and for good reason.

excellent, excellent point. Well said.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

I still think it is a little bit overpaying for his current production.

One thing you do not want to do is saddle your franchise with bad contracts.

Mike Brown needs to unleash some of that and take some risks, but we have seen first hand what Rucker does and I personally believe he was slightly overpayed even with the new CBA. My opinion, take it or leave it.

I am not siding with Mike Brown, because I think we have to spend some money, but at least if you are going to take a risk on something, you should do it with what you know you have seen in past production.

Example, he should have opened his wallet last offseason for JoJo and kept him a Bengal. The defense noticed that. That was warranted production, Rucker was not. He was depth, not a starter, and always has been a backup, IN CINCINNATI.

What Mike Brown means by keeping the money focused on our guys versus giving it all to FA, should be the players deemed starters, who have earned a grand payday. He failed miserably with Joseph, he should have made that stick. Rucker is not a mistake, and neither is Fanene, however, we do need to work on fixing some depth on that D-line again. I can definately see a pick or two going to D-line from the draft.

 

[vancelot23]

He's gotta have a complete roster. If he's not going to sign other team's free agents, and he's not going to sign our own free agents, who the fuck is going to fill in our roster? A bunch of scrubs nobody wants. He's been doing this for over 20 years. Bengals fans get together and talk about who we should get, and what the strategy is and the result is ALWAYS the same.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

He's gotta have a complete roster. If he's not going to sign other team's free agents, and he's not going to sign our own free agents, who the fuck is going to fill in our roster? A bunch of scrubs nobody wants. He's been doing this for over 20 years. Bengals fans get together and talk about who we should get, and what the strategy is and the result is ALWAYS the same.

You pay backups, backup money. Period. We will find some backups, and they will get contracts they deserve or give them an opportunity to prove themselves.

On the other hand, Mike Brown needs to open his wallet to keep our starters like they admit to tryign to build around. Joseph should have been resigned, there should have been zero debate about that. Mike Brown needs to open his wallet for a couple quality FA's who will make a difference here, or should based on their past production with their previous franchises.

Let the backups, keep making backup money. We can find backups, there are quality college free agents that don'tm get drafted all the time. Plus, there is still June 1st cuts. A lot of quality players will be let go then also. No point in jumping into the expensive market for backups.

You jump into FA for a difference maker or two when you need them and have the money.

People were bitching about Manningham going to get too much money in FA for lower production, how does that not carry over to our own career backup free agents?

 

[vancelot23]

Fanene played quite a bit and his salary wasn't that much from New England.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Fanene played quite a bit and his salary wasn't that much from New England.

I never saw what his contract was. However, if offered the same money, would you be a backup in NE or Cincinnati? Either way, his ass was a backup.

 

[vancelot23]

$12 million over 4 years. MB offered $7 mil for 3 years.

 

[vancelot23]

$12 mil over 3 years, sorry.

 

[kramer1]

$12 mil over 3 years, sorry.

LOL....dear god. We're so fucking cheap.