Bengals plan to use franchise tag on Justin Smith

BENGALS TO TAG SMITH
A league source tells us that the Cincinnati Bengals plan to slap the franchise tag on defensive end Justin Smith.


Smith, the Bengals' first-round pick in 2001, completed his rookie contract during the 2006 season, making a salary of $2.08 million. Under the franchise tag, Smith would be eligible for a one-year deal worth $8.3 million. The total becomes guaranteed if/when Smith accepts the tender.


But accepting the tender puts him under contract and compels him to attend mandatory minicamps and training camp. If he so chooses, Smith could skip all offseason activities and training camp and sign the tender on the eve of the regular season and still make $8.3 million, guaranteed.


Withholding services is the only leverage Smith has to force a long-term deal. The risk, however, is that the team will withdraw the tag after other teams looking for defensive ends address their needs.
Smith, 27, has played in all but one game during his six-year career. He bagged 7.5 sacks in 2006 and has 41.5 for his career, which equates to an average of just under seven per year.


http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm

On to plan B....If we have a plan B.

Was this guy even on our radar? He's a solid player. Nothing to write home about. I wouldn't give this guy big money.

he isnt worth 8.3 million

I am happy to hear that the Bengals put the Franchise tag on J. Smith, hopefully that will keep the Skins away from him. There are a lot more pressing needs on defense than the Defensive ends.

you'd think a long term deal would be a lot cheaper than that tag. I don't really think he's the kind of DE you build a defense around though. good player, but a top 6 pick has a better chance at being a real game changer.

This guy is good, and good DEs are not easy to come by. You think Marvin Lewis -- a defensive guru -- would tag a player he didn't think was worth it? Or, if he thought he could easily replace him? No way. We'd be lucky to have him, but we couldn't afford that price. So, 8.3M is too much for us, but not for a team with serious Superbowl aspirations who can afford that price.

That said, I agree with That Guy ... why not sign him to a long term deal and save some money? I guess they just want to make sure he doesn't get away before the long term deal is done.

Seems like a waste to tag a guy like him. He's a solid player with a good motor and character, but he's not a top flight DE.

Seems like a waste to tag a guy like him. He's a solid player with a good motor and character, but he's not a top flight DE.

Agreed. And doesn't tagging him give him negotiating leverage? If the team thinks he's worth a one year, $8.3 million deal that the tag comes with, they can't exactly turn around and say OK we'll give you $22 million over 6 years or something.

I'm not really sure why Redskin fans are really interested in this guy. I don't see how he's much of an improvement over Phillip Daniels.

Agreed. And doesn't tagging him give him negotiating leverage? If the team thinks he's worth a one year, $8.3 million deal that the tag comes with, they can't exactly turn around and say OK we'll give you $22 million over 6 years or something.

I'm not really sure why Redskin fans are really interested in this guy. I don't see how he's much of an improvement over Phillip Daniels.Younger and stouter vs. the run, basically. If Daniels' play doesn't drop off from where its been the last two seasons, then he's probably comprable to Smith.

I don't want anyone costing 8m