Cincinnati-the most interesting team in the world

[skinster]

The Bengals are by far the most interesting team in football. First of all it's just funny that they sign every first round bust known to man. They are young. They have a young rising star QB, and a WR who looks like he's going to be one of the greats. No position is lacking of young talent. They have the most cap space in the league, and they have the best draft picks in the league for the next two years. They seem to have the most tools to be a dynasty. But despite all the resources to be great for years to come, they don't sign any free agents, young or old; they don't re-sign their own starters or valued backups; they don't pay their best players anything close to what they are worth; and they have a history of never working the draft board.

The biggest question I have about the Bengals is does the cap floor apply to them? Without cap credits, they started out FA with 41 million to spend, yet they have signed 5 players to more than the vet min, and outside of re-signing Reggie Nelson for 18 mil (2.5 guaranteed), they haven't signed one contract over 10 mil. And they let multiple starters walk without replacing them (Rucker-20 mil, Livings-19 mil, Fenane-12 mil, Wilson, Caldwell, Williams, Lee, McGlynn, Roland, and probably Simpson)--Benson and Jennings also were dumped but were replaced.

I find it extremely interesting who they keep signing. Last year they signed Benson, Jennings, Howard, Lawson, Mays, Clements, Nelson, Jones as former highly touted players all abandoned by their teams signed for dirt cheep. This year they let Jennings and Benson walk but signed Derrick Harvey, Jamaal Anderson, and Jason Allen. How many former first round busts can one team have?

I don't want to hear that they don't spend because the owner wants to save money. He's not an idiot, he knows the best way to make money is to win ballgames. Every one of these owners are willing to max out the salary cap if they would make the playoffs.

Now to look at the Bengals draft.

They have 2 firsts/2 fifths this year and 2 seconds next year (will turn into 2 1sts if raiders make playoffs)

Since they have a massive amount of cap space yet still decided to not spend on FA or re-sign their players, I assume they plan to improve almost exclusively through the draft, so I'd think they will use all their picks. IMO this is mentally ill. The only teams I see that are successful yet don't spend on free agents (at the very least as fillers) are the ones that don't have the cap space because it is tied up in their previously paid draft picks. The Bengals currently have nobody on their team that has cashed in after completing their rookie contracts.

Many of us say that if we ran the team, we could do better. I don't think its really even arrogance to say that I could turn this team into a consistent playoff team with the tools they have. If they use their massive cap space they have now to fill the holes they have on their team, they could draft purely based on talent. They could frontload the FA contracts they gave out his year so that when they cam sign their young players to larger deals later. They have holes at G, CB, WR, and SS. The Benglas love to run the ball, so I would make guard my priority. I would have signed Ben Grubbs to a large contract, LaRon Landry to a low-risk high reward deal, 1-2 young non-stud WR for depth (Robert Meachem/Josh Morgan/Eddie Royal/Mario Manningham/Jerome Simpson), and also for depth one young non-stud CB (Terrell Thomas/Tracy Porter/Aaron Ross).

Here's where the real dynasty kicks in. Because I filled holes in FA, there is no need to use my second first round pick immediately. I would be shocked if the Bengals couldn't find a trade partner to trade the 21st overall pick for a future 1st and a present 3rd (keep in mind some years they might be able to get more...the patriots got a 2nd and a future 1st for the 28th). Next year the Bengals would have 2 1sts again, and again I would say do the same trade. I think its pretty undeniable that one first round pick is not as valuable as an eternity of extra 3rd rounders. Hell I'd go so far as to say an eternity of extra 5th rounders is worth one 1st round pick, but that's just me.

[skinsfan69]

Didn't read all of that cause it's too long. But Cincy is in good shape and they have a nice future. No big deal that they don't sign a lot of expensive free agents. Pittsburgh doesn't sign any. But it's got to be annoying to their fans that they let guys walk. I think Brown is in business just to make money, and not to win.

[skinster]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

Didn't read all of that cause it's too long. But Cincy is in good shape and they have a nice future. No big deal that they don't sign a lot of expensive free agents. Pittsburgh doesn't sign any. But it's got to be annoying to their fans that they let guys walk. I think Brown is in business just to make money, and not to win.

Pittsburgh doesn't sign any because they don't have the cap space to. They grow good talent and they pay them well. A few years back when they had the space they signed Ryan Clark.

I'm not saying Brown isn't in the business just to make money, but it seems to me that the teams that make money are the teams that win. People don't watch losing teams, or go to games as often, sponsors don't pay as much for teams with low following, playoff games can't be profited on when your team doesn't make the playoffs, and teams with history/superbowls are valued higher than if they did not have that history. Losing teams can still make good money, like the Redskins. But I guarantee you Snyder would be making boatloads more if we were winning. Paying players is an investment. Owners aren't stupid, they know that winning improves their wallet.

[mooby]

Originally Posted by skinster

Pittsburgh doesn't sign any because they don't have the cap space to. They grow good talent and they pay them well. A few years back when they had the space they signed Ryan Clark.

I'm not saying Brown isn't in the business just to make money, but it seems to me that the teams that make money are the teams that win. People don't watch losing teams, or go to games as often, sponsors don't pay as much for teams with low following, playoff games can't be profited on when your team doesn't make the playoffs, and teams with history/superbowls are valued higher than if they did not have that history. Losing teams can still make good money, like the Redskins. But I guarantee you Snyder would be making boatloads more if we were winning. Paying players is an investment. Owners aren't stupid, they know that winning improves their wallet.

It might be a hard concept to understand, but not everybody shares your views. Some owners, like Mike Brown, just don't like spending money. Sure their bottom line is profit, but they'd rather be bailed out by the rich teams in the league, then invest in their own team.

[Lotus]

If Dalton has a sophomore slump then it's gonna be another tough year in PeteRoseville.

[The Goat]

Cincy has Rey Maualuga.

...that's basically all I know about them. As to not spending money, they face Pitt and Baltimore in that division, both of which are doing all they can to win now. Cincy isn't likely to be a contender anytime soon...what's the point in blowing extra $ now?

[skinsfaninok]

Not trying to be a jerk here but..... Why are we having a thread for another team? Seems odd

[Alvin Walton]

Originally Posted by skinsfaninok

Not trying to be a jerk here but..... Why are we having a thread for another team? Seems odd

Redskins & general NFL Discussion

Because thats the name of this forum.

[That Guy]

well, 2 things. first a skins fan shouldn't be talking about signing 1st round picks and busts... second, the clippers spent forever getting top 5 picks and making TONS of money while essentially struggling to win 1 game a season. winning and making money are seperate issues and not always that closely related.

drafting mike vick got 25k new season ticket holders inside a month for atlanta. it didn't matter if he or the team sucked horribly, the money was already made.

owners do get extra money from playoff games, but not really enough to merit maxing out the cap for a CHANCE to get there. bidwell and brown have always been cheap by choice, whereas green bay or the bills are a little more limited by cash costraints.

anyways, the short answer is probably because he's cheap and doesn't care. at one point (years ago) the bengals scouting was basically one guy from what i've heard.

[mlmpetert]

Dont know where else to sick this, but it definitely adds intrigue to the Bangles, imho:

Ben-Gal/ex-teacher accused of having sex with student | Cincinnati.com | cincinnati.com

Also before anyone says anything mean its important to understand that the first picture of her is probably her worst. So make sure you check out all 19 pictures to do her justice

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by mlmpetert

Dont know where else to sick this, but it definitely adds intrigue to the Bangles, imho:

Ben-Gal/ex-teacher accused of having sex with student | Cincinnati.com | cincinnati.com

Also before anyone says anything mean its important to understand that the first picture of her is probably her worst. So make sure you check out all 19 pictures to do her justice

Whew...talk about theater of the bizarre! But anyway none of the pics were great...because she's not very attractive.

[mlmpetert]

Originally Posted by The Goat

Whew...talk about theater of the bizarre! But anyway none of the pics were great...because she's not very attractive.

True, but im sure a girl of simular looks thats a Redskins cheerleader would be more attractive to us than what her physical traits alone would purely suggest. Im sure the same is true for bangle fans. Although the pics where shes out of uniform and modeling a black swimsuit makes her look nothing short of a...... I feel like thats what b grade porn stars look like.

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by The Goat

Whew...talk about theater of the bizarre! But anyway none of the pics were great...because she's not very attractive.

I am sure to a high schooler she didn't.

[NC_Skins]

Originally Posted by mlmpetert

Dont know where else to sick this, but it definitely adds intrigue to the Bangles, imho:

Ben-Gal/ex-teacher accused of having sex with student | Cincinnati.com | cincinnati.com

Also before anyone says anything mean its important to understand that the first picture of her is probably her worst. So make sure you check out all 19 pictures to do her justice

[Alvin Walton]

Kick out of bed for eating crackers I would not.