How much $$$$ is Michael Johnson gonna cost to resign him.

[ImpactPlaya]

I think this guys best days are ahead of him. I can't see how the Bengals can ill afford to let him
walk and try the FA waters.
He's a very important piece to the success of this defense.
I can understand letting Rucker and Fanene walk. those guys were a dime a dozen.
M.J is a special breed of player.
He has All Pro written all over him. He's starting to come into his own.
He got jerked around by Marvin thinking he was a hybrid DE/LB.
he's finally settled in as our RDE
I don't care if the Bengals have to overpay for him. He's worth every dollar.
another reason to keep him around.
he's a asset to the community. He cares about kids and the youth.
he's a class act 100%
he's that kind of player who's off the field actions can improve the perception
of this franchise.
Him and A.J Green are my favorite Bengals.

[SunsetBengal]

I would guess somewhere around 5 yrs. and $45M.

[CINwillWIN]

Originally Posted by SunsetBengal

I would guess somewhere around 5 yrs. and $45M.

Which he'd be worth...to somebody. Bengals might not put that kind of money up for him and simply just draft a newcomer in his spot. I like Michael Johnson, and he deserves the payday, but other than Robert Geathers, or Odom a few years back I don't see him getting a huge contract from the Bengals.

[Ron Mexico]

Although I don't think he's as good as most people, I definitely think he's worth attempting to re-sign. In the end, I think that he'll get a bigger payday if he goes somewhere else, but his career will be better if he sticks around as part of this awesome D-Line we have in Cincy.

[CINwillWIN]

Originally Posted by Ron Mexico

Although I don't think he's as good as most people, I definitely think he's worth attempting to re-sign. In the end, I think that he'll get a bigger payday if he goes somewhere else, but his career will be better if he sticks around as part of this awesome D-Line we have in Cincy.

I would agree that he would be a bigger stand out if he stays...
*cough*
T.J.
*cough*
Chad
*cough*
Warrick
*cough*


Unless he stands out like:
Corey Dillon
Justin Smith
J.Joe

but who knows...I know I need *cough* to stop smoking....

[Bengal4ever68]

Originally Posted by SunsetBengal

I would guess somewhere around 5 yrs. and $45M.

No way in hell should he get paid that much. If so let him walk and find someone in Free agency that is worth it.

[Ron Mexico]

Originally Posted by Bengal4ever68

No way in hell should he get paid that much. If so let him walk and find someone in Free agency that is worth it.

Right. That is elite level pay, and MJ has not earned it.

[BengalsIronMan]

Originally Posted by Bengal4ever68

No way in hell should he get paid that much. If so let him walk and find someone in Free agency that is worth it.

Agreed that's a heafty payday. I'd give him 5 years 35 mil plus incentives and even that may be high. He's a stud and I love me some MJ but not for $9mil a year

[momadance02]

Originally Posted by Ron Mexico

Right. That is elite level pay, and MJ has not earned it.

He's close to elite IMO.


You guys say let him walk, just wait til he's not on our line and they take a step or two back.

[CINwillWIN]

Originally Posted by momadance02

He's close to elite IMO.


You guys say let him walk, just wait til he's not on our line and they take a step or two back.

I don't want that...

Did anyone else feel like it took this front line a little bit longer to gel this season compared to last?
Anyone missing Rucker and/or Fanene?

[09itsourtime]

Originally Posted by ImpactPlaya

I think this guys best days are ahead of him. I can't see how the Bengals can ill afford to let him
walk and try the FA waters.
He's a very important piece to the success of this defense.
I can understand letting Rucker and Fanene walk. those guys were a dime a dozen.
M.J is a special breed of player.
He has All Pro written all over him. He's starting to come into his own.
He got jerked around by Marvin thinking he was a hybrid DE/LB.
he's finally settled in as our RDE
I don't care if the Bengals have to overpay for him. He's worth every dollar.
another reason to keep him around.
he's a asset to the community. He cares about kids and the youth.
he's a class act 100%
he's that kind of player who's off the field actions can improve the perception
of this franchise.
Him and A.J Green are my favorite Bengals.

The problem is that many players that were re-signed were "starting to come into their own" and on the verge of greatness. You cant "overpay" for something someone might be. You pay for what you believe they will average. I like MJ and think he should be re-signed, however its hard to tell if he is performing so well because of the contract year. I'm thinking hes worth around 6.5 mil a year or geathers money.

[BengalsIronMan]

Originally Posted by 09itsourtime

The problem is that many players that were re-signed were "starting to come into their own" and on the verge of greatness. You cant "overpay" for something someone might be. You pay for what you believe they will average. I like MJ and think he should be re-signed, however its hard to tell if he is performing so well because of the contract year. I'm thinking hes worth around 6.5 mil a year or geathers money.

This.

This.

This.






This.

[09itsourtime]

Originally Posted by momadance02

He's close to elite IMO.


You guys say let him walk, just wait til he's not on our line and they take a step or two back.

what? How in the world is he almost a top 5 which many consider to be elite player at his position? Hes been above average this year and been a good player but come on people are overvaluing him. I want him re-signed as much as the next guy but hes no geno atkins or aj green.

[Ron Mexico]

Originally Posted by momadance02

He's close to elite IMO.


You guys say let him walk, just wait til he's not on our line and they take a step or two back.

Meh. I think elite would be roughly the top 10% at their position. Given there are 64 starting DE's in football, I would not put him in the top 6 or 7, but that's just my little definition of the term "elite". I'd definitely like him to be re-signed, and if the Bengals have to overpay a bit,...then so be it. I don't want them to break the bank on him though.

[savagehenry54]

I think the guy is pretty average. I wouldn't overpay for him. With the attention Geno is drawing, he should make more plays.

[yellowxdiscipline]

He's put up decent numbers, but we all know those stats are directly linked to the pressure that Geno generates in the middle. If he goes anywhere else that doesnt have a Geno Atkins lining up in the interior, hes not gonna have a good career.

[coachmcneil71]

I like MJ and would like to see the Bengals resign him.
That being said he is from Selma, Alabama which means he probably grew up watching the Saints and Falcons. I could see him signing with a team from the south with Carolina,ATL,NOLA,Tampa, or maybe even Jax being possible spots for him to land depending on the money offered.
I could also see him resigning with Cincy because he is loyal to his teammates and enjoys playing with this young up and coming D.
As long as Cincy is in the ball park I think they have a good shot at getting him back.

[WhoDeyZA]

I honestly would rather see them pick-up somebody in the draft than spending a bunch of money on him. Their are some pretty good DE's they could pick up in the earlier rounds. I wouldn't mind seeing them take either Bjoern Werner, Sam Montgomery, or Jackson Jeffcoat if any of them are available when we pick if there is not a Safety (which, IMO, is our biggest need) worth a 1st round pick available.

[Jom112]

Hopefully zero. I like MJ93, but with Geno, Green, Dalton, Dunlap, Reggie Nelson, etc... that we need to resign, we should probably let him go. We have 3 picks in the first two rounds of the upcoming draft that has some very talented pass rushers in it.

It wouldn't be smart to resign him to a large contract (as much as I like him)...

[BoomerFan]

If we don't resign him, I hope we drop the cash in FA on some quality players. We gotta spend some cash somewhere.

Anyways, I like MJ as a player but I wouldn't be offended if he got a better deal elsewhere. I'm curious though. Do people think he'll ever make the pro-bowl? A year where he'll be considered a top 10 player? Dude has amazing arms and can bat down passes like no one's business. This year he's been getting to the QB more and I think he's always been decent against the run/keeping containment.

[yellowxdiscipline]

He's still developing and isn't proven to be awarded a huge contract. Whatever we offer him should be fair.

[NATI BENGALS]

It drives me crazy how easily replaceable people think MJ is. There is a reason DE is the second highest franchise amount behind QB. They don't grow on trees and when teams find good ones, they pay them well or some other team is going to. RE is the premier position on a 4-3 defense.

If you think we can just throw a first or second round pick in there and let the guy who has played more snaps than anyone on our DL for the last two years walk away and we won't miss a beat, you are mistaken.

If he is not elite he is as close as you can get without being considered elite. And if I had to bet on it I would bet that the 25 year old MJ ends up being elite.

If the Steelers can afford to give 3 of their LBs 6 year $50+ million contracts. We can afford to give one to our best DE.

[NATI BENGALS]

Originally Posted by yellowxdiscipline

He's still developing and isn't proven to be awarded a huge contract. Whatever we offer him should be fair.

Playing in every game possible since he was drafted. Playing more snaps than anyone for the position group considered the strength of our D. Beating some of the best LTs in the game. And showing the will and ability to get better each year hasn't proven enough to you?

[WhoDeyZA]

Originally Posted by NATI BENGALS

It drives me crazy how easily replaceable people think MJ is. There is a reason DE is the second highest franchise amount behind QB. They don't grow on trees and when teams find good ones, they pay them well or some other team is going to. RE is the premier position on a 4-3 defense.

If you think we can just throw a first or second round pick in there and let the guy who has played more snaps than anyone on our DL for the last two years walk away and we won't miss a beat, you are mistaken.

If he is not elite he is as close as you can get without being considered elite. And if I had to bet on it I would bet that the 25 year old MJ ends up being elite.

If the Steelers can afford to give 3 of their LBs 6 year $50+ million contracts. We can afford to give one to our best DE.

I'll agree that DE's don't grow on tree's and you're exactly right it is extremely rare for a rookie DE to come into the NFL and make an immediate impact. However, if he starts playing hard ball and wants more than he is worth than I'd rather see them draft someone.

Don't get me wrong, I'd like to see him back I just don't know if I think he is worth $45 million over 5 years as was previously posted (I know that is purely a number thrown out but if that was what he wanted I don't think he is worth it). He has been solid this year but still has a ways to go to be elite in my mind. The DL has definitely been the strongest unit on this team this year. When you don't have to blitz and still consistently get pressure with a 4-man rush you're doing something right. He is a part of that obviously. However, IMO, 60-70% of that is because of our amazing DT play (a lot of it falling heavily on the best DT in the game Atkins).

[Housh]

Its not good practice to overpay for players.

But its also not good practice to never pay for ANYBODY and let good players walk.

Mike Brown DOES pay for players, but hes just made HORRIBLE decisions on who to give paydays. MJ is young and still getting better. While I do think his game is being elevated by Geno I also do think he has alot of skill. If we were doing Madden ratings right now(lol) id have his rating on the bengals at like 86-88 but if he were on a worse team at about 82-83. STILL a good player but not as good as everything thinks now. But still worth resigning long term and at a decent amount of money, because hes not Geathers.......this guy will only get better.

I can excuse letting 30 year olds, or injury prone guys walk for nothing.

But you dont let MJs, Genos, AJs, walk for nothing. You kick and scream to keep them and if they are about to leave you franchise them and try and trade them