Andre Smith, can he be trusted?

[Bengals Fan For Life!]

Andre gave us two crappy years, one average year and one great year. Will he revert back to 2008-2009 for once he gets a contract? I suppose that is why we could sign MJ and tag Andre so Andre is once again in a contract year?

DJ Fluker is seeking to make more sense at #21 pick.

Anyone see it working out where we can get MJ and Andre signed for multiple yrs. and still get 2012 production out of Andre?

or should we cut our losses...sign MJ big...put money away for Geno and AJ and draft OL early this year?

Please offer ideas because I can't sleep due to this mental quagmire.

[Willminus2]

That's a wonderful question honestly. I'm afraid that if we give Andre a big contract that he'll revert to his old ways too. I too would also rather give MJ a longer contract and then franchise tag Andre. However, I don't see the harm in drafting an offensive tackle high if the pick is there, I certainly wouldn't reach for one.

[Billgrus]

Andre Smith is more trustable than anyone else the Bengals are gonna find imo. He's had injury issues in the past, and Collins is no joke...but Andre has proven he can play at an extremely high level. It seems best to keep him until he proves he can't, or there is a definite replacement who can do better imo.

[SunsetBengal]

Originally Posted by Billgrus

Andre Smith is more trustable than anyone else the Bengals are gonna find imo. He's had injury issues in the past, and Collins is no joke...but Andre has proven he can play at an extremely high level. It seems best to keep him until he proves he can't, or there is a definite replacement who can do better imo.

+1

[D's Nuts and Bolts]

The Andre situation is an interesting one. Having to find a replacement would be taking a step backwards and if your going to sign a FA T then he is one of the best.
Really we have the money, it is just does the FO want to give it to him. To bad
we didn't pick up that fifth year option.

I imagine they will try and write incentives into the contract like his last one and that will be a big hang up. He knows he can get paid on.

I would rather sign MJ, and tag Andre the tag would cost 9.2 Mil.

If they don't sign him at all, that right away becomes the biggest need IMO, It would be nice if Collins could step in/up.

Remember 80% of the cap has to be spent so some money is going somewhere.

[D.Boon]

Originally Posted by Bengals Fan For Life!

Andre gave us two crappy years, one average year and one great year. Will he revert back to 2008-2009 for once he gets a contract? I suppose that is why we could sign MJ and tag Andre so Andre is once again in a contract year?

DJ Fluker is seeking to make more sense at #21 pick.

Anyone see it working out where we can get MJ and Andre signed for multiple yrs. and still get 2012 production out of Andre?

or should we cut our losses...sign MJ big...put money away for Geno and AJ and draft OL early this year?

Please offer ideas because I can't sleep due to this mental quagmire.

So let me see if I follow your logic....We invest a high pick, a ton of dough and energy in Andre Smith and get no production out of him for two years. Over the past two seasons, Andre develops into arguably the best RT in football. So you think the Bengals should make all the investment, develop this young man than let someone else reap the rewards and sit on what, 54 mil?

There are risks with all players. Resigning one of your best young players that you've developed should be a no brainer.

[goalpost]

Can't let him walk. At worst we tag him. He's only 26, and, i guess only the Bengals know about his maturity. But we know his capabilities....

Here's a nice tidbit under his bio...
Helped RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis rank first in NFL in third-and-one rushing conversions, edging Houston’s Arian Foster by one (14-13), and Green-Ellis had only 15 attempts to Foster’s 19

[Bengals Fan For Life!]

Originally Posted by D.Boon

So let me see if I follow your logic....We invest a high pick, a ton of dough and energy in Andre Smith and get no production out of him for two years. Over the past two seasons, Andre develops into arguably the best RT in football. So you think the Bengals should make all the investment, develop this young man than let someone else reap the rewards and sit on what, 54 mil?

There are risks with all players. Resigning one of your best young players that you've developed should be a no brainer.

I don't have logic - hence the questions marks and the tone. Maybe you missed that? (that was a question mark again.)

[Bengals Fan For Life!]

Originally Posted by Billgrus

Andre Smith is more trustable than anyone else the Bengals are gonna find imo. He's had injury issues in the past, and Collins is no joke...but Andre has proven he can play at an extremely high level. It seems best to keep him until he proves he can't, or there is a definite replacement who can do better imo.

I am not sure how it has been determined that he is 'more trustable than anyone...' I get that he is one of the best at his position...but are you seriously that confident that he won't revert? If so, based on what evidence...because there is evidence to the contrary.

Don't get me wrong. I love the kid. I am just concerned he will go back to '08 form.

[McC]

Originally Posted by Bengals Fan For Life!

I am not sure how it has been determined that he is 'more trustable than anyone...' I get that he is one of the best at his position...but are you seriously that confident that he won't revert? If so, based on what evidence...because there is evidence to the contrary.

Don't get me wrong. I love the kid. I am just concerned he will go back to '08 form.

I'd say it's a good question and a valid concern. Maybe the people who know him would say he's very mature ow but we don't know that on the outside looking in.

Also, do RT's really command mega-deals?

[OSUfan]

Originally Posted by McC

I'd say it's a good question and a valid concern. Maybe the people who know him would say he's very mature ow but we don't know that on the outside looking in.

Also, do RT's really command mega-deals?

Willie Anderson.

[OSUfan]

Originally Posted by Bengals Fan For Life!

I am not sure how it has been determined that he is 'more trustable than anyone...' I get that he is one of the best at his position...but are you seriously that confident that he won't revert? If so, based on what evidence...because there is evidence to the contrary.

Don't get me wrong. I love the kid. I am just concerned he will go back to '08 form.

When you say revert then I would have to ask you to explain. His first season was injury filled. Since then he has gotten himself into the best shape he has ever been in and has come to camp ready to play. He appears to be past the foot injury that was plaguing him so I am not sure what you are getting at with the term revert.

[McC]

Originally Posted by OSUfan

Willie Anderson.

Good point. That's true, but he was a cornerstone of the team. Would he have gotten that kind of deal from someone else and is Andre a cornerstone of this team?

[Truck_1_0_1_]

Originally Posted by Bengals Fan For Life!

Andre gave us two crappy years, one average year and one great year. Will he revert back to 2008-2009 for once he gets a contract? I suppose that is why we could sign MJ and tag Andre so Andre is once again in a contract year?

DJ Fluker is seeking to make more sense at #21 pick.

Anyone see it working out where we can get MJ and Andre signed for multiple yrs. and still get 2012 production out of Andre?

or should we cut our losses...sign MJ big...put money away for Geno and AJ and draft OL early this year?

Please offer ideas because I can't sleep due to this mental quagmire.

He gave us one average year, one horrid, one great, and one elite.

Not 2 crappy and one good.

[Old White Guy]

The bengals need to sign Andre, but still draft some depth for the OL.
Not 7th rd more like the 3rd.

[OSUfan]

Originally Posted by McC

Good point. That's true, but he was a cornerstone of the team. Would he have gotten that kind of deal from someone else and is Andre a cornerstone of this team?

To early to tell.

[fortyyearfan]

Originally Posted by OSUfan

To early to tell.

I honestly hate having to think or worry about if one of our key lineman is going to either blow up by overeating and being lazy or both when they are super good ones out there like zeitler or whit.IF this stupid dude who carrys a gun to the airport and says i forgot it was in my bag can't stay in shape and get BETTER this year, I would feel much better if our coaching staff drafts his future replacement.We can always use the draft choice eventually and I would not want to go into the season with a question mark about my starting lineman.I believe Andre is a good lineman, I just question his mental state.Maybe he just can't help himself to overeat and maybe he is just naturally lazy and has to push himself to stay in shape.There is people like that all over the league.I hope they go after CHANCE WARMARK,TRAVIS FREDRICK,BARETT JONES,D.J.FLUKER,OR RICKY WAGNER.ALL WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE. And I do believe we will draft someone for the line.

[wildcats forever]

Originally Posted by fortyyearfan

I honestly hate having to think or worry about if one of our key lineman is going to either blow up by overeating and being lazy or both when they are super good ones out there like zeitler or whit.IF this stupid dude who carrys a gun to the airport and says i forgot it was in my bag can't stay in shape and get BETTER this year, I would feel much better if our coaching staff drafts his future replacement.We can always use the draft choice eventually and I would not want to go into the season with a question mark about my starting lineman.I believe Andre is a good lineman, I just question his mental state.Maybe he just can't help himself to overeat and maybe he is just naturally lazy and has to push himself to stay in shape.There is people like that all over the league.I hope they go after CHANCE WARMARK,TRAVIS FREDRICK,BARETT JONES,D.J.FLUKER,OR RICKY WAGNER.ALL WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE. And I do believe we will draft someone for the line.

Hypothetically speaking, if Wharton comes back healthy and wins back his LG spot, look at our backups on the line: Robinson/Cook,Roland, Boling, and Collins. Is a draft pick like a muli-talented Barrett Jones-type player an upgrade over any of these? IF so, drafting him seems like a no-brainer to me, whether we re-sign Smith or not. A high quality OLine draft pick wouldn't go to waste IMHO.

[BengalsRocker]

Originally Posted by wildcats forever

Hypothetically speaking, if Wharton comes back healthy and wins back his LG spot, look at our backups on the line: Robinson/Cook,Roland, Boling, and Collins. Is a draft pick like a muli-talented Barrett Jones-type player an upgrade over any of these? IF so, drafting him seems like a no-brainer to me, whether we re-sign Smith or not. A high quality OLine draft pick wouldn't go to waste IMHO.

Even more so... hypothetically if Wharton is still damaged goods and Boling plays like he did down the stretch. That high quality pick would not go to waste.

That's why picking a player like Frederick would not be bad IMO.

At best he may be able to step in at Center. At worst he could actually start at Guard or be a solid back up to either Boling or Robinson/Cook if one should go down.

Let's also get Roland out of there. If all he's going to be is an extra blocking TE. We might as well get an actual blocking TE and send him packing.

[McC]

Originally Posted by OSUfan

To early to tell.

Also, is it a slam dunk that the Bengals want to keep him?

[Bull Durham]

Good grief people. Stop it.

[OSUfan]

Originally Posted by BengalsRocker

Even more so... hypothetically if Wharton is still damaged goods and Boling plays like he did down the stretch. That high quality pick would not go to waste.

That's why picking a player like Frederick would not be bad IMO.

At best he may be able to step in at Center. At worst he could actually start at Guard or be a solid back up to either Boling or Robinson/Cook if one should go down.

Let's also get Roland out of there. If all he's going to be is an extra blocking TE. We might as well get an actual blocking TE and send him packing.

Talk is that Frederick will be at the 320 range for the combine. If he is and shows he has full strength at that weight then we could take him at 21 and I would be fine with it. Kid could be a dominant center.

Boling will be fine IMO.

[Bengal4ever68]

I would tag Andre just because i'm on the fence about signing him long term. He showed up's and downs. I think he needs one more year to prove himself worthy of a long term contract.

also, Michael Johnson should only be signed for one year. He wants to stay in Cincinnati & I think he would take a one year deal to prove himself.

[OSUfan]

Originally Posted by Bengal4ever68

I would tag Andre just because i'm on the fence about signing him long term. He showed up's and downs. I think he needs one more year to prove himself worthy of a long term contract.

also, Michael Johnson should only be signed for one year. He wants to stay in Cincinnati & I think he would take a one year deal to prove himself.

Sorry but I find this ridiculous especially in the MJ case. MJ has shown continued improvement and a great work ethic. Great way to get behind the young players.

[Luvnit2]

Originally Posted by D's Nuts and Bolts

The Andre situation is an interesting one. Having to find a replacement would be taking a step backwards and if your going to sign a FA T then he is one of the best.
Really we have the money, it is just does the FO want to give it to him. To bad
we didn't pick up that fifth year option.

I imagine they will try and write incentives into the contract like his last one and that will be a big hang up. He knows he can get paid on.

I would rather sign MJ, and tag Andre the tag would cost 9.2 Mil.

If they don't sign him at all, that right away becomes the biggest need IMO, It would be nice if Collins could step in/up.

Remember 80% of the cap has to be spent so some money is going somewhere.

I thought t was 89% of the cap. It is all confusing so sorry if I am wrong. My point is if I ma correct, 89% is a huge difference over 80%. It would be additional almost 11 million they need to spend.

But either way, the Bengals have a lot of money to be spent in 2013 that will be mandated.