Well, if Hobson is right it's same old Bungles...

[GreenDragon]

Originally Posted by Joelist

http://www.bengals.com/news/article-...b-ffc98164c7b1

Basically the usual claptrap about not being players in Free Agency (despite having the most cap room by far in the league). He also doesn't even get the need positions correct.

If this is true we can forget about improvements on the team - it sounds like the front office is still going to do their reactive, WAY too cautious approach to the offseason.

Smoke and mirrors!!!

[neek]

Originally Posted by Stewy

And the Texans are now in dire CAP straights where they are now over the cap, they have already restructured most of their high priced deals and can't restructure much any more, they had to let multiple high talent individuals walk in FA last year or traded them away to stay under the CAP and this year they have to cut their highly talented DE on the other side of JJ Watt (wanna bet this changes Watt's effectiveness???) or they'll have no money for the draft, let alone signing new or their own FA's. They are in a cap disaster situation.

Don't get me started on the Jets.....

Before you and those like you point to teams like the Texans as a success case of going big in FA, you might want to look a little deeper so you don't look like a fool as a result.

Much like you do every time you post. According to you, you're the only one on these boards that knows how to run an NFL organization. It is beyond me why people argue with you. I think it's like when an annoying fly keeps buzzing around and you finally just smash it.

[nevergonnachange]

Originally Posted by Stewy

And the Texans are now in dire CAP straights where they are now over the cap, they have already restructured most of their high priced deals and can't restructure much any more, they had to let multiple high talent individuals walk in FA last year or traded them away to stay under the CAP and this year they have to cut their highly talented DE on the other side of JJ Watt (wanna bet this changes Watt's effectiveness???) or they'll have no money for the draft, let alone signing new or their own FA's. They are in a cap disaster situation.

Don't get me started on the Jets.....

Before you and those like you point to teams like the Texans as a success case of going big in FA, you might want to look a little deeper so you don't look like a fool as a result.

So what's worse: aggressively trying to win, failing (so far) and having cap issues or sitting back and waiting for all the pieces to fall magically into place and failing (so far)?

[fortyyearfan]

Originally Posted by neek

Much like you do every time you post. According to you, you're the only one on these boards that knows how to run an NFL organization. It is beyond me why people argue with you. I think it's like when an annoying fly keeps buzzing around and you finally just smash it.

Neek,,, that was funny man.I so want to smash some flys too!!!As far as Hobson talks or doesn't talk,any thing he says that doesn't come straight from the bengals staff is just his opinion.I feel we are going to be a force this year and we WILL HAVE A GREAT DRAFT.

[fortyyearfan]

Originally Posted by degolfisfun

I just read Hobson's diatribe on our WRs and frankly I'm disappointed. Possibly I don't understand his description but I would have thought part of his role would be to be objective and candid; I don't expect him to throw players/coaches under the bus but....

This latest on Sanu and Jones possibly being our starting WRs in 2013 was just too much. How long ago was he taking up for Dalton and the offense not having secondary (other than Green and Gresham) Go To guys and that he had young players who were still learning and developing. C'mon Geoff you can't have it both ways. You can't give Dalton and the Bengals offense a pass one week because of youth, inexperience, and talent at the WR position, and then say the next week what great young players our young receivers are and they are probably going to be our starters in 2013. That's too much. We need starting help at WR and every analyst/expert this side of the Pacific knows it.

Let me make a suggestion. Why don't you Geoff write an article on where you see the Bengals needing help to improve in 2013? You've got great insight here. Go a little further and suggest whether you think this help is going to come via FA or the Draft. No need for names. Or is this asking for too much when every other sportwriter in the world is speculating/predicting this? You wouldn't be tipping the brass hand.

Everybody else says we need help/talent at Safety, LB, RB, and WR. Some of this potential help - guys cut and released - is already out there. Wouldn't Bart Scott or Calvin Pace be a good fit here for 2-3 years? Have we contacted their agents? Neither is in their prime but both still have talent. These seem like good Hobson reads to me.

I feel we will get the help we need either in the draft or FA.Relax, everyone,we will sign our free agents, they are not going anywhere. Marvin has Mike Browns ear and I do believe they will work out the details.I would like to see, however, some positive feedback from the FO to the fans that would give us some peace.Just tell us what the Plan IS.Then we could live with it.I know, you don't want to tip your hand, but come on,tell us SOMETHING.We just want to hear you are keeping MJ and Andre Smith for starters.I for one feel they will be back and I see them drafting an O-lineman somewhere as a backup and to give a blow to starters or fill in for injuries.

[fortyyearfan]

Originally Posted by Cure4CF

I think I work with this Frank guy you speak of and I am positive he will continue to be late the majority of the time.

I just don't understand why anyone would have a problem with signing a top tier free agent that would improve an area of weekness. If they make the team better I think everyone on here would be in favor of it. Yes sign our own first, but we have a ton of money to do both. I am not sure if anyone out there this year is worth it (besides our own), but @ least don't say hell no we never should sign a top tier free agent because it cost 2 much. Same with saying we have to sign a big name to get better. Last year was mad we didn't because there were a few that would of really helped. This year I won't be upset if we don't, just because I don't see a major long term upgrade worth it. (Maybe Wallace or Bowe). Any way WHO DEY to you all!

Wallace or Bowe would be good to me.We can make them fit and if they get out-of-line, us fans will look them up and whip crap out of them.Its time we took ownership of our team and let them know they answer to us FIRST.We can do this you know.I have a plan involving players that either aren't producing or are problem childs.Both can and will be a corrected issue.I can live with a lost if I see the whole team give it all they have and just can beat.What all of us hate is poor play and no effort to speak of.Hopefully they are super hungry to win this year and it shows.

[fortyyearfan]

Originally Posted by Ryan Mc

I'm not convinced when people use examples like Haynesworth to discredit free agency. Haynesworth was a fairly well-known head-case in Tennessee and widely regarded as a talented, but lazy, "me-first" player who was going to underperform once he got a big deal. The Redskins willingness to throw tens of millions of dollars in his direction is no evidence of free agency itself being inherently flawed ... not all FAs fit this profile. Plenty guys are FA because they are great players who deserve a big deal and their current teams don't have the cap space to give it to them.

When you have a clear need that must be addressed on a roster, a proven veteran FA who has done it in some other city is simply more likely to succeed in that position than an unproven, unknown youngster. Yes, we can all come up with specific examples of young, unproven players emerging out of nowhere to be stars, and we can all come up with examples of productive vets being busts after going somewhere else in FA. But, if you're just playing the odds, a guy who has already produced 1,000 yards or double digit sacks etc. in the league is more likely to do it in the future than some young kid who never has.

We should have learned our lesson last season. We had clear needs at WR and S, but chose to let the young, unproven players on the roster fill those needs. Safety was such a disaster that it took us just 3 weeks to go running back to Crocker, who luckily was still available to come back and settle the D. Unfortunately, there was nowhere for us to turn after #2 WR proved the teams most consistent weakness the entire season. We had these exact same conversations last year when some of us, me included, wanted us to go after Reggie Wayne as #2 WR and had to hear the same comments about not spending money on free agents. We had the ability to offer a font-loaded contract that would not have hurt us much after 2012, and not only would Wayne have addressed our number 1 weakness last season, his absence in Indy would have significantly hurt the team that was ahead of us in the wildcard race most of the season.

Answer. GREG JENNINGS.Family man,good reputation,team player, very smart,still has a ton left to offer.Gets open and catches the hard pass.A proven all -around player that someone will pick up.I like him for a one or two year deal and I think Marvin and Hue could get this guy.He knows we are close to the dance.I would be happy to see this.For a top wide receiver that is a mature ball-out player, he would be the first FA I would go after.Would solve our # 2 problem and he would be okay with being a fill-in at times.Its a win win for us,Plus with his knowledge of the position,he would be another coach out there and give our young guys a ton of information.We also play the pack this season.This to me is a no-brainer.

[jdmac4]

Two of the top free agents this year are from the Bengals. Any team in the league would be stoked to have a player like MJ on their team and Andre is better than most right tackles in the league after a slow start to his career. We need to lock those guys up first, they will probably be our top two free agent signings.
There are a few free agents I would not mind seeing us bring on board and we definitely have a few holes to fill this off season, but this over-dramatic opining before free agency has even started is a bit silly. If I was planning on making a splash in free agency, I might just put the idea out there that we are not desperate to bring some one in before I negotiate with them.
I would not trust any statements from management to be anything more that posturing for future contract negotiation.

[Wyche'sWarrior]

Originally Posted by NC Bengal Mike

I read the first two posts and stopped. We have talent we need to resign, so it will cost money. Why does everyone think we need a splash? Signing our own who fit our system and then adding players we need is a bad thing?

Call Buffalo and their GM and ask them how Mario Williams is working out

Ask Baltimore how Boldin and Leach worked out....

.....or San Fran how Smith, Brooks, Whitner, Manningham, etc. worked out...

[nevergonnachange]

Originally Posted by jdmac4

If I was planning on making a splash in free agency, I might just put the idea out there that we are not desperate to bring some one in before I negotiate with them.
I would not trust any statements from management to be anything more that posturing for future contract negotiation.

The Bengals put the same story out every year and every year they follow thru and don't make a big splash in FA. They're not going to this year and anybody hoping that they will (besides possibly signing Johnson and/or Smith) is kidding themselves. Last year would've been the perfect time to change their stripes but they still did things the Bengal Way.

I bet Smith and Johnson could both leave as soon as FA started and the Bengals would still wait 3-4 days before jumping in; it's what they do.

[Ben zoo 2]

Originally Posted by JIM TROY

in many posts people on this board have told you, but because you are lame and deaf, you do not hear!

Well, then please type real slow so I can attempt to understand just exactly what it is you are trying to say here.

[Ben zoo 2]

Originally Posted by Stewy

And the Texans are now in dire CAP straights where they are now over the cap, they have already restructured most of their high priced deals and can't restructure much any more, they had to let multiple high talent individuals walk in FA last year or traded them away to stay under the CAP and this year they have to cut their highly talented DE on the other side of JJ Watt (wanna bet this changes Watt's effectiveness???) or they'll have no money for the draft, let alone signing new or their own FA's. They are in a cap disaster situation.

Don't get me started on the Jets.....

Before you and those like you point to teams like the Texans as a success case of going big in FA, you might want to look a little deeper so you don't look like a fool as a result.

I don't purport to following the texans as closely as you may, but I look them as a team that has generally drafted well as of late. I know they traded for Schaumburg and signed jjoe, but hasn't most of their money gone to their own, namely Andre and Arian?

Eventually if you have a roster full of good players won't you end upon this situation? Just asking.

[Stewy]

Originally Posted by nevergonnachange

So what's worse: aggressively trying to win, failing (so far) and having cap issues or sitting back and waiting for all the pieces to fall magically into place and failing (so far)?

A - So the quality drafting and the last two years into the playoffs were lucky magic?

B - Or is it maybe you have no clue how to run an NFL franchise?

You choose. A or B

[Stewy]

Originally Posted by Ben zoo 2

I don't purport to following the texans as closely as you may, but I look them as a team that has generally drafted well as of late. I know they traded for Schaumburg and signed jjoe, but hasn't most of their money gone to their own, namely Andre and Arian?

Eventually if you have a roster full of good players won't you end upon this situation? Just asking.

No they made big FA signings at Safety, CS and LB. Then gave big contracts to multiple people to keep them (WR, LT, C, DE (not Watts), L. They have restructured multiple big contracts and have very little room to restructure more. Not to mention they arei n a real bind in that in the next year or so they will need to pay Cushing, Watts and their other corner (can't remember his name - jackson?) who finally started playing like the 1st player he was drafted as after JJ got there.

Reality is you have to spend money eventually to be competitive AND now teams have a minimum they have to spend. So you can splash or paddle. Splashing can work, yes, but paddling is generally more effective.

[nevergonnachange]

Originally Posted by Stewy

A - So the quality drafting and the last two years into the playoffs were lucky magic?

B - Or is it maybe you have no clue how to run an NFL franchise?

You choose. A or B

Wow, that's some fine gibberish and reading between the lines. No, there's no 'magic' involves in being the #6 seed two years running, the same as there's no magic in having a 20+ year drought in winning a playoff game.

What's your resume as far as running a franchise? Here's the thing, this team has holes at RB, WR, OL, LB (possibly two holes) and S and their 'plan' seems to be hoping that all draft picks pan out and that the right players are available at the right time. It didn't work for them last year and I doubt it will work this season. Unlike you, I don't pretend to be a GM but I can see when something isn't working.

[momadance02]

Originally Posted by ben zoo 2

well, then please type real slow so i can attempt to understand just exactly what it is you are trying to say here.

g o

a w a y

[Ben zoo 2]

Originally Posted by momadance02

g o

a w a y

Nah, I like it here