Free Agents

[pulses]

Originally Posted by BengalsRocker

I really like Chris Ivory to add as an additional RB.

Tough and quick.

Exactly what we need.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1wjt_lmJfs

He's a RFA so I don't know if it would be worth it if we had to surrender a pick as well though.

Ivory is buried on their depth chart I don't think they would match. I'd offer like 4 yrs and 5 million, thats about double what he makes now.

[shaolinghost]

Originally Posted by BengalsRocker

I really like Chris Ivory to add as an additional RB.

Tough and quick.

Exactly what we need.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1wjt_lmJfs

He's a RFA so I don't know if it would be worth it if we had to surrender a pick as well though.

I couldn't see them getting more than a 3rd rounder for him. If that's the case, he might be worth it.

[pulses]

Originally Posted by shaolinghost

I couldn't see them getting more than a 3rd rounder for him. If that's the case, he might be worth it.

For a guy who went undrafted and hardly plays anymore.... no way near a 3rd IMO

[Hammerstripes]

Originally Posted by Norm

Which FA's would you like us to take a shot at this offseason?

Personally i'd like to see us get a DE and a WR...

DE
Cliff Avril
Osi Umenyoira
Dwight Freeney

WR
Dwayne Bowe
Greg Jennings

Why would we spend $8 million plus on a rotational DE?

[Bengal4ever68]

We should not draft a DE in the draft unless it's Bjoern Werner, & Dion Jordan is not worthy of a 1st round pick...

I would sign Johnson to a 1 year deal..& if he don't want the deal then we look elsewhere...I really like Avril, he knows how to get to the QB...but i also like Brandon Joiner who will be getting out of jail soon.

[dr1441]

Originally Posted by Bengalrocker

Exactly. Re-sign our guys, and add through the draft, it's been working for the team the last couple of years,
no need to stop that strategy now.

Our leading RB, two of our starting 3 CB's all came from free agency, our starting SS came from free agency, our starting kicker right now came from free agency.

We can draft as well as can but you still have to add key guys in free agency when the opportunity presents itself.

[BengalDawg]

Originally Posted by shaolinghost

It hasn't really been working though. Sure, we've got a winning record over the last 2 seasons, but we're still a loser against Pitt and Balt overall, and we got absolutely destroyed in the playoffs last year.

Bringing in 1 or 2 KEY FAs could benefit this team a lot. Especially in the win now era.

Also, some of our best players are guys we didn't draft:
Nelson(traded for him, but still)
Newman
Gilberry
Crocker
Pacman
Green-Ellis
Hawkins

Granted, we didn't break the bank for any of these guys, but they've still benefited this team.

Not one of these guys is a huge name or a cornerstone of the team. Yes they all play vital roles but they are primarily stop gaps and are replaceable. Just look at the mock drafts this year where people are on this board are calling for using second or third round picks to replace a lot of the guys on this list.

Green-Ellis- Gio Bernard/Kenjon Barner
Crocker - Bacarri Rambo, Shawn Williams, Elam, Vaccaro
Pacman/Newman - Xavier Rhodes and a long list of late corners
Hawkins - Mallete, Allen, etc. etc.

[shaolinghost]

Originally Posted by BengalDawg

Not one of these guys is a huge name or a cornerstone of the team. Yes they all play vital roles but they are primarily stop gaps and are replaceable. Just look at the mock drafts this year where people are on this board are calling for using second or third round picks to replace a lot of the guys on this list.

Green-Ellis- Gio Bernard/Kenjon Barner
Crocker - Bacarri Rambo, Shawn Williams, Elam, Vaccaro
Pacman/Newman - Xavier Rhodes and a long list of late corners
Hawkins - Mallete, Allen, etc. etc.

I understand that, but my point was FA shouldn't be considered taboo. If there is a good FA available that fits the scheme, and we have the cap room, we should persue him. SB teams retain their best BUT they also supplement by getting impact players in FA.