(09-27-2017, 04:20 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: I keep hearing that Zeitler was overpaid with the Browns and not worth the money. While I agree that he was paid a lot, lets look at if the Bengals made a strong attempt at retaining him:

This was before Zeitler hit free agency:

“I don’t see it, I mean cause Kevin Zeitler turned down good money, turned down an offer that was something like $5.5 million per year average. But, you know, when you look at it, (Kelechi) Osemele got like $12 million bucks a year from the Oakland Raiders last year, as a guard. So Zeitler’s like, hmm. Osemele made the Pro Bowl team, Zeitler is second team. So Kevin Zeitler is thinking, I’ve gotta be eight, nine, 10, seven (million) worst case scenario. And not just Kevin, Kevin and his agents. But I don’t see the Bengals paying that kind of dollars to a guard when they have other guys they feel they can plug in and play,” Lapham said.

https://www.cincyjungle.com/2017/1/3/14157272/dave-lapham-doesnt-see-bengals-re-signing-both-kevin-zeitler-and-andrew-whitworth

Then once he was a free agent:

And, they don't pay guards big money. Zeitler is at the top of his game. He was rated the best guard on the market after not missing a snap in 2017. That translated to $12 million per year, but the Bengals don't believe guards win enough games on their own to warrant top of the market money. The Bengals didn't offer a contract but told his agent, "If you don't get what you want, come back."

http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Facelift/6f86968a-e26b-4fa0-95c3-75c043ecf393

Then they went out and gave Andre Smith $3.25 million to stay.

(09-28-2017, 08:23 AM)Crazyjdawg Wrote:

(09-28-2017, 08:23 AM)Crazyjdawg Wrote:

(09-28-2017, 08:29 AM)Nately120 Wrote: Um, the term "water under the bridge" indicates that the subject in question is no longer of concern and/or has been circumnavigated by action (as in building a bridge over it).  In this case the water is our lousy o-line and the bridge is what, exactly?

Dalton is still getting ground into the turf on a weekly basis, so alas I see no bridge.

(09-27-2017, 04:20 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: I keep hearing that Zeitler was overpaid with the Browns and not worth the money. While I agree that he was paid a lot, lets look at if the Bengals made a strong attempt at retaining him:

This was before Zeitler hit free agency:

“I don’t see it, I mean cause Kevin Zeitler turned down good money, turned down an offer that was something like $5.5 million per year average. But, you know, when you look at it, (Kelechi) Osemele got like $12 million bucks a year from the Oakland Raiders last year, as a guard. So Zeitler’s like, hmm. Osemele made the Pro Bowl team, Zeitler is second team. So Kevin Zeitler is thinking, I’ve gotta be eight, nine, 10, seven (million) worst case scenario. And not just Kevin, Kevin and his agents. But I don’t see the Bengals paying that kind of dollars to a guard when they have other guys they feel they can plug in and play,” Lapham said.

https://www.cincyjungle.com/2017/1/3/14157272/dave-lapham-doesnt-see-bengals-re-signing-both-kevin-zeitler-and-andrew-whitworth

Then once he was a free agent:

And, they don't pay guards big money. Zeitler is at the top of his game. He was rated the best guard on the market after not missing a snap in 2017. That translated to $12 million per year, but the Bengals don't believe guards win enough games on their own to warrant top of the market money. The Bengals didn't offer a contract but told his agent, "If you don't get what you want, come back."

http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Facelift/6f86968a-e26b-4fa0-95c3-75c043ecf393

Then they went out and gave Andre Smith $3.25 million to stay.

(09-28-2017, 11:13 AM)Synric Wrote: Zeitler is making more per year average than the Steelers offered Bell...Does anyone really think signing him to a contract like that is good team management?

(09-28-2017, 11:25 AM)ochocincos Wrote: Zeitler was not worth the contract he received from the Browns. However, if the $5.5 million offer from the Bengals is actually true, that was a lowball offer.
Ronald Leary signed with the Broncos for $9 mill a year.
$8-9 million for Zeitler would have been an appropriate, fair contract to offer Zeitler and he might not have bothered looking elsewhere if he had received such an offer before hitting FA.

(09-28-2017, 10:53 AM)NATI BENGALS Wrote: Zeitler was way overpaid by a team who traded like 17 million for a 2nd round pick.

We were not going to give the oldest tackle in the league a 3 yeqr deal either. Plus Whit wanted to take the opportunity for his family to experience the move out west.

I dont blame them for that. I do blame them for only drafting jj deilman and essentially cutting 4 draft picks. Everybody and their brother knew OL was our weakness and all we got was two guys coming off injury to replace the loss of our best two. Acted like hopkins would be a solution when dude has been more fragile than eifert and gave winston a full training camp and a bunch of preseason snaps...

(09-28-2017, 11:25 AM)ochocincos Wrote: Zeitler was not worth the contract he received from the Browns. However, if the $5.5 million offer from the Bengals is actually true, that was a lowball offer.
Ronald Leary signed with the Broncos for $9 mill a year.
$8-9 million for Zeitler would have been an appropriate, fair contract to offer Zeitler and he might not have bothered looking elsewhere if he had received such an offer before hitting FA.

(09-28-2017, 12:00 PM)RoyleRedlegs Wrote: "Way overpaid"

He's a top guard in the NFL.
Top guards make 8-10 million.
He's at the higher end of that.

How is that way overpaid.

(09-28-2017, 12:00 PM)RoyleRedlegs Wrote: "Way overpaid"

He's a top guard in the NFL.
Top guards make 8-10 million.
He's at the higher end of that.

How is that way overpaid.

(09-28-2017, 12:08 PM)ochocincos Wrote: $12 mil is 20% higher than the top mark you mentioned. 20% is a pretty high bump.

At the end of the day though, the Browns had the money to use and needed/wanted a top-end RG.

(09-28-2017, 12:07 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: Precisely! People say I wouldn't pay him what the Browns paid him...but DeCastro set the market at $10 million a year.

Had the Bengals offered Zeitler $8-9 million a year...maybe he takes it BEFORE he hits free agency.

We'll never know because the Bengals don't value Guards.