(01-06-2021, 09:35 AM)Sled21 Wrote: Seems most people think both these players have played their last games as Bengals. They could get him re-signed to a minimum deal loaded with incentives, making it up to him how much he gets paid. Geno, on the other hand, I think is back. He toughed out the season playing with a torn rotator cuff, which he is (has) undergoing surgery to repair. I remember an article about half way through the season , during the Carlos dustup, where he stated he and the team were basically on the same page about how he would be used. Knowing how MB feels about Geno, and add to the fact we never got to see him play next to Reader, I think there is a of chance they bring him back and let him retire a Bengal. More of a chance than AJ. I was convinced they plan on moving from AJ during the last game when they kept trying to force the ball to him so he could get the record.

What do you think they will do? Not what they should do, but what do you think they will do. I personally can't see MB cutting Geno.

(01-06-2021, 11:17 AM)XenoMorph Wrote: should definately move on from Green

Be surprised if Geno wanted to return

(01-06-2021, 10:35 AM)Crazyjdawg Wrote: AJ Green's 2020 salary + Geno Atkins' 2021 cap savings if cut before 6/1 = 27.771 million dollars.

That is so much money from 2 players who didn't really contribute that much in 2020 and that could, easily, go towards two high quality starters. For context, Jack Conklin, last year's prized Free agent Offensive Tackle, signed a 3 year 42 million dollar contract, with a cap hit of 8 million dollars in its first year (15 million of the 42 million dollar contract was a signing bonus, which split over five years [somehow the contract is considered a 5 year deal even though there is no base salary for 2023 and 2024. I don't know how the Browns managed this, but it's a cool idea], meaning his base salary of 5 million and signing bonus of 3 million dollars makes him cost 8 million, then 13 million and then 15 million in his 3 official years with the team).

I know the Bengals don't like guaranteeing those kinds of numbers but they could still afford a player of this caliber with just the cash saved from Geno's contract.

Now, they could, apparently (according to spotrac.com), save an additional 2.6 million dollars in 2021 cap space if they cut Geno Atkins after 6/1, which may be a good idea because it gives you time to work in free agency and the draft and be completely comfortable with your DT depth at that point, but it would also be a bit cruel to Geno, since it would mean he would miss the meat of the free agency period. I guess if you cut them after 6/1, you can split the dead cash over 2021 and 2022 for whatever reason...

Of course, Zac has shown that he doesn't really care about doing players favors like cutting them in time for them to see real action in free agency (See Andy Dalton, who Zac also benched on his birthday), so maybe they do wait until after 6/1 to cut him to get that additional 2.6 million dollars in cap space.

Geno may not be completely done, but I don't think he's at a stage in his career where you can justify paying him 12+ million dollars for the next two years of his career. Where we're at in our rebuild right now, we desperately need that money to sign some starters on the offensive line in free agency. If they renegotiate and cut a lot of money out of the contract, I'd love for him to stay but I don't really see that happening.

(01-06-2021, 10:19 AM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: They’ll definitely cut Geno. That’s about 9 million (after dead cap) they can put towards FA.

(01-06-2021, 11:19 AM)bengalfan74 Wrote: I believe the trump card in this will be the lowering of the cap and the Bengals will have no choice but to dump one of them if not both. And I'm not sure either wants to be back especially AJ.

(01-07-2021, 10:51 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: I would love to see both go to the Falcons, since both are former Bulldogs and still have family there (and I think live there year-round).  

(01-07-2021, 10:57 AM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: To a team even worse than us? Harsh.

(01-07-2021, 11:19 AM)BFritz21 Wrote: I'd love to have both back but I think AJ is gone.

I think that everyone writing off Geno is wrong and I think that, returning healthy and at 100%, he could still be the difference maker that we need on defense.

People forget how dominant Geno is and that he was playing last season injured.

Geno is a generational player and you rarely find players that dominant at defensive tackle that provide the pass rush that he does.

Let Geno return to dominance and get a playoff win here!