Bernard released

[*ochocincos*]

(04-07-2021, 11:43 AM)GreenCornBengal Wrote: At this point it really feels like a purge. Empty out any and all remaining preZT contributors. Why? I’m not sure. Could be an ego thing. Could be part of the ‘plan’. Either way, feels like one way or another we are going to be rid of any and all veterans that were here when ZT arrived. Doesn’t matter if it makes sense to them. It’s part of the rebuild.

Moving on from Bernard made sense. He was being overpaid for "just" being a good pass blocker and pass catcher.
The big issue is the Bengals waited around to cut veterans like Hart, Atkins, and Bernard instead of letting them go earlier and actually using that saved cap (>$15 mill) to sign a good upgrade at a different position. They could have added another WR and/or a top OL.
Instead, they have all this extra cap and no one good to spend it on.

Some might say they will put a good portion of it toward extensions, but I doubt much of it will go to that.
My expectation is only about $5-10 mill will go toward extensions, about $5 mill will go towards draft picks (after displacement), and the remaining $10-15 mill will get rolled over.