Whit's comment says it all.

[Hoofhearted]

(03-14-2017, 12:31 PM)oncemoreuntothejimbreech Wrote: "To me it was like, go all the way out to L.A. and start over or stay in Cincinnati and take whatever you can get.”

"Take whatever you can get."  Look at his contract.  It's stupid the front office didn't match that or sweeten the deal just enough to get him to stay.

This is where loyalty sometimes works in their favor IMO.

Players are fully aware that the contract they get here have a much, much higher probability of being seen thru to the end than vs other places. It gives them some bargaining power to give players a slightly lower salary because of it. But they end up hurting themselves with being smart with the way they manage the cap vs the talent on the roster. 

They could of easily offered him the same deal and executed it the same way the Rams will (after a year or two cut him). But it goes against their biggest negotiating tool and will hurt the younger players they're trying to or will negotiate with.