Lapham on WRs

[Wes Mantooth]

(03-09-2016, 08:59 PM)NATI BENGALS Wrote: It is a shit WR free agent class. I would rather have a 3rd round comp pick next year, that will probably be tradable, than some bummy free agent WR.

I mean, while that makes perfect sense, in more ways than one, some of us actually want to win now.  Who helps more this year, a veteran FA or a 3rd round rookie?  A late 3rd rounder at that.

How many years can you keep kicking the can down the road?  Many feel like these last few years were missed opportunities.  Seasons that warranted going all in. 

Now we're down Hue Jackson, Vance Joseph, J Hayes, Marvin Jones, Muhamed Sanu, Andre Smith, Reggie Nelson, Leon Hall, Wallace Gillberry, Sims, Brandon Johnson... This team is drastically changing before are very eyes.  Names like Whitworth and Pacman, even with their deals, are down to 2-3 years left.  AJ Green and Andy Dalton are now about at the halfway point in their careers.  Mauluga is getting old.  The list goes on and on.

Is any time better than now to try to win.  And just to be clear, we're not talking about a 50 million dollar deal.  Are you really saying that we can't afford to spend an extra 3-5 mil, and sacrifice a late 3rd round pick, to improve this roster?

Concerning yourself with hoarding compensatory picks is EXACTLY what plagues this team.  While they hold value and the strategy is sound at times, you cannot be so stubborn and stuck in your ways, that leaves constantly afraid to make a move.

What does it say about this team when you look at recent Superbowl winners and their roster changes (Bennett, Avril, Revis, Talib, Manning, Demarus Ware, ect) and then you look at this team, afraid to sign someone for 5 mil, because they'll lose a compensatory pick?

Give me a freaking break...