03-13-2024, 01:22 PM
(03-13-2024, 01:05 PM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: Those numbers are BS. And you know it. Tupou is not on the field for all those. Reader started 15 games in 2021 and 14 last year. The low snap counts are a function of him being a run stopper who comes out on passing downs.
Now, if you wanna argue that should diminish his value, fine. I will remember it when CLE, Pitt, and Balt are gashing us and Detroit is in the SB with Sewell & Reader.
They're not BS, because regardless of why he's not on the field or who is on the field instead, we're talking paying a guy a huge amount of money to be off the field more often than he is on it.
You can also remember last year when our run defense was terrible and they were gashing up even with him on the field. I'm sure he'll be even better now in his age 30 season coming off another quad surgery. You're going to be paying for his age 30, 31, and 32 seasons most likely, and any extension means you're likely tied to him for at least 2 of those years before you have an out, even if he gets hurt for the 4th time in 5 years with the Bengals in 2024.
Would he even be available if we play Detroit in the SB? He's ended his season on the IR 50% of the time with the Bengals. Flip a coin, that's how we determine if he'd even be there or we have Tupou (or whatever new backup) as our starter in that scenario even if we did pay Reader a ton.
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If you keep re-signing guys who are often hurt for you, you lose the right to complain about injuries when they inevitably happen because the writing was on the wall and you ignored it.
Give me reliable availability even if it means a small step down in ability... because whomever is behind him is likely going to be much much worse (Isaiah Prince starting all playoffs for us because Riley Reiff predictably got hurt).
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