Andrew Whitworth - Ready to Move On?

[Okeana]

(03-02-2017, 11:21 AM)NKYRob Wrote: I was listening to the PFF Pro Podcast (Link: https://www.profootballfocus.com/pff-podcast/) this morning, and they began discussing Andrew Whitworth for a few minutes(right around the 7 minute mark for those interested in listening).  This particular podcast was actually published before the franchise tag deadline (I'm a little behind) but they mentioned on their they thought Whitworth was a candidate for the franchise tag.  Obviously the time for this has passed, and the Bengals did not tag him.  

What I found most interesting was their reasoning.  They said that Cincy simply couldn't let him slip away and they didn't think we would be able to get him to agree to contract to stay.  They said Cincy treated him so badly when they decided to move on from him with the draft picks that he is ready to leave.

Quite frankly, this is the first time I've heard of Whitworth being treated badly by the organization, in addition to hearing that he wants to leave.  Everything else I've heard indicates he wants to stay if possible.  Anybody else heard anything along these lines?

Nonetheless, our local beat writer Paul Dehner Jr. had this to say yesterday:

Andrew Whitworth will be back with the Bengals. Mark it. I don’t need any more Bengals folks to make impassioned pleas to know it gets done.

— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) March 1, 2017

Before his last contract the Bengals tried to low ball him after drafting two Tackles.  This is when he really started talking to media about contracts and it was obvious that he felt underappreciated.  The fact is big Whit is one of the best players to put on the stripes and even at 35 he seems to be getting better.

Paul Dehner Jr is simply wrong and when he hits free agency not only will he be offered more money, but it will be with win now teams.  My prediction is that our big 3 hit free agency and leave.