Whit's comment says it all.

[Sled21]

(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.

"Take what you can get" does not just mean money, he was looking for a multi-year deal. Not many teams would offer a lineman that old a multi year deal.