Compensatory Picks

[*SHRacerX*]

(09-03-2017, 11:44 AM)Nately120 Wrote: I hear ya, but it's not about naming specific players we should target/get/keep so much as realizing there is a certain "That'll do" mindset that pervades this entire organization's business plan.  We've been hearing that retaining Burfict and Eifert is the reason we can't keep/sign player X for years.  I don't claim to know the entire ins and outs of the NFL cap, but I see the Steelers and Patriots signing guys despite having more high profile players than we do.

Hell, the Patriots immediately traded their 3rd string QB for a WR after the Edelman injury while we lose our #1 WR and start talking about how awesome it's going to be to see how good Dalton can be when he spreads the ball around to lesser talent.  That's my rub on the fact that we let Zeitler and Whitworth walk.  We spent the entire off-season going into 2016 talking about how losing Hue/Eifert/Jones/Sanu was going to open the door for Zampese/Kroft/Core/multiple WRs who didn't make the team to shine and blah blah blah.

As I said before, I hope everything is fine but I doubt we'll all be thinking about how much money we saved on the o-line if Dalton is on his back seeing stars all year.  Wow, Dalton got destroyed on that play but hey, you can't overpay old probowl o-linemen.

Like I said, I get the optimism but it's clear that we've been condition to make the most of a franchise that won't/can't operate like the others. I liken it to my pals who are Pirates fans when they say stuff like "Well, I wish we could keep (starting pitcher) because he's great, but the Pirates can't pay (normal rate for a starting pitcher) like other teams."  They get it.  They realize their team just operates in a manner that isn't up to league standards so they are chuffed when they make the playoffs and lose a team that does.

Baseball is a very different situation, with no cap and guaranteed salaries.  

I understand the perception about "not doing anything" but your example about AJ happened in an already pretty bleak season and they had already signed a FA to replace Marvin Jones and Mo Sanu, both (again) players that I feel got way more money than they deserved.  The one thing you can't blame the Bengals for is being reactionary.  They planned for the departure of Zeitler and Whit by drafting and developing players.  Sure, Ced has struggled, but I feel this year he will prove them right and will be at the very least a solid LT.  Whit was one of my all-time favorite players, but you simply can't offer a guy his age that long a contract.  You can, and the Bengals tried for a reported two-year deal, but the Rams had a bigger need and paid him more.

I'm not trying to change your perception, but just to defense the Bengals a bit because I think they have done everything they can to put a winning team on the field.  My biggest complaint with them is/was letting Hue go instead of replacing Marvin with him.  Even if there was a succession plan, it should have been on paper and locked up.  From a player standpoint, I think the team is ready to roll and will surprise a lot of people this year, and is well-designed for success for the long term.