10-05-2017, 11:37 AM
(10-04-2017, 12:37 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: You're putting a lot of words in my mouth and creating strawmen to argue against. My real opinion is that some of the bargains actually are good for the team, but that constant mindset of looking for bargains in free agency and overvaluing of compensatory picks can also limit our options.
We've missed out on the opportunity to capitalize on a very talented core by ignoring quality talent while in search of bargain bin free agents. It also seems we've been more inclined to let some key players go because of the compensatory pick thing.
Basically, I think this approach would be good in moderation, but the Bengals seem to adhere to those methods religiously. I think it's obvious we're seeing the downfall of Mike's passive and frugal approach to FA right now. We still have a talented core, but the o-line has been severely neglected and the team is now 7-12-1 in their last 20 games. So we never got over the hump and now we're regressing.
Since you seem to disagree, what do you think went wrong?
Ahh you got hit with the classic counter: Using the Browns free agency tendencies as an example and therefore it must be bad. The reality is that none of us advocate having terrible drafts and trying to build a team in free agency. I would argue that when you've had good drafts and have a good roster, THAT is the time to address those remaining 1 or 2 weaknesses.
Like the year we were 12-4. How great would Alex Mack at Center be on that team? Maybe we would have actually been able to run the ball.
The Steelers are in a similar market size to us. This year they had less cap space than us and:
1) Extended Brown
2) Extended DeCastro
3) Extended Tuitt
4) Franchise tagged Bell
5) Signed Haden
When you have an above average team to good team, you're competing against other teams that invest all of their financial resources into winning to try to make it to the top. The NFL is the ultimate league of parity with some 23 different teams appearing in a Super Bowl since we last won a playoff game.
And with revenue sharing in the NFL and a hard salary cap, the small market excuse doesn't fly like it does in a sport like baseball.
Like this year - The team had some $21 million in cap space before signing Andre Smith. They let Zeitler and Whitworth walk. They could have tagged one. According to Lapham they offered Zeitler $5.5 million a year AFTER DeCastro signed for $10 million a year. IF true, and I assume Lapham would be in the know...that's cheap.
But, with that $21 million cap space, maybe they go out and sign a Guard that costs say $7-8 million a year? Maybe they let Whitworth go and sign a younger Tackle knowing that Ced is bad or bring in a guy to compete. Instead they brought Smith in to be a Guard. The Bengals simply put don't value the Guard and Center positions.
How many years have we had a bad center here? Seemingly going back to Braham. That's never been addressed in free agency.
The proof is ultimately in the pudding. Some 23 teams have appeared in a Super Bowl since the Bengals last won a single playoff game. 26+ years. It's clear that their strategy needs tweaking.
