Ownership philosophy is the problem

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(01-12-2018, 03:02 PM)fredtoast Wrote: Here is the problem with free agency.  Almost every team locks up their best players instead of letting them go in free agency, then when players hit the free agent market their value is driven up by market competition.  The players that hit free agenmcy are usually not the best players at their position, but when they are the best players AVAILABLE at thier position teams get in bidding wars over them and end up over paying.

So, if you are always looking "long term" the Bengals approach to free agency actually makes a lot of sense, but the problem is that when you have a team that is just a player or two away from competing for a championship you have to take chances with free agents.  And that is where the Bengals have failed.

Cannot argue with any of this. I actually think the Bengals played it right in letting MLJ and Zeitler go who were severely
overpaid, but letting Whitworth go was a big mistake cause he was affordable. I know Whit was old but you have to take a
gamble once in awhile even on your own players.

And just sometimes on outside ones damn it.