Bengals Cap Strategy

[Whatever]

(11-26-2018, 11:52 AM)THE PISTONS Wrote: The Bengals PR kind of sold us (Model Model) on the strategy that they don't overspend on external free agents allowing them to essentially be competitive every year because they wouldn't be massively over the cap.

They also value Compensatory Picks like they are gold. (In reality, most of our compensatory picks turn out to be special teamers.)

It also gets talked about how the Steelers and Ravens will be in a cap hell where they have to significantly get rid of players. Meanwhile, the Steelers seem to extend guys like Pouncey, DeCastro, Brown, Roethlisberger, and had enough money to franchise tag Bell.

We've lost some really good Pro's over the years in Whitworth, Zeitler, Jones, Sanu, Nelson, Andre Smith, Joseph, Justin Smith, and several more...as re-signing them could have hindered our ability to have cap space into the future.

Meanwhile, we seem to have tens of millions of cap space each year. We had enough to absorb Cordy Glenn's contract this past offseason. We are projected to have a lot this offseason. ie It looks to me like we could have retained Zeitler or Whitworth...and maybe both.

Then, our model is also built on being able to draft well and replace talent. We have a small scouting staff though. Are our scouts 10 times as smart as those of the Patriots?

What are your thoughts on our cap strategy?

In fairness, the Steelers have lost a lot of quality starters to FA in that same timeframe.  I mean, Plaxico Burress, Santonio Holmes, Emmanuel Sanders, Martavious Bryant, Alan Faneca, Kelvin Beachum, Ryan Clark, Ziggy Hood, etc, etc.  They also strong armed Polamalu into retirement to get desperately needed cap relief.

The Bengals model is based on the Steelers model.  The Steelers have been more aggressive in retaining talent in recent years because Ben's window is closing.  The basic idea is that by maintaining a steady talent level that is capable of making and winning in the playoffs, you can be in the discussion on a yearly basis and every so often win a SB as opposed to pushing all in, potentially missing your shot due to any number of reasons, then be stuck in a rebuild.

For either model to work, you have to have a HC that can get the most out of his team in key regular season and playoff games.  If you don't have that, and we don't, you're not winning a championship either way.  As badly as this team underperforms come playoff time, a couple of big splash FA's are not netting us a title.  Maybe we have one playoff win to show for it.