11-26-2018, 08:52 PM
(11-26-2018, 08:50 PM)Whatever Wrote: 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.
They dumped Martavis Bryant, but yes teams lose free agents.
You also have to draft well. The Steelers draft way better than us. And they have way more of a scouting department and a GM.
