A look back at some of 2018's big money moves...

[BengalChris]

(03-13-2019, 05:34 PM)Nately120 Wrote: When was the last time we made a big name high priced FA move, though?

The Bengals have never signed a really high priced FA. The team has made some larger sized bad free agent signings though and each with it's own set of red flags to start with. 

2002 Michael Westbrooks, who had an ACL injury the year before was brought in on a $4.5M contract. He caught 8 passes in 9 games for the Bengals. Westbrooks never played in the NFL again. Why give an injured a big contract?

2009 Laveraneus Coles, who had been a good #2 WR with the Jets for 9 years, was given a 4 year $28M contract. He was past his prime and caught 43 catches for 514 yards and was cut the next off season, then he went back to the Jets. No one can really explain this contract cause Coles clearly had lost a step and that's a long contract for a 9 year guy who's on the downward slope of his career.

2010 Antonio Bryant, who was injured, had been previously a failed free agent with the 49ers and clashed with multiple coaches, but the Bengals signed him to a 4 year $28M contract in spite of all this. He arrived injured, practiced one day, then had his contract terminated. His agent demanded a large injury settlement since the team let him practice injured. He never played a down for the Bengals. This is another inexplicable signing.

Each of these signings remind me of Mike Brown panic draft picks, like Akili Smith instead of trading down to 9 picks over two years.