ESPN - Troy Blackburn comments on Bobby Hart signing

[TheBengalsMind]

I believe it probably wasn’t said in such a smug manner, that it reads like.

That said the way it reads certainly makes it seem like a smug jab at fans.

The Bengals actively bid against themselves when signing Hart to a three-year deal worth 21 million, if I remember correctly.

Everybody understands that we can't just draft all offensive linemen and completely replace the O-Line. We have other spots that have to be addressed.

We understand you felt you had to keep one of the offensive linemen.

However, he only got like 1.05 million dollars last year.

He committed 14 penalties, including nine false starts.

He gave up 39 pressure's and 10 sacks according to PFF, I believe.

You reward him by giving him a huge pay raise.

Okay, fine. You had to keep a tackle. Did you really have to give him that big of a contract?

So what someone offered a tackle a ridiculous amount of money, it doesn't mean you have to for Hart.

Was someone really gonna outbid you if you offered him a 2 year, 6 million dollar contract?

I mean it would of saved you 15 million dollars, if it was the 21 million dollars I remember hearing about.

Funnily enough, the Hart issue had almost completely died down behind some very solid free agent moves since then.

Paul Brown: "When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say less."

The only way to win, is for Hart to prove everyone wrong.

So in this case it's best to say less, until otherwise.