Bengals history of making lemonade out of lemons

[Shake n Blake]

(04-08-2019, 01:30 PM)fredtoast Wrote: I posted a thread asking what the Bengals had done right over the last decade.  That decade includes the '09 team and after looking closely I'd say the best thing the Bengals did on 2009 was make lemonade out of lemons.

- leading rusher, Cedric Benson had been signed off the street in the middle of the previous season after being released by the Bears.

- O-line was mostly comprised of undrafted free agents (Nate Livings) and players released by other teams (Dennis Roland-Bears, Kyle Cook-Vikings, Evan Mathis-Dolphins)

- leading tackler, Dhani Jones, had also been signed off the street in the middle of the previous year after the Saints had released him.

- both starting safeties were signed after being cut (Roy Williams-Cowboys, Chris Crocker-Browns)

- placekicker, Shayne Graham, had been cut by the Panthers.

- both of out TEs (Danial Coats, J.P. Foschi) were undrafted free agents who had been with other teams

- OLB Rashad Jenty had been signed out of the CFL.


Then next year, 2010, we added Adam Jones who had been cut by multiple teams, and Reggie Nelson who was considered such a bust in Jacksonville that we were able to get him in trade for a back up DB, David Jones, who barely played for us.

2011 we signed WR Andrew Hawkins out of the CFL.  We signed 2 free agent LBs who were not really "busts" but had not lived up to their First Round Draft status (Manny Lawson, Thomas Howard), and Nate Clements who had been cut by the Forty-niners.

2012 we signed Terrance Newman who had been released by the Cowboys and Wallace Gilberry who had been cut by the Chiefs.  Also added undrafted free agent Vontaze Burfict.

But then after that the stream of successful reclamation projects seemed to dry up.  We Signed Michael Johnson in 2015 after Tampa Bay released him and Brandon LaFell in 2016 after he was cit by the Patriots, but most of the other signings of older or troubled players seemed to work out.  I don't even remember if Harrison, Hawk, Dansby, or Minter had been cut or not before we signed them.

Just because a player was cut doesn't necessarily = he sucked. You listed some good players there. Nelson was good in Jax...he just didn't live up to his lofty draft status. Benson flashed in Chicago. Roy Williams was still a solid player. We kinda just stumbled on Graham very early in his career.

(04-08-2019, 01:48 PM)depthchart Wrote: I am all for making Lemonade out of lemons.

It is when they make continual attempts at making Chicken Salad out of chicken crap that I have problems with.

They had to see many signs of Cedric & Fisher not being viable long term options yet they just had to keep trying to make those high draft choices pan out.

Hart's contract suggests that he is lemonade out of a lemon in the Bengal's eyes but the jury could still be out on whether the Bengals make continual attempts at proving to fans that Hart makes a good Chicken Salad. 

This. Just because we had success once with chicken crap doesn't mean we should cook with it every year. Perhaps the owner should spring for better ingredients for the chef to work with.

(04-08-2019, 01:54 PM)impactplaya Wrote: its a strategy that the Pats have used for years.
the only difference is the Pats have a HOF HC and QB.
that can cover for alot of draft hiccups and signing guys Chris Hogan Martellus Bennett Josh Gordon for next to pennies.
but the Bengals cant rely on that bubble gum and duct tape method forever..they need to draft long term difference makers

People underestimate the Pats roster. They've had a ton of great players through the years. Bruschi. Seau. Rodney Harrison. Ty Law. Lawyer Milloy. Asante Samuel. Darrelle Revis. Randy Moss. Wes Welker. Corey Dillon. Danny Woodhead. Vince Wilfork. Gronk. Richard Seymour. Julian Edelman. Willie McGinest. Ty Warren. Sony Mitchel. Ridley. great o lines.

They just tend to cycle through this talent and replace them rather than pay big money. Then people forget all the talent they've had through the years.