01-08-2021, 02:14 PM
(01-08-2021, 01:10 PM)SHRacerX Wrote: Don't hammer me for this, but you surely saw the defense when WJIII and Alexander weren't out there, right? You don't get better by not signing your best players. And you won't get the same defense if you have a healthy Reader, Wren, Tupou, and Waynes out there.
Of course I want them to spend on the offensive line as well, but not at the expense of three of our best players. I think that also sends a dangerous message that the top performers aren't re-signed.
I think the Bengals could make it work from a cap standpoint with the contracts they are not renewing (Green, S. Williams, Ross) and the potential cuts (Geno, Hart-although I am not too certain about that one) that they could bring in a veteran Guard like Sherff or Thuney and spend a fairly high draft pick on a RT to groom behind Hart (that's why I don't let him go for any guy, even Sewell, that hasn't played in a year) and have a tremendous improvement over much of what sucked in 2020.
Mike Jordan was an absolute disaster and they stuck with him for way too long in 2020. XSF has proven to be solid, but not great, since returning from injury, and Spain could also be a candidate to start at RG should Thuney or Sherff get the other guard spot. Maybe they go with a FA tackle and draft a guard. It all depends on what is out there.
I would not want to cut Gio or Uzo, but if it meant one of those guys vs. a Thuney or Sherff, then I would do it. I think a lot of the veteran FAs out there might find contracts not as much to their liking as so many teams are likely to be in cap hell. The Bengals are actually in a pretty good position of strength.
Paying 13-15 mil a year for WJII or Lawson is just not a smart move. If your highest paid players are not producing at or close to a pro bowl level your roster wont be one of the best unless you hit homers several drafts in a row. I like Lawson and WJIII and i feel they are both solid players but neither is a cornerstone guy that should be making elite money. If you pay top end players top end money and you will see a dramatic improvement in the team. If you pay solid players top end money and youll be stuck in mediocrity. The fact that there is top end talent on the oline that could be available its a no brainer to go after these guys. Its a perfect scenario as we will have plenty of cap room and there are quite a few teams that will be having issues with the cap. Thuney and linsley are both ohio guys, so they might actually sign here.
This team won 6 games in 2 years. I think it sends the perfect message to the rest of the team. Some players may not love that their friends are gone but if we replace them with other players that make our roster better they will get over it real quick. These guys know the NFL is a business.
