Free Agency Delusions

Lance McAlister absolutely nailed it in his blog yesterday.  Every year you hear Bengals fans debating about which big name free agents the team should sign.  Even this year you hear people saying idiotic things like "Albert Haynesworth would really help with the pass rush and allow Odom and Geathers more shots at the QB," or "Terrell Suggs would give the D some attitude." 

Have these people been in a coma the last 18 years?  The biggest free agent signings in the Mike Brown era are a washed up Sam Adams and a disappointing (so far) Antwan Odom.  Look at the facts.  The Bengals are not signing any big name free agents.

Secondly, why would any big name free agent want to come to Cincinnati?  When have the Bengals ever been on the top of a free agent's wish list?

Stop deluding yourselves.  The Bengals will not sign free agents because they are too expensive and because they don't want to play in Cincinnati. 

Here is what Lance said:

Gotta love NFL free agency
We spend our time dreaming of all the players the Bengals should sign...."We need to back up the truck for Ray Lewis"....."we need Haynesworth"........"let's sign Harrison".
Riddle me this Batman: Why would a big time free agent sign here? Would you?
We debate whether or not to renew season tickets for this team. How many top free agents do you think are actually debating whether or not to come to Cincinnati?
Here is the type of free agent the Bengals get:
*The mercenaries looking for one last cash grab
*Those that have no place else to go
*Those the Bengals coaches have misjudged from a scouting standpoint
Here is the type of free agent the Bengals don't get:
*The players that use the Bengals for leverage and a good meal
*The impact players that can make a difference

Comments

[Comrade Robert]

Let's see, I'm a free agent w/ multiple offers from teams. I've heard rumblings that Mikey charges players for a copy of the team picture. Do I
A) Think so what I can afford it.
B) Wonder if this might be a sign as to how players are treated in Cincinnati and look at my other offers.
Hmmm.

[PAl]

The Redskins just signed DeAngelo Hall and Albert Haynesworth. How do these guys have enough money under the mysterious cap to sign both of these players and the Bengals never do? Regardless if you think that these signings are rediculous considering the current econmic situation, it should be insulting to the taxpayers of Cincinnati. I equate the Bengals organization to the banking debacle. We keep funding this dysfunctual organization and the Brown family laughs all the way to the bank. At the very least, the Bengals sould have to provide us with Vasoline.

[Leo deTrotskyo]

I would be interested in seeing a list of all the FAs from other teams MB has signed over the years. Also, a list of Bengals FAs that left. We could then compare, year by year, the value coming in and leaving. Anyone out there have the resources for this task?

[Mockenrue]

This post is EXACTLY what I have been saying in comments the last several weeks, especially about good players not wanting to come here, and I've been largely grilled for it by the writers of this very blog. Glad to see that when the smokescreens of douchebag hope lift, you guys come to your senses.