WhoDeyRevolution

TJ Update

Joe Reedy has received a text message from TJ Houshmandzadeh stating that he will have a decision on where he will play next season by Sunday night. 

After Housh and his agent thoroughly pissed off the Eagles, it looks like the Seahawks, Vikings, Giants, and Bengals are all possible suitors. 

Also, former Bengals QB Jon "Carney Hands" Kitna has landed with the Dallas Cowboys.  In return, Dallas gave up starting corner Anthony Henry.

Crocker Signed

Geoff Hobson (we'll only use Baghdad when we are disagreeing with him or otherwise highlighting ridiculousness) points out that the Bengals have signed Safety Chris Crocker to a four-year deal worth $10 million with $3.5 million guaranteed.  At first glance, it seems like a bit much for a guy who played 8 games last year and was signed off the street but the guy was pretty much all over the place during those games and D-coordinator, Mike Zimmer has raved about him and his versatility combined with Ndukwe's.  According to Zimmer, both can play either Safety position, which allows packages to be disguised and gives the defense some versatility (also from Geoff Hobson).  It's even more understandable if we cut Dexter Jackson.

Plus it's nice to have a position that we 100% don't need to address.  That list is as follows:

-Safety

-Guard*

*Unless we move Andrew Whitworth to left tackle

NOTE:  Quarterback and Cornerback were not put on this list because we still need a backup QB and an upgrade at CB #3.

All of this aside, as of now, we're still getting worse (No Housh, No Benson and nobody new).  To be fair, there is a Derrick Ward visit scheduled for this weekend, which is a decent, small surprise, but likely an alternative to Benson if we can't sign him. 

Washington Redskins were $3 Million Over Cap before Huge Signings

Commenter PAI raises a great point:

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 ridiculous 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.

According to multiple sources, the Washington Redskins were at or as much $3 million over the cap before Free Agency started.  Yet, the Washington Redskins just made two of the biggest signings of the day:

(1) Albert Haynesworth's, 7 year, $100 million deal with $41 million in guaranteed money;

(2) DeAngelo Hall's, 6 year, $54 million deal with $22.5 million in guaranteed money;

Putting aside the fact that the DeAngelo Hall contract is ridiculous (he's been cut by the Raiders and Atlanta shipped him out of town before that and as we've seen first hand from Chad Johnson, he gets beat frequently)...these are likely 2 of the biggest contracts to be signed by the new free agents.  As mentioned previously this week, the Bengals are somewhere around $30 million under the salary cap.  Yet, we're not going to sign any quality free agents this weekend when many, if not most, of them will go.  We're probably not bringing TJ back.  We're at risk of losing Benson and as it looks now, we're not signing a difference-making Center, Tackle or Linebacker.  Of course it's early, and we'll give credit where it's due if the Bengals somehow surprise us but with Sam Adams and Antwan Odom being the biggest free agent signings under Mike Brown, it sure isn't looking good.

Meanwhile Dan Snyder is $3 million over the cap and signed two players to contracts involving $63.5 million in guaranteed money.  Say what you want about Dan Snyder (who basically is George Steinbrenner except for the small fact that he has a salary cap) but (a) the Redskins have made the playoffs in 2 out of the last 4 years, and (b) there has to be some happy medium between his spending and the Bengals and that happy medium would be the Bengals signing more free agents than they have in the past.  The Haynesworth and Hall signings, whether ridiculous or not, demonstrate that there is more flexibility with the salary cap than the Bengals maintain exists and a fair amount of people believe there is.

Bengals Free Agency Update (11:22am)

Marvin Lewis looks at picture of 2000 Ravens, then at bottle of Paxil, then back at picture.

Stacy Andrews Gone

Per PFT, Stacy Andrews is gone.  According to PFT, it's a multiyear deal averaging $7 million per year.  This is pretty surprising considering Andrews blew out his knee in the second to last game of the season.  Initial thoughts are:

-When teams are willing to spend $7 million/year on Stacy Andrews, it just solidifies that the Bengals aren't signing anybody.

-We knew he didn't want to be here.  Maybe there was a small chance after he tore his ACL but obviously someone showed interest, and like many before him, he jumped at the opportunity.

-The Bengals just went from needing 1-2 Offensive Tackles to 2-3 Offensive Tackles.  Slated in the position as of now are Crappy Jones and Anthony Collins.  Unless the Bengals are going to have Levi creatively assault Carson again this year or Whitworth moves to Tackle, creating a need at Guard, second year man, Anthony Collins will be tested to fill both Tackle positions...a tall task for the fourth round pick

-And is it me, or does this lead one to believe that Cedric Benson is going to sign somewhere for a surprising amount of money and/or years?

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

Breaking News in Free Agency

Folks, we have some inside scoop. While walking to work this morning, I stopped by PBS to see if there was any activity on this first day of free agency. I witnessed the following first hand, as Mike Brown and Paul Brown (his son, mid-30's) are walking into the office, McDonalds bags in hand. Here's what transpired:

(Mike and Paul walking up Elm Street, as a large bus pulls up)

Albert Haynesworth: Hey guys, I'm Albert Haynesworth, best defensive tackle in football. I'm looking for a team that I can dominate for the next five years.  I want to win a Super Bowl championship with the Cincinnati Bengals.

(Paul, looking at his dad, gets very excited)

Paul Brown: You are in luck!

Albert smiles

Paul:  There's a city with an NFL team about 300 miles THAT way! (pointing east). I'm sure you will find a team that would love to sign you.

Albert (Looking bewildered): Umm, OK guys, thanks.

Bus pulls away, then Mike Brown realizes something...

Mike Brown:  Paul, DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE???

Mike and Paul then chase down the bus

Mike:  You'll have to excuse my son...he's a little slow.  The town is 90 miles back THAT way (pointing west)

Albert just shakes his head, laughing.

Mike:  Wow, some lucky team is going to pick him up and play him

Paul:  Don't worry Dad, we'll catch our break too.  Just got to keep our eyes open.

Mike:  Your right.

Paul:  Hey Dad

Mike:  Yes son?

Paul:  You're it

Mike:  No you're it

Paul:  Nope no way, you're it

Mike and Paul play tag and skip all the way into the office, McDonalds McGriddles in hand.

84% = Buh Bye

It is now 1:01am on Thursday night/Friday morning.  I am watching the ESPN NFL Live special about the NFL free agency. 

The folks on NFL live just had the the hardest man in the NFL, TJ Houshmanzadeh, live on their show.  Now, I know what you are asking.  What did TJ have to say?  It is now an hour and 2 minutes into free agency.  Is he going to stay?  Is he going to go?  The rumors are that Carson Palmer has been calling TJ begging him not to leave.  Enough with the suspense!!!

Equation for the Status Quo

Despite my post two days ago, for some reason, my douche bag side has an unfounded shred of hope tomorrow.  While this free agent crop is being labeled as weak, there are some decent free agents out there that could fill a need before the draft.  Let's put it this way...among other things, the Bengals could obviously use help at Center and Offensive Tackle.  The Linebackers could use an upgrade too.  The same goes with DT but there just aren't a whole lot of them out there this year other than Haynesworth who will be signing a ridiculous contract with Not Us.  Anyway, given our needs at Center, Tackle and LB, why wouldn't we aggressively go after Centers Jason Brown (Baltimore), Jeff Saturday (Indianapolis) and Matt Birk (Minnesota), or Tackles Khalif Barnes (Jacksonville), Jon Runyan (Philly) or John Stinchcomb (New Orleans)?  Given the plethora of free agent Linebackers out there (Ray Lewis, Bart Scott, Jonathan Vilma, Michael Boley, Mike Peterson), why not try to land one?

Signing a player at one or more of these positions fills a need before the draft, eliminates a need to draft the position and allows us to focus on other positions in the draft.  When one could craft an argument that we need help at every position aside from QB, maybe Guard and maybe Corner, obviously, this would be the wisest move for the Bengals, which of course doesn't mean anything.  When I read the names listed above, there is a distant cry from my d-bag side.  Like a huge douche, I will likely check ProFootballTalk multiple times tomorrow on the very slim, outside chance the Bengals are mentioned in connection with the above names.  Last year this gave me the luxury of following the Shaun Rogers "trade" in real time, followed by me punching myself in the face later that night upon receiving a text message from a friend that said "We didn't get Rogers because we are stupid."

A Freudian Slip From Baghdad Hob?

Big ups to reader Joseph for pointing this out, as it came deep into one of Baghdad Hob's propaganda pieces.  I can usually only make it through two paragraphs without blacking out.

Here is what B.H. had to say about the pass rush improving next season:

A healthy Odom and a healthy Carson Palmer should also help get some pressure on the passer.

Now, there are two possibilities here.

1.  Mikey is tired of paying these prima donnas so much money to play one position.  A more efficient way would be to make your guys play offense and defense.  Thus, Carson Palmer will be a sub-package rusher next season. 

2.  This was simply a Freudian slip from the man who has to spin everything he can.  Since October, he has blamed all the problems on Carson's injury.  Why?  Because, hey, what can you do about it?  Not OUR fault Carson got injured, right?  How can you blame us for losing when our best player got hurt?  Baghdad Hob temporarily forgot what it was he was talking about, so he just blamed it on Carson Palmer's health, as per usual.

By the way, Baghdad Hob wants you to take a look at this graph of the Dow Jones Industiral Average over the last year.  On September 19th, the Dow was over 11,300.  On September 21st, Carson Palmer was injured in a game against the Giants.  On September 26th, the Dow closed at over 11,000.  That Sunday, the nation found out the severity of Carson's injury.  The market closed down 800 points the next day and hasn't recovered since.  Coincidence?  Baghdad Hob thinks not.