Smith in the Fold; Katie Dominates Alvin Keels

Andre Smith has finally signed and is in Cincinnati.  As reported by intrepid Bengals reporter Joe Reedy: "It is a four-year deal worth $26 million with $21 million guaranteed. The Bengals have an option after the 2010 season that would push the deal $42 million over six years with the maximum worth $50 million."

An early examination of the contract makes this blogger feel that Katie Blackburn absolutely dominated Alvin Keels, Andre Smith's agent.  Bottom line: this contract puts the pressure on Smith to preform.  This contract seems to be incentive-laden, with the big money only coming in if Smith hits these now unknown incentives and if the Bengals pick up the option in 2010.  That doesn't give Smith much time to prove himself.  If he doesn't hit these incentives or get the option picked up, the deal that Keels worked out for Smith is far worse than it seems. 

Here is a great chart of how all the first round picks contracts have shaken out.

Comments

[BILL]

Yes Katie pown'd Alvin. 42 mil for 6 years is a great deal for the 6th pick. If the guy is good, the bengals get a bargain. If he is bad the Bengals get rid of him. I think it would have been far more efficient to just make sure we were drafting a good player though.

[Wyatt]

Regardless of who won out at the negotiating table, I'm thrilled that this is a deal that's going to force the big guy to put down the food and work his ass off. Assume this season is a wash for him, as it almost surely will be - he's got next season, and that's it, to prove he's the future of the Bengals' offensive line and make the money he wants. If he doesn't go to the Pro Bowl, he can kiss the big bucks good-bye, and actually, even if he does, Mike and Punkin probably won't take the option anyway, just to be frugal.

[Rich]

It'll be interesting to see if anyone but us learned anything from this fiasco.

[matthew brown]

We are all on this site for two reasons.

First. We are Bengals fans.

Second. We hate Mike Brown.

But, the first reason trumps the second....easily. Let us not lose sight of that fact.

I hate that Mike Brown "won", but do not forget who the Bengals just reeled in. Andre Smith is a beast. He was outstanding in college going against the best of the best.

I hate to say it, but I'm pumped. Andre will be in our starting lineup very shortly.

[Rich]

I am going to answer my own question about what we learned here.....
If Katie was in charge of signing Andre Smith, I think it is a reasonable thing to assume that this is a harbinger of a long future of this sort of behavior and priorities with this franchise. Besides, nothing gives one confidence like persevering in these sorts of circumstances. Just wait until next year.

[Mark]

OK, I just have one question about this deal: is Katie Blackburn a man?

[Rich]

Mark,
Not exactly. Katie Blackburn is what Mike Brown might look like if he were a man.
You were close, though.

[TheCarlPickensClause]

I'm glad that they got Andre in. This is the perfect contract for a player like A.S.--incentive-laden with the potential for big money IF he works hard and is the player that he was in college. This, to me, is a win-win. Andre COULD make a lot of money, and the Bengals gave him a contract that tells him work and play hard and you'll get your money. I do think that with a more competent owner and management, this contract could have been conceived two weeks ago, giving Andre valuable time in camp and in games. I am hearing that many people (outside of the Bengals organization and their fans) still think he will be a good to great NFL player, despite his gaffes and missing camp.
My one question: Why wasn't the projected lineup for the O-Line something like this: LT: Collins, LG: Whitworth, C: Cook (I guess), RG: Bobbie, RT: Andre. Sounds like a solid group to me, though I understand the holdout would have disrupted this lineup as well. Livings is not starter material, yet. He should be groomed to take over for Bobbie who is getting long in the tooth.