Free Agency Begins in 11 Days and 22 Hours!

 

I am sure many of you think I have been being lazy these past few weeks….that simply couldn’t be further from the truth. I was working my second job….scouting for the Bengals! As many of you know, scouting for the Bengals prevents some challenges. Along with our understaffed department, Mike asks us to scout the way his dad did, and therefore we are not equipped with today’s modern technology conveniences. Sure, the Ipads, smart phones, laptops, etc that all the other scouts have are nice, but they weigh you down and do not give accurate portrayals of the players. In the Bengals scouting department, we do not take pictures or video of players with that bulky technology, we draw them. That is why it takes us longer! You must be patient for the good things in life…plus, everyone knows the camera adds 10 pounds – so when other teams think a guy is overweight (Andre Smith), thanks to our #2 pencil masterpieces, we have the actual data showing he is just fine! Who is laughing now NFL! Take your rings, we will take our profitability!

I will discuss the fruits of my scouting trip at a date in the near future, but the draft is still 2 months away – in 11 days Free Agency begins and what occurs in free agency will greatly affect how the Bengals draft. The Bengals have a lot of FAs this year and some big ones next year, so they have some tough decisions to make prior to NFL Christmas (the Draft). 

Pos	Player	Exp	Satus	Analysis
QB	Bruce Gradkowski	7	UFA	I would not bring Gradkowski back. I would bring in 1 of 2 types: 1) a more experienced backup to push Dalton and be capable of coming in and winning games if Dalton were to get injured or falter; 2) an athletic QB that can do some things (pistol offense etc) which Dalton cannot.
RB	Bernard Scott	4	UFA	I like Bernard, but I think his time here is done, or at least should be. Bring in a younger back that has Scott’s abilities without the injury history.
	Brian Leonard	6	UFA	I like Leonard and would not be opposed to keeping him. However, I think the Bengals would be best served to get younger and faster at RB.
	Cedric Peerman	3	RFA	I would resign Peerman. Peerman is a serviceable 3rd RB, but he excels on special teams. He is a great gunner and can be the KR man as well.
TE	Richard Quinn	3	RFA	Who? Let him go.
WR	Brandon Tate	4	UFA	Give him a party favor and show him the door…$10 says he fumbles the party favor, $20 says (if he doesn’t fumble it) he accepts the party favor so far in front of the door that gets tackled before reaching the door.
	Andrew Hawkins	2	RFA	I like Hawkins and the versatility he provides the offense. I would like to see him and Sanu battle for the slot receiver.
OL	Andre Smith	4	UFA	This is a tough one. Smith seems to be regarded much higher outside of Cincinnati than inside. I like Smith. He had finally become the OT the Bengals thought they were getting (BTW, check out the OT’s we wanted the Bengals to take instead ---where are they?) He is also going to garner a lot of attention and big offers and is therefore a potential Franchise Tag option. I would sign Smith to a long term deal so long as it does not preclude the Bengals from being able to lock up Atkins, Green, Dunlap, and Johnson. If it does, I would Franchise him and draft a replacement.
	Dennis Roland	5	UFA	If they resign Smith, I would let him walk and draft an OT in the later rounds. If they do not resign Smith, I would resign Roland and draft a OT in the first 3 rounds.
DL	Michael Johnson	4	UFA	I would resign Johnson. However, Atkins and Dunlap would be higher on my list. I like MJ, I am just not sold on his ability to consistently do what he did this year and I think much of his production is a result of the attention other players (mainly Atkins) get. If signing Johnson would preclude them from signing Atkins and Dunlap, then they may have to let him walk. With $55M under the cap, they should be able to figure it out.
	Pat Sims	5	UFA	Sims seems to make a lot of plays when he is in and healthy. However, health has always been an issue with Sims. I would not mind resigning Sims as long as it is not at starter money (which he may get offered). Last year the Bengals drafted 2 DTs (Still and Thompson) fairly high and the 2013 draft is stocked with DL help, so I may let Sims walk so they can start getting some young DTs into the rotation.
	Robert Geathers	9	UFA	The most overpaid player on the Bengals team (when looking at production vs pay). Geathers is just 29, but has a lot of miles (10 years). In 2006 he had a breakout year with 10.5 sacks and has averaged less than 3 per year since (with a high of 3.5). If he would like to comeback for the minimum, I would entertain the idea. If not, I would let him walk.
	Wallace Gilberry	5	UFA	What a great pickup during the season. Gilberry was very productive (6.5 sacks) in limited playing time. If they can resign him at backup money, they should. He is a great backup and insurance policy if a starting DE goes down.
LB	Thomas Howard	7	UFA	Prior to his injury, Howard was the best LB on this team. Coming off a season ending knee injury, he likely will not have many suitors. If the price is low (and I think it will be), I would resign Howard for 1-2 yrs.
	Rey Maualuga	4	UFA	Can’t let him go quick enough. At the end of the season, it seemed as though letting him go was a done deal. I am concerned though the way Lewis and Zimmer have recently praised him. I was ecstatic when he fell to the Bengals in the 2009 draft, however he has simply proven why the other 31 passed on him (some twice). He is slow, can’t cover, takes bad angles, can’t shed blocks, and can’t tackle…..other than that, he is a good MLB. If I see a #58 on the field next year, I hope and pray the name plate doesn’t say “Maualuga.”
	Manny Lawson	7	UFA	At the veteran minimum, I would entertain the thought of bringing him back as a backup. For anything above the minimum, I would let him walk. I have never seen a player log so much playing time where I never see him or the field or hear his name called. Sure, he never seems to make any plays that make you mad, but that is likely because you (and the opposing team) are unaware that he is even on the field.
	Dan Skuta	4	UFA	I like Skuta as a backup and Special Teams player, but am indifferent as to bringing him back.
	Vincent Rey	2	RFA	Rey seemed to make some plays and show some potential in his limited playing time. I wouldn’t mind bringing him back as a backup, but wouldn’t be upset if they let him walk.
DB	Terrence Newman	10	UFA	Newman was a pleasant surprise in 2013. Like many, I thought he was washed up and just trying to get one last paycheck, but, like Zimmer has with many washed up veterans  before him, he got a good year out of Newman – 4th on the team in tackles and 2nd in picks. If the number isn’t high, I would bring him back for 1-2 years.
	Nate Clements	12	UFA	Like Newman, a good veteran whom I was pleasantly surprised by. 5th on the team in tackles, 1 INT and 1 FF. For a low number, I would entertain the idea because of his versatility between CB and S.
	Chris Crocker	10	UFA	In January of 2012, I could not find enough 4 letter words to describe Crocker. 1 year later I am crediting him for stabilizing the defense. I believe he is the leader of the defense and although I am sure the Bengals will be taking a safety in the first 2 rounds, I would bring him back for a low number to give depth to a thin Safety crew and allow him to mentor a young safety.
	Adam Jones	6	UFA	I think Jones has been a great pickup for the Bengals. He has stayed out of trouble for the most part, played good a CB and been great on special teams. His special teams contribution alone would warrant a re-sign by me. I believe he wants to stay with the Bengals and would sign at a reasonable rate. With Kirkpatrick and Hall hopefully healthy, I would bring him back as the slot CB and the PR.
	Jeromy Miles	3	RFA	A good special teams player. As long as he is not asking for more than special teams money, I would bring him back for his special teams contributions.
ST	Kevin Huber	4	UFA	Punters are undervalued and are never noticed unless they suck (remember Nick Harris and the misfits before Huber?). Never underestimate the ability to swing field position. Huber was 15th in the NFL in average, but 4th in Net  and 5th with punts inside the 20. I would be willing to resign him for top 10 punter money.
	Josh Brown	10	UFA	I really liked the way Brown kicked the ball at the end of the year last year both on FGAs as well as kickoffs. He seems to have more leg than Nugent and I felt more comfortable with him kicking. I would resign Brown.
	Mike Nugent	8	UFA	I like Nugent and would be OK with the Bengals signing him, however, I would lean towards Brown for the reasons above. Nugent is good, an OSU guy, but he has had injury issues and I don’t feel completely confident with Nugent with clutch kicks. I did feel confident with Brown.
	Clark Harris	4	UFA	Long snappers are like punters – you only notice them when they mess up. I have never noticed Clark Harris, therefore I would resign him.