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Terrell Owens lands in Cincinnati; perspectives on Antonio Bryant
by jsl413 on Mar 9, 2010 7:59 PM EST
in Free Agency Visits
68 comments
Terrell Owens landed at CVG International about 25 minutes ago. He's off to dinner with coaches, and will have his official visit at Paul Brown Stadium tomorrow, according to Geoff Hobson. Hobson got in touch with former Bengals QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, who had some very nice things to say about Owens.
"It's hard not to like T.O. He was fun to play with and no one worked harder," Fitzpatrick said Tuesday. "And let me tell you something. He can still flat out run by people."
...
Palmer has apparently finally been able to get in touch with Owens to talk Bengals. Fitzpatrick has been texting Owens, letting him know that Palmer's long ball is looking for another partner. And to let Palmer know that Owens has still got it.
"I know we had a tough year and it discourages me when I hear people say he's lost a step," Fitzpatrick said. "Put on the game tape. He just blows guys up off the line with his explosiveness."
Additionally, Owens seems very motivated by non-financial factors to play in Cincinnati. Particularly, the man really wants to play with Chad Ochocinco and win a Superbowl. He tweeted:
En route @ Natti land!! i'll let u guys know how the mtg went! Cn't go 2 bad considering the pursuit of tht Lombardi shiny thing!!
and later..
@OGOchoCinco i'm on the plane!
Update(s) from Cincinnati Enquirer's Joe Reedy viaTwitter: Joe Reedy seems to have grabbed a few lines from T.O: ""Right now this is my first stop and we'll see how it goes from there. Chad and I both can alleviate a lot of pressure off each other and we can make Carson's job easier."
A few minutes later, Reedy tweets "I definitely feel like I can play 2-3 more years. I keep myself in great shape and that in itself speaks for itself." Could be a PR ploy to boost his value, but maybe 2 years of T.O. is in the works.
Reedy is a workhorse: "I saw [Chad Ochocinco] on Saturday. His work is already done. He put the bug out there. So right now we have to solidify some things."
Update 2: Owens' day with Bengal ownership starts tomorrow at 7:45 AM. He'll be meeting with Mike Brown, WR Coach Mike Sheppard, and Bob Bratkowski. Presumably, contract negotiations would ensue after that.
68 comments | 0 recs |
Banter: Antonio Bryant leaves without a deal; doubting Mardy Gilyard is drafted by Cincinnati
by Kirkendall on Mar 9, 2010 4:20 PM EST
in Analysis
62 comments
With all of this talk about which wide receiver the Bengals will sign (or both if the front office is really good... heh), I thought it would be a good time to update the "young receiver that only wants to play for the Bengals" file. A fan, or fans, created a new fan page that asks the Bengals to draft outstanding UC Bearcats receiver Mardy Gilyard.
While I think the likelihood the Bengals will draft Gilyard in the first round is still (at best) remote, if the receiver drops to later rounds, it could go from remote to possible, with the known issues that this team is facing at the position -- especially in the long term.
Even so, Marvin Lewis has spoken out about giving Jerome Simpson another chance this season and the Bengals could have a pair of veteran receivers starting, much like last year. And I highly doubt that the team will give up on Andre Caldwell, who keeps showing signs of progress (at least that's what people tell me) and now needs to show a bit more consistency and an ability to break away from coverages. Not saying it's impossible. But I believe that the Bengals will use their higher draft picks to address other positions that can help them sooner rather than later. Like safety. Or fullback. Or tight end. Or linebacker. A drafted wide receiver would, at best, be the team's fourth receiver. At worst, he'll be the next Jerome Simpson.
I really like Gilyard. But if he doesn't fall in the NFL Draft, I doubt the Bengals will be the one's drafting him.
No deal. Or the waiting game. Antonio Bryant has left the Bengals without a reported deal. This can mean a variety of things. With a scheduled visit for Washington, Bryant could be looking at both deals and see what's best for him. Furthermore, he could be the number one receiver in Washington whereas he's Chad's shadow in Cincinnati. Not that it matters. When Houshmandzadeh was with the Bengals, his numbers were just as good as if he were a number one receiver.
This could also mean that Bryant isn't interested or the Bengals didn't offer him a deal. Either way, we can either read too much into it or just shrug our shoulders. Either way, we'll know more later.
Baker is in demand on the west coast ( geographical location; not style of offense). Since Chris Baker reportedly was visiting Cincinnati on Monday, we've literally heard nothing about him. We can assume that the meeting still took place on Monday and we can assume that since today is not Monday, that he left Cincinnati without a contract offer. Cincinnati isn't the only team interested in Baker. Writes Jason La Canfora, "Baker is set to visit the 49ers and Seahawks this week." UPDATE: Baker didn't come in Monday and will be in next week.
62 comments | 0 recs |
Rest of free agency will depend on which receiver the Bengals sign; Bryant will also visit with the Redskins
by Kirkendall on Mar 9, 2010 11:39 AM EST
in Analysis
17 comments
It could be Antonio Bryant. It could be Terrell Owens. Bryant is in Cincinnati. Owens has yet to be confirmed for a visit; though it's believed Owens will be in town Tuesday night. This is important. Because the rest of free agency will largely depend on which receiver the Bengals sign, writes Geoff Hobson.
Bryant, the Tampa Bay wide receiver who celebrates his 29th birthday Tuesday as the first Bengals free-agent visit, could be their last if the two sides reach a multi-year deal.
Bryant, being seven years younger than Terrell Owens, would sign a long-term deal that would severely restrict Cincinnati's movement in the market; whereas Owens would be on the books for a one-year deal.
Everything else, from kicker Shayne Graham to right guard Bobbie Williams to safety Roy Williams, appears to be dependent on what happens next.
However, we did post a Carlos Holmes piece earlier Tuesday morning that says the Bengals are close to retaining Williams. I have a hard time believing that the Bengals would push Williams aside and tell him, "if we sign Bryant, then you're out." But we learned long ago that we were happier carbon based units when we stopped trying to figure out what was on the front office's mind.
Either way, the Bengals aren't the only team interested in Antonio Bryant now. The Tampa Tribune's Roy Cummings writes:
Bryant's agent, Lamont Smith, said Bryant had also arranged a visit with the Washington Redskins that could prove more enticing as Bryant would apparently be a second receiver behind Chad Ochocinco in Cincinnati.
17 comments | 0 recs |
Holmes: Bengals are close to a deal with offensive guard Bobbie Williams
by Kirkendall on Mar 9, 2010 10:12 AM EST
in Contracts
6 comments
So far, the Bengals got Tank Johnson back, have spoken with Roy Williams' agent about his return. But the one player that the Bengals want to return most of all, is offensive guard Bobbie Williams.
PFT (via Carlos Holmes through the Middletown Journal), writes that the Bengals are close to retaining their free agent guard. Holmes writes:
According to a source with knowledge of the situation, the Cincinnati Bengals are close to a deal with offensive guard Bobbie Williams. The unrestricted free agent Williams has been a fixture along the Bengals offensive line since joining the club March 26, 2004.
Williams will 34-years old this year and will likely sign a deal that would keep him in Cincinnati for the remainder of his career. Williams is known as a leader on the field and in the locker room.
The Bengals have expressed interest in guard Chester Pitts. It's unknown if the interest was a result of a contingency plan in case Bobbie Williams leaves, or a general effort to upgrade left guard that's rotated the past two seasons by Evan Mathis and Nate Livings in 2009 and Andrew Whitworth in 2008. Williams has been confident that he'll return to Cincinnati when he said on March 6:
“There’s never a question that I want to come back,” said Williams, 33, who has missed only three starts since he arrived in 2004 as a free agent. “I can say talks are definitely going in the right direction and we’ll see how it goes. I hope to be there by the time we start workouts March 29.”
Either way, much like the Tank Johnson deal, signing Williams back is good news because it prevents the Bengals from addressing guards in free agency and the draft allowing them to focus on other areas of the team's roster. And really, is there better options out there than Tank and Bobbie in free agency?
6 comments | 0 recs |
Bengals Banter: Sometimes Mondays are just as cool as Fridays
by Kirkendall on Mar 9, 2010 10:04 AM EST
in Analysis
6 comments
Monday was by far the most active day the Bengals have had during free agency. After taking power naps through most of the weekend, the Bengals signed Tank Johnson, hung out with tight end Chris Baker, scheduled visits with Antonio Bryant and Terrell Owens and reportedly expressed interest in cornerback Phillip Buchanon. All the while Jake and Jay wrote corresponding pieces about Mike Brown and free agency. And here you were dreading Mondays, weren't you?
On Tank Johnson's new four-year deal. Monday afternoon, Tank Johnson announced to the world that he was returning to Cincinnati for the 2010 season. To say I'm relieved is an understatement. If Tank had left, the team's rotation and depth at defensive tackle would have taken a hit. A big one. Get it? A defensive tackle. A big one. Thanks. I'm here all week.
Tank's deal is a four-year deal with terms yet to be disclosed as of this posting. We suspect that much like his original deal with Cincinnati last year, the contract will be incentive-laden with high-dollar roster bonuses to ensure the deal is a basically a one-year deal with an option each following season allowing the Bengals to terminate the deal whenever they want. Again, we're conjecturing here.
Either way, having Tank back is a big help so Cincinnati doesn't have to devote their efforts at finding his replacement in free agency or the NFL Draft.
Raiders release Javon Walker. On March 5, 2008, the Oakland Raiders signed wide receiver Javon Walker to a six-year deal worth $55 million with $16 million guaranteed. In his two seasons with the Raiders, Walker played 11 games, caught 12 passes for 41 yards receiving. In fact, if you look at Walker's eight-year career, he played 15 games or more in only half. He was considered the biggest free agent bust of all time by the NFL Network. Note: no Bengals player was selected as the biggest free agent bust of all time... that could have something to do with the fact that we don't really sign the type of players that would make that type of list.
Walker was also one of the people in Darrent Williams' car when the young defensive back was shot. Walker seems like the type of guy that would make the Bengals roster, doesn't it?
6 comments | 0 recs |
Mike Brown, Brandon Marshall & Spending: Quality vs. Quantity
by jsl413 on Mar 9, 2010 4:32 AM EST
in Analysis
45 comments
Jay wrote yesterday an opinion and analytical piece concerning the Bengals spending practices and relative success in the past 10 years. Comments pointed out that some successful teams are high budget and some are low budget. In a capped era, it did not really matter all that much. There could be no New York Yankees of football. My argument, though, is that the quantity of money is not the important variable. As with all sports and business, where and how that money is spent is the crucial variable.
The inability to recognize the impact of a free agent like Brandon Marshall is a problem. The refusal to invest in players like Marshall that can impact the franchise for years is the real problem. Combined with the failure for the Bengals to successfully draft and develop wide receivers (remember Bennie Brazell, Reggie McNeil and Maurice Mann? Me niether), and this move just makes too much sense.
45 comments | 0 recs |
Antonio Bryant will be joined in Cincinnati tomorrow by Terrell Owens
by jsl413 on Mar 8, 2010 9:27 PM EST
in Free Agency Visits
11 comments
Earlier today, we noted that Antonio Bryant is visitng Cincinnati. Joe Reedy tweeted about 30 minutes ago that Bryant was in Cincinnati. About an hour ago it was reported that Terrell Owens would be visiting Cincinnati tomorrow. Is Cincinnati going to sign both receivers? Probably not.
Receiver Terrell Owens is visiting the Bengals, too, a league source has confirmed. (Adam Schefter of ESPN reported it first; we're not sure why we still bend over backwards to mention that when so few of the other media companies simply say "confirmed" and nothing more.)
Receiver Chad Ochocinco has been actively lobbying the Bengals to sign Owens, and quarterback Carson Palmer recently expressed approval of such a move, too.
At a minimum, it'll be almost as awkward as the first shower-room encounter between Patrick Willis and David Carr if Bryant ends up joining the Bengals instead of Owens.
But it sure would be interesting to see what will happen with both receivers in town. We've extensively discussed preferences between T.O. and Bryant and Brandon Marshall. We should find out soon enough what the future holds for Carson Palmer and the receiving corps.
In other FA news, the Browns traded for QB Seneca Wallace and former Browns CB Leigh Bodden will remain in New England and not sign with Pittsburgh, probably good news for Chad Ochocinco.
No word on Chris Baker's visit today as of now.
11 comments | 0 recs |
Is Mike Brown a Spend Thrift?
by Jay McDonnell on Mar 8, 2010 6:00 PM EST
in Analysis
20 comments
Since following into his father's footsteps, Mike Brown has developed a reputation as being a spend thrift. We fans have accused him of being Ebenezer Scrooge. Not willing to part with the pretty penny to bring high profile free agents, favoring profit over winning. Even to this day, our attitude toward this has barely waned despite some changes over the past decade that may show the opening of his checkbook. This reputation is so steeped in history that the Bengals are often used by high profile free agents to posture for a higher paycheck from another team
All through the 90's Brown appeared not concerned about winning but turning a profit. His tight fisted mentality helped turn a proud franchise into a laughing stock of the NFL, if not professional sports as a whole. The only team able to supplant the Bengals as being the "'worst" was the Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA during the same time period. Being labeled "worst" didn't seem to faze Brown as he refused to acknowledge the lack of spending was the cause of the team's problem. Each year he would stand in front of the media preaching how the team was just one or two players from being a winner.
20 comments | 0 recs
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AFC North Standings
| W | L | T | PF | PA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cincinnati
|
10 | 6 | 0 | 305 | 291 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
9 | 7 | 0 | 368 | 324 |
|
Baltimore
|
9 | 7 | 0 | 391 | 261 |
|
Cleveland
|
5 | 11 | 0 | 245 | 375 |
(updated 1.4.2010 at 4:48 AM EST)
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