Bengals have a payroll of $95 million; roughly $29 million under the cap

by Josh Kirkendall on Feb 11, 2009 2:13 PM EST in Contracts

PFT received cap numbers for the 2009 season.

The Bengals currently have $95 million in salary, leaving $29 million under the $124 million 2009 salary cap (I don't know what "likely to be earned incentives" mean). With that amount of room, the Bengals have options to throw chunks of cash at a top-tier free agent, or, uh-hum, T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

However, you know. I know. My best friend Stan Marsh knows. It's unlikely. Maybe it's for the best. Each year we chat about acquiring free agents, when in reality the best players, the ones that truly make a difference, are very unlikely to leave their own team. And when those players finally do surface in the market, they are past their prime, willing to take hostage of your dollars.

That's not to say that we shouldn't look for those second-tier guys that make the market, becoming contributing role players for winning organizations. That's the point we need to reach; talent in the depths, rather than talent at the surface. We don't need starters as much as we need guys to fill in for those starters.

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Odom+Utecht

Those guys will carry over unacheived incentives so the cap amount will be lower. Plus signing rookies gets more and more expensive every year.

However if i remember correct the Bengals had 21 Million cap space last year and aquired their most expensive FA to date (Odom) so we should see some action in the FA market for depth etc.

by Sheffieldbengal on Feb 11, 2009 3:00 PM EST reply actions

I wish they’d go strong after Haynesworth. Maybe he’s too big of a target, but there’s nothing wrong with trying to make a big splash — especially if it works out. That being said, I don’t see Peppers wanting to come to Ohio.

by IFChris on Feb 11, 2009 3:11 PM EST reply actions

Make that Haynesworth. Or Peppers for that matter.

by IFChris on Feb 11, 2009 3:12 PM EST reply actions

The only position I can see them filling via free agency is Linebacker. A guy that would fit that mold would be Crowell from the Bills or Webster from the Broncos. I like these two guys and there definitely 2nd tier guys that can provide depth if not start a game or two, especially if we let go of Blackstock, Jeanty or Brandon Johnson

"yeah so basically you got a qb with a bum elbow and ocho who is half spanish half retarded and thats it on offense eh"

- Wally, Best Friend/Giants Fan

by Ocho85 on Feb 11, 2009 8:29 PM EST reply actions

Webster from the Broncos???

…You mean Nate Webster? The one that blew out his knee in 2004 and only played three games for the Bengals? That Webster?

Really…this Nate Webster???

by TheWalrus1971 on Feb 11, 2009 10:27 PM EST up reply actions

why not Bertrand Berry

or either Jason Brown or Matt Birk? Linebacker wise, I’d like to take run at Bart Scott, Carlos Dansby, or James Farrior. I think we could also pick up Tank Johnson on the cheap.

by IgnatiusJReilly on Feb 11, 2009 10:19 PM EST reply actions

Right!

Matt Birk would be a great pickup. Dansby is too loyal to the Cardinals, Farrior won’t go to another team in the division (which never seems to bother any Bengal who leaves Cincinnati, for some reason), but Tank would be an interesting acquisition, too.

Haynesworth, though…man…if only…wow. Put him in the middle, Peko and Sims/Shirley on the ends, move Geathers back to the Sam, Rivers at the Will, draft a Mike and keep Odom for 4-3 sets…[smack-smack!] SNAP OUT OF IT, MAN!!!

<whew!> I feel better now…

by TheWalrus1971 on Feb 11, 2009 10:33 PM EST up reply actions

ya I remmber Webster, weird how former Bengals seem to up there game when they aren’t playing in Cincy (case in point Keiwan Ratliff) I thought he’s played pretty well with the Broncos, that being said the Broncos defense is near the bottom if not 32nd in the entire NFL
Not a chance Farrior will even sniff Cincy and I’d like to think Dansby would follow all the former Cardinals here but I doubt it. Birk could be a possibility but if the Vikes pickup a QB they could be a threat in the NFC (I know we say it every year)

"yeah so basically you got a qb with a bum elbow and ocho who is half spanish half retarded and thats it on offense eh"

- Wally, Best Friend/Giants Fan

by Ocho85 on Feb 11, 2009 10:52 PM EST reply actions

Webster

Anyone remember when Corey Dillon came back to Cincinnati for the time during pre-season and Nate Webster blew him up? That was worth the admission alone.

Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Josh Kirkendall on Feb 12, 2009 9:12 AM EST reply actions