Andre Smith's camp sends proposal to Bengals on Wednesday

by Josh Kirkendall on Aug 12, 2009 7:11 PM EDT in Contracts

You know the best part about Twitter? You get first hand information at a moment's notice. As a matter of fact, right now, Chad Ochocinco Johnson is level three pissed, "that's losing your keys mad" after learning the outcome from Tweets of the soccer match between USA and Mexico.

We also learned that Andre Smith's camp has sent a proposal to the Bengals Wednesday afternoon. Smith's agent Alvin Keels tweets, "Sent over what I thought was a very good and fair proposal today to the Bengals! Lets hope it does the trick. if not back to square one!" Reportedly the two sides haven't spoken since last Monday.

I have a feeling that if the Bengals don't respond, or don't actually negotiate a counter-offer, that many people will be losing your keys mad.

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Friday's Game against New Orleans

If the O-line plays well, it might help our negotiating with Smith. It would show the Bengals do not have an immediate need for Smith.

That being said, our Offensive Line was the worst our franchise has ever had last year……..if this offer is close to what we offered him, I hope we get the deal done before Friday.

I know, wishful thinking here, just thinking it out loud……..

by nadfflictar on Aug 12, 2009 7:41 PM EDT reply actions

Mike Brown

This all falls on him. Does he want to protect Carson or does he want to ~~continue to line his pockets at his fans’ expense~~ make a point about rookie salaries, something that will be addressed when the CBA is up?

by IFChris on Aug 12, 2009 7:44 PM EDT reply actions

Why would you assume that it’s an issue that will be addressed in the next CBA, when varying parties from both sides (Union and Owners) have stated openly that they see no immediate need to address the situation?

Anthony Collins will be just fine holding the spot until Andre signs and shows he deserves it; I say make him sweat and he’ll cave, because otherwise he costs himself about 20 million dollars by sitting out and re-entering the draft.

by Raging Clue on Aug 12, 2009 7:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Goodell

…and the owners are the reason it will be addressed. The players may not like it and strike, but the owners have more money and are quite willing to wait them out. Again.

by IFChris on Aug 12, 2009 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Read more here. Oh, and it’s dated from last summer:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3463911

Believe me, a rookie scale will probably be the first topic discussed.

by IFChris on Aug 12, 2009 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m not saying it won’t be discussed, and I think you’re correct that the majority of owners want to see a rookie payscale, and probably a majority of the veteran players, too. But it seems like it’s come up as an issue for several years, and just keeps getting pushed into the future. Personally, I don’t see why they can’t all just sign to minimum-base, incentive-driven contracts of 3-year length. Send them into restricted free agency so that the team that developed them has a fighting chance to re-sign them and figure out their market value.

by Raging Clue on Aug 13, 2009 2:14 AM EDT up reply actions

"Why would you assume that it’s an issue that will be addressed in the next CBA"

Roger Goodell has come out in support managing rookie contracts.

“There’s something wrong about the system,” Goodell said Friday. “The money should go to people who perform.”

(same thing what Chris posted)

It was a major issue during the previous owner’s meeting.

Furthermore, Kevin Mawae, president of the NFL Player’s Association said:

“As a guy who has been in the league for 14 now going on 15 years and being around other veteran guys, for a young guy to get paid that kind of money and never steps foot on an NFL football field, it’s a little disheartening to think of,” Mawae said. "It makes it tough for a guy who’s proven himself to say ‘I want that kind of money’ when the owners, all they’re going to say is, ‘Well, you weren’t a first-round pick.’

“And I know there is sentiment around the league amongst the players like, ’Let’s do something to control these salaries and control these signing bonuses’ and things like that, and I know that’s something that the owners are talking about and I’m sure that’s going to play into this round of negotiations for this collective bargaining agreement,” he said.

In fact, Mawae’s comments brought to light a possible split within the union.

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

by Josh Kirkendall on Aug 12, 2009 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Again

The more we’ve learned, the more this falls on Brown. Considering the current “scale” other rookies have signed at so far, Smith’s request is within “reason.”

by IFChris on Aug 12, 2009 8:12 PM EDT up reply actions

RE:

I agree. But when has Brown ever just gone with the flow of things. Isn’t he the only owner who said to a trade-demanding wide receiver (The Rock style) “it’s doesn’t matter what you want.” Remember when he was one of two owners to vote against the CBA extension in 2006, when the rest of the owners agreed in 2009 that the CBA isn’t worth extending beyond 2010?

Trust me, I’m not a Brown apologist. But the man does whatever the hell he wants.

But I made the point in the other thread, the Bengals have the upper hand here and Brown has the luxury of sitting back and watching Smith’s demand fall to him. However, that leverage falls as soon as anyone on the line suffers an injury — too likely a scenario, IMHO, to risk.

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

by Josh Kirkendall on Aug 12, 2009 8:19 PM EDT up reply actions

If Smith re-enters the draft, he's done

Most teams flagged Smith’s maturity/character issues. If he can’t sign, no team will draft him in the first round. That’s a ton of money he’d lose.

Bengals really do have the upper hand in this. A competent backup tackle that most of us didn’t mind if he started the season at either tackle position.

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

by Josh Kirkendall on Aug 12, 2009 8:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Zero

That is the number that represents the bargaining power of Andre and his agent Keels. It also represents the possibility he will get more next year. You would think that Smith would have learned from the way he was handles by Keels between leaving school and the combine that he has a problem agent. It was a big mistake going back to him. MB will stand pat, or maybe salt the deal a bit and Andre will sign. Every day of camp he loses decreases his value to the team this year and if he doesn’t sign by next week latest there is very little chance that he will do anything but backup this year as the team will be too busy preparing for each weekly opponent to give him enough snaps to get acclimated. I would tell Keels that the last offer is firm and everyday he isn’t in camp it goes down 2%.