Johnathan Joseph On The Franchise Tag: "I'd Sign It The First Day"

by Josh Kirkendall on Dec 28, 2010 9:28 AM EST in Analysis

The Cincinnati Bengals will end the season next Sunday having to make several decisions, which largely impacts the future of this team. Chad Ochocinco. Marvin Lewis. Cedric Benson. Those are just your veteran core guys. Defensively, with the Fisher Price boys (Geno Atkins, Michael Johnson, Pat Sims, Carlos Dunlap) anchoring the defensive line in the foreseeable future, the Bengals are going to have an issue in the secondary.

Case in point, Johnathan Joseph will be a free agent, Leon Hall and Adam Jones will enter the final year under contract and the team's secondary roster signed for 2011 looks like this: Chris Crocker, Tom Nelson, Reggie Nelson. It's such an issue that the team is likely to do some work rebuilding the safety depth through free agency and the NFL draft.

What's very possible this offseason is that the Bengals will use their franchise tag on Johnathan Joseph to, at the very least, put off worrying about the cornerback for this season and focus on safeties. According to Joe Reedy, the franchise tag for a cornerback last year was $9.566 million, which will increase due to inflating contracts among the top-five paid players, spearheaded by Darrelle Revis' four-year, $46 million contract.

If the Bengals offered Joseph the franchise tag, the veteran cornerback said:

"I'd sign it the first day," Joseph said with a laugh. "Hopefully we can get a deal done before then."

Agreed. Even though it doesn't seem like that the Bengals will retrain Joseph and Leon Hall after 2011, it would seem even less likely with both heading into negotiations.

An indication that Joseph will leave? If the Bengals franchise Joseph, it makes it all the more likely he'll leave after the 2011 season. The Bengals franchised place kicker Shayne Graham in 2009, who is now kicking with New England. The Bengals franchised offensive tackle Stacy Andrews in 2008, who is now playing in Philadelphia. The Bengals franchised defensive end Justin Smith in 2007, who is now playing in San Francisco.

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can you only sign a franchise-tagged player to one year?

Moisture is the essense of wetness, and wetness is the essense of beauty.

by Blue Steel on Dec 28, 2010 10:01 AM EST reply actions

Yes

There is a deadline in which you can sign them to a multi-year contract after they’ve been franchised. It’s like through 10 weeks of the regular season. After that, they can’t be signed to a long-term deal until after the season.

Managing Editor at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Josh Kirkendall on Dec 28, 2010 11:24 AM EST up reply actions

so essentially, we're only putting off negotiations for a long-term deal for one year

which means we’ll be trying to sign our top three CB’s next year? If next year was a definite contending year for us, I might be in favor of it. But at this point, we’re almost building for 2012, so I’m not sure what to think of this.

Moisture is the essense of wetness, and wetness is the essense of beauty.

by Blue Steel on Dec 28, 2010 1:21 PM EST up reply actions

I know what to think about this,

It’s disastrous for the team, even if we were contending for a SB next year. We could sign J Jo this year to a multi year contract, tag Hall for the 2012 year and sign Jones to a 3 year contract in 2012. This would ensure us all three CBs are here at least 2 more years. After the tag on Hall, if he demands more money then let Hall walk. We would get a compensatory pick for him then. If we don’t sign J Jo and hit him with the tag, you will not see the above mention happen, you will lose Hall, maybe J Jo or both for 2012. Don’t forget Jones too.

by WHYUS!! on Dec 28, 2010 2:31 PM EST up reply actions

Hard to argue with that plan.

by Todd G on Dec 28, 2010 3:03 PM EST up reply actions

Why is it unlikely that we resign Hall and Joseph?

Are you just saying its unlikely we sign both, getting one or the other?

by The Dealio on Dec 28, 2010 10:11 AM EST reply actions

If jospeh can prove to stay healthy next year, I’d rathe keep him And Adam jones around if we had to lose joseph or hall.

Joseph also seems like the classy player that wants to be here…. And I’ve heard It multiple times that they think they are individually better because they complement each others skills while on the field. Hopefully that factors in to both of their signings!

by ddbumpus on Dec 28, 2010 10:30 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

"Why is it unlikely that we resign Hall and Joseph?"

Put it this way, do you think Mike Brown will give two contracts to two cornerbacks that will likely make in the top-ten at their position? If he does, it has to happen in separate years. My guess is that Brown will pick one or the other if both of them are entering free agency.

Managing Editor at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Josh Kirkendall on Dec 28, 2010 11:25 AM EST up reply actions

MB has actually been pretty willing to pay a player top dollar. e paid Palmer, Jeremi Johnson, and Graham at the top of their position. He has resigned Chad with a lot of time left on the contract, and he has paid his players who perform, if only for one year (Geathers, Whitworth, Jones, Peko, Anderson). It is not impossible to keep both.

It must be inordinately taxing to be such a boob. ~ The Brain

by jim0ijk on Dec 28, 2010 2:57 PM EST up reply actions

Look...

Ae the Bengals really that stupid? They need to hurry up and get this deal done, I don’t care if it requies Revis type money, Joseph is the real deal and by looking into his statement about wanting to sign the franchise tag on the first day, just goes to show how much he wants to stay in Cincy.

Somone who wans to stay will always be a good player to have since they will give 100% to the team.

Get rid of Chad and Benson if you have to… PAY DA MAN.

by Hector 'Rodriguinho' Meléndez on Dec 28, 2010 10:36 AM EST reply actions

we need a team full of men like J-Jo

they need to do whatever it takes to avoid the franchise tag and give him a long term deal at a “fair” price. This guy deserves his $, he wants to be here, and is the consumate “Team/Lockerroom” guy. Furthermore, as has already been said, he WANTS to be here and oh yeah, he’s really really good at football. Mike Brown- wake the f*ck up and get this deal done now!!!!!

The Curse of Bo Jackson: Jan 13th,1991- present day

by TruWhoDey on Dec 28, 2010 11:22 AM EST reply actions

I really hope we sign this guy to a long term deal

Watching Roddy white run all over us when he was out versus watching him contain vjax (who completely tooled Leon hall last year) on Sunday makes it clear that he is the most valuable player in our secondary. I think he makes everyone else look and play better, and I’m sure we would have won at least a couple more games if he was healthy all year

Q: Are you going to essentially fire yourself and hire a general manager?
"I call them themes. They (fans and customers) like to talk about different themes when things don’t go well." -Mike Brown

by delorean87 on Dec 28, 2010 12:17 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

What's the difference between Shank, Justin Smith, and Stacy Andrews and Jonathan Joseph?

Joseph actually deserves top-five money for being top five at his position.

Joe Reedy: "Supposedly Marvin could not find his flag to challenge the call. I am not kidding. #bengals"

by Doc Scratch on Dec 28, 2010 11:52 AM EST reply actions

and he wants to be here

other than Shank, you can’t say that about the other guys

The Curse of Bo Jackson: Jan 13th,1991- present day

by TruWhoDey on Dec 28, 2010 1:37 PM EST up reply actions

+1

Absolutely

Franchise tag can be used on Hall in 2012 (if Jones doesn’t work out next season)
JJo is the Bengals’ No1 CB and deserves not being hung out by a franchise tag – good call Doc.

CBs locked until end of 2012 season. Already makes a statement about where you want to go.

by wiseking on Dec 28, 2010 1:58 PM EST up reply actions