Question of the Day: Are the Bengals desperate, smart or opportunists?

by Josh Kirkendall on Feb 12, 2010 12:06 PM EST in Analysis

ESPN's James Walker is shocked to the point that he's not really shocked -- I guess for the sake of being shocked without being shocked for the perception that something shocking was happening. Walker writes:

Are the Bengals, the reigning AFC North champions, really this desperate?

There is a reason all three players were out of football last season. This trio carries more baggage than LaGuardia Airport during the holidays.

Sure, Cincinnati needs depth at receiver and cornerback. But who knows if these players can step in and immediately contribute in 2010? Stallworth, "Pacman" Jones and Matt Jones haven't played a down in the NFL since 2008.

I don't know what the Bengals are thinking with these three players. Signing Terrell Owens would be much safer -- and that's saying something.

I actually understand where Walker, and like-minded people, are coming from. The Bengals, after all, are somewhat to blame for the perceptions that happened four years ago. Four years ago.

But consider the people they've taken a chance on. Cedric Benson, while not convicted, was arrested twice. Tank Johnson once had munitions factory in his basement. Bernard Scott had more baggage than Pacman Jones and Matt Jones combined. Have Scott, Benson or Tank caused any problems? Have they forced anyone to regret signing/drafting them? What about Larry Johnson? He and Scott helped pick up where Benson left off, each recording 100 yards rushing or more. At some point, each guy gave Bengals fans some level of "what the hell?" or "Mike Brown is cheap" reaction when they signed. Yet, after signing, they didn't cause any problems and contributed to the team.

Granted, one could argue that this isn't the same. Matt Jones, we can accept. Donte Stallworth and Pacman Jones, not so much.

Do the Bengals take chances on players? Yes. Does that mean that the Bengals are desperate? Or does it mean that they're smart? There's no doubt that these guys are talented. Could they be out of shape? Could they have lost their football edge after being unemployed for a year? Maybe. Or maybe Brown signs cheap talent, works them out, talks with them and learns that on the field, they'll improve the team. He learns that off the field, these guys realize their one chance to redeem themselves is now. If Brown, or Marvin Lewis, believe they'd be a detriment, then they won't sign them.

Either way, if the Bengals do sign any of these guys, that will only be the start of their redeeming journey. If they fail, the Bengals cut them, keep most of the money they signed for and move on as if nothing happened. If they succeed, then the Bengals could largely improve two spots on the roster that could use some help.

Are the Bengals desperate? No. Are they smart? Well, they've never been called that before. What they are doing is exploring every option they can. And I'm on board with that.

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Comments

I agree

I put this in the same category as using our practice squad to develop players long-term—a lot of teams don’t do that, but we have to use every tool at our disposal.

Does anyone know if this signing will impact our comp picks?

by Big Sky Bengal on Feb 12, 2010 12:34 PM EST reply actions

The formula for comp picks is “not released” but some people have tried to figure it out anyway. And one key thing that I’m sure of is the FA must “qualify” by having a high enough salary. A player on a veteran minimum won’t even come close. He’d need to be making somewhere around 4 or 5 times as much to be considered worth a 7th rounder.

by FriarBob on Feb 12, 2010 9:13 PM EST up reply actions

compensatory picks aren’t affected by signing guys who were released by another team nor by other teams signing guys your team released. they are only based on free agents and only from the previous season.

i'm going to go america all over your ass!

by Raging Clue on Feb 15, 2010 9:23 AM EST up reply actions

I just have one question....

WHAT ARE WE DOING??

I dont care about their records, I care that both of these players are completely washed up. Its one thing to take on Benson and Tank who still can play, but Jones and Jones are both garbage.

Hey Mike Brown, for once in your life realize that this team has a chance to do big things and Palmers prime is running out. SIGN SOME REAL FREE AGENTS AND GO FOR IT!

But we all know he wont do squat, the Bengals will be good / ok next year and Carson Palmer will slowly fade away year after year. WHY?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Ball handling and dribbling are my strongest weaknesses."—David Thompson

by Benson on Feb 12, 2010 12:45 PM EST reply actions

RE:

“Hey Mike Brown, for once in your life realize that this team has a chance to do big things and Palmers prime is running out. SIGN SOME REAL FREE AGENTS AND GO FOR IT!”

He can’t until Free Agency starts.

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

by Josh Kirkendall on Feb 12, 2010 12:56 PM EST reply actions

Oh no you didn't!

by Craig Conrad on Feb 12, 2010 3:13 PM EST up reply actions

I wasnt talking about today

Im talking in general. And the fact that we are signing Matt Jones doesnt bode well for aquiring any kind of top notch WR later on……..sigh

Ball handling and dribbling are my strongest weaknesses."—David Thompson

by Benson on Feb 12, 2010 4:05 PM EST up reply actions

Please list a single “elite” WR who will be an UNRESTRICTED free agent on March 5th whom you would like Mike Brown to theoretically outbid the other 31 owners equally as desperate for a talented receiver. Just one. Marshall? Restricted. Boldin? Under contract. Austin? Restricted. Moore? Restricted. Etc etc etc. Not a single one of those RFAs has the slightest chance in hell of ending up in stripes. Just not going to happen. Period.

So who’s left? Not really anybody. Unless of course you think T.O. is still elite. Or are completely unconcerned about Kevin Walter coming off injury.

There just aren’t any truly “top notch” WRs out there to just sign willy nilly. And even if you could name one, there’s not much chance we can outbid everybody else for him.

If you disagree, please let me know who we can get.

I await what will be absolute deafening silence.

by FriarBob on Feb 12, 2010 8:50 PM EST up reply actions

So Matt Jones and Matt Jones only is the answer to our passing woes? I think Benson and a lot of Bengal fans would like to see a little more creativity(and balls) in acquiring talent, rather than scraping the bottom of the barrel year after year. That’s the problem with the franchise and this fanbase: It’s a lot of “Well we can’t do that!” and “It’s not like we can get anyone better!”, while someone like the Patriots goes out an gets Randy Moss for a mid-round pick. Inactivity and passivity is what we come to expect and Mike Brown plays it like a fiddle. I don’t really consider bringing in felons to be a bold move. It is desperate. It makes sense that the rest of the league passes while the team that hasn’t won a playoff game in 20 years bites pretty much every time. How’s it working for us?

by bodacio zk on Feb 13, 2010 11:48 AM EST up reply actions

In any other year, theoretically we might have a chance. But first you need an organization they’d be willing to come to. We’re at least approaching that now, but we didn’t have it before. Then you need an idiot on the other side willing to trade with you. There are only so many Al Davis’s in the world. And finally you need a WR who has been a problem child and severely underperforming so that the old team wants to get rid of him, but who will perform for you once you get him.

In short, you need somebody who this year at least does not exist.

by FriarBob on Feb 13, 2010 3:16 PM EST up reply actions

No, I agree with you for the most part. There isn’t a homerun out there unless we swing a deal for Boldin or Marshall, which isn’t likely. And I did make the point on another thread that Mike Brown goes this route because Cincy is not an attractive destination for marquee free agents(mainly because of him). But eventually they have to find a way to break this pattern. I’m actually fine with Matt Jones, but his signing is indicative of a bigger problem and a largely ineffective approach to building a winning football team.

by bodacio zk on Feb 13, 2010 4:14 PM EST up reply actions

i personally don’t see the point in signing a guy like matt jones who’s shown that he just doesn’t care about playing football, but i don’t think it’s indicative of anything except the team filling a roster spot in february before free agency actually begins. if he ends up being the only receiver mikey pursues, then i’ll rant right along with you.

i'm going to go america all over your ass!

by Raging Clue on Feb 15, 2010 9:27 AM EST up reply actions

What's wrong with this?

We are putting guys on the offseason roster. There is very little risk. If they are washed up, they get cut, no big deal.

Maybe the Bengals have even created a competitive advantage in dealing with players like this. When was the last time one of these signings didn’t work out very well?

And here’s a good read on Matt Jones who we just signed:

http://jacksonville.com/sports/football/jaguars/2009-07-16/story/ex-jaguar_matt_jones_plots_nfl_return

Makes me think it’s well worth the risk.

by AB on Feb 12, 2010 1:07 PM EST reply actions

Good Read

It looks like from the article you posted that Jones is doing the right things. I might be wrong again about him, just like I was wrong about Benson. At the very least he seems like he’s worth the relatively low cost of signing him. If he has turned it around, he’ll fit in perfectly with the scrap-heap team we’ve put together. He may still have potential, and I hope he does well for us.

This is our year!

by Paul Cannon on Feb 12, 2010 3:49 PM EST up reply actions

Glad we signed him

Why not sign all these troubled players with talent for cheap to see what they can do. If things don’t work out and they seem like head cases cut them in camp. This seems like a win, win situation and I’m just happy to see the bengals already being active in making the team better. I say bring back Thurman, and if A. Jones looks good sign him too.

by The Natti Daddi on Feb 12, 2010 1:41 PM EST reply actions

I honestly wouldn't mind seeing Thurman in camp..

He was such a beast.. imagine our rotation.

by 80%OFTHETIMEIMRIGHTEVERYTIME on Feb 12, 2010 5:45 PM EST up reply actions

+100000000

by WHYUS!! on Feb 13, 2010 2:21 AM EST up reply actions

Why hasn't this been mentioned yet about Matt Jones

He was a QB at Arkansas. New wildcat threat for sure.

Slim 15, you will be missed. RIP Chris Henry

by Danimal, Destroyer of Worlds on Feb 12, 2010 9:47 PM EST up reply actions

Wildcat threat?

Hahahaha that the funniest thing I have ever heard. Bratkowski has no thought of even attempting a single creative play call. They could use him for a wr pass play too but you and I both know bratkowski is a complete washed up OC who refuses to change anything about his playcalling. Wildcat? Hahahaha

by Diesel2405 on Feb 12, 2010 11:09 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Yeah, you got a point there

Brat can suck one.

Slim 15, you will be missed. RIP Chris Henry

by Danimal, Destroyer of Worlds on Feb 13, 2010 6:41 PM EST up reply actions

Maybe I should be the new Bengals OC

I’d pound the rock between the tackles with Benson, bounce it outside with Scott, run some play action,, run again to set up the deep throw, Use Benson and Jones in the wildcat, and if for some stupid reason we still have Shankapotamus, I’ll go for 2 every time and go for it on 4th downs anytime we’re in field goal range.

Slim 15, you will be missed. RIP Chris Henry

by Danimal, Destroyer of Worlds on Feb 13, 2010 6:46 PM EST up reply actions

there’s nothing creative about the wildcat and it’s not fooling anyone anymore (see miami’s season of 2009). it’s just an option play. if your defense can’t stop the option, you have no business as a defensive coordinator in the nfl.