To sign Brandon Marshall or Terrell Owens, the Bengals will have to give up something
by Kirkendall on Feb 5, 2010 9:35 AM EST
in Analysis
25 comments
With the Cincinnati Bengals coming off a season in which the passing game was, to say it lightly, sub par, speculation among Bengals fans is that Cincinnati will be active in free agency for a proven wide receiver and perhaps a draft pick in the first two rounds. This is, of course, speculation. Two names have surfaced as favorites. One, 37-year old free agent Terrell Owens. The other, 25-year old restricted free agent Brandon Marshall.
While Owens comes with a history of lockerroom disruptions displaying the height of selfishness, enough Bengals fans don't mind a look on a short-term incentive-laden contract. And with Chad Ochocinco selling Owens to Mike Brown through the media, the team could take a look. However, it's not as Madden-easy as that. After signing Laveranues Coles to a four-year $27.5 million contract with $9.75 million guaranteed, Cincinnati may shy away from signing another aging wide receiver. Furthermore, it's highly doubtful that the Bengals will sign Owen until they release Coles, who is owed $4.67 million in 2010 and $6.4 million in 2011 and 2012.
Chad did continue selling Owens to Geoff Hobson on Thursday:
“Laveranues is awesome. Dre, Jerome. I think another veteran presence, a guy that is going to be another target for Carson who is somewhat of that caliber; can we not say the extra step for going farther in the playoffs and the Super Bowl?” The Ocho asked. “Someone who knows how to win in the playoffs. I’m just saying. Why not? More excitement to the city. Another ego.”
Asked if Owens could be a team player, The Ocho said it wouldn’t be a problem.
“Damn right. He would have no choice,” he said. “He’d be with me. I got him. I got him. I’d put him under my wing. ‘Hey T, shut up.’ I’d put him in a head lock. He’s good. He’s awesome. Look at his numbers. Why not?”
Another popular theory is that the Bengals could make a play for Brandon Marshall, who is currently playing nice in Denver. To do that, the Bengals will have to sacrifice at least one draft pick since he's a restricted free agent, which depends on Denver's qualifying offer. If the Broncos tender Marshall to the highest allowed one-year contract for a restricted free agent, the Bengals will have to give up a first and third round pick. Second highest, a first round pick only. Third highest, a second round pick. Anything more than that it reverts to where the player was originally drafted. In Marshall's case, the Bengals would give up a fourth-round pick.
If I make a prediction, it's that Cincinnati won't give up a first round pick for Marshall, even though one could argue that no wide receiver in this year's NFL draft would come close to what Marshall could produce and Marshall is young enough to make a long-term impact. I can see the Bengals making a play on Owens, but I doubt they sign him. First, they'll have to dump Coles and then they'll have to debate whether risk and reward signing a guy like Owens; even though he could benefit the team's passing game more than what's on roster currently. Furthermore, that would prove that Caldwell and Simpson are no longer in their long-term visions at the rate they are performing.
0 recs |
25 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
Proven
Giving up a number 1 pick for a proven commodity shouldn’t be an issue… especially for a young guy like Brandon Marshall. When you draft a number 1 guy, you should be thinking, Boy, I sure hope he turns out to be as good as brandon marshall… so its ridiculous to think you wouldn’t give up that same pick for… Brandon Marshall. character issues aside.
by The Dealio on Feb 5, 2010 10:06 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
giving up the 21st pick seems to be more than fair for an established WR. Will the Bengals do that? Hard to tell, but the smart money would be betting against Brown from pulling the trigger on that trade.
by Sheffieldbengal on Feb 5, 2010 10:24 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I just wish Marshall and Vincent Jackson didnt have off field concerns
www.fantasydaddy.com
by firstPick on Feb 5, 2010 10:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
all WR's
have off the field concerns…
unless your name is Reggie Wayne
This is our year!
by Carsonorbust on Feb 6, 2010 10:09 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
First, they’ll have to dump Coles
Why? It will most likely to be uncapped year so Brown won’t have to dump Coles. And TO would most likely be offered a one year deal with a clause indicating that another can be added for a slight bump in the pay. Brown would most likely want to keep Coles and TO because Coles is decent, TO adds more shirt sales and ticket sales (if anything), ignites the imagination of the fans (in that Brown continues to makes moves to try and win and win now) and TO if anything will add a playmaker threat we currently don’t have.
The two issues i see are his age and competition from other teams on the verge of a playoff spot or playoff run. Would TO want to play on another run-first cold weather team or would he like the idea of moving to a dome team like Atlanta or warmer weather team such as Carolina, Jacksonville or Tennessee. I couldn’t really say what his market value and perception is and that’ll only come out in FA.
It seems to be that the Bengals can get him if they want him. Like they did with Coles and Odom, if the desire on Browns part is there, he could easily pull the trigger.
by Sheffieldbengal on Feb 5, 2010 10:18 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
"Why? It will most likely to be uncapped year so Brown won’t have to dump Coles."
That’s not the point. The point is that Brown won’t pay for a guy that’s schedule to make nearly $5 million just to be replaced by someone else.
Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.
by Kirkendall on Feb 5, 2010 11:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Browns paying Carson Palmer 14mil next season to be a game manager so its not impossible or unfeasible that he decides that 5 mil for a deep threat and the chance at a (very profitible) run in the playoffs is a good gamble. Plus Brown could see it as adding to the squad because TO would play a different role to Coles. Another thing to note is that Brown might see that getting TO would be validating his investment of 14mil in Palmer by giving him weapons to fully be worth that investment. Brown has invested money into the defence recently with Crocker, Odom, Roy Williams and will most likely put some money back into the offence.
My money will go on him getting a vet TE before a WR but i don’t see Coles place on the squad being an issue. Late in the season Coles was a 3rd and 4th option WR so he was already being paid money to fulfill the role he’d play if TO came in.
by Sheffieldbengal on Feb 5, 2010 12:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
too much $$$ for not enough production
sure, we don’t have to get rid of coles, but why keep him around if you have Brandon Marshall, Chad Ochocinco, and Andre Caldwell? That sounds like a pretty stellar crew to me. I don’t see the point of keeping a guy who is making 5 mil a year to catch 30-40 balls.
by The Dealio on Feb 7, 2010 2:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I dont know who lied to you Sheff
but it is not warmer here in Tenn
CB85......Collaros for Heisman
by TennBengalfan on Feb 5, 2010 4:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Being from the Buffalo area
I watched TO play alot this year. He still has the speed to get deep. He still drops passes. He still loves the fans, and lives to score touchdowns. I dont think he has lost anything physically. We all know what happens to good receivers that have Ryan Fitzpatrick throwing the ball to them.
www.fantasydaddy.com
by firstPick on Feb 5, 2010 10:46 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Thoughts
For one of these guys to come to Cincy (or another high priced, proven WR) Coles would most likely be dumped. Yes, it would be an uncapped year, but the reality of Mike B (or any owner for that matter) paying a third receiver 7 million a year (when the top two will make more) is pretty slim.
Aside from his antics, TO is a good player. He is on the decline though. Unfortunately, he is no longer a WR who is going to fight for the ball and be reliable making catches in tight coverage. TO has not been this guy since Philly. The Bengals desperately need a WR who can do this as Ocho, Coles, Dre, Quan, etc are not this type of WR.
From a fans standpoint, look at how the majority of us got on Coles this season. Unlike Buffalo, where the fans were mesmerized by TO, Bengal fans across America will be all over him if he isn’t making plays. He drops balls and he is getting older. I think there are better options for what the team needs via FA, trades, and in the draft.
Now onto Marshall. From what he brings on the field, he is exactly what the team needs to fill out it’s WR corps. He’s big, physical, great in tight coverage, can make plays opposite of Chad, creates mismatches, and along with Ocho, will open up the middle of the field for other WRs and TEs. Frankly speaking, if he was to agree to a 5 year deal with Cincy, I would imagine he could be had in a trade for some combination that would include a second rounder instead of a first. Heck, maybe D will take Coles, a two, and a four in the ’10 draft for him.
by Cedric Benson Boat Party on Feb 5, 2010 11:30 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Jeez
I don’t think Bengals’ fans should be entertaining these thoughts of TO and Baby TO. The Bengals are not a team that signs marquee free agents in the case of the latter (at least to my knowledge).
As far as the the former, I see that more likely happening. But in order for Carson to have weapons, he needs a good player and he also needs to build a relationship with that said player (off season workouts before training camp).
by sgiridharan1982 on Feb 5, 2010 11:52 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Is TO still a marquee free Agent?
or is he more like Coles, a past-his-prime WR looking to extend his career and get a ring?
by jim0ijk on Feb 5, 2010 12:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Hey Mike Brown, if you read this
For god’s sake! Get Brandon Marshall!!!
"Shiny. Let's be bad guys."
by KentuckianaBrowncoat on Feb 5, 2010 11:52 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I'd much rather get Marshall than TO..
if you go down the list Marshall gets most of the checks next to his name. Younger, check. Can actually catch the ball, check. Good blocker, check. Physical, check. Fresher legs, check.
Id love to have B. Marshall..
by 80%OFTHETIMEIMRIGHTEVERYTIME on Feb 5, 2010 12:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
me too.
i’d give up a first and third for marshall, no question. it makes sense—with the money brown would have paid for those two draft picks, we get a stud receiver who’s pretty cheap and very young.
this makes our margin for error zero when picking in the second and fourth rounds, but without too many holes to fill, we won’t fall too far behind. it’s not like we NEED a first rounder if marshall ends up on the team…
Sonny my pitched my wild
by GrooveLeg on Feb 5, 2010 1:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
curious
Why is this organization and fanbase so preoccupied with acquiring assholes? Do we just assume that players without a severe personality disorder would never come to Cincy and focus right on in on the idiots?
I probably wouldn’t cry too much about Marshall, but T.O is an old douche. Best playing days are behind him, only he doesn’t realize it. Sound like fun, Carson?
by bodacio on Feb 5, 2010 2:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
MARSHALL!!!!
T.O. doesn’t even deserve to be in this conversation. Brandon Marshall may have issues but he is a complete beast and could be a quality reciever for years to come. I would give Denver Coles and try a second round pick, but would utimately give up the first rounder if need be. The bengals need a receiver who can make an immediate impact, a draft pick may or may not be good, so Marshall is definately worthy of the pick. We should also look at signing Watson at tight end and use our draft picks for a safety, a guard, a Chris Henry replacement, and another cornerback. If all this would pan out we could definately make a deep playoff run.
by The Natti Daddi on Feb 5, 2010 3:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Tired of the sideshow
Players like T.O. and Chad provide entertainment. The kind of entertainment that replaces the need to win games. Personally, I have had enough. As a season ticket holder (I drank the cool-aid when Marvin was hired) all I want is for the Bengals to hire a real GM/Player personel guy. This conversation is moot if we don’t draft the likes of Simpson and A. Smith. I feel sorry for Palmer. WWPD (what would Pittsburgh do)
by clubmaker205 on Feb 5, 2010 7:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
You guys are forgetting something. Well two things, actually.
1) Denver could even franchise Marshall. They almost certainly won’t, but they could. That’s two first rounders.
2) You don’t necessarily have to pay the actual cost in picks of the tender offer. Denver could tender him at 1st and 3rd (for example) and then we could trade with them and acquire his rights for something else, like maybe two 2nds and a 3rd (just a theoretical example, mind you).
by FriarBob on Feb 6, 2010 11:38 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
My ideal scenario
Trade Coles for TO with Buffalo.
Trade early round pick to Denver for Brandon Marshall.
Get them both, and along with Chad, Andre and some other kid that is supposed to be kind of good, plus a couple of first rounders and we would be looking pretty good for weapons. Then add in a TE or two and we can move on to the Front Line.
by UpStateMike on Feb 8, 2010 11:23 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
OH 7734 NO!
Just say no to TO. The man’s ego won’t allow him to humble himself for the good of any team unless it’s to his advantage. He thinks he belongs in the HOF already and the Bengals have finally gotten a group of guys together who seem to think team first for a change. Need a receiver…. see if Indy wants to part with Gonzales after the development of Garcon and Collie this year. There are WAY better options than a self centered 37 year old.
by djdbs54 on Feb 8, 2010 8:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Choices
Give Donte’ Stalworth the Cedric Benson chance! It won’t cost a lot then get Marty Gilyard in the draft as well as a young QB to bring back CP’s hunger! Don’t get me wrong I like CP but his injuries are becoming an issue!
by Kasib H on Feb 9, 2010 6:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
Related FanPosts on Cincy Jungle
Related FanShots on Cincy Jungle
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
