Bengals Offer Three-Year Extension and Between $16-$20 Million to Cedric Benson

by Josh Kirkendall on Jun 21, 2010 5:54 PM EDT in Contracts

We wrote early Monday morning that the Cincinnati Bengals were open to contact talks with the representatives of Cedric Benson. All of you have sung the same song: Get it done.

Apparently the contract is closer to being closed than any of us think. According to Bengals play-by-play voice Brad Johansen, the Bengals are offering to rework the final year of his current contract and extending it three seasons, which would give Benson roughly $16-20 million over the next four years. Technically, it's a three-year extension. Not so technically, we'll have Benson through 2013.

Nothing is official and the primary media darlings have yet to chime in the contract. There are assumptions at this point to be made. Is this merely an offer from the Bengals and Benson's representatives have yet to respond? Is this the foundation of a verbal agreement and the details still need to be worked out? Either way, you get the feeling that something could be done by the end of the week.

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Not a bad thing.. It's just I don't think it's neccessary yet..

I would rather see them going after J.Joe and L.Hall..

by JamesShively on Jun 21, 2010 6:00 PM EDT reply actions

Agree.

As much as I’d love to see him locked up, I’d rather have the two guys you mentioned extended. Beyond that, a guy like Ced has performed at his best when he’s at the END of a contract and has had to work for it. Bears fans seem to think that if the Bengals pay him all up front, he’ll get lazy. My thoughts are that they’ll get to J-Joe once Revis’ deal is done.

by Anthony Cosenza on Jun 21, 2010 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions

mikey boy must be...

…Reading my cincy jungle posts. :)

Makes sense to make the offer. I figure we will franchise somebebody. Lock in joseph and benson leaving us able to franchise hall? If we can’t agree with benson negotiate with Hall and tag cedric. In either case it buys us at least a year.

In the meantime we draft another RB and DB so we have the heirs in line.

by goffchile on Jun 21, 2010 6:14 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

give him his dinero now

He’s proven to be a quality back w good work ethic. He’s cheaper now as opposed to later

by quickslant on Jun 21, 2010 6:21 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Not so fast on the National media front?

ESPN reported today (this morning on sports center) that talks were being done. I seen it while posting. But it’s not big news though.

by WHYUS!! on Jun 21, 2010 6:33 PM EDT reply actions

this is a great thing if he accepts which i believe he will then the JJ deal will be finished before the start of the season and then don’t have to worry about Leon Hall’s contract till next offseason

by OGBuffaloBill on Jun 21, 2010 7:09 PM EDT reply actions

No reason to refuse

Benson was going nowhere when the Bengals gave him the opportunity. I do not see any reason why he would not sign. Whether the package is cheap or not, we can only tell in two to three years, given players have awesome moods, injuries, etc., not to add to what alcohol and night bars can do.

by Richard L on Jun 21, 2010 8:30 PM EDT reply actions

I hope he takes it.

That’s anywhere form 4m-5m a year for the next 4 years. I think that is really fair deal. Take it Ced, and whip ass in the stripes the next 4 years!

by TCfromDubVee on Jun 22, 2010 9:40 AM EDT reply actions

Why would we spend 5 mil on a RB?

If recent NFL history has taught us anything, it is that RB’s have a very low shelf life and are easily replacable.

He had a lot of carries on him, and his pedestrian YPC can be easily replaced by anybody else on the roster.

That $ would be better spent on a position that makes more of an impact in an NFL game. Unless we’re singing Barry Sanders, Ced just isn’t woth that kind of $….

by ephram on Jun 22, 2010 11:57 AM EDT reply actions