Bengals Would Be Right Holding Off On Andre Smith Option

by Josh Kirkendall on Feb 24, 2011 10:23 AM EST

As Jason pointed out in a FanPost on Wednesday, the Bengals will be forced to make a decision on Andre Smith within the next month. By passing on an option that would extend his contract through 2014, Smith's deal would essentially become a four-year deal worth $26 million through 2012. If the team triggers the option, Smith's contract would be a six-year deal worth $42 million. No matter what happens, Smith would receive $21 million in guaranteed money.

Now according to Geoff Hobson, the team isn't expected to do anything. At least not for now. And it's not hard to understand why. Smith has missed 19 of 32 games during the first two seasons of his NFL career, having multiple foot surgeries during that span. So it's not hard to figure out why the Bengals would be hesitant to commit to Smith longer than they have to. And we can't fault them on that.

And when Smith has played, he's easily the worst offensive lineman on the team, according to Pro Football Focus (actually, he graded as the worst offensive player on the team). With a score of -18.0, only 16 offensive tackles graded worse than Smith in the NFL last year. Yet, as ironies go, Eugene Monroe (-15.6) and Jason Smith (-16.7), two tackles drafted in the first round the same year that the Bengals drafted Smith, haven't been that much better, grading as better pass blockers than rush blockers -- though not by much. Of the top four tackles selected that year in the first round, Baltimore's Michael Oher graded out at -10.8. The grading system is tough on tackles though, with only 22 offensive tackles having a positive grade.

Comparatively speaking, Andrew Whitworth graded out as the league's best offensive tackle with a score of 24.6.

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Comments

It's a blog about nothing.

Suddenly, Josh has become Seinfeld.

Reporting on the Bengals doing nothing can only mean that the Draft cannot come soon enough for us.

Sure. Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth - Mike Tyson

by UpStateMike on Feb 24, 2011 10:52 AM EST reply actions

"Comparatively speaking, Andrew Whitworth graded out as the league's best offensive tackle with a score of 24.6."

And no Probowl. Pathetic.

by Cry on Feb 24, 2011 11:03 AM EST reply actions 2 recs

+1

Ridiculous.

by bengalsFTW on Feb 24, 2011 11:24 AM EST up reply actions

Agree.

Give pizza chants.

by 80%OFTHETIMEIMRIGHTEVERYTIME on Feb 24, 2011 12:27 PM EST up reply actions

+1000

And James Friggin Walker (thats his middle name right?) had him as the 36th best player in the AFC North (not the NFL… The AFC North!) What a Friggin Joke!

by The Dealio on Feb 24, 2011 1:18 PM EST up reply actions

I saw that too. 36 out of 40. He's a joke.

by Cry on Feb 24, 2011 2:00 PM EST up reply actions

This should follow along with our recent strategy of not doing anything anyways……..so we’re ok in this situation. If we’re not going to re-sign JJoe or Ced, we’re sure as heck not going to jump out of our chairs to sign Cheeseburger Smith………..

by The Van Buren Boys on Feb 24, 2011 11:03 AM EST reply actions

Hind-Sight is always 20/20 and I understand that………but here are just a few guys we could have had instead of Moobs Smith (drafted after him in 1st round): BJ Raji, Brian Orakpo, Josh Freeman, Jeremy Maclin, Michael Oher, and Clay Matthews. This alone should be the sole argument to why we need more scouts and a better overall scouting structure. What a waste of a pick…………

by The Van Buren Boys on Feb 24, 2011 11:25 AM EST reply actions

In the defense of our staff

Smith completely MOVED men around in college. Though I think they should have backed off after the combine shit no matter what.

by Throw the ball on Feb 24, 2011 11:47 AM EST up reply actions

Unhealthy vs no-talent

When moobs was coming out of college, there was no indication of him being unhealthy. You like all of your lineman to have some weight and the staff thought they could trim some of the excess off of him. Signed him to a lucrative deal with weight clauses(and this clause we’re discussing), he got hurt which hindered training camp. He came in late in the season, showed flashes of promise. Repeat in 2010. I think the kid has all the talent, just needs to stay in shape(not a shape) and stay healthy. It doesn’t look like a good draft pick right now, but we should be hoping he is solid in 2011 because the o-line isn’t looking so hot now.

by cabech984 on Feb 24, 2011 11:52 AM EST reply actions

Not doubting his talent at all, but with all the red flags that came up during that draft it was an embarrassment to pick him that high. His tape in college made him look like a beast, but coming to the combine the way he did, leaving early, looking completely out of shape………and then we picked him? Come on…….red flag, red flag, red flag………what the heck, and we still take him. I am still pulling for the guy, but for a guy drafted that high we shouldn’t have to wait years for him to start….at guard. If he would have been in shape one wonders if his foot issues would have ever happened as well. We need him, but he hasn’t exactly shown great promise yet…………

by The Van Buren Boys on Feb 24, 2011 12:01 PM EST reply actions

just chalk it up as a bad bust and move on.

andre is not much of a football player……………………………………….

by mikel12q on Feb 24, 2011 12:24 PM EST reply actions

I disagree with that

I think Andre is a good player but has made poor decisions and had some aggravating injuries (for him and the team).

It is the right move to do nothing regarding his contract and see if he gets out of his rut. If he matures and develops, AND stays injury free he just might surprise everyone.

Sure. Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth - Mike Tyson

by UpStateMike on Feb 24, 2011 12:33 PM EST up reply actions

RG or LG

What do people think about him playing one of these positions?

I think the way to go would be to play collins at right, Whit at left, cook or stephens at center, then have him play one of the guards. In this senerio we don’t pick up the option let him play it out and give him starting guard money if he proves himself. The salary he makes now is to much for a unproven guard.

I have lost almost all faith in him being a tackle but him and whit on one side would open holes that every RB would dream of.

by BigJungle on Feb 24, 2011 1:12 PM EST reply actions

right guard seems like a possibility...

but for now Bobbie Williams still holds down that spot.

by The Dealio on Feb 24, 2011 1:21 PM EST up reply actions

I'm all for getting the best players on the field

If you want to move the chains and get positive yards, I don’t care if they put Peko in as fullback. If we have three good tackles and one good guard, get the poor guard out and get the better player in. Just don’t ask him to pull around the opposite end.

Sure. Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth - Mike Tyson

by UpStateMike on Feb 24, 2011 5:03 PM EST up reply actions