Bengals Having Continued Discussions With Quarterback Bruce Gradkowski

by Josh Kirkendall on Jul 26, 2011 11:32 PM EDT

It's painfully clear that press conferences that feature Bengals owner Mike Brown and head coach Marvin Lewis at the same time is one of those things that's high on a list labeled, "Things To Avoid At Any Cost." And during their press conference Tuesday afternoon, Mike Brown admitted that he's not expecting to see Carson Palmer back. Brown also admitted that there will be "some teething problems" with Andy Dalton -- now that's the awesome encouragement an NFL looks for from their owner. Regardless, Lewis said during the press conference that a veteran quarterback is "something we will desire."

ESPN Senior Writer John Clayton spoke to 710 ESPN in Los Angeles on Monday that the Bengals are expected to come to an agreement with either Bruce Gradkowski or Jim Sorgi.

They've targeted these two veterans and even though they can't officially sign them until later in the week, I think they'll make an initial agreement for one of them to sign when they can."

Adam Schefter tweets Tuesday night that the Bengals have had continued contract discussions with Gradkowski.

On day Mike Brown insisted he will not trade Carson Palmer, Bengals continued contract discussions with former Raiders QB Bruce Gradkowski.less than a minute ago via UberSocial for BlackBerry Favorite Retweet ReplyAdam Schefter
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Comments

This is the only free agent I like for our situation...

So it will probably fall through. Such is life with the Bengals…

by emeybee on Jul 26, 2011 11:34 PM EDT reply actions

BRUUUUUUCEE

Give pizza chants.

by 80%OFTHETIMEIMRIGHTEVERYTIME on Jul 26, 2011 11:42 PM EDT reply actions

yeah he makes sense.

Plus he will get a huge payday.
Still I like Orton better in trade.

by BENGALS69 on Jul 26, 2011 11:42 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Orton is going to want a long term contract somewhere

— not be a stopgap QB for a rookie.

by Paul Cannon on Jul 27, 2011 12:16 AM EDT up reply actions

If he was a starting caliber quarterback

he would have become one over the past 6 years.

OH NO!!! WE SUCK AGAIN!!!

by D-Day77 on Jul 26, 2011 11:48 PM EDT reply actions

He isn't being brought in as a long term solution...

by emeybee on Jul 26, 2011 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Again...

With all of the cap money we have to spend there is no reason why we can’t bring in a McNabb or Hasselbeck. Bring in a guy with a couple of years left in the tank that has actually won something, and can show Dalton how to prepare like a professional. What has Gradkioski ever done besides beat us and the Steelers once?

OH NO!!! WE SUCK AGAIN!!!

by D-Day77 on Jul 26, 2011 11:59 PM EDT up reply actions

mcnabbs looking like hes going.to

by JCompton41 on Jul 27, 2011 12:03 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

minny

But hasselbeck would be option 1, gradkowski option 2.

by JCompton41 on Jul 27, 2011 12:04 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

They probably won't even look at Hasselbeck

We know how this organization is run. The cheapest option possible. I heard that Hasselbeck is looking at Tennessee on the radio tonight.

OH NO!!! WE SUCK AGAIN!!!

by D-Day77 on Jul 27, 2011 12:07 AM EDT up reply actions

probably not

But I’m happy with gradkowski. He’s looked good at times and would be a good fit in gruden system.

by JCompton41 on Jul 27, 2011 12:11 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Hell Carson Palmer looked good at times too. Lol..

We didn’t win anything with Palmer so there is no way in hell we are going to win with Gradkowski.

OH NO!!! WE SUCK AGAIN!!!

by D-Day77 on Jul 27, 2011 12:26 AM EDT up reply actions

If we are going to bring in a guy like Gradkowski

then we might as well start Dalton week 1 because we are going to end up with the same result either way – a loss.

OH NO!!! WE SUCK AGAIN!!!

by D-Day77 on Jul 27, 2011 12:30 AM EDT up reply actions

but we save dalton.

And he gets time to learn.

by JCompton41 on Jul 27, 2011 12:32 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Why spend money on two guys to save one?

Tank the season and get Andrew luck next year.

OH NO!!! WE SUCK AGAIN!!!

by D-Day77 on Jul 27, 2011 12:37 AM EDT up reply actions

dont expect a superbowl this year

Just want someone to ease Dalton along and he can do that. I don’t think mcnabb or hasselbeck would win any more games than gradkowski could.

by JCompton41 on Jul 27, 2011 12:30 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

There is no reason why we couldn't make the playoffs this year

if we played our cards right. That is what is wrong with this organization. We have a losers mentality. Why concede defeat before the season even starts.

OH NO!!! WE SUCK AGAIN!!!

by D-Day77 on Jul 27, 2011 12:39 AM EDT up reply actions

i dont see hasselbeck leading us there.

Unless the bengals go after Orton who would want a long term contract, or kolb who is not close to worth what will be given up for him, what’s better than grakowski out there?

by JCompton41 on Jul 27, 2011 12:54 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Why not Orton? Although rumor has it he is going to Miami.

Dalton is a 2nd rounder man and everyone is acting like he is a top 5 pick. Let him sit on the bench for 4 years its not like we are going to have to break the bank to sign him.

Its all a moot point anyway. I watched Mike Brown’s press conference and he looks like he is hell bent on him starting week 1.

OH NO!!! WE SUCK AGAIN!!!

by D-Day77 on Jul 27, 2011 1:12 AM EDT up reply actions

becauae orton is not the long term answer either.

Would you expect orton to lead us to a superbowl? Dalton might end up sucking, infact my bet is we replace him in 3 years, but he’s the only qb that we.cam get that has a.legitimate chance of being a franchise qb.

by JCompton41 on Jul 27, 2011 1:26 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Never said anything about the super bowl...

I said we could make the playoffs this year. There are going to be more options down the line. We don’t have to look past a couple of years. Those quarterbacks that last several years are few and far between.

OH NO!!! WE SUCK AGAIN!!!

by D-Day77 on Jul 27, 2011 1:37 AM EDT up reply actions

we could make playoffs with gradkowski

Not as likely but will be better for the team over the next few years. I would rather miss the playoffs this year, and then have a team that will continually contend, then make the playoffs a few times in ortons 5 or 6 year deal then start over again. Building the team right means we will have a few down years while we get the parts in place, there is nothing wrong with that.

by JCompton41 on Jul 27, 2011 1:47 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

If we aren't going to try to make the playoffs

then we might as well tank the season and go get Andrew Luck. Who would you rather have, Dalton & Gradkowski or Andrew Luck?

OH NO!!! WE SUCK AGAIN!!!

by D-Day77 on Jul 27, 2011 2:46 AM EDT up reply actions

then there may be a stud saftey the next year

So we should tank season after to get him too!

by JCompton41 on Jul 27, 2011 11:05 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

What is easier to find

A safety or a quarterback? Besides we normally tank every season anyway! LOL

OH NO!!! WE SUCK AGAIN!!!

by D-Day77 on Jul 27, 2011 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

im not for intentionlly tanking

But I see gradkowski as the 2nd best realistic option. And with hasselbeck gone he’s the first. He be able to lead us to 8-8 possibly. Just as good as Mcnabb imo.

by JCompton41 on Jul 27, 2011 3:54 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Dalton is going to be our starter.

All of the other good quarterbacks are gone now.

Minnesota gave a 6th round pick for McNabb.

Hasselbeck is going to Tennessee.

Orton is going to Miami. Were too late

OH NO!!! WE SUCK AGAIN!!!

by D-Day77 on Jul 27, 2011 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Btw Enjoyed the banter JCompton41

good conversation man.

OH NO!!! WE SUCK AGAIN!!!

by D-Day77 on Jul 27, 2011 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Weren’t you the one who just said that we should tank the season so that we can get Andrew Luck? lol

by Paul Cannon on Jul 27, 2011 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions

NM, I see that you clarified above.

by Paul Cannon on Jul 27, 2011 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions

If we sign him and he is our starting QB

everyone will be bitching about how bad he sucks in a couple of months.

OH NO!!! WE SUCK AGAIN!!!

by D-Day77 on Jul 27, 2011 12:49 AM EDT reply actions

I'd have no problem if we signed him

He should be affordable—that way, we can invest money in OL (and CB, if need be). I think Gradkowski is underrated.

by Big Sky Bengal on Jul 27, 2011 1:01 AM EDT reply actions

his starts arent far from kolbs, and kolbs worth a first rounder for some reason.

by JCompton41 on Jul 27, 2011 1:11 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Bruce Gradkowski

Um, that’s almost interesting.

But it’s rather frustrating that they aren’t trading Palmer.

Unfortunately, it’s cheaper to let Palmer retire vs. trade him, because trading him would mean that the Bengals pick up extra draft picks (who have to be paid).

So instead of paying extra draft picks, Mike Brown would rather continue to hinder this team by letting Palmer leave w/o compensation. If Mike Brown weren’t so interested in $ and so UN interested in trying to build a winning team, we wouldn’t have to even consider discussions w/second-rate QB’s like Gradkowski.

by ephram on Jul 27, 2011 7:20 AM EDT reply actions

I wonder why.....

We didn’t make a push for Hasselbeck? I haven’t seen the figures he signed for TN with, but I’d have liked to had him in Cincy for 1-2 years.

by Stanley1 on Jul 27, 2011 8:57 AM EDT reply actions

He wouldn’t have come here, because he wants to be on a contender.

by ddbumpus on Jul 27, 2011 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Am I crazy for wanting Sorgi rather than Gradkowski?

I know he’s looked good against the Bengals in a couple games over his career, but we’re talking about a guy whose career best completion percentage is 54.7%, with a career record of 6-14 as a starter (granted, he’s played for some awful teams).

I know Sorgi has been a backup his whole career, but he’s never actually gotten a fair chance to start. He was under Peyton in Indy and Eli in NY. And for what it’s worth (not a lot, I’ll admit) his career numbers are actually pretty decent. 63% completion, 90 QB rating — though he’s had just 156 pass attempts.

To put that into perspective, Kevin Kolb has had 319 attempts, 11 career TDs, versus 14 INTs, with a career rating of 73. I’m not saying that Sorgi is better than Kolb — because he’s probably not, but if Kolb is worth a second round draft pick, then Sorgi is probably worth a shot as a Free Agent QB with a low salary.

by Paul Cannon on Jul 27, 2011 9:51 AM EDT reply actions

I wouldnt hate sorgi

Worth a shot to see what he can do. And can show the young guys how to prepare.

by JCompton41 on Jul 27, 2011 11:04 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I’m not too hyped up on Gradkowski, but he finds some way to win and get people to follow him. Sorgi doesn’t have (that we know) that ability due to a certain QB ahead of him.

by ddbumpus on Jul 27, 2011 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions

sorgi has never had a chance

And will be cheap. I wouldn’t be mad if he got his chance here. Even if he fails, where we are as a team it helps us because Dalton gets time to learn.

by JCompton41 on Jul 27, 2011 12:35 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions