Using The Transition Tag On Cedric Benson Would Be A Mistake

by Josh Kirkendall on Feb 13, 2012 12:06 PM EST in Contracts

ST. LOUIS, MO - DECEMBER 18: Andy Dalton #14 of the Cincinnati Bengals hands there ball off to Cedric Benson #32 of the Cincinnati Bengals against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome on December 18, 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Bengals beat the Rams 20-13. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Guest appearances continue filling in for Paul Daugherty's The Morning Line, the latest being Robb Hoff who "has freelanced for ESPN’s production research department" and "written for newspapers and magazines over the years and previously promoted his book Crackers For A Lycanthrope in the Greater Cincinnati area." Hoff writes about the Bengals because in this city, it's always the Bengals first and Reds second -- not that we're interested in getting into a "whose town is it" debate. And during that discussion, one nugget stood out.

Regardless how the offense evolves under the direction of coordinator Jay Gruden, a power running back remains a must in the AFC North. Benson has rushed for over 1,000 yards for two Bengals playoff teams. His demeanor and off-field issues might cause heartburn, but all public posturing aside, the Bengals should apply the lower transition tag amount for RBs of about $6.5M to retain some leverage with Benson. If another AFC team wants Benson, make them pay for his services.

Unlike the franchise tag, the transition tag takes into account the top ten salaries at a player's respective position. However much like the franchise tag, if the contract tag offers less than a 120 percent increase from what the player made the previous season, then ditch all of that and give the man a 120 percent raise. The key is factoring in the higher salary and in Benson's case, the increase doesn't surpass the transition number and therefore that's the figure we're using. The Transition Tag for running backs in 2010 was $7.151 million, increasing to roughly $8 million last year. Though year's official numbers will be released within a few weeks, the projected transition tag number for running backs will roughly be around $6.9 million.

All of that being said the Cincinnati Bengals won't tag Benson, no matter the designation or level of said designation. First of all Benson signed a one-year deal worth $3 million with another $2 million in bonuses for a cap number of $5 million. You're essentially giving Benson a raise after a stale 2011 season, admittedly behind a poor rush blocking offensive line. But Benson fumbled the football 12 times in his past 31 games, lost seven while averaging 3.7 yard/rush over the course of the previous two seasons. Realistically we could go through a checklist of reasons why Benson doesn't fit with Cincinnati's future, along with his outspoken criticism with the coaching staff through the media; something a young team doesn't need right now.

Though we're projecting without knowing what the team plans and even though the team and player are expected to mutually separate, if the Bengals end up bringing Benson back in 2012, it won't be through the use of a tag.

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Comments

Sounds like someone who didn’t watch the team all season. Like others have said 1,000 yards rushing in 16 games isn’t that great as a feature back. You could see his attitude on the sideline and in the media. Also the notion that he is a power back is tired considering he could never pick up a third or fourth and short. Is the line to blame in some cases? Sure. But so many teams have a go to guy that despite everyone knowing he will get the ball, the defense can’t stop him. Ray Rice, Hillis in his breakout season, Bettis before he retired, the list goes on.

by Jcon77 on Feb 13, 2012 12:14 PM EST via mobile reply actions

+1

AJ Green = Optimus Prime

by Helmsy on Feb 13, 2012 2:10 PM EST up reply actions

If some team wants him

They could have had him last year. These tags need to be used on productive players with good team attitudes. Not a sour puss that doesnt break long runs and has developed a fumbling problem,that gets in trouble.

by EPK1979 on Feb 13, 2012 12:19 PM EST via mobile reply actions

+1

by The Dealio on Feb 13, 2012 2:31 PM EST up reply actions

uh

no.

"the bengals are not a west of the 104 longitude team."

by palewook on Feb 13, 2012 12:20 PM EST reply actions

This makes absolutely no sense

The transition tag unlike the franchise tag doesn’t have any picks or compensation. Basically we would be trying to force teams to pay benson 6.5 million and give us the right to match any deal but if we don’t intend to keep him why bother? Even worse is that teams know we are moving on so they will just wait for us to rescind the tag. Finally we can only use one tag so why wouldn’t we use the franchise tag on Nugent or Nelson players we intend to keep vs using a meanless tag on the off chance an AFC team will overpay to get an over 30 RB

by Engelj06 on Feb 13, 2012 12:30 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Seems to me Rob Hoff has no clue

Why give Benson 1.5 million more than last year coming off a horrible year, when you can go get a Green-Ellis or Bush for the same. The Bengals need newer blood. I love when people write about something they know nothing about.

by EPK1979 on Feb 13, 2012 12:39 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

No Tag

It is time for the Bengals to move on from Ced. It seems like the only time he is happy (win or lose) is when he gets to carry the ball 25 times a game.

Another interesting tidbit Hoff wrote is that he would use the Bengals two first round picks on DeCastro and Cordy Glenn!!! I’ve actually had that thought run through my head. The o-line would be set (barring injury) for at least the next 5 years!!! An o-line of Whitworth, DeCastro, Cook, Glenn and Smith would be one of the best in the NFL.

by AWC71 on Feb 13, 2012 12:35 PM EST reply actions

now that's an idea I could get behind

If RB and CB and S are addressed in FA. And another RB and CB are drafted in the 2nd/3rd rounds.

I would literally jump for joy if the above played out.

by indesignkat on Feb 13, 2012 1:42 PM EST up reply actions

lol Hoff is out of touch

I’d be embarrassed if someone heard me say this at the office water cooler, let alone publish it.

by UIsteve on Feb 13, 2012 1:08 PM EST reply actions

I was waiting for the punch line that never came......

"The next person you see that throws something, point em out! You don’t live in Cleveland, you live in Cincinnati!"
- Sam Wyche

by The Van Buren Boys on Feb 13, 2012 1:13 PM EST reply actions

don't want to gang up and be a hater but,

I don’t think we want this guy back. for any price.

by keithster on Feb 13, 2012 1:18 PM EST reply actions

Mr. Hoff really has no idea of the salary cap implications involved in applying the transition tag

First, why would we even want Ced back?? He is done here. Thanks for your time and service Ced, but it’s time to move on. Second, even if we want Ced back, you would never bring him back to the team with him carrying an even bigger cap number than last year. That makes no sense. Ced accounted for a $5M cap hit last year, and applying thw transition tag this season would increase that already bloated amount. No way this would happen. It makes no sense to essentially reward Ced with a pay raise, while also punishing the team by increasing Ced’s cap hit. Additionally, since no compensation is awarded in the event a Transitioned player signs with another team, it really is a no win situation. If no team signs a transitioned player to an offer sheet, then the team would be stuck with a bloated salary (and high cap hit). If there is an offer from another team, and the Bengals refuse to match, there is no compensation. Therefore, since it is clear that the Bengals are willing to let Benson walk for nothing (I.e. He is an UFA, and all accounts indicate the Bengals will not re-sign him), applying the tranistion tag could only result in the Bengals being stuck paying Benson a bloated one-year salary that will negatively affect the cap. In other words, if the Bengals transition tag Ced, and another team extends an offer, and the Bengals do not match, they would be willing to let Ced walk without receiving any compensation (as they would have anyway without applying the transition tag). However, if the Bengals apply the tag, and there is no offer from another team (which there likely wouldn’t be) the Bengals are stuck with the bloated salary. Truly a situation which makes absolutely no sense.

Finally, Hoff assumes there is a market for Benson’s services. I will say that Benson will have a difficult time matching the $3M base salary he received here this past season.

by The_Black_Stripes on Feb 13, 2012 1:21 PM EST via mobile reply actions

does he even watch the games?

Benson is NOT a power running back. Power running backs break tackles. Power running backs convert on short yardage. Power running backs do NOT only get what the line giftwraps for them, and that’s ALL Benson does.

I wouldn’t even use a yard sale tag on this loser. Get rid of him. If anyone else picks him up, and they’re on our schedule this year, good for us. That’s worth more than anything we could get out of him with a tag.

by indesignkat on Feb 13, 2012 1:39 PM EST reply actions

btw

I said the same thing last offseason. Ced has got to go. We kept him for 2011 and look how that turned out. It’s time to bring in a real NFL caliber running back.

by indesignkat on Feb 13, 2012 1:41 PM EST up reply actions

please... benson was good in 08 and 09 then got paid and started bitching

by Bengalsfan024 on Feb 13, 2012 1:51 PM EST up reply actions

He really wasn't

He never was worth a damn in the NFL. His only redeeming quality is that he can carry the ball a lot and rarely get injured. Considering how he falls as soon as he’s touched, that shouldn’t be surprising. Every time another back came in to replace him when he got suspended (which was what, 6 games so far?) they outperformed him. Kenny Watson, Larry Johnson, etc.

He was a bust in Chicago and was never on the plus side of mediocre in Cincinnati.

by indesignkat on Feb 13, 2012 5:46 PM EST up reply actions