Bengals plan to use franchise tag on Justin Smith
 

[LEFT][B][FONT=Georgia][SIZE=3]BENGALS TO TAG SMITH[/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/LEFT]
[LEFT][FONT=Georgia][SIZE=3]A league source tells us that the Cincinnati Bengals plan to slap the franchise tag on defensive end Justin Smith.[/SIZE][/FONT][/LEFT]
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[FONT=Georgia][SIZE=3]Smith, the Bengals' first-round pick in 2001, completed his rookie contract during the 2006 season, making a salary of $2.08 million. Under the franchise tag, Smith would be eligible for a one-year deal worth $8.3 million. The total becomes guaranteed if/when Smith accepts the tender.[/SIZE][/FONT][/LEFT]
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[FONT=Georgia][SIZE=3]But accepting the tender puts him under contract and compels him to attend mandatory minicamps and training camp. If he so chooses, Smith could skip all offseason activities and training camp and sign the tender on the eve of the regular season and still make $8.3 million, guaranteed.[/SIZE][/FONT][/LEFT]
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[FONT=Georgia][SIZE=3]Withholding services is the only leverage Smith has to force a long-term deal. The risk, however, is that the team will withdraw the tag after other teams looking for defensive ends address their needs.[/SIZE][/FONT][/LEFT]
[LEFT][FONT=Georgia][SIZE=3]Smith, 27, has played in all but one game during his six-year career. He bagged 7.5 sacks in 2006 and has 41.5 for his career, which equates to an average of just under seven per year.[/SIZE][/FONT]


[FONT=Georgia][SIZE=3]http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm
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[/SIZE][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]On to plan B....If we have a plan B.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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Re: Bengals plan to use franchise tag on Justin Smith
 

Was this guy even on our radar? He's a solid player. Nothing to write home about. I wouldn't give this guy big money.

Re: Bengals plan to use franchise tag on Justin Smith
 

he isnt worth 8.3 million

Re: Bengals plan to use franchise tag on Justin Smith
 

I am happy to hear that the Bengals put the Franchise tag on J. Smith, hopefully that will keep the Skins away from him. There are a lot more pressing needs on defense than the Defensive ends.

Re: Bengals plan to use franchise tag on Justin Smith
 

you'd think a long term deal would be a lot cheaper than that tag. I don't really think he's the kind of DE you build a defense around though. good player, but a top 6 pick has a better chance at being a real game changer.

Re: Bengals plan to use franchise tag on Justin Smith
 

This guy is good, and good DEs are not easy to come by. You think Marvin Lewis -- a defensive guru -- would tag a player he didn't think was worth it? Or, if he thought he could easily replace him? No way. We'd be lucky to have him, but we couldn't afford that price. So, 8.3M is too much for us, but not for a team with serious Superbowl aspirations who can afford that price.

That said, I agree with That Guy ... why not sign him to a long term deal and save some money? I guess they just want to make sure he doesn't get away before the long term deal is done.

Re: Bengals plan to use franchise tag on Justin Smith
 

Seems like a waste to tag a guy like him. He's a solid player with a good motor and character, but he's not a top flight DE.

Re: Bengals plan to use franchise tag on Justin Smith
 

[quote=Mattyk72;276661]Seems like a waste to tag a guy like him. He's a solid player with a good motor and character, but he's not a top flight DE.[/quote]

Agreed. And doesn't tagging him give him negotiating leverage? If the team thinks he's worth a one year, $8.3 million deal that the tag comes with, they can't exactly turn around and say OK we'll give you $22 million over 6 years or something.

I'm not really sure why Redskin fans are really interested in this guy. I don't see how he's much of an improvement over Phillip Daniels.

Re: Bengals plan to use franchise tag on Justin Smith
 

[quote=Schneed10;276686]Agreed. And doesn't tagging him give him negotiating leverage? If the team thinks he's worth a one year, $8.3 million deal that the tag comes with, they can't exactly turn around and say OK we'll give you $22 million over 6 years or something.

I'm not really sure why Redskin fans are really interested in this guy. I don't see how he's much of an improvement over Phillip Daniels.[/quote]Younger and stouter vs. the run, basically. If Daniels' play doesn't drop off from where its been the last two seasons, then he's probably comprable to Smith.

Re: Bengals plan to use franchise tag on Justin Smith
 

I don't want anyone costing 8m

Re: Bengals plan to use franchise tag on Justin Smith
 

[quote=GTripp0012;276690]Younger and stouter vs. the run, basically. If Daniels' play doesn't drop off from where its been the last two seasons, then he's probably comprable to Smith.[/quote]

That's not saying much cause IMO it's time for Daniles to go.

Re: Bengals plan to use franchise tag on Justin Smith
 

this means that tafkas is sitting in the corner, crying

Re: Bengals plan to use franchise tag on Justin Smith
 

[QUOTE=skinsfan69;276720]That's not saying much cause IMO it's time for Daniles to go.[/QUOTE]

I actually really want to keep him if we can get him to restructure or simply take a pay cut. He's an average to slightly below average starter IMO and quality depth.

Re: Bengals plan to use franchise tag on Justin Smith
 

Funny how people are ho-hum about a guy who got more sacks last year than anyone currently on our roster.

Re: Bengals plan to use franchise tag on Justin Smith
 

[QUOTE=Beemnseven;276808]Funny how people are ho-hum about a guy who got more sacks last year than anyone currently on our roster.[/QUOTE]

"Getting more sacks last year than anyone currently on our roster" doesn't say that much though.

Re: Bengals plan to use franchise tag on Justin Smith
 

Yeah, you're right. The bar is usally set much higher than 6 sacks.

Re: Bengals plan to use franchise tag on Justin Smith
 

[quote=Sheriff Gonna Getcha;276823]"Getting more sacks last year than anyone currently on our roster" doesn't say that much though.[/quote]

Exactly.

We're ho-hum about our own guys, bringing in another ho-hum guy isn't going to fix much.

I do like Smith, but not with that price tag.

Re: Bengals plan to use franchise tag on Justin Smith
 

last year i really only wanted aaron kampman, since he was the best FA available. green bay resigned him though for 5years/25m (i don't think he took outside offers)... seems like the steal of the century now. kampman for 5 or smith for 8? come on.

Re: Bengals plan to use franchise tag on Justin Smith
 

[quote=Beemnseven;276808]Funny how people are ho-hum about a guy who got more sacks last year than anyone currently on our roster.[/quote]


If this guy hit the market, he would have been a classic example of an average player getting overpaid by someone who is desperate. We have to go get a true stud in the draft that can make the players on our line better. Someone who is a difference maker. Smith is not a difference maker. It's as simple as that.

Re: Bengals plan to use franchise tag on Justin Smith
 

how often do true difference makers at LT or DE hit the market? the truth is, almost never, hence the overpayment.

Re: Bengals plan to use franchise tag on Justin Smith
 

[quote=Mattyk72;276840]Exactly.

We're ho-hum about our own guys, bringing in another ho-hum guy isn't going to fix much.

I do like Smith, but not with that price tag.[/quote]It's not like we would be giving him 8 mil a year (well, never say never) because thats just the franchise tender for a DL. 8 mil for 1 season. A contract to Smith would have been in the 4-5 million a year range.

But maybe this is a blessing in disguise, I don't know.

Re: Bengals plan to use franchise tag on Justin Smith
 

[quote=That Guy;276910]how often do true difference makers at LT or DE hit the market? the truth is, almost never, hence the overpayment.[/quote]

Perhaps that player is Alan Branch.

Re: Bengals plan to use franchise tag on Justin Smith
 

[quote=GTripp0012;276915]It's not like we would be giving him 8 mil a year (well, never say never) because thats just the franchise tender for a DL. 8 mil for 1 season. A contract to Smith would have been in the 4-5 million a year range.

But maybe this is a blessing in disguise, I don't know.[/quote]

Oh I know, but the more I think about it the more I question whether he'd even be worth $5M or $6M per year, which is probably what he'll end up getting.

Re: Bengals plan to use franchise tag on Justin Smith
 

[QUOTE=dmek25;276721]this means that tafkas is sitting in the corner, crying[/QUOTE]

I realized a long time ago that getting Smith was probably just a pipe dream...a crack pipe dream. Sigh