Feb 11, 2010
While the negotiations between the NFL and its players over a new collective bargaining agreement continue to stall and worry its fans, the United Football League (UFL) is quietly building momentum and could stand to gain a swell of attention should the NFL owners lockout their players in 2011.
The general attitude toward the NFL's future beyond next season is as bleak as the Mayan calendar. The owners claim the players haven't made a serious counter-proposal to their original offer. The players say ownership isn't listening to their demands. They have met 11 times with little progress of any kind and the possibility of a work-stoppage grows.
The main sticking point is the amount of team revenue that must go to player salaries. The NFLPA wants that percentage to stay at 60; the owners want it down to 42. The thinking is that 51 percent of team revenue earmarked for player salaries could end the impasse and allow the games to continue uninterrupted. It remains likely, however, that serious negotiations will not heat up until closer to the March 5, 2011 deadline. Until then, expect both sides to do their fair share of posturing for the public's support.
If the NFL is unable to make a deal on time, and if there are no games played on the first Sunday after Labor Day, then many fans could very well tune in on Thursday and Friday nights to get their pro football fix by watching the newly-formed UFL instead.
The landscape of the UFL as it enters its second season will look much different from the "premier" season of a year ago. Two existing teams will change locations---The California Redwoods (based in San Francisco) move to Sacramento and will change its name, and the New York Sentinels will go to Hartford, Connecticut. The league also said it will expand by two more teams in 2010, bringing the league total to six.
The two new sites have not yet been made official, but UFL Commissioner Michael Huyghue announced that either Omaha, Portland, or Salt Lake City would be selected for one of the expansion spots. Other cities rumored as possibilities to land the second team include San Antonio, Memphis, and Los Angeles.
With more teams the season will grow to 10 weeks, beginning in September and ending on Thanksgiving Day. UFL games will be aired on the cable network Versus for the upcoming season, but the league has not announced a television deal in place beyond that.
The UFL is taking some unorthodox methods to ensure its survival. Unlike start-up leagues in the past where one or two owners outspend the rest of the teams and ultimately kill the whole operation, the UFL has hired one person, Rick Mueller, to perform as general manager for all four teams as a way to properly allocate its resource of talent.
That talent is more impressive than one might first imagine. There are many players and coaches with NFL experience, and a majority of the UFL front-office personnel also worked in the NFL in the past. Each roster includes handfuls of reputable players that common fans will recognize, and last year's four head coaches were Jim Haslett, Jim Fassel, Dennis Green and Ted Cottrell; not bad.
Fassel led his team, the Las Vegas Locomotives, to the league's first championship with the help of the game's MVP, running back DeDe Dorsey.
Dorsey, who was released by the Cincinnati Bengals, found a roster spot on the Locos and went on to average 6.4 yards a carry and five touchdowns on the season, tops in each category.
"[The UFL] was a fun experience," Dorsey told me. "The league has some hall-of-fame caliber coaches, it's some quality football being played there and I think it will stay around for a while."
Dorsey said it is possible that NFL players could be interested in playing in the UFL should they be locked out in 2011.
"I could see it," Dorsey said. "It would be a good way for guys not to stay idle. It's a chance to stay in shape and play good football."
In 2008, the NFLPA instructed player agents to consider the UFL as a viable option for their clients. Commissioner Huyghue told agents that his league would compete with the NFL for players drafted in the third to seventh rounds in the NFL Draft, and has since seen UFL rosters filled with many players formerly on NFL practice squads. Even veterans like Simeon Rice and Dexter Jackson have made their way to the new league.
No matter how big the name, though, none of these guys were rich last year.
The UFL paid a league-average of $35,000 to each player, with quarterbacks making a little more and punters and kickers making a little less; miniscule next to that of the NFL league-minimum of around $300,000. What attracts many players to the UFL, however, is not only a chance to play and stay in football shape, but also the fact that the league offers free housing to its players during the season equipped with what it claims 'first-rate facilities'.
"It helps," Dorsey said of the housing program. "Not having to worry about something like that makes it easier, and I think that is something else that will help this league improve."
Mueller, the UFL's general manager, said in an interview with Pro Football Weekly last November that clubs will gain more autonomy as the league expands and becomes more established, but that a firm and equal salary base is important for the league to control costs.
Game rules were also a bit unusual in 2009 in that they were designed to assist the quarterback. Defenses must always use four defensive linemen and can only blitz one additional player. This rule was set up to allow inexperienced quarterbacks to get more comfortable facing pro-style defenses and to ensure the QB's health. It is said that this rule is to be eliminated in the upcoming season, though the UFL has not yet made such an announcement officially.
Like the rules, the cities where the teams play and the league's unsightly uniforms worn a year ago, there are many scheduled changes that will improve the UFL next year and beyond. Dorsey sees the league as a work-in-progress too, but is encouraged about its future.
"Whenever you're working from the ground up, you're going to face some trials, but [the UFL] is making strides and is only getting better." he said.
If DeDe is right, the NFL has another big reason to end its squabbling and get a deal done soon. Otherwise, the UFL may get more of our viewership, more of our favorite players and ultimately more of our money; all things the NFL has worked hard to corner in the past 50 years.
As the AAFL and the AFL have proven in the past, the NFL, at times, can be effectively challenged; I believe this could be one of those times. If there is an NFL lockout in 2011, I certainly hope that is the case.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Kickers Are People, Too (SV)
March 23, 2010
With all the attention surrounding tall receivers and big guys named Tank and Bobbie, the small problem of the kicking situation remains in question.
Shayne Graham is an unprotected free agent this year, and there has been no word about the Bengals showing any interest in resigning him. Cincinnati did bring back Dave Raynor – the kicker the Bengals signed after Graham injured himself in the pre-season – but can we trust Raynor more than Graham to make kicks in the playoffs?
The Bengals could look to draft a kicker to develop; they selected Cincinnati native Kevin Huber in the fifth round last draft and turned him into an immediate upgrade at the punter position. Special-teams Coach Darren Simmons has attended various college pro days around the country, but that is a pretty standard off-season occurrence and probably shouldn't be analyzed too deeply.
Still, there are a few good prospects in this draft.
One is Kentucky native Aaron Pettry, an Ohio State alumnus, who is ranked atop many draft charts for kickers this year. Pettry showed a strong leg by making field goals from 50 and 52 yards last season, but his accuracy might be a concern as he missed four times with 40 yards. Texas kicker Hunter Lawrence only missed three times in 27 attempts but didn’t convert anything over 50 yards.
There is always an emergency kicker in the free agent market – Billy Cundiff comes to mind – and the Bengals will have to address a long-term answer for that dainty yet crucial spot on the team someday anyway. To take a decent kicker in the middle rounds of the upcoming draft (April 22-24) makes a lot of sense and would be a welcome pick to most fans.
But if the team finds itself at its next training camp with Raynor as the only kicker in sight, I think Chad Ochocinco should get a legitimate shot to compete for the starting kicker.
We all saw that point-after split the uprights with grace, altitude and distance. Then we watched his ensuing kickoff driven deep to the 10-yard line. The man has a motor mouth, but he also apparently has a kicker’s leg, and it seems worth testing its range. Why not? It would save a roster spot and generate more interest in the team.
Eighty-Five is a freak athlete who could probably play professional soccer and who once outraced a horse on television. He has the sleek elegance of a jungle cat on routes and can become boneless around the sidelines to get his feet in. He is a terrific football player, and that could very well include kicking.
It is unlikely that Chad ends up the kicker next year, same as Graham. That still just leaves Raynor, and I don't think that’s good enough. The Bengals should either draft a kicker this year or allow Ocho to expand his carnival to special teams. To leave it unaddressed would be foolish; kickers might be small, but they matter too, damn it – they matter, too.
With all the attention surrounding tall receivers and big guys named Tank and Bobbie, the small problem of the kicking situation remains in question.
Shayne Graham is an unprotected free agent this year, and there has been no word about the Bengals showing any interest in resigning him. Cincinnati did bring back Dave Raynor – the kicker the Bengals signed after Graham injured himself in the pre-season – but can we trust Raynor more than Graham to make kicks in the playoffs?
The Bengals could look to draft a kicker to develop; they selected Cincinnati native Kevin Huber in the fifth round last draft and turned him into an immediate upgrade at the punter position. Special-teams Coach Darren Simmons has attended various college pro days around the country, but that is a pretty standard off-season occurrence and probably shouldn't be analyzed too deeply.
Still, there are a few good prospects in this draft.
One is Kentucky native Aaron Pettry, an Ohio State alumnus, who is ranked atop many draft charts for kickers this year. Pettry showed a strong leg by making field goals from 50 and 52 yards last season, but his accuracy might be a concern as he missed four times with 40 yards. Texas kicker Hunter Lawrence only missed three times in 27 attempts but didn’t convert anything over 50 yards.
There is always an emergency kicker in the free agent market – Billy Cundiff comes to mind – and the Bengals will have to address a long-term answer for that dainty yet crucial spot on the team someday anyway. To take a decent kicker in the middle rounds of the upcoming draft (April 22-24) makes a lot of sense and would be a welcome pick to most fans.
But if the team finds itself at its next training camp with Raynor as the only kicker in sight, I think Chad Ochocinco should get a legitimate shot to compete for the starting kicker.
We all saw that point-after split the uprights with grace, altitude and distance. Then we watched his ensuing kickoff driven deep to the 10-yard line. The man has a motor mouth, but he also apparently has a kicker’s leg, and it seems worth testing its range. Why not? It would save a roster spot and generate more interest in the team.
Eighty-Five is a freak athlete who could probably play professional soccer and who once outraced a horse on television. He has the sleek elegance of a jungle cat on routes and can become boneless around the sidelines to get his feet in. He is a terrific football player, and that could very well include kicking.
It is unlikely that Chad ends up the kicker next year, same as Graham. That still just leaves Raynor, and I don't think that’s good enough. The Bengals should either draft a kicker this year or allow Ocho to expand his carnival to special teams. To leave it unaddressed would be foolish; kickers might be small, but they matter too, damn it – they matter, too.
Big, Fast and Costly (SV)
March, 15 2010
Quarterbacks will always rule the roost in the NFL, but the next hottest position this off-season appears to be the fat guys – the defensive tackles.
The mania for the plus-sized run-stuffers technically started last season when the Washington Redskins paid $100 million for every ounce of the 350-pound Albert Haynesworth. That trend has grown in 2010 after witnessing multiple teams either franchise tag or sign big contracts to the big men who eat up space on the interior of the defensive line.
The Green Bay Packers slapped their tackle, Ryan Pickett, with the franchise tag, as did the 49ers with Aubrayo Franklin and New England with Vince Wilfork (though Wilfork eventually signed a five-year, $40 million contract with the Patriots). The divisional scumbags, the Pittsburgh Steelers, signed their aged behemoth Casey Hampton to three more years for around 21 million bucks. Even the Bengals have made re-signing Tank Johnson a top off-season priority.
Part of the reason tackles have become a more valued commodity of late is because of the recent fad teams have adopted, switching to a 3-4 defensive scheme. In a 3-4, the most interior player is known as a nose-tackle, and this man's job is to be as large as possible and force ball carriers to the outside. Sounds simple, but nothing in the NFL is that easy. Even though some of these guys resemble small moons, they are still surprisingly nimble men who, when healthy, become a major setback to the opposition's running game. Nearly every effective 3-4 defense has a formidable nose-tackle as its centerpiece.
The rush to acquire good tackles is also showing up in early draft prognostications. The first two selections of the 2010 draft could very well be defensive tackles, Ndamukong Suh from Nebraska and Gerald McCoy of Oklahoma. Suh, with the build of a Volkswagen, possesses the size and agility to fit into either a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme. McCoy is a little lighter and seems more suited to pair with another defensive tackle in a 4-3 set. Both of these players will be handed impressive contracts and will become the building blocks for the defenses they play for.
It doesn't end with the top two either. Upwards of five defensive tackles could be selected in the first round this year. Heavyweights Dan Williams of Tennessee, Brian Price of UCLA and Jared Odrick of Penn State are also considered valuable prospects and won't likely be around by the third round. There is even a player nicknamed “Mount” because of his sheer enormity. Terrence Cody of Alabama actually lost 20 pounds to weigh in around 350 at the Scouting Combine.
The gobs of money going to the defensive tackles is yet another trend in the trendiest pro sports league on the planet. Because they are in such a high demand now, many will be locked into longer contracts and won't surface on the free market again for quite awhile. What that translates to general managers and owners is this: Step right up and get your fat guy of the future. His big, he's fast and he's costly, but he will stop the run for years to come.
Quarterbacks will always rule the roost in the NFL, but the next hottest position this off-season appears to be the fat guys – the defensive tackles.
The mania for the plus-sized run-stuffers technically started last season when the Washington Redskins paid $100 million for every ounce of the 350-pound Albert Haynesworth. That trend has grown in 2010 after witnessing multiple teams either franchise tag or sign big contracts to the big men who eat up space on the interior of the defensive line.
The Green Bay Packers slapped their tackle, Ryan Pickett, with the franchise tag, as did the 49ers with Aubrayo Franklin and New England with Vince Wilfork (though Wilfork eventually signed a five-year, $40 million contract with the Patriots). The divisional scumbags, the Pittsburgh Steelers, signed their aged behemoth Casey Hampton to three more years for around 21 million bucks. Even the Bengals have made re-signing Tank Johnson a top off-season priority.
Part of the reason tackles have become a more valued commodity of late is because of the recent fad teams have adopted, switching to a 3-4 defensive scheme. In a 3-4, the most interior player is known as a nose-tackle, and this man's job is to be as large as possible and force ball carriers to the outside. Sounds simple, but nothing in the NFL is that easy. Even though some of these guys resemble small moons, they are still surprisingly nimble men who, when healthy, become a major setback to the opposition's running game. Nearly every effective 3-4 defense has a formidable nose-tackle as its centerpiece.
The rush to acquire good tackles is also showing up in early draft prognostications. The first two selections of the 2010 draft could very well be defensive tackles, Ndamukong Suh from Nebraska and Gerald McCoy of Oklahoma. Suh, with the build of a Volkswagen, possesses the size and agility to fit into either a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme. McCoy is a little lighter and seems more suited to pair with another defensive tackle in a 4-3 set. Both of these players will be handed impressive contracts and will become the building blocks for the defenses they play for.
It doesn't end with the top two either. Upwards of five defensive tackles could be selected in the first round this year. Heavyweights Dan Williams of Tennessee, Brian Price of UCLA and Jared Odrick of Penn State are also considered valuable prospects and won't likely be around by the third round. There is even a player nicknamed “Mount” because of his sheer enormity. Terrence Cody of Alabama actually lost 20 pounds to weigh in around 350 at the Scouting Combine.
The gobs of money going to the defensive tackles is yet another trend in the trendiest pro sports league on the planet. Because they are in such a high demand now, many will be locked into longer contracts and won't surface on the free market again for quite awhile. What that translates to general managers and owners is this: Step right up and get your fat guy of the future. His big, he's fast and he's costly, but he will stop the run for years to come.
Paul Brown’s Biggest Fumble (SV)
February 22, 2010
In the state of Ohio there is a football legend that compares to no other; he is Paul Brown, and he is rightfully revered by those who are familiar with his career.
The man revolutionized the game in countless ways, ranging from a complex passing attack to the face mask on helmets. He coached his way to an Ohio state championship at Massillon High, an NCAA championship at Ohio State and both an AAFL and an NFL championship with the Cleveland Browns – a team named after him.
He founded the Bengals in 1968, taking over as team president, general manager and head coach. Yet despite all of his glory, Brown made two critical mistakes while in Cincinnati. One is turning over the team to his son, who now acts as team president, general manager and local villain. The lesser known oversight, however, took place in 1976, when Brown refused to promote a bright offensive assistant coach who many suspected was being groomed to take over for Brown once he stepped down as head coach. That man is Bill Walsh, whose team went on to beat the Bengals in the Super Bowl – twice.
The facts are that Walsh was hired by the expansion Bengals in 1968 as a receivers coach but quickly became what would later be called an offensive coordinator. He created an offense of short-yardage passing plays that accommodated the weak arm of backup quarterback Virgil Carter once the promising starter, Greg Cook, went down with a shoulder injury. Walsh led a proficient offense in Cincinnati for eight years, and the speculation began that he would become the next head coach of the Bengals. Instead, Brown hired someone named Bill “Tiger” Johnson, and Walsh left Cincinnati for other opportunities.
After coaching at Stanford for two seasons, Walsh became the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers in 1979, going on to win three Super Bowls in 10 seasons. He is nicknamed the “Genius,” and the same offense he devised in Cincinnati has since been dubbed the West Coast Offense and is now used in some variation by nearly every NFL team.
The twist to the story, though, is that Walsh says that, when he was passed over for the head coaching job and decided to leave, Brown actively tried to sabotage his career. The Bengals offered Walsh an expanded role and more money but not the top job; and when Walsh refused, Brown saw it as an act of betrayal. Brown recommended other teams ignore the future “genius,” calling him too soft to be a head coach or even an offensive coordinator for another team. Former Bengals receiver Isaac Curtis, however, said that Brown once told him that he promised the head coaching job to Bill Johnson eight years earlier, but Bill Walsh said that Brown also promised him the same thing many times.
The irony to it all is that Paul Brown, with his speedy players and their fancy passing, was once considered a less than rugged coach, too. The great innovator couldn't see enough of himself in Walsh to make him head coach for the same false drawbacks that were labeled on him. Or was it that Brown saw plenty of himself in Bill Walsh, and wasn't prepared to be replaced by someone as great as he was.
Who knows? Sadly, both men have since passed on, and the repercussions of the decisions made by the Bengals in 1976 are well documented. A Bengals fan can't help but wonder what would have happened if Walsh had stayed? How many Super Bowls would Cincinnati have won in the ’80s? Maybe still zero, but I would have liked to see it anyway.
In the state of Ohio there is a football legend that compares to no other; he is Paul Brown, and he is rightfully revered by those who are familiar with his career.
The man revolutionized the game in countless ways, ranging from a complex passing attack to the face mask on helmets. He coached his way to an Ohio state championship at Massillon High, an NCAA championship at Ohio State and both an AAFL and an NFL championship with the Cleveland Browns – a team named after him.
He founded the Bengals in 1968, taking over as team president, general manager and head coach. Yet despite all of his glory, Brown made two critical mistakes while in Cincinnati. One is turning over the team to his son, who now acts as team president, general manager and local villain. The lesser known oversight, however, took place in 1976, when Brown refused to promote a bright offensive assistant coach who many suspected was being groomed to take over for Brown once he stepped down as head coach. That man is Bill Walsh, whose team went on to beat the Bengals in the Super Bowl – twice.
The facts are that Walsh was hired by the expansion Bengals in 1968 as a receivers coach but quickly became what would later be called an offensive coordinator. He created an offense of short-yardage passing plays that accommodated the weak arm of backup quarterback Virgil Carter once the promising starter, Greg Cook, went down with a shoulder injury. Walsh led a proficient offense in Cincinnati for eight years, and the speculation began that he would become the next head coach of the Bengals. Instead, Brown hired someone named Bill “Tiger” Johnson, and Walsh left Cincinnati for other opportunities.
After coaching at Stanford for two seasons, Walsh became the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers in 1979, going on to win three Super Bowls in 10 seasons. He is nicknamed the “Genius,” and the same offense he devised in Cincinnati has since been dubbed the West Coast Offense and is now used in some variation by nearly every NFL team.
The twist to the story, though, is that Walsh says that, when he was passed over for the head coaching job and decided to leave, Brown actively tried to sabotage his career. The Bengals offered Walsh an expanded role and more money but not the top job; and when Walsh refused, Brown saw it as an act of betrayal. Brown recommended other teams ignore the future “genius,” calling him too soft to be a head coach or even an offensive coordinator for another team. Former Bengals receiver Isaac Curtis, however, said that Brown once told him that he promised the head coaching job to Bill Johnson eight years earlier, but Bill Walsh said that Brown also promised him the same thing many times.
The irony to it all is that Paul Brown, with his speedy players and their fancy passing, was once considered a less than rugged coach, too. The great innovator couldn't see enough of himself in Walsh to make him head coach for the same false drawbacks that were labeled on him. Or was it that Brown saw plenty of himself in Bill Walsh, and wasn't prepared to be replaced by someone as great as he was.
Who knows? Sadly, both men have since passed on, and the repercussions of the decisions made by the Bengals in 1976 are well documented. A Bengals fan can't help but wonder what would have happened if Walsh had stayed? How many Super Bowls would Cincinnati have won in the ’80s? Maybe still zero, but I would have liked to see it anyway.
End of the NFL? (SV)
January 24, 2010
Well, that was fun. The Bengals brought the Queen City some entertainment and enjoyment throughout most of their season and invigorated a bit of optimism for the team's future.
The problem is, there might not be much of a future – at least not an immediate one – for the Bengals or any other team in the NFL.
The league’s collective-bargaining agreement with players is set to expire after the 2010 season, and the negotiations on a new one in time to play the next season seem as bleak as the Mayan calendar. The fear is that owners won’t agree on the percentage of team revenue that the players demand and will lock out the players without a new agreement in place. A worst-case scenario is no NFL football in 2011 and beyond.
A best-case scenario is that everything remains as is; a salary cap and salary floor stay in place, ownership shares specific types of revenue and parity among teams remains the league's strength. The two sides sit down for 20 minutes, agree that nothing needs to be changed and go have drinks.
Of course, it won't work out that way. Before his untimely passing in 2008, Gene Upshaw – former executive director of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) and Hall of Fame lineman – said that, once the salary cap disappeared, it would never be agreed upon by the NFLPA again. The owners have already voted to opt out of the last two years of the current agreement, which means no salary cap next season and potentially no football after that.
So what does it mean for the Bengals?
First and foremost, without a cap, players ending their initial contracts (signed out of college) are now restricted free agents until their sixth season, rather than after four. A player drafted in 2005 by the Bengals, entering his sixth season, can still be signed by another team, but the Bengals can match any offer and prevent him from signing elsewhere. Should the player leave Cincinnati, his new team would also have to compensate the Bengals with draft picks.
That means Brandon Johnson, Frostee Rucker, Dennis Roland and others who would have been unrestricted to sign wherever they chose are now are essentially “stuck” with their team.
The other quirk in 2010 brought on without a cap is teams get to franchise-tag two players instead of one. The franchise tag is very unpopular with players because it restricts their open-market value even more than restricted free-agent status does. Franchise-tagged players receive a one-year contract equaling the average of the five top-paid players at that position (Shayne Graham was paid around $2.5 million last season under the terms of the franchise tag). Other teams can sign tagged players, too, but must give up two first-round draft picks in compensation. This would be near suicide for any team and is rarely worth trying.
That means the Bengals could tag Graham again and tag Tank Johnson or other unrestricted free agents this off-season. But on the list of Bengals unrestricted free agents – Graham, Johnson, Roy Williams, Reggie Kelly, Larry Johnson and others – not one seems worth the hefty price of a franchise tag.
That frees up money to get someone else then, right? Well, maybe. I always assume owner Mike Brown would rather work with what he's already got than spend a lot on outside improvements. Signing Laveranues Coles last off-season has been a huge letdown thus far, and it makes sense that management might be wary of making that mistake again. But there are some alluring names at wide receiver that will be tossed around by fans and media as nice fits with Cincinnati.
Some Bengals fans will surely clamor over the verbose and illustrious Terrell Owens, and I could see why. He's a big target who remains a difficult match-up despite the fact that his career is firmly in its twilight. Brown is well known for providing a home for explosive personalities cast off by other teams, and TO perfectly fits the mold. Owens is beyond the big-paycheck phase of his career, and if he chooses to play again next year, his motivation would likely be driven by a potential championship and not by personal glory.
The big-market teams might try to make a serious splash by overpaying lots of free agents in light of no salary cap, but Brown and the Bengals can't compete that way. Nabbing one or two crucial pieces to make a run for next season makes more sense than financially strapping the team on a superstar contract for years to come, especially if there truly is only one year left.
The NFL has enjoyed about 12 years of a fantastic pro-sports league that provided hope for every team’s city that this was their year, and intoxicating this country with its sport. Football won't die completely –America needs it – but serious change is afoot, and it's hard to think that it will be better than it is now. Here's to the Bengals of next year, because we can't see beyond that.
Well, that was fun. The Bengals brought the Queen City some entertainment and enjoyment throughout most of their season and invigorated a bit of optimism for the team's future.
The problem is, there might not be much of a future – at least not an immediate one – for the Bengals or any other team in the NFL.
The league’s collective-bargaining agreement with players is set to expire after the 2010 season, and the negotiations on a new one in time to play the next season seem as bleak as the Mayan calendar. The fear is that owners won’t agree on the percentage of team revenue that the players demand and will lock out the players without a new agreement in place. A worst-case scenario is no NFL football in 2011 and beyond.
A best-case scenario is that everything remains as is; a salary cap and salary floor stay in place, ownership shares specific types of revenue and parity among teams remains the league's strength. The two sides sit down for 20 minutes, agree that nothing needs to be changed and go have drinks.
Of course, it won't work out that way. Before his untimely passing in 2008, Gene Upshaw – former executive director of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) and Hall of Fame lineman – said that, once the salary cap disappeared, it would never be agreed upon by the NFLPA again. The owners have already voted to opt out of the last two years of the current agreement, which means no salary cap next season and potentially no football after that.
So what does it mean for the Bengals?
First and foremost, without a cap, players ending their initial contracts (signed out of college) are now restricted free agents until their sixth season, rather than after four. A player drafted in 2005 by the Bengals, entering his sixth season, can still be signed by another team, but the Bengals can match any offer and prevent him from signing elsewhere. Should the player leave Cincinnati, his new team would also have to compensate the Bengals with draft picks.
That means Brandon Johnson, Frostee Rucker, Dennis Roland and others who would have been unrestricted to sign wherever they chose are now are essentially “stuck” with their team.
The other quirk in 2010 brought on without a cap is teams get to franchise-tag two players instead of one. The franchise tag is very unpopular with players because it restricts their open-market value even more than restricted free-agent status does. Franchise-tagged players receive a one-year contract equaling the average of the five top-paid players at that position (Shayne Graham was paid around $2.5 million last season under the terms of the franchise tag). Other teams can sign tagged players, too, but must give up two first-round draft picks in compensation. This would be near suicide for any team and is rarely worth trying.
That means the Bengals could tag Graham again and tag Tank Johnson or other unrestricted free agents this off-season. But on the list of Bengals unrestricted free agents – Graham, Johnson, Roy Williams, Reggie Kelly, Larry Johnson and others – not one seems worth the hefty price of a franchise tag.
That frees up money to get someone else then, right? Well, maybe. I always assume owner Mike Brown would rather work with what he's already got than spend a lot on outside improvements. Signing Laveranues Coles last off-season has been a huge letdown thus far, and it makes sense that management might be wary of making that mistake again. But there are some alluring names at wide receiver that will be tossed around by fans and media as nice fits with Cincinnati.
Some Bengals fans will surely clamor over the verbose and illustrious Terrell Owens, and I could see why. He's a big target who remains a difficult match-up despite the fact that his career is firmly in its twilight. Brown is well known for providing a home for explosive personalities cast off by other teams, and TO perfectly fits the mold. Owens is beyond the big-paycheck phase of his career, and if he chooses to play again next year, his motivation would likely be driven by a potential championship and not by personal glory.
The big-market teams might try to make a serious splash by overpaying lots of free agents in light of no salary cap, but Brown and the Bengals can't compete that way. Nabbing one or two crucial pieces to make a run for next season makes more sense than financially strapping the team on a superstar contract for years to come, especially if there truly is only one year left.
The NFL has enjoyed about 12 years of a fantastic pro-sports league that provided hope for every team’s city that this was their year, and intoxicating this country with its sport. Football won't die completely –America needs it – but serious change is afoot, and it's hard to think that it will be better than it is now. Here's to the Bengals of next year, because we can't see beyond that.
We Don’t Understand, but Thanks, Marvin Lewis (SV)
January 15, 2010
At the beginning of the year, not many expected much from the ol' Bengals this season, and who could blame them?
They were fresh off a four-win season, they played in the toughest division in the NFL and had lost one of their stars, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, to free agency. Expectations were predictably lukewarm for their 2009 campaign.
Then the wins came, and the world was flabbergasted. For Bengal fans, skepticism turned into relief, which then turned into excitement and eventually morphed into elation. For such a hard-ridden and long-suffering fan base as the Bengals', this season was something of a dream come true.
Sadly, however, there are still those who are far from satisfied with how things have turned out. Many lifelong fans remain highly critical of the team’s direction and the style of play the organization has adopted. Either the run-first, defensive-minded mentality is not their preferred style of game, or the coaching staff's perceived unwillingness to stray from the script in any way contradicts their version of common sense. In both cases, they ultimately go after Head Coach Marvin Lewis.
It seems incredible to me that Cincinnati hasn't taken to Marvin more. Before him, the team was completely lost at sea; inept in every way. Since then, they are 56-55-1, which is at least consistently visible from the shoreline. They have won the division twice in that stretch and have never finished last. While certainly not matching the kind of win totals with that of New England or Indianapolis, Marvin Lewis has the Cincinnati Bengals solidified within the ranks of league respectability – something many once considered out of reach for such a dismal organization.
I think one could make a good case for Lewis as the NFL Coach of the Year. Not only is he credited for the turnaround in wins, he's had to also redefine the culture that surrounds Bengals football. This team is now made up of professionals who can be expected to go about their business on and off the field in a levelheaded manner. Gone is the sideshow that came with all the dramatic divas of the past. The most made-for-TV of them all, Chad Ochocinco, remains with the Bengals, but even he is more serious about his job this season than what he's demonstrated in years past.
Much was written about the emotional overload the team faced on a number of occasions. From the unexpected deaths of Chris Henry and Vikki Zimmer to the tsunamis in Samoa, Marvin has needed to be a friend and mentor instead of just a coach to his players. Yet in the face of all of that, not only has he kept the train on the track long enough to manage a winning season, his team swept the AFC North and now finds itself in the postseason.
Yes, he is steadfast to his philosophy even when it appears to go against reason, true he sometimes employs curious ways of clock-management and yes, I agree that there are flaws to his predictable nature, but for now, the man is winning, and I think it's about time the world recognizes that fact.
Plus, I don't see a replacement stepping in and immediately elevating this team to an even higher level. If anything, it would likely take time for a new coach to become entirely comfortable with the his new team; and frankly, I'm tired of starting over with new coaches, especially when the guy currently leading the pack is moving at a steady pace.
To all those expecting a quick post-season exit to justify your prolonged pessimism toward Marvin and his staff, you're missing the point: It's more fun when the team you’re rooting for wins. If the man in charge continues to accomplish that task at the rate he's on, I see no reason to make a change.
Thanks, Marvin, and keep up the good work.
At the beginning of the year, not many expected much from the ol' Bengals this season, and who could blame them?
They were fresh off a four-win season, they played in the toughest division in the NFL and had lost one of their stars, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, to free agency. Expectations were predictably lukewarm for their 2009 campaign.
Then the wins came, and the world was flabbergasted. For Bengal fans, skepticism turned into relief, which then turned into excitement and eventually morphed into elation. For such a hard-ridden and long-suffering fan base as the Bengals', this season was something of a dream come true.
Sadly, however, there are still those who are far from satisfied with how things have turned out. Many lifelong fans remain highly critical of the team’s direction and the style of play the organization has adopted. Either the run-first, defensive-minded mentality is not their preferred style of game, or the coaching staff's perceived unwillingness to stray from the script in any way contradicts their version of common sense. In both cases, they ultimately go after Head Coach Marvin Lewis.
It seems incredible to me that Cincinnati hasn't taken to Marvin more. Before him, the team was completely lost at sea; inept in every way. Since then, they are 56-55-1, which is at least consistently visible from the shoreline. They have won the division twice in that stretch and have never finished last. While certainly not matching the kind of win totals with that of New England or Indianapolis, Marvin Lewis has the Cincinnati Bengals solidified within the ranks of league respectability – something many once considered out of reach for such a dismal organization.
I think one could make a good case for Lewis as the NFL Coach of the Year. Not only is he credited for the turnaround in wins, he's had to also redefine the culture that surrounds Bengals football. This team is now made up of professionals who can be expected to go about their business on and off the field in a levelheaded manner. Gone is the sideshow that came with all the dramatic divas of the past. The most made-for-TV of them all, Chad Ochocinco, remains with the Bengals, but even he is more serious about his job this season than what he's demonstrated in years past.
Much was written about the emotional overload the team faced on a number of occasions. From the unexpected deaths of Chris Henry and Vikki Zimmer to the tsunamis in Samoa, Marvin has needed to be a friend and mentor instead of just a coach to his players. Yet in the face of all of that, not only has he kept the train on the track long enough to manage a winning season, his team swept the AFC North and now finds itself in the postseason.
Yes, he is steadfast to his philosophy even when it appears to go against reason, true he sometimes employs curious ways of clock-management and yes, I agree that there are flaws to his predictable nature, but for now, the man is winning, and I think it's about time the world recognizes that fact.
Plus, I don't see a replacement stepping in and immediately elevating this team to an even higher level. If anything, it would likely take time for a new coach to become entirely comfortable with the his new team; and frankly, I'm tired of starting over with new coaches, especially when the guy currently leading the pack is moving at a steady pace.
To all those expecting a quick post-season exit to justify your prolonged pessimism toward Marvin and his staff, you're missing the point: It's more fun when the team you’re rooting for wins. If the man in charge continues to accomplish that task at the rate he's on, I see no reason to make a change.
Thanks, Marvin, and keep up the good work.
So Far Green and Angry Has Worked for the Bengals (SV)
December 8, 2009
The Bengals are steadfast in their identity. They've found a look and lifestyle that they’re comfortable with and now they can't imagine living any other way. The problem is they've made themselves into something that resembles the Incredible Hulk: a big and strong team that often appears simpleminded and predictable in its attack.
Last season they were still just plain old Bruce Banner: a below-average entity unable to make a difference in the world. They got angry with all the losing and turned green. This year they came out of nowhere and slammed their way into first place and are now a near lock to make the postseason. The physical domination has worked; but as the season extends, the foes come equipped with cooler superpowers and fancier weaponry, and the Bengals will have to quickly learn how to counter them.
The concern for Cincinnati's inability to score points and move the ball more efficiently through the air was heightened during the struggles the team experienced against bottom-feeders Oakland, Cleveland and Detroit.
Cincinnati lost in Oakland and didn't necessarily steamroll the other two at home, and the same mortar-and-pestle style that turned them into winners now appears too routine, too mundane for the critics. They say that, if the Bengals are to succeed in the playoffs, they must show the world now that they can win in more dynamic ways.
Losing wide receiver Chris Henry for the year with a broken forearm has had more fallout than some expected. Expensive free-agent acquisition, Laveranues Coles, still doesn't appear to have an established role on the team; and second-year receiver, Andre Caldwell, has seen his production slowed after a tremendous start of the season. The only legitimate threat in the passing game these days is Chad Ochocinco who has kept the aerial assault alive nearly single-handedly. But with Chad double-teamed so often, it's become imperative that someone else rise to the occasion and be a viable secondary option for Carson Palmer when he drops back to throw. As of late, that hasn't happened.
Losing Henry hasn't been the only limitation to the offense brought on by injury. Rookie running back Bernard Scott has shown genuine flashes of becoming the quintessential change-of-pace back that the best running teams in the NFL employ. With his patient running style and field vision, Scott contrasts nicely with the bruising power-backs, Cedric Benson and Larry Johnson. Since his turf-toe injury, however, the Bengals without him have resorted almost exclusively to running more basic plays up the middle, even in the face of defensive schemes set out to stop exactly that kind of play.
Sitting on opposing teams and waiting for them to yell “Uncle” will work against the dregs of the league, but against the premium heavy-hitters, the Bengals will eventually be forced to catch someone by surprise and have to win with some creativity.
I expect to see a slight shift in the team's offensive philosophy for the last quarter of the regular season. It's been known that in the past the Bengals have reevaluated their strategy every four games. From the outside, the changes are sometimes detectable; other times they're too subtle or simply don't materialize as they were planned. The theory makes sense: Occasionally install new plays and shift the paradigm to keep the opposition on their toes; but Marvin Lewis and his men have been a stubborn lot, especially this season, and he might not feel compelled to stray from what has clearly worked for him. Yet the next two games at Minnesota and at San Diego feature opponents that score plenty of points; and if the offense can't keep up, they may end up learning this lesson the hard way.
Still, they might not have to score much after all.
The defense remains the team's inner core and has been difficult to criticize all year. After Week 13, they ranked first in scoring defense, second against the run and fourth in overall yards allowed. Coordinator Mike Zimmer collected discarded pieces from the flotsam and jetsam of the NFL this off-season, and has since composed a group that works diligently and efficiently but rarely ever looks good doing it. The strong play of the cornerback tandem of Johnathon Joseph and Leon Hall has allowed Zimmer to focus on stopping the run first, and has also resulted in a handful of timely coverage sacks. They truly are a group who are far more concerned with their numbers than their names.
So as frost mounts in the deep freeze of winter and each win becomes more paramount, Cincinnati will learn if simply being the more brawny team is enough to end up on top. If the passing game can somehow spring to life, then most would agree that the Bengals could match up well against anyone. As it is now, they'll have to win by being green and angry.
The Bengals are steadfast in their identity. They've found a look and lifestyle that they’re comfortable with and now they can't imagine living any other way. The problem is they've made themselves into something that resembles the Incredible Hulk: a big and strong team that often appears simpleminded and predictable in its attack.
Last season they were still just plain old Bruce Banner: a below-average entity unable to make a difference in the world. They got angry with all the losing and turned green. This year they came out of nowhere and slammed their way into first place and are now a near lock to make the postseason. The physical domination has worked; but as the season extends, the foes come equipped with cooler superpowers and fancier weaponry, and the Bengals will have to quickly learn how to counter them.
The concern for Cincinnati's inability to score points and move the ball more efficiently through the air was heightened during the struggles the team experienced against bottom-feeders Oakland, Cleveland and Detroit.
Cincinnati lost in Oakland and didn't necessarily steamroll the other two at home, and the same mortar-and-pestle style that turned them into winners now appears too routine, too mundane for the critics. They say that, if the Bengals are to succeed in the playoffs, they must show the world now that they can win in more dynamic ways.
Losing wide receiver Chris Henry for the year with a broken forearm has had more fallout than some expected. Expensive free-agent acquisition, Laveranues Coles, still doesn't appear to have an established role on the team; and second-year receiver, Andre Caldwell, has seen his production slowed after a tremendous start of the season. The only legitimate threat in the passing game these days is Chad Ochocinco who has kept the aerial assault alive nearly single-handedly. But with Chad double-teamed so often, it's become imperative that someone else rise to the occasion and be a viable secondary option for Carson Palmer when he drops back to throw. As of late, that hasn't happened.
Losing Henry hasn't been the only limitation to the offense brought on by injury. Rookie running back Bernard Scott has shown genuine flashes of becoming the quintessential change-of-pace back that the best running teams in the NFL employ. With his patient running style and field vision, Scott contrasts nicely with the bruising power-backs, Cedric Benson and Larry Johnson. Since his turf-toe injury, however, the Bengals without him have resorted almost exclusively to running more basic plays up the middle, even in the face of defensive schemes set out to stop exactly that kind of play.
Sitting on opposing teams and waiting for them to yell “Uncle” will work against the dregs of the league, but against the premium heavy-hitters, the Bengals will eventually be forced to catch someone by surprise and have to win with some creativity.
I expect to see a slight shift in the team's offensive philosophy for the last quarter of the regular season. It's been known that in the past the Bengals have reevaluated their strategy every four games. From the outside, the changes are sometimes detectable; other times they're too subtle or simply don't materialize as they were planned. The theory makes sense: Occasionally install new plays and shift the paradigm to keep the opposition on their toes; but Marvin Lewis and his men have been a stubborn lot, especially this season, and he might not feel compelled to stray from what has clearly worked for him. Yet the next two games at Minnesota and at San Diego feature opponents that score plenty of points; and if the offense can't keep up, they may end up learning this lesson the hard way.
Still, they might not have to score much after all.
The defense remains the team's inner core and has been difficult to criticize all year. After Week 13, they ranked first in scoring defense, second against the run and fourth in overall yards allowed. Coordinator Mike Zimmer collected discarded pieces from the flotsam and jetsam of the NFL this off-season, and has since composed a group that works diligently and efficiently but rarely ever looks good doing it. The strong play of the cornerback tandem of Johnathon Joseph and Leon Hall has allowed Zimmer to focus on stopping the run first, and has also resulted in a handful of timely coverage sacks. They truly are a group who are far more concerned with their numbers than their names.
So as frost mounts in the deep freeze of winter and each win becomes more paramount, Cincinnati will learn if simply being the more brawny team is enough to end up on top. If the passing game can somehow spring to life, then most would agree that the Bengals could match up well against anyone. As it is now, they'll have to win by being green and angry.
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