.... The Bengals are 28 million under the cap but don't expect them to sign any real free agents cause that 28 million really is only $5.49.



Here is why:



"It has been reported on at least two web sites the Bengals have $28 million to spend in free agency. But that figure doesn't take into consideration several factors, the most important of which are the new salary cap rules put in place because the 2010 season doesn't have a cap.



Some reporters covering the NFL believe that some teams are going to have to leave a pad for incentives that may start around $2.5 million and go up. Incentives that can be reached during the 2009 season can't be rolled into 2010 and the cap number must take them into account. For the Bengals, that would include players like the No. 1 pick from last year, Keith Rivers, as well as some second- and third-round picks.



The pad is also needed for dead money for players traded or released. Their cap hits can no longer go into future years, only into '09.



So when you consider these pads that the Bengals must factor in, they can expect little more in free agency than maybe a backup long snapper to come in to compete with Brad St. Louis. But Marvin Lewis is optimistic that the Bengals' scouts can hit a home run with that guy as they have their sights set on a couple of impact long snappers."

LOL...... impact long snapper? I love it.

Why do I get the feeling that Hobspin was sitting on MikeyBoy's lap with a hand through his back when he said this? And why do I get the feeling that even if the Bengals were $100 million under the cap they'd still find a way to cry "we're broke!".

*************************************************************************************

"I used to work in a fire hydrant factory. You couldn't park anywhere near the place."
Steven Wright

That is not a spin...it is fact.

//That is not a spin...it is fact.//

But it won't stop any of the 31 other teams from signing free agents.

.....One thing about free agents is that they ain't free. So much for that idea. Hey, I signed Shane Graham, what more do you want???












Look at me. I am so proud of all I have accomplished.

I could see if we didn't sign the top dollar free agents. The Bengals never even sign the mediocre ones unless you count other teams backups like Utecht and Blackstone or whatever his name was from Arizona. We never even sign a productive starter via free agency.

"If your not fired up with enthusiasm, you'll be fired with enthusiasm."- Vince Lombardi

Of all the legitimate criticism of the Mike-hole Bungles, that high quality free agent complaint isn't in the proper focus for some.

The Hole actually has tried to land some quality free agents. But the mere fact that they are quality makes them disqualify the Bungs.

Why would a quality free agent want to come to a minor league organization? It makes far more sense to even take less money in the short run and go to a legitimate organization.

I just hope Chad, TJ and Carson all get that chance soon.

...Carson, no way, his azz is in hell till 2014. He musta done some bad shhit in his prior life.

Baghdad Hob is in full spin mode trying to justify the lack of moves the Bengals will make in FA.  I'm sure the Cardinals have a third stringer or two they'll release and Mikey can pick up for cheap.

There's a very brief window in the offseason before the Bengals have made any moves where I can kind of delude myself into thinking that all teams are on equal playing field and all teams have a chance.  Even though I know in my heart the Bengals will sit on the sidelines in FA and botch the draft, it hasn't happened yet, and I can still have a tiny flame of hope.  Then the Bengals make their first move or lack of moves.  Then they make their draft picks.  That tiny flame of hope is extinguished.  It's then that I realize it's going to be another craptacular year.

0-16!  We can do it this year, Mike!

I have a close friend out here who thinks Mike Brown might take Matt Sanchez if he is available in Round One...

"The American Cancer Society says uninsured patients are 60 percent more likely to die within five years of their diagnosis."

"I have a close friend out here who thinks Mike Brown might take Matt Sanchez if he is available in Round One..."


And I would laugh my ballz off for hours after that, if it happens. OMG--man I hope it does. We would have something to laugh about for years on end.