The Bengals'
One-Sided Spending
The Bengals and Carson Palmer have become media darlings. �They can not get enough of the explosive
offense, and flamboyant star Chad Johnson. �They draw comparisons to the Colts frequently
these days. �You might as well call them
a �mini� version of them at this point. �Both
run the no-huddle offense, and have QB�s with gaudy
stats. They�ve each also lacked defense, and spend a disproportional amount of
their cap on one side of the ball.
There were
two relatively large signings made by the Bengals in
free agency. �They have spent most of
their efforts on retaining the services of their own talented players. Over the
past two seasons, they have locked up 8 of their 11 offensive starters. �Three of them have become the highest paid at
their position (Palmer, J. Johnson, and now Willie Anderson), and two others
have become among the highest (C. Johnson, Levi Jones). �These are quality players, and every fan
certainly wants to keep their own talent, but the Bengals
have done so at a fairly high cost. �Carson
Palmer was locked up just weeks before the Wild Card injury to the Steelers,
while he still had three years remaining on his rookie contract. �Palmer will obviously be seeing top dollar. �He received $118.75 mil for the next 9 years. �This would be a yearly salary of $13.2 mil.
The Bengals also extended Palmer�s number one target, Chad
Johnson. �He received a 5 year, $35 mil
extension; roughly $7 mil per season. �The Bengals top WR/QB duo will cost them
nearly 1/5 of the current cap, but it doesn�t stop there. �
The Bengals locked up their two starters in the backfield over
the past two years. �Jeremi
Johnson became the highest paid fullback (admittedly, a pretty small sum) with
a 6 year, $7.5 mil contract. �Before the
05 season, they made sure they secured Rudi Johnson for the next 5 seasons
(that means 4 more seasons left at this point) at $26 mil (just over $5 mil a
season, obviously). �The Bengals are now paying these four players roughly $27 mil.
To go along
with Rudi Johnson, the Bengals also locked up
Palmer�s second target, T.J. Houshmandzadeh. �He was given a 4 year, $13 mil contract. �This was a steal for a guy who will put up
70-80 catches for them yearly. �The total
for the past five players, though? �$31 mil a year, or nearly 1/3 of the current salary cap.
Prior to
this offseason, all five of the Bengals
starters on the offensive line were entering the final year of their contract. �Obviously, the Bengals
weren�t going to let each starter wait until next year. �They began by locking up right guard Bobbie
Williams with a contract extension that added three extra years, and an
estimated $11 mil in new money. �Williams
will be seeing roughly $3.5 mil a year, which brings the total to $34/35 mil
for 6 offensive starters.
Next up? �Prized LT Levi Jones.
�They made him the fourth highest paid
offensive linemen in the league with a $40 mil, 6 year extension. �That�s $6.7 per year, and $42 mil for 6
players.
The most
recent signing came just today, with RT Willie Anderson. He was given 5 extra
years, and $32 mil, or $6.4 per year. �The
Bengals are paying $48/49 mil a season for 8 of their
starting offensive players.
To put this
in perspective, the Steelers pay these same 8 positions roughly $30 mil per
season (used Faneca instead of Simmons at guard). �Granted, Starks and Simmons will be FA�s after
this seasons. �Then, does anyone really
think they�ll be given anywhere near that sort of cash? �Or that the Steelers are going to be extending
Roethlisberger after this season, with 3 seasons
still left?
If you have
any questions or comments, you can contact me at CKsteeler@hotmail.com, or on
the forums (username CKSteelers).