2013 FA Thread (Updates on OP) New: Merling, Brace, Pashos, Trueblood, EJBig, Tapp, White, Williams, MATTHEWS; Re-up: Rex, Hall, Davis, Paulsen, DY, RJax, Lich, Sundberg, Baker, Sav, Golston, Kehl, Polumbus; Paycuts: Carriker, Moss, BMeri, J. Wilson

[GothSkinsFan]

Uh...why would we go 2-14 in 2014?

I'm just extrapolating from all the doomsayers. What I said was tongue-in-cheek. I think we'll have a very good draft, and with a few more smart FA signings, we're going to win the NFCE again.

[moondog]

What's more, I think you can add K. Robinson to that list and, though they didn't play (and so aren't 'KEY guys'), Minnifield and Bernstine. I believe our defense will look far different if these guys all come back.

I'm not counting on anything whatsoever from Minnifield. I would love if the guy could ever get healthy. But it sounds like his knee(s) are as bad if not worse than the Comb's. But Robinson was a rookie I was very impressed with last year on special teams and when he got on the field on defense. I'm actually very excited for his future with this team based on what I saw last year. Bernstine is an interesting prospect - raw but a great athlete. He played well in preseason last year but after tearing multiple ligaments in his knee, you kind of wonder how long it will take, if ever, for him to get back to having that ability. But with Fletcher dealing with injuries the last couple years, a guy like Robinson is very important and he may start seeing more time as a nickel backer anyway because coverage was his strong point coming out of school to begin with.

[DC9]

Hey DC9, it just occurred to me, should the OP and title be changed from "restructures" to "pay cuts"? During Shanny's presser he said nobody restructured, but rather simply took pay cuts.

Just a thought.

Maybe just PC for short?

Sure bro, I'll change it. Anything to save room at this point, hahaha

[kiingspadee]

Just imagine how awesome the 2015 offseason and draft will be after we've gone 2-14 in 2014 and have our 1st round pick again and no salary cap issues!

2-14 would mean we are going to clear house......not a good idea

[moondog]

2-14 would mean we are going to clear house......not a good idea

We could also just agree now to trade our 2015 first rounder to whoever sucks the most this year so we can get Clowney in the draft next year lol

[hunterx]

I'm excited to see more changes in the secondary in the months to come. I believe we are playing the NFC North and AFC West, so we need to get better in a hurry. Rodgers, Stafford, Cutler, Manning, Rivers and possibly Alex Smith.

[moondog]

I'm excited to see more changes in the secondary in the months to come. I believe we are playing the NFC North and AFC West, so we need to get better in a hurry. Rodgers, Stafford, Cutler, Manning, Rivers and possibly Alex Smith.

The Chiefs, Raiders, Chargers and Vikings don't scare me. Neither do the Lions. I thought they were pretty big pretenders two years ago when they actually had a good record. Stafford and Johnson can be an incredible duo and their defensive front can really ruin a quarterback's day but other than those two offensive players and that defensive position group, the rest of their team is pretty weak/exploitable. The NFL is any given Sunday 100% but looking at the schedule I'd have to say I feel very strongly we should go 4-1 against those teams if we want to win our division. As always, divisional games are the most important but you can't give up games to the weaker opponents and expect a good outcome.

But yes, I completely agree with your sentiment that we play a lot of good quarterbacks this year. The secondary will need more of a boost then where it is currently at. But I think Meriweather will help out tremendously. If we can get someone in the draft in the secondary and perhaps (big IF) bring Hall back, I would be greatly encouraged. But I also think if everyone in our front 7 can come back healthy that will be a big boost in terms of how good our secondary looks as well. Finally, if Tenard Jackson has kept in shape and can come back with his head on straight, I actually think he and Meriweather could be a great combo. Again, couple of big IFs in there, but take it for what it's worth.

[son_sonn]

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet 2m
RT @joereedy First reported via @JennaLaineBucs and confirmed via a league source, Josh Johnson and the #bengals have agreed to terms

[ConnSKINS26]

Johnson is an odd fit for the Bengals. Huh.

[hunterx]

But I think Meriweather will help out tremendously.

I hope what we saw from him is a glimpse of what is to come. He had a beast of a game, dare I say Sean Taylor-esque? He was all over making plays. I hope he can stay healthy!

[moondog]

I hope what we saw from him is a glimpse of what is to come. He had a beast of a game, dare I say Sean Taylor-esque? He was all over making plays. I hope he can stay healthy!

The difference was Sean consistently played at that level and given a big sample over Brandon's career, he's never played at that level let alone for a long period of time. But I definitely think he can become a Pro-Bowl safety for us. I think he played that well in that game because of our scheme for him and his hunger from not playing for so long. Hopefully he is healthy and carries that hunger through the entire season.

[son_sonn]

The difference was Sean consistently played at that level and given a big sample over Brandon's career, he's never played at that level let alone for a long period of time. But I definitely think he can become a Pro-Bowl safety for us. I think he played that well in that game because of our scheme for him and his hunger from not playing for so long. Hopefully he is healthy and carries that hunger through the entire season.

i remember him laying some hits on the eagle wr's and the one interception... does anyone have any videos of that game to look back on it?

[DC9]

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet 2m
RT @joereedy First reported via @JennaLaineBucs and confirmed via a league source, Josh Johnson and the #bengals have agreed to terms

Good signing for them. Damn... I would've liked to have had him as a 3.

[skinny21]

The difference was Sean consistently played at that level and given a big sample over Brandon's career, he's never played at that level let alone for a long period of time. But I definitely think he can become a Pro-Bowl safety for us. I think he played that well in that game because of our scheme for him and his hunger from not playing for so long. Hopefully he is healthy and carries that hunger through the entire season.

Think I meant to quote a different post of yours moondog, oops..

Assuming we put (significant) resources toward FS and corner (in FA or the draft), the defense should improve. Of course, they could improve to anywhere from just pretty bad, all the way to good depending on all the guys with question marks.

Last year, I felt like the secondary just needed a couple of guys to play well to improve. 2 guys out of Williams, Gomes (still learning), Bernstine, Jackson and Meriweather. And worst case, if they didn't pan out, we still had Doughty and Gomes who played pretty extensively the year before.*

This year we need 3 guys to work out (Wilson being the 4th) out of Biggers, Crawford, Minnifield, Meriweather, Jackson, Bernstine and whomever else we bring in. I am just have to believe the secondary won't be as devastated as it was last year and that we see some of these guys work out for us. I count 67.5 games missed due to injury/suspension back there... insane.

And then there's the pass rush...


* I didn't include Griffin, Crawford and Minnifield in 2012 because safety play was our biggest issue. I include them in 2013 (minus Griffin... for now) because both positions need to show improvement. I also didn't factor in nickle corner both years, although there's a strong case to do so.

[AlvinWaltonIsMyBoy]

So...the scuttlebutt is that we're gonna sign DHall or Winfield? I can deal with that. I still wouldn't be surprised if we picked up a vet FS on the cheap.