All Friday afternoon there was glee over the Bengals acquiring Shaun Rogers from the Lions for a 3rd and 5th round pick. I live in the 'Nati area and fans were shocked ... completely shocked ... that the team did anything this drastic to improve the roster. Sure, it is only Shaun Rogers, but that was quite a move for a team that really takes the word "free" in "free agency" to heart.
Of course, a few hours later came word that the trade was voided by the league and that Rogers would be sent to the rival Cleveland Browns. Ouch! Not only did the trade not go through, but he got dealt inside the division.
It is par for the course in Cincinnati. It has been about 24 hours later and no one in the Bengals organization has said much of anything about any of this. Local radio host Lance McAlister was a little bent about the silence from the organization:
A Bengals trade dominates the airwaves Friday...and has the fanbase excited. Then it all falls apart and the player goes to a division rival. Fans wonder. Fans fume. Fans blame the Bengals for botching it. It's noon Saturday and the Bengals have yet to say anything? Hey Bengals, way to get out in front of the story and frame it to your advantage. Typical.
No one knows what in the world happened to screw up the deal. Something about wording in the deal and salary cap or something. Cincy has a ton of salary cap room ... so this makes no sense.
Meanwhile, former franchise player Justin Smith is finalizing his deal in San Francisco and Madieu Williams was snapped up quickly by the Vikings. Thus far, the Bengals' biggest move was resigning Dhani Jones, who they dug up out of the scrap heap last season.
I know that it seems that it is just the Bengals being the Bengals. The local joke is that Cincy doesn't want any player unless (a) another team cut him, (b) he is cheap and (c) the Bengals have played against him before since they have no scouting department. That's why the Rogers trade went over so well here ... and why it stung when it was pulled out from underneath.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-01-2008 @ 11:31PM
Jenga said...
Thanks Cincy. Hey you can still see Rogers twice a year.
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3-02-2008 @ 8:17AM
mb071073 said...
Way to go Cincinnati!! Get rid of your best DE (I am a huge Justin fan) and screw up a another deal. We need to build up our defense, not tear it down!! Par for the course.
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3-02-2008 @ 9:39AM
michelle said...
Way to go Bengals!! You get rid of one of best defensive linemen (if not the best ((I am a huge Justin Smith fan)) and you end up with nothing! We need to build up the defense, not tear it down. Once again Mike Brown shows how inferior (stupid) he is, and a tightwad.
Michelle- Arcanum Ohio
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3-02-2008 @ 1:08PM
Jeff said...
Well, he may be on the field against Cinci twice a year, but he'll only try about 1/3 of the time. Good luck with the dead weight/no picks in the first 3 rounds strategy for building a team. The Cleve got by on smoke and mirrors last year, and this won't help.
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3-02-2008 @ 3:11PM
JD said...
I live in Cincinnati and I'm absolutely sick of the incompetence of Mike Brown and his misfit family. It's ridiculous the way this team is run. The only concern is whether they are making money. Getting a winning team is for other cities. I might have to start being a Browns fan. At least they try to win.
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3-05-2008 @ 2:49AM
robert said...
first of all justin smith sucks, and second who would pay 18 mil for some other teams cast off, not to mention the loss of picks in the draft. hell at least the team is making moves to pick up free agents instead of building thru the draft like they have every other year, and yes..... justin smith sucks, if he were any good he would still be here.
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