Bengals put franchise tag Justin Smith

JoseA · 02-16-2007, 05:54 PM

Quote:

CINCINNATI (AP) -- Defensive end Justin Smith, who has led Cincinnati's line in tackles in each of the last five seasons, was designated as the Bengals' franchise player Thursday.

Smith would have become an unrestricted free agent March 2 if he doesn't reach a contract agreement with the Bengals before then. The franchise tag means the Bengals could keep Smith by matching any offer sheet he signed with another team.

If they choose not to match another offer, the Bengals would get the other team's first-round draft picks in 2007 and 2008 as compensation.

Bengals put franchise tag on DE Justin Smith - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

Nice to see that we taged Smtih, he has been our defensive leaders for the past few years. I would have liked to see the two first round picks though

JoseA · 02-16-2007, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Justin Smith's franchise tag and probable long-term return to the Bengals indicates that the defense will stay in a four-lineman scheme with three linebackers, instead of a switch to a three-lineman, four-linebacker set.

SI.com - Scorecard Daily - NFL (cont.) - Friday February 16, 2007 9:50AM

Makes sense I guess, I thought that the defense has talent, but definetly underacheived last year. However I find many teams with success in a 3-4 set, but the Bengals should be fine.

LaxD · 02-18-2007, 06:14 PM

There Defense would be nothing without Smith. He is a solid lineman and if he gets a little more consistant I can see him being a very good player. I still think that he hasn't met the expectations when the Bengals drafted him in the first round.

DiamondDave · 02-19-2007, 09:33 AM

I would not have wasted the franchise tag on him... so many other glaring needs on this team to worry about

02-18-2007, 06:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
LaxD Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 875	There Defense would be nothing without Smith. He is a solid lineman and if he gets a little more consistant I can see him being a very good player. I still think that he hasn't met the expectations when the Bengals drafted him in the first round. __________________ Guests:Please register on fanhome, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain! Members: Join Fanhome's Official Fantasy Football League

02-19-2007, 09:33 AM	#4 (permalink)
DiamondDave Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: MD, on the Potomac River Posts: 5,390	I would not have wasted the franchise tag on him... so many other glaring needs on this team to worry about __________________ Reagan in 08... Even though he's dead, he's the better choice! Superdelegates - Because even the Democratic party knows it's base is too stupid to make really important decisions.