Monday, August 24, 2009

Andre Smith Situation

Last night on his Twitter page Alvin Keels posted this after a four hour meeting with the Bengals front office.

"Leaving Cinci, Not any closer on a deal for Andre Smith. Mike Brown says 'the ship has sailed on the slotting system.'"

The Bengals appear to be digging in with their $33 million dollar offer to Andre. Meanwhile Keels is holding strong to their request for more money than Oakland's Darrius Heyward-Bey and more money than last years No. 6 pick Vernon Gholston.

I agree with Mike Brown on one point, the current salary system does not make sense. However, I completely disagree that the "ship has sailed on the slotting system." I commend Mike Brown for standing up to change a very lopsided system but it hurts as a Bengals fan to watch this happen with my team. Especially because 30 other owners in the league have voted to keep the system (by signing their players.)

I don't know how this situation will play out. I know that there are only two pre-season games left and Andre Smith is still not in a Bengals uniform. He has missed his first training camp and surely missed out on important bonding, meetings and time on the field. I doubt that Smith will come in and be ready for camp to start.

1 comment:

redleg2420 said...

Mike Brown is always more interested in taking a stand than he is fielding a strong football team. He took a stand when he didn't trade Chad for a 1st round pick. I think that hurt the team. Now he is taking a stand by not signing the LT or RT that could be the anchor of the offensive line for years. I don't disagree with the stance that the slotting system is broken, but that is the system. Play along. Fight it at the bargaining table with the players union, not like this.