No excuses for Mikey

[Cbus cardsfan]

Many times, I see people make the excuse for Bidwill that he's "cash poor" compared to other owners and, thus, makes it harder for him to keep or sign free agents. I've called bunk on this from day 1. All owners are billionaires, and money is never an issue, only a convenient excuse.

Mike Brown and the Bengals have proven that to be the case. Brown is the least wealthy owner in the league. Yet, in the last 2 years he's made Joe Burrow the highest paid, at the time, QB in the league, just made JaMarr Chase the highest paid non-QB in the league, re-signed Tee Higgins to make him the highest paid #2 WR in the league, and in the near future, is reportedly going sign Trey Hendrickson to an extension making him one the highest paid DE's in the league.

This all from the reported cheapest owner in the NFL who, like Bidwill, has the NFL as their only business and family owned. The excuses are crap, and the salary cap is another falsehood when it comes to retaining, acquiring talent as Chase's and Higgins cap # actually decreased for this season after signing their deals.

 

[phillycard]

Hard to wash that cheapness stench from this organization. How many times have we had to make the "hard" decisions to retain "real" talent? Fitz, Pat P, Budda? We didn't blink an eye when it came time to let B. Murph and Zach go. Problems like the eagles, Bengals, and Niners have recently experienced aren't relatable when it comes to us. We've been able to hide under the constant losing. I'm praying that changes and we see what he's really about.

 

[Stout]

Well, yeah.

 

[CardNots]

Many times, I see people make the excuse for Bidwill that he's "cash poor" compared to other owners and, thus, makes it harder for him to keep or sign free agents. I've called bunk on this from day 1. All owners are billionaires, and money is never an issue, only a convenient excuse.

Mike Brown and the Bengals have proven that to be the case. Brown is the least wealthy owner in the league. Yet, in the last 2 years he's made Joe Burrow the highest paid, at the time, QB in the league, just made JaMarr Chase the highest paid non-QB in the league, re-signed Tee Higgins to make him the highest paid #2 WR in the league, and in the near future, is reportedly going sign Trey Hendrickson to an extension making him one the highest paid DE's in the league.

This all from the reported cheapest owner in the NFL who, like Bidwill, has the NFL as their only business and family owned. The excuses are crap, and the salary cap is another falsehood when it comes to retaining, acquiring talent as Chase's and Higgins cap # actually decreased for this season after signing their deals.

Didn’t seem like Kyler’s contract was cheap at the time. Baker’s contract was pretty stout at the time of his signing as well.

Poor salary management has been a problem for this franchise but i do not agree owner wealth has the same impact today as previous decades.

I remember it being reported that Bill Bidwill said after the playoff win against the Cowboys that now players will want bigger salaries.

I really believe Bill was just cheap by nature not based on his lack of perceived wealth as an owner.

I’ve not seen this behavior from his son as i did with dad.

 

[kerouac9]

You have more options when working to keep players in-house. The current problem is that we don't have enough good players, so we aren't really concerned about losing them.

Under today's CBA, it sure feels like top-line free agency help is going to be less accessible.

Our pending 2026 free agents of note are McBride, Jonah Williams, and Kelvin Beachum.

 

[kerouac9]

I remember it being reported that Bill Bidwill said after the playoff win against the Cowboys that now players will want bigger salaries.

That was also nearly 30 years ago and I'm not sure how relevant it is to today's business operations.

"The disease of me" is real, but it doesn't have anything to do with fiscal conservatism on the side of the owner.

I don't believe that the Bidwill family are cash flow constrained, but I do believe they're unwilling to stretch themselves financially. That said, they haven't really had reason to since the first year DHop was here -- the team hasn't been good enough to justify it.

 

[football karma]

I don't believe that the Bidwill family are cash flow constrained,

My guess is that the two covid years probably pinched them more than the higher revenue nfl teams--

and that the financial demands of the family (my speculation) always take priority

but i also think on pure dollars in vs dollars out: for the last two years, the team has more than made up for whatever losses they suffered during the covid years: basically regular revenue while having a really low payroll.

Kliff and Steve finding jobs also helped -- and they will roll off after this year (IIRC)

 

[BACH]

Not defending Bidwill in any way - the “report card” speaks for itself.

But as K9 points out, it’s not as simple as this. The cap space is increasing so much that Free Agency is changing.

Monti tried hard to sign 3 players from the absolut top of the FA rankings to long term deals. He only actually signed one (Sweat). Not giving credit for effort, but to me it shows a couple of things. And the best available in this new free agency. Big names with declining production is not the answer to build sustainable success.

- Monti wants to spend money smart. Sweat, Williams and Fries. Young players that are above average at their position. These are the player types that he is happy to sign and spend big on.

It also indicates that Bidwill was probably not holding back on spending big. Williams and Fries just didn’t want to sign here - for whatever the reason might be.

I get the frustration and I myself am also left with a bit of “meh” feeling when looking at all the cap available and looking at what was signed.

But comparing it to what e.g. the Patriots did, I do prefer this over overpaying for underwhelming players.

This was the 1st period of 5 periods to improve the team. This was IMO a B-/C+ grade. There are 4 more rounds of this to get better or worse.

 

[BulldogCard]

Had to get not good enough to bother. The decisions or lack of that got you there. Why are you at a point where why bother. Because of cheapness, bad scouting and decisions. Contracts that were pretty bad, punitive.

 

[Ronin]

We need better decision making from the FO. I think it would be easier to make decisions. Jmo

 

[kerouac9]

We need better decision making from the FO. I think it would be easier to make decisions. Jmo

It would be easier to field a better team if we had better players.

 

[oaken1]

It would be easier to field a better team if we had better players.

right? how does the team not understand that?

 

[DaHilg]

Not defending Bidwill in any way - the “report card” speaks for itself.

But as K9 points out, it’s not as simple as this. The cap space is increasing so much that Free Agency is changing.

Monti tried hard to sign 3 players from the absolut top of the FA rankings to long term deals. He only actually signed one (Sweat). Not giving credit for effort, but to me it shows a couple of things. And the best available in this new free agency. Big names with declining production is not the answer to build sustainable success.

- Monti wants to spend money smart. Sweat, Williams and Fries. Young players that are above average at their position. These are the player types that he is happy to sign and spend big on.

It also indicates that Bidwill was probably not holding back on spending big. Williams and Fries just didn’t want to sign here - for whatever the reason might be.

I get the frustration and I myself am also left with a bit of “meh” feeling when looking at all the cap available and looking at what was signed.

But comparing it to what e.g. the Patriots did, I do prefer this over overpaying for underwhelming players.

This was the 1st period of 5 periods to improve the team. This was IMO a B-/C+ grade. There are 4 more rounds of this to get better or worse.

Strong disagree with this take.. teams have shown sustainability through trades and FA. Most glaring example is the Rams. Our off-season as been pathetic this far for a year 3 rebuild. Teams consistently turn it around faster than that.

I posted an analysis on here awhile back ago… teams who drafted 1st, so the worse teams in the league made it to the playoffs 80% of the time within 3 years.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Look at the Texans. 2 years ago they were among the worst teams in the league.
A good draft and some free agent signings and they’ve been a playoff team 2 years running.

Sweat was a good signing but there were many other players out there at positions of need and Cards dumpster dived like always.

 

[PACardsFan]

Look at the Texans. 2 years ago they were among the worst teams in the league.
A good draft and some free agent signings and they’ve been a playoff team 2 years running.

Sweat was a good signing but there were many other players out there at positions of need and Cards dumpster dived like always.

Texans don’t apply. Yes, they hired a damn good HC. But, so have the Cardinals. 2 years ago they played maybe the easiest schedule in NFL history. Schedule toughened up a bit last year & they looked like crap at times. Sure, they made the playoffs last year, but only because the division they’re in was pathetic.

 

[BirdGangThing]

Texans don’t apply. Yes, they hired a damn good HC. But, so have the Cardinals. 2 years ago they played maybe the easiest schedule in NFL history. Schedule toughened up a bit last year & they looked like crap at times. Sure, they made the playoffs last year, but only because the division they’re in was pathetic.

the texans don't apply? they took our pick - kicked our ass - made it to the playoffs two years in a row (also won a playoff game in each of those 2 years) it's hilarious when you compare the two teams

 

[GatorAZ]

Can’t wait to roll that cap space over next year!
.

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[BACH]

Strong disagree with this take.. teams have shown sustainability through trades and FA. Most glaring example is the Rams. Our off-season as been pathetic this far for a year 3 rebuild. Teams consistently turn it around faster than that.

I posted an analysis on here awhile back ago… teams who drafted 1st, so the worse teams in the league made it to the playoffs 80% of the time within 3 years.

Well, I do not disagree that it could have been done faster or different.

But is the objective to have a quick turn-around or to build a sustainable continuous good team?

Monti failed on the quick turn-around - no doubt. Whether that was Monti failing, Monti sticking to his plan of a long build-up or more likely Monti sticking to the strategy agreed by the owner. We do not know. But seeing Monti execute, I doubt it was the plan to do a quick turn-around. That SUCKS for us as fans, but Monti is following the plan which is clearly to copy how the Eagles and Ravens run their teams and doing it organicly.

But IMO this is the best roster the team has had since 2015-2016. There is a lack of top talent, but in this new free agency there aren't really any top talent available and that was my point on who he tried to sign to big money. All young and ranked top 15 of Free Agents (Saw a ranking that had Williams as #1, Sweat as #3 and Fries as #6). But overall the 53 roster is better than than it has been in a long time. If you read my FA pre analysis, I list 4 priorities (Edge, DT, G, ILB) and 3-4 secondary attention areas (Back-up QB, Speed WR, CB).

Could he have done more - absolutely. But he has plugged 3 (DT, Edge and Back-up) holes and insured that the remaining are not liabilities (We can discuss to what degree). That is what I'm my B-/C+ grade so far on.

The draft is coming up and that will impact what the priorities are.

There are A LOT of old players that could plug the remaining holes short term - those players are just usually signed in the 4th wave of the off season - June 1 cuts until the week before training camp.

I will evaluate Monti's off-season when the team reports to TC.

 

[PACardsFan]

the texans don't apply? they took our pick - kicked our ass - made it to the playoffs two years in a row (also won a playoff game in each of those 2 years) it's hilarious when you compare the two teams

You obviously didn’t read my post. They won the division 2 years ago because they played in a pathetic division with the easiest schedule ever. And I would hardly say that a 21-16 home win against a really bad Cardinal team was kicking our ass.

 

[BirdGangThing]

You obviously didn’t read my post. They won the division 2 years ago because they played in a pathetic division with the easiest schedule ever. And I would hardly say that a 21-16 home win against a really bad Cardinal team was kicking our ass.

they won the division (that they were the worst in) because they had the balls to draft stroud and anderson back to back - gambling their entire future on not one but two rolls of the dice - both of which hit pay dirt - they also strengthened thru free agency and are now an actual attraction in free agency - meaning key players will play there for less than here because of what they've accomplished and where they're headed - it has nothing to do with how crappy their division was - their two playoff wins didn't come within the division - they are the real deal - we could've done exactly what they did we were in the same position

 

[CardNots]

they won the division (that they were the worst in) because they had the balls to draft stroud and anderson back to back - gambling their entire future on not one but two rolls of the dice - both of which hit pay dirt - they also strengthened thru free agency and are now an actual attraction in free agency - meaning key players will play there for less than here because of what they've accomplished and where they're headed - it has nothing to do with how crappy their division was - their two playoff wins didn't come within the division - they are the real deal - we could've done exactly what they did we were in the same position

painfully true

 

[Mainstreet]

The Cardinals have to become a destination for top free agent players. It's a culture and reputation they will have to develop.

Maybe the new training facility will help. A place where players will want to work out and live nearby.

 

[Mulli]

2027 is going to be epic!

 

[BirdGangThing]

2027 is going to be epic!

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[Gandhi]

Many times, I see people make the excuse for Bidwill that he's "cash poor" compared to other owners and, thus, makes it harder for him to keep or sign free agents. I've called bunk on this from day 1. All owners are billionaires, and money is never an issue, only a convenient excuse.

Mike Brown and the Bengals have proven that to be the case. Brown is the least wealthy owner in the league. Yet, in the last 2 years he's made Joe Burrow the highest paid, at the time, QB in the league, just made JaMarr Chase the highest paid non-QB in the league, re-signed Tee Higgins to make him the highest paid #2 WR in the league, and in the near future, is reportedly going sign Trey Hendrickson to an extension making him one the highest paid DE's in the league.

This all from the reported cheapest owner in the NFL who, like Bidwill, has the NFL as their only business and family owned. The excuses are crap, and the salary cap is another falsehood when it comes to retaining, acquiring talent as Chase's and Higgins cap # actually decreased for this season after signing their deals.

Actually, the only thing being paid in one big payment is the signing bonus, and the Bengals have a long history of not giving out big signing bonusses. Joe Burrow got 40 million in signing bonus, whereas for example Josh Allen got 56 million this year, while in 2024 Jordan Love got 75, Lamar Jackson got 72, and Jared Goff got 73. For Chase, he got a signing bonus of 20 million, while Justin Jefferson got 88 last year, and Ceedee Lamb got 38 last year. They haven't announced Higgins' signing bonus, but it is probably safe to say that it will be low relative to other WR's.

The point is that the argument about the Bengals being cheap or poor is more nuanced that just looking at overall value of a contract. And it is the same with Bidwill, by the way. He also don't pay huge signing bonusses, even though Josh Sweat's deal was competitive releative to other free agents this year.