The Curious Case of Marcus Benard

[Mitch]

Marcus Benard was a nice in-season signing surprise as a situational RDE opposite John Abraham in the team's nickel defense. Benard finished the season with 17 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and an assortment of QB pressures and batted balls.

Benard was an UCFA for Cleveland who burst onto the scene when he led the Browns in sacks with 7.5 in 2010. Then after 4 games in 2011, he suffered multiple injuries in a motorcycle accident and was placed on the season-ending IR.

In the pre-season of 2012 he was waived by the Browns after dislocating an elbow in a pre-season game. He missed all of the 2012 season.

Then he signed a future's contract with the Patriots in 2013---was dominant in their one-on-one drills in practice---recorded 2 sacks in the pre-season---but was one of the Patriots' final roster cuts---which enabled the Cardinals to sign Benard on October 2, 2013.

Perhaps Benard's best game came in the Cardinals' 37-34 win at Tennessee in Week 15 when he recorded 3 tackles, 1 sack and 1 forced fumble.

What seems a little unclear is whether Benard is now a UFA or a RFA. Darren Urban on his year-end roster analysis has him listed as a RFA---as do the folks at Revenge of the Birds (which would make sense because Benard has only accrued three seasons, via the must play or be active in 6 games in a season---and thus the 4 game season with the Browns in 2011 would not count as an accrued season). Here's what ROTB says about Benard, whom they do not think is worthy of an RFA tender.

http://www.revengeofthebirds.com/20...t-could-get-tendered-by-the-arizona-cardinals

To get compensation for Benard if another team signs him the Cardinals would have to offer him a second round tender, which is in the neighborhood of $2M.

The Cardinals would get no compensation for a third round tender because those compensations are for what round the player was drafted in, and Benard was an UCFA.

To complicate matters further, on NFL.com and other sites, they list Benard as an UFA---and it seems perhaps that Benard is on the Eagles' radar, if one of their beat writers is onto something. Check out this article (posted 2/16/14):

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/sports/eagles/Three-free-agents-the-Eagles-could-consider.html

I do think the evidence suggest that Benard is a restricted free agent. And this, my question to you is:

What should the Cardinals do with Marcus Benard?

a. offer no RFA tender and hope he re-signs at a little over the minimum.

b. offer a 3rd round tender at $1.3M with the understanding that as an RFA the Cardinals have the right to match any offer Benard gets elsewhere. In this case, however, because Benard was not drafted, the Cardinals would not receive any draft pick compensation.

c. offer a 2nd round tender at $2.023M---have the right to match any other offer---and if they decline to match get a 2nd rounder in return.

d. let him go and focus on other prospects.

I would hope to keep Benard. I think choice (b) is the answer because I think he's worth $1.3M and we keep the right to match any offers he gets elsewhere.

Maybe we even sign him to a 2-3 year deal at reasonable base salaries, but with attractive performance incentives.

 

[kerouac9]

Do you have any evidence to support that Benard was 'dominant' in Pats one-on-ones last offseason?

I think that Benard was the beneficiary of Abraham's resurgence in the second half of the season (or latter three-quarters, if you will), more than that he's a special player in and of himself.

According to the NFL, the right-of-first-refusal tender amount is $1.323M this year. That would be the first-year salary and signing bonus on a new multi-year deal for a player like Benard. I'd be more than comfortable offering him three years, $4M with that as the first year compensation with a minimum salary.

I probably wouldn't guarantee Benard $1.3M on a one-year deal based on what we've seen so far. We have a ton of average- to below-average OLBs on the roster already.

 

[cardpa]

Marcus Benard was a nice in-season signing surprise as a situational RDE opposite John Abraham in the team's nickel defense. Benard finished the season with 17 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and an assortment of QB pressures and batted balls.

To get compensation for Benard if another team signs him the Cardinals would have to offer him a second round tender, which is in the neighborhood of $2M.

The Cardinals would get no compensation for a third round tender because those compensations are for what round the player was drafted in, and Benard was an UCFA.

To complicate matters further, on NFL.com and other sites, they list Benard as an UFA---and it seems perhaps that Benard is on the Eagles' radar, if one of their beat writers is onto something. Check out this article (posted 2/16/14):

I do think the evidence suggest that Benard is a restricted free agent. And this, my question to you is:

What should the Cardinals do with Marcus Benard?

a. offer no RFA tender and hope he re-signs at a little over the minimum.

b. offer a 3rd round tender at $1.3M with the understanding that as an RFA the Cardinals have the right to match any offer Benard gets elsewhere. In this case, however, because Benard was not drafted, the Cardinals would not receive any draft pick compensation.

c. offer a 2nd round tender at $2.023M---have the right to match any other offer---and if they decline to match get a 2nd rounder in return.

d. let him go and focus on other prospects.

I would hope to keep Benard. I think choice (b) is the answer because I think he's worth $1.3M and we keep the right to match any offers he gets elsewhere.

Maybe we even sign him to a 2-3 year deal at reasonable base salaries, but with attractive performance incentives.

I am more inclined to go with option C. The difference between the third round and second round tender is not that much. If you base it on his stats we could have a potentially rather good pass rusher on the roster. This would also force the Eagles to make an offer greater than 2 million and which if it was decided to let him go would give the team another 2nd round choice. Having two seconds is not a bad thing. I think its worth the gamble.

 

[PJ1]

I really like Benard and believe it would be a mistake to let him get away. Option B would be my choice also.

The guy did a good job for us which is all I care about. Why proof would be needed for how he performed in Pats camp is beyond me.

 

[kerouac9]

I really like Benard and believe it would be a mistake to let him get away. Option B would be my choice also.

The guy did a good job for us which is all I care about. Why proof would be needed for how he performed in Pats camp is beyond me.

As I said, my preference would be to keep him around at the right price, as well. But if you're hoping that someone signs him as an RFA, then you're making a terrible choice, because teams rarely, rarely, rarely sign other teams' restricted free agents.

The request for evidence is mostly because Mitch habitually makes claims that don't have any evidence to back them up, and I believe it's in the interests of the board to support outlandish claims with some kind of evidence.

Like Mitch's assertion that Patrick Peterson is going to look for $13M in a year in compensation on a contract extension. His practice is to repeat this kind of thing as often as he can until it somehow becomes the conventional wisdom.

It really has nothing to do with Benard's price tag.

 

[juza76]

Do you have any evidence to support that Benard was 'dominant' in Pats one-on-ones last offseason?

I think that Benard was the beneficiary of Abraham's resurgence in the second half of the season (or latter three-quarters, if you will), more than that he's a special player in and of himself.

According to the NFL, the right-of-first-refusal tender amount is $1.323M this year. That would be the first-year salary and signing bonus on a new multi-year deal for a player like Benard. I'd be more than comfortable offering him three years, $4M with that as the first year compensation with a minimum salary.

I probably wouldn't guarantee Benard $1.3M on a one-year deal based on what we've seen so far. We have a ton of average- to below-average OLBs on the roster already.

agree..mitch usually show great enthusiasm for every single player of cardinals organization
mcann new shutdown corner
dan giordano new gastineau
derren fells next jimmy graham
britany golden new desean jackson
skelton alias rothlisberger
i think he should be hired by cardinals front office,the way he loves and find good aspects in every cardinals player could help this team to send some players in change of draft picks

 

[Mitch]

I really like Benard and believe it would be a mistake to let him get away. Option B would be my choice also.

The guy did a good job for us which is all I care about. Why proof would be needed for how he performed in Pats camp is beyond me.

I agree with you, PJ.

Here's a great article and tape breakdown that the nepatriots.com did of Bernard last year:

http://www.nepatriotsdraft.com/2013/07/off-the-grid-patriots-pass-rusher-marcus-benard.html

And for the record---here's an account (from Yardbarker.com) of how Benard was eating up one-on-one matchups at Pats' camp.

Marcus Benard Enjoys Taking on ‘Small Man Complex’ in New Role as Interior Pass Rusher
FOXBORO, Mass. — It didn’t take long for Marcus Benard to rise up the depth chart with the Patriots. The fifth-year defender stood out in one-on-one drills as soon as the pads were strapped on when training camp started. He would fly past his opposing offensive lineman with a quick step and violent rip move. Patriots coaches quickly took notice and started putting him in with...
Via NESN.com

August 27, 2013 | Discuss
Marcus Benard Says He Thinks ‘Kill’ When Put in 1-on-1 Pass-Rush Drills, Starts Smelling Quarterbacks
FOXBORO, Mass. — If there’s been one surprise standout veteran at Patriots training camp, it’s Marcus Benard. The free agent defensive end was an unheralded future signing in January, but he’s making his name known by dominating in 1-on-1 pass rush drills. Benard has the right mindset when he lines up across from an offensive lineman. Benard said he thinks “Kill” when...

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Marcus Bernard is a RFA, and that is backed up on a few sites.

Absolutely no reason not to bring him back to camp next year, he turned out to be very good depth for us, IMO.

 

[kerouac9]

Hmmm... It's always interesting when Mitch decides that he's not going to follow a link to his posts. Why not just give the link?

http://nesn.com/2013/08/marcus-bena...-complex-in-new-role-as-interior-pass-rusher/

Benard had spent his entire career playing either outside linebacker or defensive end. In the nickel defense, he’s being used as a three-technique defensive tackle...

Benard has five quarterback pressures and a sack this preseason from the interior position.

Hm...

I don't know about Yardbarker--I've never heard of that service--but the articles were originally from NESN and are the kinds of things that local hacks put out every July and August.

 

[Jay Cardinal]

I choose option A. I think his production was good, but a lot of the could be opposing offenses worrying about Dockett, Campbell, Abraham, D-Wash and even Honey Badger on the blitz. I don't think that we can spend $1-2M of our very limited free agency money on a backup player. I would rather spend the money on Shaughnessy, who gives us flexibility playing DE or OLB.

 

[gimpy]

Nice read, Mitch. Really enjoy reading your postings. :>)

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[Mitch]

Nice read, Mitch. Really enjoy reading your postings. :>)

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

I do them for The Gimper! Stay thirsty my friend!

 

[Catfish]

I choose option A. I think his production was good, but a lot of the could be opposing offenses worrying about Dockett, Campbell, Abraham, D-Wash and even Honey Badger on the blitz. I don't think that we can spend $1-2M of our very limited free agency money on a backup player. I would rather spend the money on Shaughnessy, who gives us flexibility playing DE or OLB.

One could also argue that Denard was more than able to clean up the left-overs from DD, CC, Abe, D-Wash, and HB. So why go looking to draft, (or bring in a free agent), who could maybe not be capable of what Denard has already shown that he does very well indeed. We could at least put a tender on him, and if we lose out, we at least get some compensation back.

 

[Krangodnzr]

I thought he flashed pass rush ability, but as Kerouac states, it's virtually a lock that he won't be signed by another team if we tender him.

I think he deserves a chance to compete for playing time and little else. We need to get better, and unless he improves markedly, I seriously doubt Marcus Bernard will be a top pass rusher.

 

[john h]

Hmmm... It's always interesting when Mitch decides that he's not going to follow a link to his posts. Why not just give the link?

http://nesn.com/2013/08/marcus-bena...-complex-in-new-role-as-interior-pass-rusher/



Hm...

I don't know about Yardbarker--I've never heard of that service--but the articles were originally from NESN and are the kinds of things that local hacks put out every July and August.

You guys sure know a lot more about Benard than I ever will. I sort of trust what our management team will do as they made some really great decisions last year with their signings.