Home > NFL

Bengals Tag Graham

16. February 2009  - Published by Dan Clasgens
Comments (4)

Despite popular belief that the Bengals would place their franchise tag on wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh or even running back Cedric Benson, the team opted on Monday to place the designation on place kicker Shayne Graham.

The franchise tag gives Graham the option to sign with the Bengals for 2009 for a salary equal to the average of the five highest-paid kickers in the NFL for the previous season (2008 in this case). Graham is a ninth-year NFL player in 2009.  He ranks fourth all-time in the NFL in career field goal accuracy (85.6 percent), and his career accuracy with the Bengals is 87.5 percent.

In franchising Graham, the Bengals had to tender him a one-year deal worth nearly $2.5 million and drop the idea for franchising Houshmandzadeh at $9.88 million.

It almost certainly means that Houshmandzadeh's career as a Bengal is over. The team could still make a run at him in free agency, but the former Pro Bowl wideout doesn't see himself back in Cincinnati. He told the team's website after hearing the news of Graham getting tagged that the chances of playing somewhere else would be "99.2 percent."

I am not opposed to the plan suggested over the weekend by the Cincinnati Enquirer's Paul Daughtery that the Bengals ought to let T.J. and fellow disgruntled receiver, Chad Ocho Cinco, walk via free agency. However, he shrugged off the big problem in his plan - who is Carson Palmer going to throw the ball to? After missing much of 2008, Palmer could struggle in Chris Henry, Antonio Chatman, and Andre Caldwell are his top options. Oh, that's right we can't forget about last year's second round flop Jerome Simpson.

Still, I am not sure that Graham is worth the money. It's hard to argue with his accuacy, but he's shanked several of the few "clutch kicks" that he has, struggles to kick the ball in the end zone on kickoffs, and rarely is even thought of as an option from 48+ yards out. I would like to see him back, but it isn't the end of the world. 

The Bengals have a ton of off-season questions ahead and if this first move is any indicator, it could be a long year again in 2009. For a franchise that is at risk of losing mass season-ticket holders due to the economy and mediocrity, this move will prove costly.

NFL , , , , , , , , , ,

Comments

jimmy d
jimmy d
2/16/2009 10:54:46 PM #
it is increasingly harder and harder to justify why I give a shit about this team. In my best Allen Iverson voice: "We're talking about a kicker, right? A kicker?"
Look Graham is a nice guy and accurate, but this team isn't winning games because he's on it. Additionally I think Graham likes it here a lot and would've signed with the Bengals anyway. And, okay, while I think they should sign TJ, if you're not willing to open your wallet and sign him, then tag Cedric Benson. One more year of him. Now, the Bengals are looking at who at RB? Who at WR? Who at offensive line?
I hate Mike Brown more and more everyday.
Jim Humbert
Jim Humbert
2/16/2009 11:34:04 PM #
Hey Jimmy - go Steelers!!!
Adam
Adam
2/17/2009 12:41:08 PM #
$10 million is an awful lot to spend on a receiver of TJ's caliber at this point in his career, so I can kind of understand them not franchising him.  But, that's all based on the assumption that the Bengals would actually find a better use for that money, and we all know they're not going to do that.  They'll probably turn right around and sign Bryant Johnson or Devery Henderson for $6M/year who'll catch 40 balls, and bring in the 12th best DT out there and give him 200% more than any other team would, and he'll blow out his knee in the second pre-season game.  So they might as well have given him the money instead of the nice guy kicker.

I am so happy I quit being a Bengals fan years ago, this is miserable to watch even from afar.
Wisata Seo Sadau
Wisata Seo Sadau
5/17/2009 3:27:54 PM #
Nice info, thank's for ur sharing
Comments are closed