What is the Cedric Benson delay?

[MileHighRaider]

Good advice from Williamson...

What is the Cedric Benson delay? - AFC West Blog - ESPN

Buckle in, it could take some time. There are no indications his signing with any team is imminent. Benson has been available since free agency began in March, and there has been no market for him despite his experience and success.

[Boostjunkie]

Good little write-up. We def need to do some maneuvering IOT get anyone signed. I still think priority is signing the last two draftees. After that, working on the franchise tag to long term deal.

[TonyHighRoller]

Right?!?

[red dragon]

I don't even know if we need him. We have bigger holes to fill right now we shouldn't be spending precious cap space on an aging 4th running back. Get some linebacker depth or cornerback depth or a proven tight end.

[smucky]

Out boating!!

[Raider Ran]

I don't even know if we need him. We have bigger holes to fill right now we shouldn't be spending precious cap space on an aging 4th running back. Get some linebacker depth or cornerback depth or a proven tight end.

Are you comfortable with going into the season with a DMAC that is coming off a season ending lisfranc injury which in some cases never really heals. Taiwan Jones who spent most of last season injury and Goodson that has not ever proven himself. I would rather carry 4 RB and 2 FB than end our season with no RB to carry the heavy load.

[MileHighRaider]

Are you comfortable with going into the season with a DMAC that is coming off a season ending lisfranc injury which in some cases never really heals. Taiwan Jones who spent most of last season injury and Goodson that has not ever proven himself. I would rather carry 4 RB and 2 FB than end our season with no RB to carry the heavy load.

I'm just not sure where we'll get the money. Originally I thought it would come from re-signing Branch and Reece to longer term deals. Now I'm not so sure we' actually save anything in doing so. Not that we should avoid doing so, but my expectations are low we'll actually recover significant cap room in the process. Particularly if we're taking a stand on mortgaging future years.

So then you have to start looking at Lechler and Kelly and some other vets - at one point it was a sure thing we could rework these contracts. I think we underestimated the desire of these individuals to hold on to their current contracts. And I'm not sure we're in a position to cut these guys.

Put another way, we may be looking at this team as is going into the season.

[Raider Ran]

I'm just not sure where we'll get the money. Originally I thought it would come from re-signing Branch and Reece to longer term deals. Now I'm not so sure we' actually save anything in doing so. Not that we should avoid doing so, but my expectations are low we'll actually recover significant cap room in the process. Particularly if we're taking a stand on mortgaging future years.

So then you have to start looking at Lechler and Kelly and some other vets - at one point it was a sure thing we could rework these contracts. I think we underestimated the desire of these individuals to hold on to their current contracts. And I'm not sure we're in a position to cut these guys.

Put another way, we may be looking at this team as is going into the season.

Reese is making minimum already so we could not have cheapened his salary. As for Branch we could free up some space from his 6.6 million FT by long term and lowering his cap number this year. Lechler is in the last year of his deal and I was told they would not extend at the current price. Kelly has 3 years left (2012: $6 million, 2013: $6.5 million, 2014: $7 million) and could be a restructuring possibility if RM thinks he is a long term solution by adding an additional year and redoing his numbers a bit. Bottom line is we need to work Branch deal and keep Kelly for an emergency IMO. Of course my name is not Reggie McKenzie.

[cheapshotartist]

We have a GM now and he gets paid to figure these things out, we will sign Benson or we won't. Time will tell.

[gil03]

I don't even know if we need him. We have bigger holes to fill right now we shouldn't be spending precious cap space on an aging 4th running back. Get some linebacker depth or cornerback depth or a proven tight end.

benson had solid numbers the last 3 years and you shouldn't look at it as bringing in a 4th RB instead see it as our #2 RB backing up DMC. it's inevitable that DMC will be out at some point and IMO taiwan is too small and not ready to be a featured back, as for goodson he's not won a feature back spot either. That leaves us in a bad spot without someone like Benson on the roster.

[gil03]

I'm just not sure where we'll get the money. Originally I thought it would come from re-signing Branch and Reece to longer term deals. Now I'm not so sure we' actually save anything in doing so. Not that we should avoid doing so, but my expectations are low we'll actually recover significant cap room in the process. Particularly if we're taking a stand on mortgaging future years.

So then you have to start looking at Lechler and Kelly and some other vets - at one point it was a sure thing we could rework these contracts. I think we underestimated the desire of these individuals to hold on to their current contracts. And I'm not sure we're in a position to cut these guys.

Put another way, we may be looking at this team as is going into the season.

restructuring other contracts will free up the extra 3 to 400k we need to sign him. I'm sure if there's a way to get it done RM will find it, if it doesn't get done then I think it speaks more about the front office not wanting to do it then the latter.

[EmeraldCityR8r]

Are you comfortable with going into the season with a DMAC that is coming off a season ending lisfranc injury which in some cases never really heals. Taiwan Jones who spent most of last season injury and Goodson that has not ever proven himself. I would rather carry 4 RB and 2 FB than end our season with no RB to carry the heavy load.

Iv'e been on the same page with you on this from the start. Goodson and Jones can both play special teams so carrying 4 RB's really isnt a big deal at all, like you said with the McCfadden situation we need all the insurance we can get

[spiritsound1]

I am with Mile High,I really don't see the cap room.But I do believe that RM can find it.I do know we need a reliable backup to DMAC.If there is some fat to trim we need to find it and sign him.He would fit right in,I like when he lowers that shoulder.

[kinz]

I'm just not sure where we'll get the money. Originally I thought it would come from re-signing Branch and Reece to longer term deals. Now I'm not so sure we' actually save anything in doing so. Not that we should avoid doing so, but my expectations are low we'll actually recover significant cap room in the process. Particularly if we're taking a stand on mortgaging future years.

So then you have to start looking at Lechler and Kelly and some other vets - at one point it was a sure thing we could rework these contracts. I think we underestimated the desire of these individuals to hold on to their current contracts. And I'm not sure we're in a position to cut these guys.

Put another way, we may be looking at this team as is going into the season.

If push comes to shove, cut Lechler and we can sign our draft picks, pick up Benson, and a backup LB and CB. The days of us carrying a $5 mil punter are coming to a close anyway, do it this season rather than next. Alternately, ask Lechler to sign long term for a sane 2.75 mil a year for 4 years, put the money into signing bonus, and we still have money this year to do what we need.

When you are spending $5 mil on a punter and can't scrape together the dimes to sign 3rd and 4th round draft picks, something ain't right.

[Luca_Brasi]

does anyone know what the deal is with Bergstrom and Criner's contracts?
Isn't there a rookie wage scale in place which would make all negotiations easier??


Thanks guys.