Raiders interested but Benson hedges

**Raider Ran** · 07-17-2012, 01:19 PM

by Levi Damien on Jul 17, 2012 1:09 PM PDT

Cedric Benson appeared on Sirius XM NFL radio today where he spoke of the fact that he is not currently part of an NFL team. He got very emotional in his interview with hosts Adam Schein and Rich Gannon about wanting to be signed by a team before camp. While he claims to be "at a loss for words" as to why he isn't signed, the words he did say give a pretty good indication why that might be.

He said that the latest interest in his services has come from the Raiders and Packers. He also said the Jets had inquired about him but that it was a while back near the beginning of the summer. The Raiders have actually had him in for a workout. So why hasn't he been signed?

It may have a lot to do with his asking price.

He said in the interview that he was unwilling to sign a one year deal at veteran minimum which for him would be $810,000. He feels like his production warrants more money and perhaps more commitment. But the market is not bearing that and that is a reality he seems unwilling to face.

The Raiders were barely able to afford to sign him at the veteran minimum before but now with the signing of Branch to a long term deal, they have a lot more money to work with. But that still doesn't mean they will overpay for Benson.

If it really means that much to Benson that he be with an NFL team by the time camp opens, he needs to lower his pay demands. The Raiders are probably willing to raise his pay slightly but not much. My projection has been that they would pay him around $1 million on a one year deal with perhaps some performance incentives that could top his deal at around $1.5 million.

The Raiders have other needs they would like to address- such as tight end and linebacker-- and they have about $3.3 million in which to address those needs.

If getting paid less than he feels he is worth hurts Benson's feelings, he should consider how hurt his feelings would be if he were teamless altogether. Which with the way he is talking, could very well be the case

**SoCalR8r** · 07-17-2012, 01:30 PM

Benson would be a solid pickup with the injury history of Run DMC but I doubt Reggie will bend much especially considering his attempt to improve the teams cap situation. Unless someone goes down in the preseason, Benson may have to take what's on the table or miss out on playing at all. If he hasn't signed with anyone before the 2nd game of the preseason, I bet dollars to cents that he reconsiders the Raiders offer. Seems like a good landing spot for both parties involved

**MileHighRaider** · 07-17-2012, 01:57 PM

Groan @ the title.

That's all I have to say.

**MileHighRaider** · 07-17-2012, 02:03 PM

And just tweeted...

Levi Damien ‏@LeviDamien
I think ultimately Cedric Benson's want of being on an NFL roster will outweigh his contract demands.

That, and his want of groceries.

**R8RDaddy** · 07-17-2012, 02:07 PM

C'mon Ced. This isn't the "old" Raiders.

1yr/$1M would seem about right to me (but I'm not his agent or in the Front Office).

Now that Tyvon gave us some cap relief... let's make a deal.

Something>Nothing.

**losdogdagreat** · 07-17-2012, 02:19 PM

Forgive my ignorance, but can someone explain how the cap works before and after we have to cut players. So wouldn't we gain a lot of cap room once we have to drop to a 53 man roster meaning that there would be more room to sign players? I know that Benson may not be available by then, but why wouldn't he sign now for less, then once we cut players and our budget opens up, we sign him to a larger contract (if this is how it works)....

**RavenRaider** · 07-17-2012, 02:27 PM

is that a pun on Benson and Hedges cigarettes?

**kinz** · 07-17-2012, 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by losdogdagreat

Forgive my ignorance, but can someone explain how the cap works before and after we have to cut players. So wouldn't we gain a lot of cap room once we have to drop to a 53 man roster meaning that there would be more room to sign players? I know that Benson may not be available by then, but why wouldn't he sign now for less, then once we cut players and our budget opens up, we sign him to a larger contract (if this is how it works)....

I might be wrong, but thought only our top 51 contracts count against the cap now. If that is correct, then things are actually a bit worse when we cut down to the 53 man roster. But I really don't know these little intricate details so well.

**Raider Ran** · 07-17-2012, 03:02 PM

Originally Posted by kinz

I might be wrong, but thought only our top 51 contracts count against the cap now. If that is correct, then things are actually a bit worse when we cut down to the 53 man roster. But I really don't know these little intricate details so well.

Up until opening day the top 51 salaries on the roster count. On opening day we must account for the other 2.

**Towner13** · 07-17-2012, 03:14 PM

CedBen to Agent: "You mean MORE days unsigned by anyone doesn't drive my price up?"

Sorry Cedric... perhaps more Economics courses at UT would have been advisable.

**Raider Ran** · 07-17-2012, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by Towner13

CedBen to Agent: "You mean MORE days unsigned by anyone doesn't drive my price up?"

Sorry Cedric... perhaps more Economics courses at UT would have been advisable.

**Towner13** · 07-17-2012, 03:21 PM

Originally Posted by R8RDaddy

C'mon Ced. This isn't the "old" Raiders.

1yr/$1M would seem about right to me (but I'm not his agent or in the Front Office).

Now that Tyvon gave us some cap relief... let's make a deal.

Something>Nothing.

to be fair R8R Daddy... In the field of what guys are being paid that: a.) are 29 years old or less, b.) have 3 straight years of 1K yards and c.) a relatively healthy history...

$1M is a ridiculous steal, by NFL standards. In my humble opinion, there is absolutely something else at play and it may be his 3 arrests while in the NFL, it may be an attitude thing, it may simply be that the league collectively realizes that they are approaching Ced cautiously and it's contagious... who knows...

But the point is, $1M is ridiculously cheap with a guy that has the on-field resume of Benson. (KEY being "on-field")

**Okie** · 07-17-2012, 03:25 PM

Call me stupid but I'm still not worried about Benson at all. I think the money is better spent on finding us a legitimate free sSafety, tight end and linebacker.

Again call me stupid but I think Goodsons going to be good for us if he can hold onto the rock, not to mention I'd like to see Jones get 5 touches per game.

**statsguy** · 07-17-2012, 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by Towner13

to be fair R8R Daddy... In the field of what guys are being paid that: a.) are 29 years old or less, b.) have 3 straight years of 1K yards and c.) a relatively healthy history...

$1M is a ridiculous steal, by NFL standards. In my humble opinion, there is absolutely something else at play and it may be his 3 arrests while in the NFL, it may be an attitude thing, it may simply be that the league collectively realizes that they are approaching Ced cautiously and it's contagious... who knows...

But the point is, $1M is ridiculously cheap with a guy that has the on-field resume of Benson. (KEY being "on-field")

In 2010, he had 7 fumbles. 2011 he had 5 fumbles. 3.9 ypc is mediocre at best. He doesn't have the speed to break long runs, nor does he have the power or decisiveness for short yardage carries or goal-line stands (he pretty much sucks within 10 yards of the endzone). He cannot catch out of the backfield.

He's not worth a starting job just for 1000+ yards given the number of carries he requires to get there. He's not worth much for a change-up role as he doesn't excel at anything. That plus he'll whine to the media when he doesn't get his carries (he would whine when the backup would get more than 5 carries a game).

What he is is good injury insurance for the league minimum. No more, no less.

--Bengals fan

**coogi** · 07-17-2012, 04:05 PM

Originally Posted by Okie

Call me stupid but I'm still not worried about Benson at all. I think the money is better spent on finding us a legitimate free sSafety, tight end and linebacker.

Again call me stupid but I think Goodsons going to be good for us if he can hold onto the rock, not to mention I'd like to see Jones get 5 touches per game.

wow agree with an entire okie post...im not even drunk either

but ya i guess were in the minority who have confidence that goodson and jones might be able to hold it down even if we dont get benson..