On Seattle, Cincy, and JAX

Post #1 » by **Icness** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 10:57 pm

Talked to some "insiders" today, as well as having about a 20-minute conversation with a Bengals front office person. Here's the scoop:

Everyone in Cincy knows the team has thrown in the towel already. The release of Willie Anderson "ripped the fight right out of us". He told me that Marvin Lewis is essentially ignoring the offense because he knows nobody other than Palmer and Ben Utecht are going to play hard and he's trying to win with defense. They already have deals worked out to move Ocho Cinco, Kenny Watson, and potentially Housh but thus far Mike Brown refuses to pull the trigger out of fear of empty seats.

I got solid confirmation that the Bengals and Seahawks have had serious discussions regarding Ocho Cinco. It involves Darryl Tapp and two 2009 picks from Seattle (a 1st and 3rd/4th) and a 2010 pick (conditional on Chad's performance, likely a 6th) going back the other way. But Brown will not give him up because he's one of the most marketable players in the league.

Seattle is calling every team with any sort of WR depth looking for someone better than Billy McMullen. Among the rumored: Nate Washington, Josh Reed, Ernest Wilford, Sinorice Moss. But the most intriguing and also most likely is Shaun McDonald of the Lions. And the Lions are listening...

And this is nothing more than an insider's speculation (not mine either) but don't rule out Jack Del Rio as the first coach fired. And it could be real soon.

ChargerMan · Post #2 » by **ChargerMan** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 11:25 pm

what does this have to do with JAX?

greenbeans · Post #3 » by **greenbeans** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 11:35 pm

ChargerMan wrote:what does this have to do with JAX?

Icness wrote:And this is nothing more than an insider's speculation (not mine either) but don't rule out Jack Del Rio as the first coach fired. And it could be real soon.

good stuff Ic, as always.

Post #4 » by **studcrackers** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 11:36 pm

why could del rio be fired? has he lost the team? did they have super bowl aspirations this year and they dont like the slow start?

and what do u mean they have deals worked out for ocho cinco and watson? like they just need the go ahead from the owner?

Post #5 » by **Icness** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 11:58 pm

studcrackers wrote:why could del rio be fired? has he lost the team? did they have super bowl aspirations this year and they dont like the slow start?

and what do u mean they have deals worked out for ocho cinco and watson? like they just need the go ahead from the owner?

Jags owner Wayne Weaver is very sensitive to the increasing criticism of the tema being a collection of criminals. And Del Rio does nothing in terms of player discipline. While they were winning and the seats were full and the merchanidse moving, that was fine. Now that they are losing and not looking like they have the ability to turn it around, somebody has to pay.

And in Cincy, all moves go thru ownership, just like the Raiders. They have no real GM or Dir. of Player Personnel or anything--it's all the Brown family. There are people inside the org that have some leeway to work stuff out like trade groundwork, collegiate scouting, new contracts etc. but everything ultimately needs the approval of Mike and Pete Brown. And they won't risk losing a merchandise cash cow like Ocho Cinco until it's clear he's no longer worth the trouble. They're like Donald Sterling in that regard--they are perfectly happy to field a 2-14 team so long as every seat is sold and jerseys are selling. That's still happening thus far, so no deals are likely despite some people inside the org pleading daily to shake things up. Kenny Watson comes up because he is already angling for a new deal, therefore he immediately gets listed in the "how cheap can we keep him" pile. He's already asking over that amount, so he's a great candidate to go.

ChargerMan · Post #6 » by **ChargerMan** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 12:13 am

Panic abound

xSABOx · Post #7 » by **xSABOx** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 5:27 am

Icness wrote:But the most intriguing and also most likely is Shaun McDonald of the Lions. And the Lions are listening....

I'd do a 1st and a 2nd for Roy Williams if I'm Detroit...

Post #8 » by **FNQ** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 6:11 am

What kind of message does it send to Palmer to have the franchise throwing in the towel already?

If Palmer can't get it going against CLE, then there's just nothing left to be done but call it a season.

Also, it kind of implies that TJ Housh doesn't really care about the team either... is he just being lumped with Chad or is he also an attitude problem?

SpeedyG · Post #9 » by **SpeedyG** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 4:36 am

Icness wrote:
studcrackers wrote:why could del rio be fired? has he lost the team? did they have super bowl aspirations this year and they dont like the slow start?

and what do u mean they have deals worked out for ocho cinco and watson? like they just need the go ahead from the owner?

Jags owner Wayne Weaver is very sensitive to the increasing criticism of the tema being a collection of criminals. And Del Rio does nothing in terms of player discipline. While they were winning and the seats were full and the merchanidse moving, that was fine. Now that they are losing and not looking like they have the ability to turn it around, somebody has to pay.

I can't imagine Weaver firing Del Rio. I would be very very shocked if it was to happen (especially soon as your source might have indicated). The off the field issue the Jaguars have had this year is actually less than last year, before Del Rio was handed a nice fat extension by Wayne.

Jacksonville isn't exactly rolling in dough to be able to cut JDR loose a year after signing that extension.

ChronicKerr · Post #10 » by **ChronicKerr** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 5:14 pm

[quote="Icness"]Seattle is calling every team with any sort of WR depth looking for someone better than Billy McMullen. Among the rumored: Nate Washington, Josh Reed, Ernest Wilford, Sinorice Moss. But the most intriguing and also most likely is Shaun McDonald of the Lions. And the Lions are listening...quote]

Thanks again Ice.

Koren Robinson and Keary Colbert it is!!!

Gibbs · Post #11 » by **Gibbs** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:44 pm

Cincy was done before the season began, I still think Jax and especially Seattle with their weak division, can salvage the season.

Post #12 » by **Icness** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 11:30 pm

ChronicKerr wrote:
Icness wrote:Seattle is calling every team with any sort of WR depth looking for someone better than Billy McMullen. Among the rumored: Nate Washington, Josh Reed, Ernest Wilford, Sinorice Moss. But the most intriguing and also most likely is Shaun McDonald of the Lions. And the Lions are listening...quote]

Thanks again Ice.

Koren Robinson and Keary Colbert it is!!!

I'm kinda surprised they decided to scrape the barrel instead of taking a bigger drink. They could have had Wilford for next to nothing. They only have to get through one more game though, then Engram and Branch should be back. Engram for sure.