He was a very young rookie here, and seems to have been an rather immature one. Not a good match for a team in transition, with some locker room issues and a need for immediate OL help. The guaranteed money will be more telling than the total contract value, but he has done well for himself.
However, I noticed during the season that for some reason, Hart being bad on the Bengals didn't stop them from scoring 30+ points frequently before injuries set in. Hart being bad on the Giants was a disaster to the offense that was difficult to overcome.
... I think we'll find that Hart is being paid like a low-end, second-contract starter, for as long as he holds the job. That could easily be just one year.
One inefficiency of free agency is that starters generally get paid like starters, even if they aren't very good. The counterweight is that contracts for low-end starters are generally structured with easy outs for the team. So a player like Hart can go very quickly from $5-10MM/year to veteran minimum as a backup, or out of the League.
... I think we'll find that Hart is being paid like a low-end, second-contract starter, for as long as he holds the job. That could easily be just one year.
One inefficiency of free agency is that starters generally get paid like starters, even if they aren't very good. The counterweight is that contracts for low-end starters are generally structured with easy outs for the team. So a player like Hart can go very quickly from $5-10MM/year to veteran minimum as a backup, or out of the League.
He should not be in the league as a starter. Flowers and Wheeler beat him out. What does that tell you about him?
... I think we'll find that Hart is being paid like a low-end, second-contract starter, for as long as he holds the job. That could easily be just one year.
One inefficiency of free agency is that starters generally get paid like starters, even if they aren't very good. The counterweight is that contracts for low-end starters are generally structured with easy outs for the team. So a player like Hart can go very quickly from $5-10MM/year to veteran minimum as a backup, or out of the League.
I disagree, unless they are moving him to LT. Look at the average salaries for RTs in this league. $7M per literally makes him the 9th highest paid RT in the NFL. Sure, a few guys (Williams, James, etc) are going to pass him by the end of this week, but he should not be a top 12-15 guy. $4-5M per, sure you can justify it as a low end starter, solid backup until you find someone better. But this is certainly an overpay.
...Look at the average salaries for RTs in this league. $7M per literally makes him the 9th highest paid RT in the NFL. Sure, a few guys (Williams, James, etc) are going to pass him by the end of this week, but he should not be a top 12-15 guy. $4-5M per, sure you can justify it as a low end starter, solid backup until you find someone better. But this is certainly an overpay.
We might find that it's effectively a one-year deal at a somewhat inflated price, with expensive team options for years 2 and 3 but minimal long-term cap damage if the Bengals find an upgrade and/or cheaper alternative in the next year.
The other possibility is that they actually think he's good, which seems far-fetched, even for the Bengals.
RE: By most accounts, he improved steadily after a brutal start in Cincy. Â
He was a very young rookie here, and seems to have been an rather immature one. Not a good match for a team in transition, with some locker room issues and a need for immediate OL help. The guaranteed money will be more telling than the total contract value, but he has done well for himself.
PFF gave him a 56.2 so I am not sure what accounts you were reading that said he improved. He didn't. He is one of the worst tackles in football. Ereck Flowers somehow managed to be better than Hart last year and no one would would be insane enough to him a 3 year $21 mill deal no matter how much of it is guaranteed.
For over a decade Despite him being at best mediocre year after year at best . Is this really a surprise?
Actually yeah, it still is. Big difference between maintaining mediocrity and rewarding ineptitude. There are crazy deals every year when FA starts, but this has gotta be the strangest one I've ever seen. 7 mill a year! I just can't wrap my head around it. It's like trying to comprehend the size of the universe.
Basically, the Bengals are paying Hart starter money for a year, with the option of retaining him for swing-tackle money in 2020. Adding up his salary and various bonuses, he'll get a total of $7.4MM in 2019. That seems pricey - and it is, for a player of his caliber. Apparently, though, the Bengals don't consider Bobby Hart their most urgent problem, and they're content to live with him at RT for a year. If he doesn't play better than he has in the past, he'll lose the job within a year, and could even be cut in 2020 with minimal cap impact. The contract details reflect a much richer narrative than the headline numbers.
11.5 sacks allowed
11.5 sacks allowed
So BBB is right. He did improve...
He may suck, but he's an athlete and I like his energy/passion!
This is a bad move for Cin, no way around it.
He may suck, but he's an athlete and I like his energy/passion!
Not just any OL coach - but the Bengals OL coach Jim Turner.
The Browns, Ravens, and Steelers DEs say thank you.
This is a bad move for Cin, no way around it.
So yeah, he did improve. He went from being the worst to one of the worst.
One inefficiency of free agency is that starters generally get paid like starters, even if they aren't very good. The counterweight is that contracts for low-end starters are generally structured with easy outs for the team. So a player like Hart can go very quickly from $5-10MM/year to veteran minimum as a backup, or out of the League.
One inefficiency of free agency is that starters generally get paid like starters, even if they aren't very good. The counterweight is that contracts for low-end starters are generally structured with easy outs for the team. So a player like Hart can go very quickly from $5-10MM/year to veteran minimum as a backup, or out of the League.
He should not be in the league as a starter. Flowers and Wheeler beat him out. What does that tell you about him?
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One inefficiency of free agency is that starters generally get paid like starters, even if they aren't very good. The counterweight is that contracts for low-end starters are generally structured with easy outs for the team. So a player like Hart can go very quickly from $5-10MM/year to veteran minimum as a backup, or out of the League.
I disagree, unless they are moving him to LT. Look at the average salaries for RTs in this league. $7M per literally makes him the 9th highest paid RT in the NFL. Sure, a few guys (Williams, James, etc) are going to pass him by the end of this week, but he should not be a top 12-15 guy. $4-5M per, sure you can justify it as a low end starter, solid backup until you find someone better. But this is certainly an overpay.
This nails it.
He may suck, but he's an athlete and I like his energy/passion!
I can't believe a coach actually said those words. My lord.
The other possibility is that they actually think he's good, which seems far-fetched, even for the Bengals.
PFF gave him a 56.2 so I am not sure what accounts you were reading that said he improved. He didn't. He is one of the worst tackles in football. Ereck Flowers somehow managed to be better than Hart last year and no one would would be insane enough to him a 3 year $21 mill deal no matter how much of it is guaranteed.
7 million a year for Bobby Hart??? Holy Guacamole
21 million dollars for Bobby Hart -- someone just doesn't give a damn about what they are doing
Not that D Williams won't come at a high price, but I'd wager that 31 of 32 front offices recognize that this deal is a complete joke.
haha - wow. Bengals fans basically think this was an insane move by the Bengals and are calling for heads to roll.
Actually yeah, it still is. Big difference between maintaining mediocrity and rewarding ineptitude. There are crazy deals every year when FA starts, but this has gotta be the strangest one I've ever seen. 7 mill a year! I just can't wrap my head around it. It's like trying to comprehend the size of the universe.
Link - ( New Window )