With quarterback Andy Dalton committed to the Bengals through 2020 (but with the Bengals committed as a practical matter to Dalton only through 2015), the next question becomes when his primary target will make a largely one-way commitment to the franchise.
Via Peter King of TheMMQB.com, coach Marvin Lewis texted receiver A.J. Green after Dalton’s deal was done to ask Green to direct his agents to get talks moving. It would have been more effective for Lewis to send the same message to the powers-that-be in the front office, given that the Bengals have a reputation for waiting to get big-money deals done.
Despite the head coach’s directive, a source with knowledge of the situation tells PFT that a contract for Green isn’t expected “any time soon.” Dalton’s contract that was signed on Monday had been the subject of on-again, off-again talks since February.
Unlike Dalton, who was due to make roughly $1 million this year, Green is under contract for two more seasons, at $3 million in 2014 and $10.1 million in 2015. That gives the Bengals plenty of time to try to cram the Kaepernick/Dalton structure onto Green, hoping that he’ll eventually tire of the situation and tell his agents to accept the best offer.
If Green holds firm, the Bengals eventually may have to use the franchise tag. Which could set the stage for Green eventually leaving, since the Bengals have a habit of letting their franchise players walk away in lieu of giving them a 20-percent raise or signing them to a long-term deal.