STACY ANDREWS TAGGED, JUSTIN SMITH AND MADIEU WILLIAMS GONE?

It is official, the Bengals have tagged 17 start OT Stacy Andrews for a $7.5 Million dollar 2008 season (if they don’t work out a deal with him). This move looks to forebode the ending of the Justin Smith and Madieu Williams era in Cincinnati. Williams already has suitors lining up for him, reportedly the Ravens, Steelers, Packers and Falcons. I hope we don’t see him stay in the division, as he is a solid hitter/tackler. Justin Smith should be easy enough to defend if he stays in our division, as our OT’s should know his every (one) move, the speed rush to the outside.

What does this spell for the upcoming season? Well, we saved about $1.2 Million by not tagging Smith, and we should be getting Thurman back in the middle on defense, at no additional cost (like having another draft pick with experience). I guess we’ll see in the next 10 days as the axe starts dropping on franchise tags, FA filings and roster cuts.