Bengals keep Smith

By now, no one should be surprised. Every year, we talk about top-tier NFL free agents. Every year, the Bengals don't sign any of them. For what it's worth, SI.com rated Justin Smith the 18th-best free agent on the market. Three defensive linemen were ranked above him. Four cornerbacks were as well. The Bengals now will pay him a salary equal to the average of the 5 best players at his position.

The point is not to demean Smith. He's a good player. The point is, the Bengals never make the big move needed to take them to the proverbial "next level.'' Ownership is content to do whatever it takes to keep the luxury boxes rented, nothing more. This offseason, Cincinnati's needs couldnt be more obvious. Now, sadly, the club's intentions are equally plain. Re-signing 2 linemen (smith, geathers) that helped the team be the 31st-best defense in the NFL, statistically, is not a sign of progress. It's further indication that ownership is satisfied with being average, so long as average is enough to keep the seats filled.

It's a shame, because this team had a chance to be better than average. It could be still, but not because ownership is especially interested in that.