Arkansas Bengal

Story by John Sheeran The floor for the Cincinnati Bengals' offense is set for this year. Cincinnati was seventh in EPA/play, sixth in success rate, sixth in points per game, ninth in yards per game, and ninth in yards per play in 2024. Expectations are for the unit to be even better in 2025. Their own fumbles bouncing differently can play into that. Only one other team lost more fumbles than the 13 lost by the Bengals last season. The Dallas Cowboys' 14 lost fumbles were more than any other team in the entire NFL. It's precisely why ESPN's Mina Kimes has optimism for Cincinnati to be even better on this side of the ball. Bengals should experience fumble regression in a positive way this year Kimes placed the Bengals' offense fourth in her league-wide rankings last week on her podcast, The Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny. Her last bullet point of evidence was a reminder that Cincinnati lost more fumbles than most NFL clubs, and that stat is unlikely to repeat itself the following year. "One more thing for the Bengals that made me have them fourth, in a positive way, [they] gave up a lot fumbles last year, 29th-league wide," Kimes said. "And fumbles lost, that tends to not be a sticky stat. So it's something to look at as something where the luck is likely to turn and that could help the offense." The Bengals were technically tied for 29th as two other teams, the Tennessee Titans and Las Vegas Raiders, also had 13 fumbles lost. Kimes mentioned fumbles lost is not typically a "stick stat," meaning that it doesn't normally carry over into the next year. Fumble recoveries—not just straight up fumbles—are often a random outcome and a team that loses a lot of fumbles one year has a decent chance of experiencing better luck the next season. Coincidentally, Cincinnati experienced the exact opposite of this last year. The 2023 Bengals were the luckiest team in football in terms of fumbles lost with just two. No other team had fewer than five. The New York Jets lost a league-most 18 fumbles that season and only lost eight in 2024. Going from first to essentially last doesn't always happen, but Cincinnati doesn't need to go back to the top of the chart in order to experience offensive improvement. Cutting that 13 down to seven or six could be the difference in another win or two by season's end. The seesaw leans one way, then back the other way. It's time for the Bengals to experience some good luck to keep their offensive engine humming along. https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/espn-analyst-identifies-how-the-bengals-offense-should-improve-thanks-to-something-largely-outside-of-their-control/ar-AA1HlLR3?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=916339386dc845c7abb90ba8bcf9f1a5&ei=83

Chris Roling Bengals Wire Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, as expected, features heavily in the first trailer for the upcoming “Quarterback” Netflix show. In the two-plus minutes of footage, Burrow shows up multiple times in various locations, painting an intriguing teaser of the docuseries that should cover plenty of interesting moments. Burrow headlines season two of the show alongside Jared Goff and Kirk Cousins. Some of the footage features him talking about the length of his career, which will obviously be of major note to fans. The trailer revealed a July 8 start for the debut of the second season. https://bengalswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2025/06/23/bengals-joe-burrow-dominates-netflix-quarterback-teaser-trailer/84321224007/

Chris Roling Bengals Wire The Cincinnati Bengals flopped in key areas on the 2025 NFLPA report card. While some improvements were made compared to the prior year’s report card, alarmingly bad grades in things like treatment of family (4.69 out of 10, F-) continued to stick out. Now, we know a little more about the why behind the grades. One player told ESPN's Sarah Barshop that being unable to meet families indoors after games was a reason for the grade. "Isn't it great that your daughters and your granddaughters are at work with you? And then we have to go in the parking lot to see our family in the rain? Yeah, it sucks," a player told Barshop. Per Barshop, the Bengals added an indoor postgame area last year, but it has yet to make a dent in the grading because it isn't the only major problem. A lack of accommodations for families is a major problem for the Bengals on the report cards, too, and the Bengals are just one of three NFL teams without child care available during games. "It's hard for kids to get through a full game," a Bengals player told Bishop. "Obviously, your family wants to come support. My [kids] are old enough to where they think it's cool but it's also like a lot. I think that [child care] could be awesome." The Bengals do have plans in place for childcare in 2025 and have responded to the grades in other areas in recent years, such as upgrading locker rooms. But the fact a family-based front office needs multiple years of failing grades to budge in these areas is outright mind-boggling, especially when players around the league going to free agency now use these report cards in their decision-making processes. https://bengalswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2025/06/23/bengals-embarrassing-lag-nflpa-report-cards-biting-them/84322167007/

I chose Stewart because Trey is ALREADY signed for 2025...

If the Bengals moved to another city, they would be dead to me. It would be hard to root against the current players, but it would be REALLY EASY to root against Mike Brown, Katie, and the rest of the front office. I'm old enough to remember when the Cincinnati Royals Basketball team moved to Kansas City. After they left, I stopped following the NBA.

Opinion by Jason Williams, Cincinnati Enquirer Joe Burrow finally entered a minicamp fully healthy, the Cincinnati Bengals had a great offseason and are positioned for a fast start and getting back to the playoffs this season. That should be the major storyline amid what should be a flood of positive news coming out of the Bengals’ mandatory minicamp this week. Instead, it’s doom-and-gloom about how the Bengals could blow it with a generational quarterback. That’s not necessarily been the screaming headline. But that is undoubtedly the overarching narrative for those who pay close attention to the Bengals and NFL, fallout from ownership playing stupid contract games with league sack leader Trey Hendrickson and first-round pick Shemar Stewart. ©Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer Cincinnati Bengals players warm-up ahead of practice, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at Kettering Health Practice Fields in Downtown Cincinnati. Off the field, meanwhile, ownership is playing selfish, penny-pinching games with Hamilton County over a new stadium deal. What does a stadium deal have to do with winning the on-field product? It ultimately factors into how much money ownership is willing to pay players. There’s one, big bottom line in this mom-and-pop, family-owned operation. All of this is avoidable. Of course. It’s all ownership’s fault. Of course. The Bengals have the money. They always have the money. Ownership’s insistence on winning every negotiation has cast a dark cloud over the franchise. Actually, the cloud has just gotten darker. There’s always a cloud of varying degrees of darkness looming over this franchise – and it is ownership’s decision to keep it there. The cloud is getting darker. The clock is seemingly ticking faster. The window to win a championship with Burrow is gradually closing. Tick, tick, tick. Take, take, take. From player contracts to stadium negotiations, the Bengals are being the takers they always are. No good thing this franchise does goes unpunished by this franchise. The Bengals signed wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to massive contract extensions in March. The Bengals – the Bengals! – spent a combined $276 million on two players who don’t play quarterback. Maybe, just maybe, the Bengals were changing and willing to spend money. It keeps the NFL’s best quarterback and league’s top receiving duo together for several seasons to come. How exciting is that? All the Bengals then had to do is sign Hendrickson to an extension, draft a stud pass rusher in the first-round and sign a solid veteran safety and offensive guard in free agency to complete what many fans were calling the most critical offseason in franchise history after back-to-back playoff misses. They had the money to do all of it. They did none of it. All they’ve done since the Chase-Higgins extensions is pinch pennies. Ownership has to make up for that $276 million somehow, so they made safety Geno Stone and offensive guard Cordell Volson take pay cuts in addition to the negotiating drama with Hendrickson, Stewart and the county on the stadium deal. The Bengals did draft a guy who’s supposed to be a pass rusher. But Stewart had 4½ sacks in his college career. And now he’s sitting out of minicamp and instead sitting at his locker calling out ownership for nitpicking language in his proposed contract that boils down to how much guaranteed money the Bengals would have to pay Stewart if he got hurt or in trouble with the law. More penny-pinching stuff at the expense of doing everything possible to try to win a Super Bowl. It’s typically not a good idea to call out your employer. Please excuse Stewart, though. The Bengals deserve to be called out. It won’t change how ownership does things. Hendrickson has skipped minicamp and seems heading for a training-camp holdout. Stewart has yet to practice with the team. The key defensive players need to maximize every chance they can get to be on the field with new defensive coordinator Al Golden. But the incompetent defense that cost the Bengals a playoff spot last season remains in limbo. Tick, tick, tick. Everyone learned the Bengals can’t consistently outscore opponents and make the playoffs – and no way can a team be considered a serious Super Bowl contender with a dynamic offense and awful defense. Well, almost everyone learned that. They didn’t learn it inside the ownership bubble. All it should take for the Bengals is to have an average defense this season. Burrow, Chase and Higgins should do the rest if the quarterback stays healthy. It’s really that simple. But the Bengals can’t get out of their own way. And with each day Hendrickson is absent and Stewart sits out, the window on Burrow’s career inches closer to slamming shut. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/williams-why-cincinnati-bengals-silly-contract-games-risk-title-window-with-joe-burrow/ar-AA1GylXN?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=c328b13c21ed4b8ab5685d820674398a&ei=281

I guess you HAVE to count on him since Hendrickson and Stewart aren't signed....

Trey Hendrickson will not attend Bengals’ mandatory minicampBy Michael David Smith Published June 10, 2025 09:01 AM The Bengals and star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson remain at an impasse. Hendrickson will not attend the Bengals’ mandatory minicamp, according to multiple reports. Hendrickson is heading into the final year of his contract and wants a raise from the $16 million he’s scheduled to make this season. Skipping minicamp will cost him some money in the short term as the Bengals will fine him $105,000, but he’s hoping it works to persuade the team to give him the kind of long-term deal he’s looking for. The 30-year-old Hendrickson has been one of the best pass rushers in the NFL since the Bengals signed him in 2021. He’s made the Pro Bowl all four of his seasons in Cincinnati, was a first-team All-Pro last season, and has 17.5 sacks in each of the last two seasons. Cincinnati has prioritized offense in keeping its best players together, with quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins all getting big deals. Now Hendrickson wants to see the Bengals invest in defense, and in making him among the highest-paid pass rushers in football. https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/trey-hendrickson-will-not-attend-bengals-mandatory-minicamp

Good - now use the Cap savings to sign Hendrickson.

Please take your vitriol to the JESUS & DRUMPF forum. https://forum.go-bengals.com/index.php?/forum/22-jesus-drumpf/

I'm starting to think Katie is worse than Mike Brown...

Story by Chris Roling, Bengals Wire Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) runs through drills during practice, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at Kettering Health Practice Fields in Downtown Cincinnati.© Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer, Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has a way of impressing. Beyond the many obvious examples, one can just look at how his new teammates react upon arrival at Payucor Stadium annually. The latest example is guard Lucas Patrick, who signed with the team this offseason as a possible starter and has already told Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com the following: "I was there when Aaron Rodgers won back-to-back MVPs. It would be cool to watch another MVP again." Patrick didn't stop there, either, even explaining some of what he means: "Little nuances where he gives guys adjustments. We were installing something one day. And he went into detail exactly what he wanted and what he's seeing and how that affects the front. It's pretty impressive." Burrow felt like an MVP contender last year despite some of the obvious struggles around him, so provided the offseason really upgraded things, he could be in the running again. Should Lucas win one of the starting guard jobs over the likes of Cordell Volson, he could be out there on the field when Burrow gets to chasing awards, too. https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/bengals-free-agent-signing-impressed-gives-joe-burrow-big-comparison/ar-AA1FvcRH?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=6605d75994cf4e82a2b547ff8fb0a24b&ei=97

Story by Chris Roling, Bengals Wire New Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden is adding a new wrinkle to the secondary this offseason. That's already showing up at spring workouts, too, as cornerbacks coach Charles Burks puts Golden's overarching plan into action. According to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com, every cornerback able to participate so far is working both the boundary positions and the slot. "With a new scheme, you want those guys to understand the big picture of what and why it's being coached," Burks said, per Hobson. "Everybody in that room is going to have experience playing multiple positions. It's about building a defensive back, not a position." That means guys like DJ Turner will get reps at both spots and even someone such as sophomore Josh Newton will get outside reps while projecting as a possible long-term replacement for Dax Hill. Hill is the most notable, even though he's working back slower than most due to last year's injury. There's been some debate and speculation about where he might ultimately line up in the secondary, but he certainly has the versatility for both. This time of year, though, helping players get more reps in a way that helps them be more versatile on the field can, if nothing else, prove useful in emergency situations. https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/how-bengals-dc-al-golden-is-shaking-up-practices-already/ar-AA1F55Zb?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=3567590048e34a1abee84512c36082ea&ei=8

Trey Hendrickson, if he doesn’t blink, is on track to be Haason Reddick 2.0 By Mike Florio Published May 17, 2025 11:57 AM When it comes to getting a new deal, Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson has tried everything. After listening to his stunning remarks to reporters on Tuesday, something occurred to me. If he takes a stand and doesn’t show up for training camp, he’ll end up being Haason Reddick 2.0. While we strongly believe that players should fight for every dollar they can get (especially when most fans and far too many in the media align with the billionaires in such battles), no player should overestimate his value — or his leverage. Hendrickson has real value, but he doesn’t have much leverage. It’s one thing for a rookie who was stuck with a take-it-or-leave-it wage-scale deal to take a stand. It’s another for a veteran who signed a contract as a free agent to get to the later years and realize he did a bad deal. When a player “outperforms” his second contract, that means the player and his agent failed to properly gauge his eventual value. Or to include devices that protect against overperformance, such as significant incentives or escalators tied to, for example, consecutive seasons of 17.5 sacks. Hendrickson is due to make $16 million this year. The Bengals, we’ve heard, have offered roughly $28 million per year. Whatever the amount (and, as importantly, the structure), he wants more. He had a chance to get it, when the team gave him permission to seek a trade. That went nowhere, because no one was willing to give him what he wants (especially since they also would have had to give the Bengals something in return). Now, Hendrickson is stuck. His options are simple, and few. One, take the team’s best offer on a new deal. Two, play for $16 million and become a free agent in 2026 (unless they tag him). Three, hold out and hope the Bengals will cave. Here’s the problem for Hendrickson. The Bengals will not cave. On matters of this nature, they do not care. Even as they reluctantly spend where they must (in order to keep Joe Burrow from losing his shit and demanding a trade), the Bengals continue to prioritize making money over pursuing championships. It’s expensive to be good. Super Bowl trips ain’t free. Travel, hotels, events. It cuts into the piggy bank. (The league provides some assistance for the Super Bowl-week costs, but not much.) And then, if you win, rings need to be purchased — at roughly $30,000 to $50,000 each. (The NFL apparently contributes $5,000 to $7,000 per ring, for up to 150 of them. Which, of course, means that the Bengals would be tempted to budget $7,001 per ring.) If Hendrickson wants to skip mandatory minicamp and be fined by the team, that’ll be fine with Bengals owner Mike Brown. If Hendrickson wants to give up $50,000 per day to hold out of training camp, Brown will gladly accept the gift. And if Hendrickson hopes to sacrifice $888,888 per game to stay away into the regular season, plenty of angels will be getting their wings as the Cincinnati cash register rings and rings. So if Hendrickson refuses to show up, he’ll eventually be this year’s Reddick. The losses will grow by the day, and he’ll eventually show up. For Reddick, the Jets gave him a face-saving tweaking of the final year of his contract. The Bengals won’t do that. By complaining about coach Zac Taylor’s text message that missing mandatory minicamp comes with a fine, Hendrickson tipped his hand. He’s already doing the math on what it will cost to stay away. So, basically, he can huff and puff all he wants, for now. When it’s time to report for work or face significant fines, he knows what the Bengals will do. And Hendrickson doesn’t seem to be willing to pay the price. That’s one of the benefits of the Bengals’ unique brand of dysfunction. In situations like this, it’s not a bluff. If a player wants to stay home and increase the organization’s profit margin along the way, they’re fine with that. At some level, they might even prefer it. https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/trey-hendrickson-if-he-doesnt-blink-is-on-track-to-be-haason-reddick-2-0

Trey is at practice today! Paul Dehner Jr. @pauldehnerjr · 29m Well, Trey Hendrickson is here.

By Josh Alper Published April 29, 2025 03:06 PM The Bengals have reportedly made their call about their option on defensive back Dax Hill’s contract for the 2026 season. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that the Bengals will pick up Hill’s fifth-year option. Hill was the final pick in the first round in 2022 and the Bengals’ move guarantees his $12.682 million salary for his fifth season. Hill is recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered in Week Five of last season. He had 25 tackles, a sack, and two passes defensed before his injury. Hill spent his rookie season as a reserve, but started every game during the 2023 campaign. He had 110 tackles, two interceptions and a sack in those appearances. https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/cincinnati-bengals

Could the Bengals leave town? Breaking down Katie Blackburn's comments on ongoing stadium negotiations Photo by: Maddy Schmidt Paycor Stadium in September 2022. By: Taylor Weiter Posted 4:44 PM, Apr 03, 2025 and last updated 7:09 AM, Apr 04, 2025 CINCINNATI — If you've been on social media in the past 24 hours, you might have noticed some quotes floating around claiming the Cincinnati Bengals might not be in the Queen City in the coming future. Multiple outlets have reported that Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn commented that the team could go "wherever we wanted" if they choose not to extend their lease this June, but that's not where her comments ended. We're breaking down what Blackburn said with information from reporters who spoke to her, and the county officials currently negotiating with the Bengals. Did Katie Blackburn say the Bengals could go "wherever we wanted?" Yes. Multiple reporters who sat with Blackburn Tuesday during the NFL's annual league meetings in Palm Beach confirmed she mentioned the team's ability to leave Paycor Stadium if they choose not to extend their lease. "We could, I guess, go wherever we wanted after this year if we didn’t pick the option up," The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. quoted Blackburn as saying. "We'll see. Like I said, all these things will be done in due course. We are having discussions, and so we’re hopeful that the county is thinking about it a lot, too, and wants to get it addressed in a way that would be beneficial to both of us." When asked about the possibility of moving, Blackburn stated that those conversations were not "where we are focused at the moment," Dehner wrote. Is there a chance the Bengals actually leave town? Sure, there is a chance. As we've reported many times, the county’s lease with the Bengals is set to expire on June 30, 2026, but the team could opt for five consecutive two-year extensions, the first of which they would need to decide on before or on June 30 of this year. But while Blackburn is quoted by multiple outlets as saying the Bengals could "go wherever we wanted" if they decide not to extend their lease this June, she also made clear that the team likes their current location. "We love where we are," Blackburn said in that same interview, per The Athletic. "I’m a big proponent of being downtown. I think that’s a great thing for the city. I think the location of the stadium right now is good." We also spoke with ESPN's Ben Baby, who was there and said he felt the sharing of only Blackburn's first quote "mischaracterized" her comments. "The way that I felt it when speaking to Katie with other reporters, it didn't come across as a threat, it came across as one of the options available to them," Baby said. "But most importantly, the biggest thing in that 30-minute sit-down we had with the Bengals executive vice president is they wanted to work through things currently with Hamilton County." Baby likened Blackburn's comments on their stadium negotiations with the county to that of a team's negotiations with a star player — "both sides trying to get this thing hashed out in order to get a win-win for both parties." What is the state of negotiations between the Bengals and Hamilton County? Blackburn's comments Tuesday reveal more about the Bengals' opinion on ongoing stadium negotiations. She is quoted as saying things are moving "very slow," and noted they have "a lot of work to do" to get everyone on the same page about an extension and renovations. In a meeting Thursday, Hamilton County officials pushed back on any commentary that things are moving slowly. "I think the board is aware, no one is slow-walking this process," County Administrator Jeff Aluotto said. "We're moving expeditiously, we're moving purposefully on this." Aluotto told county commissioners they've had direct conversations about some of the "major terms of the lease" and will have a fuller report on the situation in the coming days. He also noted the county hopes to get state funding on this project, like the Browns are hoping to receive for their new stadium. "We've had direct conversations with the state, with the governor's office on trying to ensure we get state funding here to offset some of the local property taxpayer burden on the stadium," Aluotto said. The Ohio House's current budget proposal includes an amendment that would change state law to allow lawmakers to make unprecedented financing commitments to certain pro sports projects. However, we previously spoke with legislators who noted Hamilton County and the Bengals are left out of that proposal. https://www.wcpo.com/sports/football/bengals/could-the-bengals-leave-town-breaking-down-katie-blackburns-comments-on-ongoing-stadium-negotiations?fbclid=IwY2xjawJdK4xleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHlFDpnjtOPdz1Zl69ClDdxfidf28PM6SrS7YDFPt_47JcLf04ggpVjXuMBBA_aem_WTZq-am7HcTxMgg1kYosGw

By Mike Florio Published April 4, 2025 09:59 AM All eyes in Cincinnati are suddenly on the ticking clock toward an expiration of the Bengals’ lease at Paycor Stadium. Earlier this week, Bengals executive V.P. Katie Blackburn acknowledged the reality that, without an extension, the Bengals are technically free to play anywhere in 2026. To the extent that time is running short, the powers-that-be in Hamilton County want everyone to know it’s not their fault. “I’m ready to get out the blank piece of paper, get out an ink pen and let’s get down to the lease,” Hamilton County Commissioner Alicia Reece said at a public meeting on Thursday, via Scott Wartman of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “Can we get a deal or can we not get a deal? And I think the taxpayers deserve to know.” Reece also asked Hamilton County Administrator Jeff Aluotto whether the county was doing anything to delay the negotiations with the Bengals. Aluotto said, “No one is slow-walking this process. We’re moving expeditiously. We’re moving purposefully on this.” Reece also wants Ohio to come to the table. Legislation is pending to give the Browns $600 million in bonds as part of a proposed $2.4 billion stadium. She said that the current budget in the Ohio House of Representatives “shuts out the Bengals.” “We can’t be late to the table,” Reece said. “We can’t be getting the crumbs. . . . On every issue they think about us last. I don’t care if you’re a Republican or a Democrat. It’s always a fight to get our fair share down here, to get our respect.” Regardless of whether and to what extent Ohio will get involved, there are several basic truths at play here. First, the Bengals’ lease will expire before the 2026 season, absent an extension. Second, Blackburn acknowledged that the expiration of the lease means geographic free agency. Third, the negotiations to date have not been good. Is it likely the Bengals would leave Cincinnati? No. Is it possible? Yes. Is there a reason for any interested city or county in the United States (or in theory beyond) to start piecing together a proposal to lure the team to town? Absofrickinlutely. https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/hamilton-county-blames-bengals-for-delayed-stadium-deal

Story by Albert Breer • When the news broke Sunday that Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins were getting their outsized new contracts, a lot of faulty analysis followed. So let’s play mythbuster here. The first thing to emerge in almost any of these negotiations is the new-money average, which generally makes a deal look as big as possible. It’s not an unfair way of looking at a deal—by doing an extension early (like the Cincinnati Bengals did with Chase and Joe Burrow), the team is taking years of the deal and making them way more expensive, so the previous numbers have to be considered. In other words, of course, a guy who has $20 million sitting in an existing year is going to get more than a guy who has $500,000 sitting in the same year. That said, it doesn’t make a ton of sense to add up the new-money averages for Burrow, Chase and Higgins, and say the three are at $124 million per year. Because that’s not what Cincinnati is dealing with. It’s the total of the deals, which adds up to about $110 million per year. It’s still a lot. But because these guys are homegrown, the numbers are a little more manageable, at around $36.7 million per player. Then, there’s the idea that you can’t make it work elsewhere. We can, again, start with simple math here. The cap this year is $279.2 million. Last year it was $255.4 million, and the year before that it was at $224.8 million, meaning it’s trending to top $300 million in 2026. So there are team-building challenges ahead. But there’s also room to build. And along those lines, and I brought this up with Conor Orr on The MMQB Podcast this week, where the Bengals are right now isn’t dissimilar from the spot the Indianapolis Colts were in when Hall of Fame GM Bill Polian was building around Peyton Manning in the 2000s. In fact, in their championship season of 2006, Manning, Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne had cap hits totaling $21.633 million, accounting for roughly 33% of their $66.239 million in salary cap spending that year, per the cap-tracking site Spotrac. The cash those guys made further colors the example, with the three taking home $39.1 million, which totaled nearly 40% of the 2006 cap limit of $102 million. Remember, those Colts also had Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, Dallas Clark, Tarik Glenn Jr. and Jeff Saturday. So how did Indy make it work? The Colts hired Tony Dungy in 2002, in part because they knew they were going to be top-heavy on the cap, and spending more on offense, knowing Dungy’s defensive scheme was simple, predicated on getting guys playing fast and, thus, more user-friendly for young defensive players playing on rookie contracts. So now, with this set up, Bengals GM Duke Tobin and his scouts will have to fill out the defense around the select few guys they pay (Logan Wilson and, for now, Trey Hendrickson). One nice bonus is that their new coordinator hire, Al Golden, comes from Notre Dame, so he should have a really good handle on what guys in college are learning, and what they’re capable of, and, as such, have a grasp on how to use them early in their careers. So in totality, do the big contracts create challenges? Sure. But these are challenges a lot of teams would like to have. https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/explaining-the-real-math-behind-the-bengals-expensive-receivers/ar-AA1BaHGc?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=95f9a6b6400342aca8b07174aa7ca156&ei=24

https://x.com/KelseyLConway/status/1901471858773344380 Kelsey Conway @KelseyLConway I can confirm @Schultz_Report ’s report these deals are done. The plan was always to announce them together More details to come

The Bengals made a flurry of roster additions on Monday, but there's more work that needs to be done in the trenches. James Rapien | 3 Hours Ago Nov 3, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Chicago Bears center Coleman Shelton (65) and guard Teven Jenkins (76) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images In this story: Cincinnati Bengals CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals came to an agreement with five players after the negotiating window opened on Monday, but there's more work to do. Here are five players they should target in free agency: Teven Jenkins, G, Chicago Bears The Bengals need to add two guards and Jenkins should be at the top of their list. The 27-year-old has made 45 career starts and would be a perfect veteran to plug into the left guard void on the Bengals offensive line. The Bengals had a shot to draft Jenkins in 2021, but ultimately traded down and took Jackson Carman in the second round. They can right that wrong on Tuesday by signing the veteran and giving their offensive line a major boost. Check out his Pro Football Focus grades below: Teven Jenkins PFF Grades / Pro Football Focus Kevin Zeitler, G, Detroit Lions The Bengals shouldn't stop with one guard. They need to solidify their offensive line for Joe Burrow. Getting Jenkins would be great, but they still have a hole at right guard. A reunion with Zeitler makes a ton of sense. Zeitler is still a really good player that is capable of giving the Bengals one of the better offensive lines in the NFL. A starting line of Orlando Brown Jr., Jenkins, Ted Karras, Zeitler and Amarius Mims would easily be the best offensive line of Burrow's career. Kevin Zeitler PFF Grades / Pro Football Focus Brandon Scherff, G, Jacksonville Jaguars Like Zeitler, Scherff is on the wrong side of 30 (33), but he's more than capable of being a quality starter in this league. The former All-Pro made 51-straight starts for the Jaguars over the past three seasons. Adding a young, proven player like Jenkins makes a ton of sense at left guard, but Zeitler and Scherff make the most sense at right guard. The Bengals should sign two veteran guards in free agency and then draft a rookie to supplement that room. That's how you turn a weakness into a strength. A combination of Jenkins and Zeitler/Scherff would do just that for a Bengals team that needs to be better for Burrow. Brandon Scherff PFF Grades / Pro Football Focus Javon Hargrave, DT, San Francisco 49ers Hargrave would fit in well with Cincinnati's recent additions to the defensive front. Bringing back B.J. Hill was a solid move, but their pass rush needs more juice. Hargrave is coming off of a triceps injury, but he's a high-end pass rusher when healthy. Hargrave had at least seven sacks in three-straight seasons from 2021-23. He's fully recovered from the triceps injury. Adding one more pieces to the defensive front makes sense. Yes, the Bengals are expected to address their defensive front in the draft, but they should add one more proven veteran that can make an instant impact this season. Calais Campbell, DT, Miami Dolphins The ageless wonder. Campbell, 38, would be a low-cost option for the Bengals. He's had at least five sacks and 12 quarterback hits in each of the past three seasons. This is the type of signing that would go under-the-radar, but could make a big difference when the Bengals are in a tight game early in the season and need someone to step up and make a big play. Calais Campbell PFF Grades / Pro Football Focus Maliek Collins, DT, San Francisco 49ers Collins is far from a perfect player, but he can get after the passer. He finished with a 13% pass rush win rate last season, which was seventh in the NFL and ranked ahead of guys like Vita Vea, Jeffery Simmons and Osa Odighizuwa. The Bengals signed T.J. Slaton to bolster their run defense. Now they need someone that can put heat on opposing quarterbacks. Collins can help in that department and gives them some insurance if Kris Jenkins Jr. or McKinnley Jackson struggle in year two. https://www.si.com/nfl/bengals/allbengals-insiders-plus/six-players-cincinnati-bengals-should-target-following-day-one-of-free-agency-01jp2bfk0cs6?fbclid=IwY2xjawI9GQtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHfAetC3lDm-7-KjgxT6Amfs-4E49D08DFxdr63S9k4waCsS8j1HywVdhnQ_aem_b4Bw_rSAE-IgAfAEaIJrbQ

Mike Gesicki agrees to three-year deal to stay with Bengals By Myles Simmons Published March 8, 2025 02:02 PM Tight end Mike Gesicki will not hit the open market. According to multiple reports, Gesicki has agreed to a three-year deal to stay with the Bengals. The initial reports indicate the contract is worth $25.5 million. Gesicki is No. 81 on PFT’s list of the top 100 free agents in 2025. Gesicki, 29, signed a one-year deal with Cincinnati last offseason. He ended up being a key piece of the team’s offense, catching 65 passes for 665 yards with two touchdowns. Appearing in all 17 games, Gesicki was on the field for 46 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. A Dolphins second-round pick in 2018, Gesicki has played 115 games with 44 starts for Miami, New England, and Cincinnati. He has only missed one regular-season game in his career, which occurred in 2020. He has 325 career receptions for 3,526 yards with 22 TDs. https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/mike-gesicki-agrees-to-three-year-deal-to-stay-with-bengals

By Mike Florio Published March 6, 2025 10:03 AM The Bengals are sticking with their stated plans. For now, at least. When they applied the franchise tag for the second straight year to receiver Tee Higgins, the Bengals reiterated their “intent” to try to sign Higgins to a long-term deal. Which means they won’t promptly trade him. Via Dianna Russini of TheAthletic.com, “multiple teams” have contacted the Bengals about a Higgins trade. The Bengals have said Higgins “remains unavailable” as they work toward a long-term deal. On one hand, it will be very difficult for the Bengals to turn his $26.16 million for 2025 and a straight shot at 2026 free agency into a long-term deal. They’ll need to make him an offer with guarantees that extend beyond this year; the Bengals typically avoid that. Even if they’re willing to fully guarantee at least two years of compensation, the dollars will not be insubstantial. Higgins can always say, “no thanks,” take his cash for 2025, and go to the highest bidder in 2026. On the other hand, the Bengals need to placate quarterback Joe Burrow. Even if they can’t, and ultimately won’t, make Higgins an offer he won’t refuse, the Bengals need Burrow to think they tried everything they could to get it done. They need Burrow to believe that, at the end of the day, Higgins is the one who was being unreasonable. At this point, they can’t make it look like they want to trade him. By late April, when the draft gets rolling, the Bengals might feel differently. In the interim, other teams could host Higgins for a visit. Even if no one will sign him to an offer sheet that, if matched, would send a pair of first-round picks to the Bengals, he’s allowed to talk to anyone (as of next Wednesday). If nothing else, such a visit could lay the foundation for the moment when the Bengals believe they can persuade Burrow that the failure to sign Higgins to a long-term deal isn’t their fault. The dance has just started. It will continue. And Higgins has plenty of moves he can make. In the end, he can refuse all offers, stay away from the offseason program, training camp, and the preseason. He can show up just before the start of the regular season, claim his $26.16 million, and prepare to sign with any team he chooses in 2026. If the Bengals want to keep him beyond 2025, they need to put something on the table that gets him to trade in a very attractive Plan A. https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/report-bengals-are-rebuffing-tee-higgins-trade-interest