T-Dub

And lots of money..

Oh is Bowers this year's "THE NFL ISN'T READY!!" pre-draft Hall of Fame candidate that's going to score 11 TDs a game & change the sport forever? Narrator voice: "The NFL, as it turns out, was in fact ready."

They've made some good additions but as you point out have yet to address the two biggest roster needs. Fact is this was an average team last year, as their record shows. It's great if people want to hype them up but some of that list was complete nonsense.

"A competent OL protecting him" They haven't had a competent OL in 10+ years who are we kidding

They'd rather carry that guy on the roster than spend a 5th round draft pick. It's puzzling.

He's just a fatter Jonah. A backup that thinks he should start. Oddly, the Bengals seem to love losing seasons to these types on the OL.

The difference between Apple taking an app out of their store and a federal ban that includes a provision for shutting off an individual's internet access entirely should be obvious

Still think any AFCN team would win that division, but I'd say that about most of them.

He might get that with a better OL. I think this team was looking for more explosive plays & the chance to score from anywhere on the field, not just goal-to-go situations.

I question whether 1k yards & 8-10 TD's actually are worth $10M+/year. Half the starting backs in the NFL were in that range last season. Only 6 of them were pulling down more than his $8.5M & that was on a reduced deal. Unless they plan on being a run-first team with him as the feature back for the next 3 years I don't see paying him $27M+ over that span. I don't think 1k & 10 TD's a year can carry an offense even if he does play out the full contract.

I'd say because they know his value.. If he's not going to play here they want to get something towards replacing him. However if they were listening to trade offers, his speaking out about it might have ended negotiations. The public didn't need to know, that's a bad look. Higgins vs TN 2023 postseason ^ that's immediate WR1 on, say, 20 teams at least? I think that's worth a first round pick even with the veteran contract he's earned. Having forced their hand though my bet's on reporting halfway through camp and then balling out, maybe another tag but with a trade already in place. I wouldn't rule out an extension yet either once reality sets in.

Smiles aside, if the reaction to someone running across your suburban back yard is to go outside and start blasting at shadows.. Even if he had legit death threats (over what, I wonder?) wouldn't the smart, reasonable thing be to stay inside and lock the doors? I'm not anti-gun by any stretch & I don't even have a huge problem with someone owning an AK "pistol" as a collector/hobbyist, but to let his ex-con BIL wild out with it like Scarface... To me that points to some serious bigger issues behind the scenes. That is not normal behavior, he or at the very least the people around him are caught up in some bullshit. Family or not it's his house and his name on the line, to let that mess happen when he was already under a microscope from the road rage thing (if that was even real IDK).. Anyway we've been over this before, I'm just relieved he's someone else's problem now. I'd enjoy watching him go off for Houston & put whatever that was behind him.

Considering they ran the ball less than any team except Washington last year - even with a backup QB - I think you're right that they don't put a high value on the position. It'd make sense that they primarily want RBs to block & catch.

IDK, I'm guessing the amount of cash he had to give them to make that whole incident go away was pretty heroic

Hell no. I'm not giving up a first round pick and a proven first round-quality WR just to move up 11 spots. Their 2nd round pick at #38 for Higgins straight up, maybe. I suppose the fact they'd have to negotiate a fresh contract with his somewhat delusional agent is worth consideration. That aside, the Bengals tagged him for a reason. I don't see the logic in giving up draft picks along with him when they could've just let him walk.

Gotta check that ketchup technique somehow

When conspiracy nutters start talking about lizard aliens wearing human skins this is the sort of video they point to...

Still not getting how we went from trading Higgins for a high draft pick to giving up our own draft picks along with him.

😆 Incompetent? Yes. Dumb? Kinda. But they're not stupid! OK then...

They just need him to be a placeholder for an early draft pick, or plan B if they whiff on that pick yet again. If they intend to skip the OL again in the draft and point to this guy, that's a different story... But it wouldn't be a surprise, would it?

Well.. yeah? How does getting caught screwing the Bengals prove they aren't trying to screw the Bengals in your reckoning?

Apple, Nike, etc use Chinese political prison labor to prop up their entire supply chain = no problemo!! Chance to set precedent of banning open-sourced media sites = China bad!!

Other than me being in the Cardinals TV market, thanks Cardinals

Yes just take care of the 2 biggest glaring holes that are also by far the most difficult to fill and they'll be golden. Or write off another season to growing pains when rookies predictably play like rookies. Kind of silly arguing about the quality of the free agent market when they don't currently have a starter at RT or NT. I'm cool with them taking their time but they're going to have to bring in a couple of vets.

As much as those guys move around to disguise coverage I'd bet there's a lot of overlap in responsibility. Just needs snaps like any young DB, IDK if it matters so much where he's lined up beyond taking advantage of his strengths.