I_C_Deadpeople

Fixed.

The Athletic has an article today on the top 40 under 40 in the NFL - coaches, agents, front office: https://theathletic.com/3360579/2022/06/28/nfl-under-40-coaches-execs-agents/ Zac Taylor and OC Callahan are both in there as well as: Other front office roles Elizabeth Blackburn, Bengals director of strategy and engagement | Age: 29 The Bengals are, at their core, a family business. So it was probably only a matter of time before Blackburn found herself working alongside her parents, Bengals executives Katie and Troy Blackburn, and grandfather, team owner Mike Brown. But Blackburn didn’t want to take a job with the team until she knew she had the external business and management experience necessary to add new value. That moment came in early 2020, after nearly six years working in corporate consulting and strategic management (and completing a rotational training program at the NFL office). She returned to Cincinnati right before Joe Burrow arrived as the No. 1 pick. Since then, Blackburn has contributed to the launch of a Ring of Honor at Paul Brown Stadium and to a uniform redesign. She also helped manage a digital content team that finished in the top of the NFL in engagement rates the past two seasons. “Timing can be everything, and I knew that the franchise and organization was entering into a pivotal chapter,” Blackburn told The Athletic earlier this month. “I thought I had hopefully done enough to have skills to apply on the business side, and I knew I had the energy and passion to come home and be part of this era of Bengals history.”

There is a reason they say hindsight is 20-20. Every team except the winning team has a list of 'woulda, coulda, shoulda'. We went further than all expectations last year, we simp[ly have to be satidfied witht hat. Given the state of the OL we almost had no right to get that far. We were one paly away from essentially losing the first playoff game let alone the SB. Expectations will now be for a SB until JB retires.

Cap Space, just an FYI: https://nfltraderumors.co/nfl-cap-space-1/

It will help that the cap will be rising. And frankly, it is better to be in a position of too many good players to pay all at top rates then the opposite (where were were 3 years ago).

Of interest: Bates at #3, Fitzpatrick at #13 https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-safety-rankings-for-the-top-32-heading-into-2022-led-by-kevin-byard-and-derwin-james/

Normally I would agree but JB is now backing Bates as a key locker room guy - and in order to keep building the culture they may have to pay at the high level. Can't do this for everyone but you have to try and keep your leaders. It is critical to culture change and the ability to sustain the change. Not to say JB has that much pull (he may) but we will also see how the ocahces perceive Bates as a needed leader in the locker room. If it was up to me, i would sign him to this same deal as Fitzpatrick received. Early on in the culture change process you have to recognize and reward those who championed the chnage and you dont want to be perceived as going backwards. If you sign Bates, the let Bell go after this year you have 4/5 years with the two new safeties we drfated beofre we have to make any dicsions on them. A lot can happen in that time period.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/06/15/minkah-fitzpatrick-agrees-to-four-year-extension-with-Stealers/ New high water mark for safeties. It is worth noting that both Bates and Fitzpatrick share the same agent, David Mulugheta.

Virtually ever tackle does against top rushers. That is why they are top rushers

Example: https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/06/10/new-aaron-donald-cooper-kupp-deals-actually-create-2022-cap-space-for-the-rams/

When Covid started and the cap went down, the Saints were something like $100M over the cap. They have done a pretty good job and getting back in line but they certainly went 'all in' in the last few Bree's years. They had to cut or not re-sign a lot of very good players though to get back in line (like Trey H)

It all works as long as the cap is on the rise. But when Covid hit or an event like it that makes the cap go down, then if you have kicked the can down the road you are in double trouble - cap reduction plus future cap monies coming in. It will important to keep an eye on the levels of guaranteed monies, becuase if the cap drops down the road those numbers can't be shaved by cutting the player. The more and more guaranteed money in teams cap sapce the less flex they will have with contracts (restructures, etc.)

His agent is not sure about the glass eating clause - whether it is literal or figurative

In the old NHL days, before the draft became a thing, the Boston Bruins signed Bobby Orr as a 14 year old. He did not play pro till he was 18 but was under contract at 14.