3 hours ago, LostInDaJungle said:

A 1st for Higgins is probably VERY wishful thinking. He's not a cheap rookie or top of his position. He'd be 28, and carry a $30M cap charge. If he stays at current production... A late second or high 3rd.

Crazy to think that for the next two years, Tee has a higher cap number than Chase. And Tee's $30M guaranteed at signing is double what he's made since he's been in the league - even with one year of the franchise tag.

Yeah I'm sure it is, a different player that's top 20ish at their position would be better and almost certainly cheaper outside of a DE.

Really don't expect him to play out the contract here.

24 minutes ago, T-Dub said:

Yeah I'm sure it is, a different player that's top 20ish at their position would be better and almost certainly cheaper outside of a DE.

Really don't expect him to play out the contract here.

I certainly expect him to play out his contract here.

Why wouldn't he? This is where Tee, Joe and Ja'Marr all want him to play. Because of the way that Joe likes to operate in spread-wide formations, and the fact that he will never be given much time to wait for receivers to get open - he needs big, sure-handed targets that are always where they need to be and can catch passes in very tight windows. He has total comfort with Tee and Ja'Marr. And one of these years Tee isn't going to have any soft tissue injuries that costs him snaps and games. This year, maybe?

I don't think the defense will ever be elite. All we can reasonably hope for is close to average. To win games the Bengals are going to have to score a lot of TDs. McPherson needs to return to form in big situations.

Also, Tobin doesn't make big trades.

27 minutes ago, dex said:

I certainly expect him to play out his contract here.

Why wouldn't he? This is where Tee, Joe and Ja'Marr all want him to play. Because of the way that Joe likes to operate in spread-wide formations, and the fact that he will never be given much time to wait for receivers to get open - he needs big, sure-handed targets that are always where they need to be and can catch passes in very tight windows. He has total comfort with Tee and Ja'Marr. And one of these years Tee isn't going to have any soft tissue injuries that costs him snaps and games. This year, maybe?

I don't think the defense will ever be elite. All we can reasonably hope for is close to average. To win games the Bengals are going to have to score a lot of TDs. McPherson needs to return to form in big situations.

Also, Tobin doesn't make big trades.

They didn't intend to keep him, are paying him way more than they wanted if they did, and wrote an easy 2-year out into a contract they were cornered into signing.

Sure it's all rah-rah now but as soon as they have someone they think is capable to replace him..

2 hours ago, T-Dub said:

They didn't intend to keep him, are paying him way more than they wanted if they did, and wrote an easy 2-year out into a contract they were cornered into signing.

Sure it's all rah-rah now but as soon as they have someone they think is capable to replace him..

This. As pointed out, Tee costs MORE than Chase over the next two years. (At least in cap hit)

The cap structures for both deals make them impossible to quantify in the terms of signing bonus... But Chase got $6M more in cash this year - and also signed for one extra year. Tee got the Franchise tag last year, Jamarr played for rookie wages. Short term... Tee is pretty frontloaded.

Jamarr also has quite the balloon payment coming up 3 years from now ($33M cap 2027, $41M cap 2028), one year before we have a possible out. The same year Tee becomes expendable. Hmmm...

"We need you to negotiate an extension and lower your cap hit or we're not going to have a choice..."

For a front office that doesn't get creative with contracts to begin with, there's something VERY fishy about frontloading a guy with a safe out in two years. You may love her, but the pre-nup says she gets nothing.

And I have to be honest with you... The deal they did with Burrow is going to hamstring this club. Right now, Burrow, Chase, and Higgins are 33% of our cap. Giving Burrow a "Mahomes" deal and you're looking at around $12M in cap space we could be working with. A contract that looked more like Jefferson's, and we could cut Higgins and/or Chase's cap hits in half. But it also kind of a moot point when they still have 12% of their available cap space unspent.

So... I guess we're being kind in assuming the club has a plan at all. Because I don't think they do. They can't figure out what to do with $32M in cap space. We pay like the #30 Defense, why expect a top ten unit? I guess us finishing #25 last year was pretty good.

I mean.... I don't want to be doom and gloom. Sure, This year there wasn't much worth getting.... But we still have Jessie Bates' cap space available. And being the 2021 runner up is starting to fade. Since then, the Bengals have regressed, and I'm not seeing the moves this offseason to stop the bleeding. I mean... Hope the Rooks pan out. But damn... Is that your best plan? The Blind Squirrel method? Are the scouts different than the LAST time you tried this plan? How does this not meet the definition of insanity?

But hey... Geno Stone was able to take a pay cut! And we cut that loser Pratt... Haha... He sucked anyway. We have two rookies, and when have rookies ever failed us! They're even writing the same puff pieces about the O-Linemen like they did Volson, and Ogubheui, and... 10 year vets are totally overrated. $32M gonna build a sweet ass trophy case for all our Lombardis! Who-Dey!

We're a month away from our first preseason game against the Eagles and both RDE's remain unsigned. (Which, if they hold out puts at the #32 paid defense by a LONG shot) This is the plan... Again? How did two disgruntled WR''s start last year? Why do we keep having these dang slow starts. Let's blame Zac and call the agents idiots.

Anyway... It's going to be up to Tee to keep his job. He's got an easy out in two years, but also a pretty manageable cap hit if the cap keeps growing like it has been. They'll use him to put the squeeze on Jamarr and Joe. They'll both restructure so we can keep our sacred $20M in free cap space. We're doing 95% of the job with only 90% of the resources. The accountant's dream. Ayn Rand would be proud.

OL composite grades...😬

Lol

In response to the Saints unveiling a "icy white" helmet a little while ago (will be posting in Keeping Our Enemies Closer shortly). Bengals started the trend!

Every rookie reminds some hack of a Hall of Famer right up until kickoff.

16 minutes ago, T-Dub said:

Every rookie reminds some hack of a Hall of Famer right up until kickoff.

I knew Emmit Smith. I bowled with Emmit Smith. And you sir, are no Emmit Smith.

That was a-lotta Bengals 😐

2 hours ago, Griever said:

Brook's quads need to be added to Ja'Marr's calves to form a super human. 💪🏾

12 hours ago, LostInDaJungle said:

I knew Emmit Smith. I bowled with Emmit Smith. And you sir, are no Emmit Smith.

A Pro Bowler Bowler?

Chase truly is a specimen

He was and is the best tackle from the 2024 draft

2 hours ago, New Jersey Bengal said:

He was and is the best tackle from the 2024 draft

Need him to play a whole season. Hands are everything to an OL, and when Mims broke his last year it was enough to keep on the sidelines. He really needs more reps and experience to reach his full potential. The talent level with Mims is just staggering. Attitude is great too. Just needs to be able to play, that's all.

I agree wholeheartedly and I do hope he does