membengal

Here's where we are at as the Bengals clearly demonstrate that they believe in what they have in house: LT - Jonah Williams (top OT taken in 2019 draft - age 22) Back-up Isaiah Prince age 22 LG - Michael Jordan (4th round 2019 draft - age 22) Back-up Billy Price and/or Alex Redmond C - Trey Hopkins Back-up (Billy Price) RG - Xavier Sua Fila (age 27 - FA from Dallas) - back-up Alex Redmond - NEW DRAFT PICK X-FACTOR - Adeniji RT - Bobby Hart age 25 - ( back-up Fred Johnson - age 22) - NEW DRAFT PICK X-FACTOR - Adeniji From the Bengals perspective, they clearly feel they heavily invested in the line last year with picks 1 and 4 used for Williams and Jordan - each of whom will be starting this year. They sorted out C, settling on Hopkins and rewarding him with a contract. They looked at right guard, kicked out John Miller, and selected Sua-Fila in FA - apparently very much valuing his ability to pull and his athleticism as compared to Miller. That leaves RT - I am not a Bobby Hart fan - and I know I am not alone. But he's...serviceable. If he were the back-up swing T, that would be fine. It really comes down to Fred Johnson for me - he's an absolute monster in terms of size with the measureables you want at RT. 6'7" - 34 inch arms - 325 pounds. He was very late to playing football, and is still very new to it, relatively. The Steelers were reportedly distraught to lose him to the Bengals. The Steelers are really good at identifying and developing tackle talent from late in drafts or undrafted (Villlanueva their latest success), so there's that. Johnson was quite good in the last six games last year - two of them starts. He's...interesting. And quite young. If he's a thing, that really helps. Jonah Williams better live up to his pedigree, or we are fucked. No reason to think he won't, but he better be good. Expecting improvement from Jordan in his second year is reasonable. Hopkins is solid. The Bengals coaches are betting on Sua-Fila -that's on them - they better be right. That leaves...RT. I suspect they think Johnson can beat out Hart. It would be good if he could. But there was nothing in the draft once Isaiah Wilson went 29 which was going to come in day 1 of camp (whenever that is) and win the RT battle. Maybe an argument could be made that someone in 3 would have been better than Sua-Fila but that would have meant passing on LB room yet again. Lapham would not stop talking about how short Josh Jones's arms are. That's apparently a real worry with him, so he may have been guard only - and even maybe limited there per Lap. I guess I am saying, if Jonah Williams is what is he supposed to be (and he better be at his draft position), if Jordan takes a step year two (which he should or they should cut him at the end of camp if it isn't clear he's spent the off-season getting ready physically), then it comes down to RT for me. Hopefully Fred Johnson is seizing his opportunity. The path to this team REALLY surprising may run through him.

I can play again.

Dehner with highlighted quotes from Burrow today...this set was fascinating to me: https://theathletic.com/1966288/2020/07/31/dehner-jr-the-most-important-quotes-from-joe-burrows-news-conference/?source=emp_shared_article I mean...did Dalton do that? Could he do that? That is...that feels very different.

Watched his press conference live. He's...as advertised. So mature. Was asked what he would splurge on with his signing bonus money - and said he actually wasn't going to spend any of that - that he would be putting that in the bank and investing it and would be living off of his marketing/endorsement money instead. Good lord.

Considering that I started campaigning for this back in late October of 2019, this is really glorious to finally see:

about time. The pics are glorious. Now, whatever happens with Covid and the season, he is ours.

They are literally endangering their season and lives if they let him into the locker-room with those views toward masks and Covid.

How in the hell has Burrow not put pen to paper yet today? What the actual fuck are they all waiting on?

Happy Joe Burrow signs his contract day!

Fine by me. We are not looking for someone to compete for the job, but someone who can know the basics if he has to start. And I wanted someone veteran enough to help talk things through with Burrow.

Reader, Bell, Wayans and MacKenzie have all been seen in various workout videos and appear to be in fantastic shape. Reader actually down 20 pounds. Bynes is a pro, he will be ready. I don't foresee any issues.

Just need to get the free agents their physicals and sign their deals now. Reader, Bell et al. progress.

I can stop hounding the Bengals writers now!

And it drags on. Tuesday AM, still no Burrow and Higgins...

Actually, down to 3 unsigned first round picks now. Camp doesn't really start tomorrow, altho I do think it is the first day, assuming clean Covid tests, that rookies can be in the building and working out.

Actually down to 4, including Burrow.

That's not it - they have been in the building (or near it) for Covid testing. And four other rookies signed. This is something else. The reporters claim there is nothing to raise an eyebrow at, but we are a week after the initial group of signings and they are still not in...

Still no Burrow. Still no Higgins.

Teddy KGB voice: ”pay him. Pay that man his money.”

Sigh.

It clearly was related to that - but they were on-site yesterday and several got done. I just don’t want to hear they are fucking around with him over certain special language they want.

Probably. I really don’t want this to drag at all to avoid shit like that from the usual sources...

Why the holdup on Burrow and Higgins?

Well this is all a fantastic read - no issues coming from AJ (and he’s fully healthy): https://www.bengals.com/news/when-time-is-right-a-j-green-and-his-wrs-looking-to-play-catch-with-joe-wherever A piece of it:

Fuck Florio.