Stripes

I wouldn't make a huge stink, but I probably wouldn't be thrilled either. While the "get value for Tee now while you can" logic is generally sound, it tends to omit that doing so probably weakens the Bengals' immediate Super Bowl prospects. The "win now" move is probably the double-tag.

Looks to me like they're fully pulling the plug on Dax Hill as a safety. And I think I'm okay with that. If it isn't working, don't keep jamming the square peg into the round hole. Perhaps he can be a slot corner behind Hilton and, if it works, eventually take over for him.

Vonn Bell is back. Kinda weird. But cool, sure.

I'm pretty stoked with FA so far. Losing Reader will hurt, no question. He's been my favorite defender of the Burrow era. But otherwise, I think Stone and Rankins are both fantastic grabs, and Gesicki could quietly be primed for a career year. He's so much better than Irv Smith.

Sheldon Rankins is coming. Big 3T upgrade.

He’s probably going to Pittsburgh.

He owns a Super Bowl touchdown pass. That’s pretty damned cool.

Gesicki has averaged 523 yards and 4 TDs when his QB isn’t Mac Jones. That’ll do.

Thanks for all the fish, Joe Mixon. He managed to carve out a better Bengals career than many may have expected when he was Mr. Red Flag of his draft class.

Zack Moss: Four mostly-full seasons (11 total starts) Rushing: 4.3 yards per carry on 484 carries (high of 183), 14 TDs, career long 56 yards Receiving: 7.0 yards per catch on 75 receptions (high of 27), 4 TDs, career long 26 yards The good news is that both of those career highs in touches came last season.

The Bengals were always unlikely to take a second for Tee (a third is a joke). That kind of theoretical crumb-scraping suggests a lack of familiarity with this front office. Now, with the new third round compensatory pick, it's even less likely.

I was shuffling around Ravens boards enjoying the day's laugh. Here's my favorite Geno Stone reaction:

Never change, TJ

Haaaaahahahaha fuck you Ravens

Wilson versus Pickett is a favorable battle. May the most mediocre man win.

The Steelers appear to be poking Russell Wilson with a stick. Yes please. Sign him immediately.

I'd take CJ back. His performance with Zach Wilson is probably misleading, and it'd recall the Mecole Hardman situation between the Jets and Chiefs at least with respect to statistical production. Injuries are a legitimate issue though. [FA or draft pick], Hudson, Uzomah wouldn't be too bad.

We're fortunate that the Bengals ever elected to sign another external free agent after Antonio Bryant and Trae Waynes.

AMPHAR, if you want to shill for NFL owners, be my guest.

Yes, I am optimistic about that. I can't help but be annoyed by silly things like a dietician the team hates (hire someone full time already) and a bunch of busted toilets/showers. This stuff probably isn't a big deal, and it doesn't seem to correlate with winning (the Chiefs came out worse). But it may impact free agent impressions. The problems for player families should be so easily fixed if someone decides to give a crap -- two years in a row of that F- is frustrating. Name a point of contact. Give them a space in the stadium on game day. (I'm complaining to the wind, ignore me)

https://nflpa.com/nfl-player-team-report-cards-2024 NFLPA report cards are back. Oof.

I have nightmares about Rookie Pool banging my mom

Cool to have the conversation out of our hair right away. There may be shenanigans later with this agent as we saw with Jessie Bates, but whatever. We'll have Tee when it counts. Who knows about a long-term deal, but I am encouraged to think about what the big cap number might mean for the offensive line and defense. Keep reloading before the draft.

I think it's valid. If they continue to emphasize the WR position, they can be the Colts of the '00s (I think Burrow is also more like Manning than often regarded). That's probably a good thing. Still, a more balanced roster with a defense that can stay competitive and an offensive line that keeps Joe healthy will require that money be distributed more broadly. If they make sure they keep Chase and then just draft WRs as effectively as they nearly always have, that should be sufficient to sustain a highly productive offense. The Chiefs are a biased case study because of their strong offensive line, but that's also a method the Bengals could replicate (and improve upon) with Ja'Marr in the fold.

I'd be in favor of moving on from Pollack. Something's gotta give. However, I think the biggest problem is that the NFL's heaviest density of edge rushing talent exists in the same zip code as Joe Burrow (the AFC North and a few other assorted AFC teams). Even average offensive lineman get roasted in four games against Garrett and Watt.