ArmyBengal

So it’s the Bengals or nothing for Trey. Good luck sitting out a year and thinking you might cash in next year.

Here's to hoping he earns a starting role.

Yeah, I would be shocked if the Titans didn't take Ward. Not that I just love Cam Ward mind you, but the old saying of if you don't have a franchise QB, you try to find one. Honestly, I think this QB draft class is pretty weak, but that's just me. In a year that would help having at least 4-5 go in the first 15 picks, we have maybe 2. I'm holding out hope that a team or two get desperate and reach, but I'm not thinking so. This is a back end of the first, top of the second, or later QB class.

Right now there are two players that may be there at #17 I would love to see drafted: 1. Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina- He might truly be my #1 hope to get player in the draft. 2. Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama- Yes, of course I'd like a linebacker, but in my defense, he's really good. 3. James Pearce, DE, Tennessee- He's an iffy one for me. Are the stories questioning about much he really wants to play ball true? If not, he's an athletic freak at a position of need. Now don't get me wrong, there are others I would love but simply don't expect them to be there at #17. Will Campbell, OT Armand Membou, OT Players no longer on my want list at #17: 1. Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama- He's about as athletic as a turd and while a people mover, is not what we need. 2. Jalon Walker, LB/DE, Georgia- What is he? Does he excel at either? Will it take creativity to make him work? 3. Malaki Starks, S, Georgia- The only safety I want in round one is Emmanwori. If not him, wait. 4. Mike Green, DE, Marshall- I don't care if he wasn't charged with the sexual assaults. Just say no.

No, no, I didn't take it that way at all. What federal agencies still exist come end of the year remains to be seen. Clearly, I'm an advocate for Veterans and always will be.

MemBou also wouldn't bother me in the least. Have to love the big, athletic linemen like him. Not sure he sniffs anything close to #17. Him outside the top 10 would be shocking. Don't let me rain on your parade though TJ. Keep hope alive.

If Dax and Myles Murphy were linchpins for the defense, this whole scenario would look different. Dax would be entering the year before his club option decision was looming and the team trying to figure out how to pay him. Myles Murphy would make the Trey situation look much different and have the team to looking for his replacement in the draft, without thought of paying him market money. Even if the light goes on for Myles this year, they have him locked up for three seasons including the option year. Since that is not the case, they could afford to pay both Chase and Tee, because, well… who else are you going to pay?

Ok, there you go. I wasn't aware of his knowledge base. That being said, I still think it's hard to apply one's particular knowledge of a situation to what actually happened with a player and their agent when in negotiations they were not a part of. Rapien may think "All they had to do was this" and they could have saved "X" amount of money. However, they have no idea if the players and/or the agent would have wanted it that way. If they didn't, maybe the deal doesn't get done. It's speculation at best.

I also love how people say, "All they had to do is.....". The of the matter is, whoever is saying that has no true idea if that is factual. Example, "All they had to do is structure Chase's contract differently and spread out the cost". However, any one remotely paying attention last year knew the reason the contract didn't get done then was due to the structure. So you want to give them credit for signing the player, but hate the structure. Well what do you want more? Do you want the player under THIS structure or not at all? I guarantee someone would have paid Higgins more. Some team would have paid Chase more and they wouldn't think twice. Also when it comes to saying "Did the Bengals do enough?" it's like there's no credit for bringing back the players they did. Gisicki was a free agency, BJ Hill was a free agent. Don't want to pay guys like that because you saw what happened when they were on the team last year? Great, but you have to find someone else to fill those roles. Any time spent with the Bengals will prove that you cannot simply find a guy out there that is going to give you more than you had previously and certainly not at a lower cost. We all want all super star players willing to take a reduced contract, but that's not the reality of the situation. I just wish these guys would stop speaking in absolutes, when they don't even know the inside pieces.

I was looking at the side by side of the Jefferson and Chase contracts, since we can do that now. Justin Jefferson's deal last year was a 4 year, $140m contract and he got $88.7 guaranteed at signing. Cap hits: 2024- $8.6m 2025- $15.1m 2026- $38.9m 2027- $43.4m Potential Out in 2028 looking at a cap hit of $47.4m Ja'Marr Chase's deal this year was a 4 year, $161m contract and he got $73.9 guaranteed at signing. Cap Hits: 2025- $23.5m 2026- $26.2m 2027- $33.4m 2028- $41.4m Potential Out in 2029 looking at a cap hit of $53.2m. So when looking at what they got guaranteed at signing and their cap hits over the first three seasons, Chase is going to make 5.7 more than the Vikings will pay Jefferson over that time frame. Here's what I will admit to not understanding... Does the higher signing bonus (Jefferson) allow the Vikings to have more space over the first couple seasons? If that's the case, I can see the argument somewhat, but they never stop roster building. We save money later. Is now better than later? Is it really an apples to apples comparison. How many star players does a team have?

Many would like it to go away, but anyone truly holding that opinion doesn't understand that demographic and what pushing all of them into an already bloated civilian medical situation would do to them. Nothing like waiting 12 months to get in to see specialty providers. This is a topic for another forum though, so I will cease and desist. Looking at the schedule, the opponents and what they have done to this point, I'd like to bump my prediction to 11-6. I think the offense remains lethal and have faith Golden gets the defense to middle of the road. Give me the 16th ranked defense Golden and we might just be back in the championship game and more.

It's like you have to choose which stick you want to be beaten with as a Bengals fan. The Bengals are cheap or the Bengals are stupid. For a long time, we had to deal with them being cheap AND stupid. These signings were neither cheap or stupid in my opinion, but hey, choose a stick.

No worries... Nope not at the VA any longer, but hoping to change that by the end of the year. I'm in a holding pattern with that plan, but there's a plan nonetheless. When it's all said and done, I hope to have 40-50 years of serving this country one way or another.

I think Rapien is a knucklehead and I don't care to listen to him. Him and the other dude don't strike me as any more informed than the average fan. Why listen? I to was hopeful for the two year deal they could move away from and that's what we have with Tee. I love looking at Spotrac once contracts are released, because I like the way they break it all down for you to see. If Tee has two above average seasons in 2025 and 2026, paying him 32m in 2027 will look like chump change. If he doesn't, they can walk away saving money as Tee is shown the door. EXACTLY what I wanted. Same thing (kind of) with Ja'Marr. Except they are "married" to him for 4 seasons and even that is how it's viewed. While there is an out for the Bengals in 2029, there is still savings to be had earlier if something crazy happened. It's about how much savings makes the most sense. I would bet an extension is in play earlier if all is good. Knowing he could play though the 2029 season and still not be 30 years old makes me very happy. I really don't get all the concern with paying both of these guys and it's been said here many times. Who the hell else will they need to cough up big dough to in the next 2-3 seasons? They have guys on their rookie deals and free agents they may or may not decide to keep down the road. There's so much that could change, that it doesn't make any sense to worry about what if's at this point. I'm happy knowing we don't have to worry about these guys for the coming few seasons and maybe more. Chase, Tee and Gisicki signings will ensure this offense will remain fun to watch for some time. Devote resources to Al Golden rebuilding the defense and roll with what you've got. I'm good with that approach. Or we could be the Steelers that are about to put the 2025 season into Rodgers hands. If I'm a Steelers fan, there is nothing about that scenario that would make me excited about the upcoming season.

Nope, not Skyline. Hokie and I worked together once upon a time at the VA Medical Center. By worked together, I mean only in the same building. We have both moved on from those days. While I haven’t heard from him in quite some time, I suspect his new endeavor keeps him busy. As for me, I’d like to end up back at the VA because I truly miss being around and helping the Veterans and their families. Time will tell. The only thing we can control is how we react to the things that happen around us. A lesson I wish I would have learned when I was a younger man and still seem to struggle with today. Call it being a flawed man who continues to try…