ArmyBengal

Hard to say really. TJ Watt is a 7 time pro bowler (all but rookie season), a 4 time all pro, and was the Defensive Player of the Year once. Matter of fact he’s been in the top 4 for DPOY in 5 of his last 6 seasons. Trey is a 4 time pro bowler which is only half of his time in the league. Last year was the first time he was an all pro and has never been the DPOY as he finished 2nd last year and was the only year he was really even considered. While I don’t think Watt’s contract helps all that much, I also don’t think it hurts all that much either. It might even give some perspective.

Only the trolled fans get to see those.

Cool story about his trip back to Africa. I am curious if his own roots trace to Ghana or was he just there because that's where his teammate was from? Don't really care, but it's cool when people can trace their roots back and know where they came from. I still have family in Italy, Germany and Ireland and know exactly where we came from. I hit the drinking heritage trifecta !!

Look, I can sell my house, get rid of one of the cars, do without many of the things people feel they can't do without and fucking disappear forever. That will be two pensions, social security and my investments to live on. I am NOT doing this shit forever. 5 years at most and I'm out. My youngest will be out of high school, I will be 60 and I'm going to evaporate like a fart in the wind.

Waiting for news that fans in Hamilton county that pay the extra taxes get some kind of price reduction for tickets. I'm sure that's coming soon. Hell yeah !! Can't wait to retire again and get the fuck away from here.

I think most rational fans would agree that defense in enemy #1 for the Bengals. The o-line doesn't get a pass because of that. They do still in fact suck ass. The media doesn't need to tell me that, I see it each and every week. Most fans overlook it simply because the offense is so stacked at the skilled positions. Defense though? Yeah, clusterfuck central and I would likely say that if the season goes off the rails it will be because of that unit. The defensive end position is not is a great spot. Get Trey back and Shemar in camp and I am at least optimistic. I like Hill and Slaton at the DT spots, but we are left to hope that Jenkins and Jackson improve in year 2 and the interior unit can get some pass rush push up the middle. The linebackers may or may not be better. Are rookies better than who they let go? Remains to be seen. The CB's and safeties are an injury away from being in shambles. How is it they couldn't trust Battle last year, but this year he's the starter. Anyone feel comfortable with backups at any of the secondary spots? I don't. While saying "All Golden has to do is get them to the middle of the pack" is true, that's a taller task than it sounds. Still employing the hope and pray method. I'm hopeful though.

Alex Cappa was a beast. How dare you show proof to anything other than my statement. Save your stats showing how poorly he played for us, he was an All Pro snub for sure. We need more of his leadership and effort to get this team to the promised land. Alex Cappa should be the next ring of honor awardee !!

So if Dylan Fairchild becomes an above average Guard, we shouldn't expect to have him for long.

Color me pleased with the outcome !!

TROLLED

The front office has put themselves in this situation. While I think fans are hopeful, I don’t think they are stupid. Yes, the team has had recent success and even made it back to the Super Bowl. However, if that is the only way it’s viewed one might miss the stupid shit that has plagued this front office. I think fans are just tired of what appears to be a lack of commitment to winning. Where’s the “We are going to go all in” approach even one year? You know, when you have arguably the best QB and WR in the league? Yes they got extensions done for them but not before pissing them off, further irritating the fans and costing themselves money because they continue to be cheap. Winning cures all ills, we just don’t do that here.

Maybe it’s our history of suckage that prevents me from wanting to see another team that hasn’t won a Super Bowl get there before us. I get it though…

Since this is also an Opponents thread, I took a look at the other AFCN depth charts. You have to be impressed with the all around talent Baltimore has brought to that team. #1 threat to the AFCN title. Pittsburgh's depth chart on the defensive side has talent for sure, but that offense does not worry me in the least. You know, if Cleveland has any interest in improving their QB spot they have talent on that roster. So as I sit here today, I have to be honest and think the AFCN falls this way: Ravens Bengals Browns Steelers Now, if Golden makes strides to get a middle of the pack defense and Scott improves the o-line, I think the Bengals will be right there fighting neck and neck with Baltimore through the season. Those two games in week 13 and 15 may very well decide the AFCN champion since we play the Ravens twice in three weeks with the Bills wedged in between them.

I'm not worried about Knight and fully expected this when fully guaranteed contracts started coming for the 2nd round. You know the Bengals front office wasn't prepared for that wrinkle. Stewart? Yeah, there is no reason to think he's going to start come week one at this point. The Bengals needed to try to get a better idea about that BEFORE camp started and shit the bed on that. Now they are left with a player with many unknowns, joining a team with a new DC, and have no clue what to expect. Not only that, when getting a better look at the waiver they wanted him to sign, this is just beyond stupid. I went from totally blaming the Bengals to Stewart sharing in that and now back to it being on the Bengals. I went from thinking Stewart got bad advice to thinking he has someone really smart in his corner. Silly ass Bengals.

I've been seeing the obligatory depth chart projections since we are headed into camp. I decided to take a look at the groups as a whole, without really thinking about who or who won't make the roster. QB's- No real thought to that group with Burrow and Browning as the backup. RB's- Brown and Perrine are locks. I'm left to wonder if all the talk about Boyd leads them to cutting Moss? They would still save just under $3m in cutting him. They typically have 3 active RB's on game days. WR's- Not much here to think of with Chase, Tee, Yoshi and Burton as the 1-4. Jones probably in there as the 5th and then who knows which of the others fills in the 6th spot. Nice when #6 is the only real concern. TE's- No real concern with Gesicki and guess we continue to ride with Sample as the #2 and whomever else. O-line- What can I say about this group? I hope they are better. OB Jr., Karras and Mims are locks to start with questions at both OG positions. Fairchild looks to get the initial shot at LG with a small group fighting at the RG spot. My real only hope is that Scott Peters really gets these guys performing better as a unit as the new o-line coach. DE's- Jesus help us. I find it amusing how I keep seeing stupid trade Trey ideas to the Lions since they don't have a reliable pass rusher next to Hutchinson, but in doing so leaves us with no reliable pass rush AT ALL. The Bengals can't see the past the forest with Stewart because of all the damn trees. And we are left with Ossai, Murphy and warm bodies. #1 concern right now. DT's- I'm glad BJ Hill is back and like the addition of Slaton with Jenkins and Jackson continuing to develop. On a side note, I liked the get of Howard Cross as an UDFA from Notre Dame for Golden. LB's- Love Wilson and hope Burks works out coming from Philly. The rookies Knight and Carter look to get playing time this year as well with both AGD and Pratt no longer with the team. Best I've felt about depth in a while. Safeties- Stone and Battle look to be the starters and then a bunch of guys I don't think much of either way. This position group could have benefitted from a Veteran addition in my opinion. CB's- Has CTB learned to shut the fuck up during the offseason? Both Turner and Hill bring healthy "should" be good if they can stay that way. I know the coaches like Newton and then there's some others. If injuries hit, the group could suffer again. Kicker and Punter leave me with few concerns with McPherson and Rehkow respectively.