ArmyBengal

Not trying to be a dick, but Callahan is far less concerning that Anarumo leaving. Zac makes all the offensive play calls, whereas Anarumo would be a huge hole to fill. I wish him luck, but hope he doesn't get the job in Arizona for our own selfish reasons.

It really seems bittersweet. I'm really happy he has been recognized and extremely happy for his family. However, I think it's a disgrace the Hall has overlooked him all these years. People talk about getting "snubbed" and Riley being overlooked all these years defines that term.

Mentioned it in the other thread. Completely deserving and should have happened long before he passed. Glad his family will be able to honor his memory like this.

You know... I had no idea who the hell the Browns coach was. I had to look it up.

And Ken Riley finally gets the recognition he most assuredly deserved when he was still alive. I’m happy they elected him into the Hall, but let’s be honest, he should have been there long ago.

Still can’t figure out how Zac isn’t in the conversation for coach of the year.

I hope that is true as well, as I think they are both deserving. However, I will believe it when I see it.

I have no issue with Dax. I’m excited to see him get more reps this coming year. Again, if they want to resign Bates, I would be thrilled seeing both Bates and Dax roaming the secondary. Not sure that happens, but I’m standing by waiting to see how it plays out.

While I want a team friendly deal for Burrow, I want that for all players. Burrow deserves whatever they agree upon and maybe more considering the team. We went from 2-14 and happy to make the post season, to expecting to be contending for the Super Bowl each season. That’s worth a lot to me because this shit is fun !! Here’s my thing with Bates. It appears that he just lacks self awareness to the situation. He’s great friends with everyone here, has had great success in this scheme, and wants to stay. However he has said multiple times he can’t leave 10 million on the table. Ok, well how much can you leave on the table? What is worth not having to start over with new everything and risk not being in contention? The career earnings have been well documented.

That’s worth a lot actually. Cannot wait to see how Katie manages these big deal coming up. Hope she works some magic !!

Yes please…

That would be shocking at this point, but not something I would all together dislike. Not sure about paying him top of the market, but if the team wants to go there, that's their call. Maybe Bell is the one on the outs then? I could find far greater things to be upset about then having Jessie Bates and Dax Hill on the field at the same time.

Mem's seal of approval. I'm good. Send in the card.

Wow, that's a nice comparison. Glad to see my thoughts are shared elsewhere. Like I said, I haven't seen the kid play, but you guys had me looking at prospects when I had some time last evening. HOLY SHIT, just noticed they suggest taking him in the first round. That's the first time I've seen anyone suggest that. Most have him as a late second, early third kind of guy. Guess my thoughts aren't all together up to speed huh ?? Well, 28 huh ?? I would have to think about that, but I do like the kid. He's on my list of players I really like to this point. He's like one of my all time favorite Bengals, Geno Atkins. Just 20 lbs lighter. 280 is light for an interior rusher, but whatever.

You guys had me thinking some more about the pass rush yesterday and while I don't think a DE makes sense when looking at the roster, the interior would certainly be a way to improve that aspect. DJ Reader is obviously a beast and while I like BJ Hill and Zach Carter (Hell I like Tupou) they aren't the "game changer" that demands being accounted for in the interior of the D-line. So my line of thought is to add DT to the mix in regards to those first couple picks. That brings me to OT, CB and DT. OT is a lock for one of those first two picks and the other would be between CB and DT. There are TE's to like, but that's a deep TE class in this draft. This made me go looking at the DT's in this draft class and I would think both the top 2 (currently) Carter and Bresee will be top half of first guys, the next 3 could be in play for the Bengals. Baylor's Ika, who is just a massive human being, Florida's Dexter is a super tall DT, and Pittsburgh's Kancey is an explosive smaller guy. Ika's size 6'4, 351 is appealing as a space eater, but his production as a pass rusher is almost non-existant. Dexter being a 6'6 DT looks more like a DE, but would need to drop some weight and is also not a great pass rush guy. Then you have Kancey, the undersized DT. However, when looking at his production from a pass rush perspective, it's night and day. In 3 years (33 games) he has 34.5 tackles for loss and 16 sacks. Then I went and watched some of his highlights, as I can't say that I watched him play this season, and whoa. That's the kind of disruption that, when paired with Reader, would absolutely wreck an o-line. Not only that, it would free up both Hendrickson and Hubbard in having to account for this dude. Not sure if anyone else has looked into these guys, but if you are all in on improving the pass rush, THIS GUY should be at or near the top of that list. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-Snhj5PX8s

Stupid short arms !!

Well, if they do resign Burrow this off season and his signing doesn't have a huge year one impact to the cap, as seen by other contracts, they still may surprise with a free agent move or two. Don't get me wrong, I'm not calling for a couple of high profile players, just what we have seen in recent years. Solid players or better than may want to come here now. This is the magic of Burrow. Just like free agents asking Humphries if the Ravens are going to sign L. Jackson. While players want to get paid, they want to win. I'm not all pumped up about the off season and the draft, but come the beginning of April, I'm going to be "all in" giddy about 2023. I just need a nap.

Oh hell, I totally forgot about Anderson. You never know though. At least Bates and maybe both him and Bell go. Depth would be needed. Honestly, I would have no issue with a DE if "that guy" just happened to fall and he presented a better option, but the more I look at the roster, the less I think they pull the trigger there. I have been all in on an OT or CB with our first couple picks for a while. I'm just now getting more into the draft and like I said, it's bound to change. April is a long way off in what can happen with draft boards and rankings.

Not going to go way in depth with each of these players, but I was messing around with a mock today and had this fall into my lap. 1st- Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern: Gift from God to fall this far and is starting RT for 2023 and possible more to LT in 2024. 2nd- Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah: Another gift falling to here. Watch this kids highlights and tell me he doesn't look like Hunter Hurst. LOVE this kid. 3rd- Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan: Presented as BPA with no DE worthy of this pick. Very nice to add to the interior rotation. 4th- Garrett Williams, CB, Syracuse: Another player I love and think he gets reps in his rookie season. I expect him to rise up the board. 5th- Jay Ward, S, LSU: Yes, another LSU guy, but needed depth with Bates going to leave and Bell an unknown. 6th- Dontay Demus, WR, Maryland: Had an injury early in 2021, but is a big body WR and worth the risk of a 6th. 7th- Gabe Wallace, OG, Buffalo: Because why not have a late round o-line depth guy that's pretty damn big? I know, we didn't come away with a DE, but I'm not even sure they go that route to be honest with Hubbard, Hendrickson, Ossai and others on board. You come away with two starters, three really good depth pieces with potential, and a couple of projects. I will take that. Honestly, I would take hitting on only one as long as it's an OT.

It would be great to see him sign a retirement deal with the Bengals for a day or whatever it is and have a proper send off from a Bengals crowd during the home opener. While understanding that AJ is a lowkey guy, that would be an event he and his family could look back on for a lifetime. Something they would never forget. The fans and stadium would be going crazy to kick off the 2023 season. I know I wouldn't miss it.

Happy for AJ and wish he would have been able to find his way to a team that would have gotten him a championship. Good luck to him in all he does post-NFL !!

Now things can always change, but at this point, Ringo falling to 60 would come close to modern day miracle. Again, at this point in time, most have him gone in the top half of the first.

Yes, Mixon was incredible in the Buffalo game. It seemed everyone had something extra that game. Too bad it didn’t carry over to the KC game for sure. Again, it won’t bother me if Mixon is back next year. I will root for him just like always. He’s been great in our small suburb of Anderson, showing up to local high school games and interacting with the kids as well. However, if he were to not be brought back, I will simply wish him well and move on. What I won’t be is surprised. Cap savings is but one reason him leaving that would make sense.

I can admit being pissed at Ossai. Matter of fact, the whole way back to the car I kept muttering, “Why are you that close to the QB in that instance?”. Over and over. I was beside myself. I couldn’t believe we lost that game. I truly thought we were going to overtime and that we would have found a way to win. I FELT THAT FOR REAL !! The disappointment was real, to lose the game that way despite blowing opportunities throughout the game. Fucking Ossai !!! It wasn’t until I cooled off and was able to look at it outside of the viewpoint of the fan in the stands, that I was able to grasp what really happened. We still lost the fucking game, but that one play was not the only reason why. Happy to see the leadership from Zac and Ossai’s team mates. Hope he comes back stronger next year. We are going to need him !!

FrankenPratt I found our boy COB. Even better, he’s projected to be an UDFA, so no need to spend a 6th on him. I give you Isaiah Moore, LB, NC State… https://youtu.be/PYzzCl6x1rk