COB

I’m going through the dumpster behind Jeff Ruby’s right now. It’s kind of creepy. Not the dumpster, it’s awesome. But Baker Mayfield is sitting back here in an SUV muttering to himself.

JFC are the Browns actually going to start Kenny Pickett next year? Worst owner in sports.

With the cap flying up every year, a team like the bengals might be smart to radically rethink their strategy in regards to big contracts. Three years of watching JaMarr Chase play, and it is very apparent he’s a top 3 or 4 receiver in the nfl. Maybe even two years. Just extend him then. You get to do the extension within the context of the existing cap. Yes, you lose 2 or 3 years of a price controlled rookie deal. But you can offset that with the savings in the later years of the deal. The advantages- You have a major piece (like TJ’s Granny) to build your offense around. You bring stability to your offense. You avoid the circus of distractions these situations bring. You free up what in our case are very limited front office resources, negotiating resources, and allow those resources to focus on making other positions better. the Disadvantages: There is risk. Bad injury or the player takes his foot off the gas. Also, the guaranteed money and the escrow rules could cause Smithsonian level sock garter collection to have to be auctioned off.

Thrilled to have Perine back. He was such a good pass blocker on 3rd downs, and when he got the ball he was crazy north south. Like he was up to speed in about one step. Really hurt to see him go to Denver, I can’t recall what the issue with keeping him was. If he’s the same player or close to it we just got a lot better in the offensive backfield, especially on 3rd downs. Also, we were kind of running our young guy into the ground, it’ll be good to lessen his load.

How in the hell is Kevin Zeitler still playing at a high level in the nfl?

“You don’t know how hard it is to run an nfl franchise.”

Khalil Mack re-signs, I was kind of hoping we’d get him.

Tobin said exactly that at his presser at the combine. Basically said we’re not running the same team out there. Also something like the guys who played well are going to get the $$ from the underperformers. So I’m fine with signing Hill, Ossai, Gesicki, Cody Ford, etc. Some starters, some rotation, some depth, but those guys all filled their roles well. If not well, at least serviceable. Now bring on the free agent starting guards!

Cody Ford is a good depth guy, glad we kept him. Hendrickson is filled with resentment. Sorry dude, you’re a 3rd round pick who didn’t distinguish yourself those first four seasons with the Saints. He’s still sitting on a pile of money but he’s thinking about what could have been.

DK Metcalf loses interest if he’s not getting the ball. Not a diva, just can’t seem to stay engaged if he’s not in the middle of something.

Myles just threw away his chance of ever winning anything in football. Kind of won everything else, though. He’s another Joe Thomas, great player but a career on the Cleveland Browns.

Is Tee Higgins’ mom a factor in all this? How?

Agreed TJ, but look at it this way: Gesicki masquerades as tight end. He’s really a receiver and his stats, where he lines up, the routes he runs, all bear it out. He’s a hard nosed possession receiver who will go over the middle. If you look at it that way, that contract is a bargain. And I’m excited to hear the Higgins deal is nigh. That’ll be awesome.

“No place I’d rather be.” Right. That’s why for two years in a row your agent, while you were under contract, asked for you to be traded. Trey is playing the fans and media. I understand the strategy of using your platform to leverage yourself into a sort of quasi-free agency status wherein you can get competitive bidding going for your next deal. What I don’t understand is the Eagle Scout act. This bullshit about wanting to play in Cincy. What he wants is a pile of money. That’s normal. At this stage in his career he SHOULD have a mercenary outlook. I don’t need to be gaslighted by millionaire professional athletes.

I was glad to see Carl Lawson go, and though I’m not glad to see Hendrickson go, it seems inevitable with trying to pay two huge receiver deals. Just seemed unrealistic to be able to pay the league’s sack leader what he wants on top of 3 offense skill guys who have giant contracts.

Also - Most teams will go find a good deal that fits their needs when trading a guy. Classic bengals front office, “Go find our trade for us.” I know it’s not unprecedented. If they had a normal number of personnel and scout employees, they’d do it themselves. Just so typical of them to do the least.

In my opinion Trey did not want to be here. His statements - he always seemed to qualify his desire to play in Cincinnati. His body language - I know this is subjective, but he didn’t act like he even liked playing for us. He’d happily and exuberantly celebrate; his own good plays. As far as reality goes, if I just had a couple huge seasons as a 30 year old edge rusher and I was looking to leverage those years into one last large deal, honestly Cinci is the last team I’d be interested in negotiating with. So, I think they gave him “permission” to seek a trade because he and his agent asked for permission. He wants out and the last thing he wants is to play this last year of his deal out.

Yep. Every TE we bring in here careers himself and gets paid somewhere. Burrow is a fucking giant. If they decide 70 million a year in two receivers isn’t doable, just have an auction, get Tee’s agent involved. And I’d want a top 30 pick. First rounders bust all the time. If Higgins is that wanted, prove it. The Steelers gave up a first for Minkah, and I’d say that was a pretty smart move on their part. If you’re getting 5-7 years of all-pro level play, and that’s how Higgins is talked about, it’s worth a first.

Great on Gesicki. The FO is going to fumble this whole thing. It’s obvious. Duke saying “we’re not trying to insult our top players,” the FO just stonewalling Tee as evidenced by the “they’re far apart” reports and Tee’s cap emoji. Sure Meirov can say Joe’s pressure is getting to the front office, but where’s the evidence? Right now, this is straight Brown family behavior. Drag things out, stonewall, offer an under market deal then just sit and let the calendar do their work. Also, signing a mid level FA like Gesicki is right in their wheelhouse.

WTF! Unbelievable.

They’re going to need a linebacker and even though that position seems de-emphasized in the modern game it really shows up when you suck. Stopping running backs for a 3 yard gain instead of a 5 yard gain hardly gets noticed. Until you see a guy get old, ie Pratt, and suddenly it’s all five yard runs. I think they’ll go linebacker 2nd round, typically they won’t be able to resist db in the first. I think ND and Michigan both have DBs , some mocks have us taking the Michigan safety and I can definitely see that. on the other hand, wait until the second, and let Golden take one of his DBs from Notre dame.

Bye Hubbard. Free agent starting guard must be incoming. No way do they roll the dice on a draft pick to replace Cappa.

If Burton had balled out instead of being a case study of “Is It Just a Personality Disorder or Is It Real Mental Illness” we wouldn’t be in this fix with Tee.

Duke publicly stated they want to get Tee wrapped up first before they start signing/extending their other guys. 1. I get it, he’s the one player who could walk or completely screw up the team culture and mojo if he gets tagged but isn’t compliant. 2. I don’t get it, I think they committed themselves to an order that was really unnecessary. His agent can use it. 3. By saying he’s first, they have forfeited what is probably their favorite negotiating tactic - stonewalling. Their history of not communicating and ignoring guys is well known. From their perspective it works. Can’t do it now that signing Tee is a prerequisite to assembling your squad for next year.

Thanks TJ I’ll check it out.