COB

I wonder why Eli Apple didn’t go get a multi year deal from some other team. JK, I know why.

Depression sets in.

Tobin going all in on turning Cincy into the land of the prove-it deal. Putting Burrow on a hook, tossing him behind the USS Value Only and trolling the murky waters of mid level free agency.

Hurst gone? We are going to be the youngest team in the nfl.

Starting to hit the panic button up here in central ohio.

Perine - 7.5 million over two years, with up to 1 million in incentives. Pretty affordable. Letting him walk for that? No chance in hell they keep Mixon at his 10.5 or whatever it is.

What the fuck? Perine out the door. They better have a plan, he was clearly the better back for this offense. I did not see that coming.

I bet. At vet minimum.

The salary projections for CJ Garner-Johnson are kind of a mystery to me. He had a good year last year on a great team. But his seasons before last year were with the Saints, and he wasn’t great, was he? They traded him after two unremarkable seasons to the Eagles. CJGJ and a 7th round pick to the Eagles for a 5th and a low 6th round pick. I don’t know what he was doing in New Orleans, other than just being there. Would absolutely not over pay for this dude.

I’m assuming they’ll try to find a FA safety looking for his second deal. The main knock against Vonn Bell, who I think signed a reasonable contract, is that he was looking for his third deal. A deal that will carry him into his thirties. You all know the Bengals. It would really surprise me if they stand pat with the inexperienced back end of their defense. They should be looking for the same thing they signed with Vonn Bell. Decent 4 year veteran.

I heard on the radio, Bates just became the 4th highest paid safety ever in the league. Honestly, I love the guy’s game, but he hasn’t been the top tier player he was his first few years. He showed up in the playoffs this year, no doubt. But regular season the last couple years he’s been good, that’s it, a good player.

I’m in shock over that bates contract. He’ll make more in his first year than Pratt will over his whole deal.

Damn, good for you Jessie Bates.

Glad we signed Pratt before that deal got out.

Jessie Bates’ agent is a fucking idiot. He got that contract for Watson which I don’t think turned out to be good for either party. They already had to re-do it. He’s probably playing hardball but if he waits too long his market is going to shrink. NFL owners don’t bid against themselves, unless we’re talking about a certain truck stop fraudster who takes draft advice from derelicts outside a 7-11.

We’ve had great safety play these last couple years. So good that I kind of took it for granted. Dax Hill is going to grow up fast.

Von Bell please come back.

Von Bell gone to the Panthers. Wtf.

Watson trying to help. Advice to Watson - you can help them by simply not being one of the worst QBs in the league.

Patrick Peterson sending signals he’s not worrying about Ohio Workers Compensation regs. Dude would be a hell of an addition, assuming he’s a good fit culture-wise. Can really play.

I just find it funny the way all these stories have been worded. “The bengals are seeking to introduce legislation…” like the Bengals have a seat the the state senate or something.

Holy shit, the rookie pool lacing its boots up, ready for action.

He’s been such a good player, a physical tone-setter. Dehner talks like he’s gone no matter what, even if he gets offered a spot for less: “Analysis: I don’t see the Joe Mixon situation working out, even if a restructure in the form of a pay cut is offered. The time has come for a clean cut and I think it happens.” The team won’t reveal too much, but I’d guess Dehner does talk to agents. And Dehner’s agent can walk into any negotiation with tape of Mixon’s play in our Buffalo playoff game as exhibit A.

Really. The NFC title game had a team that could barely even put a QB on the field. Meanwhile we’ve got a murderer’s row. Now add Heart of Darkness to the Jets, just what we don’t need.

Dehner in the Athletic just posted a piece that provides insight into what the Bengals will do both in FA and the draft. I trust his judgment, I know the team is not explicitly telling him what they’ll do, but he’s capable of reading between the lines and deducing the negative inference from a positive statement or no statement at all. Basically: He says Germaine Pratt, Eli Apple, Jessie Bates, and yes, sorry Amphar, but Joe Mixon, are all certainly gone. He also completely rains on your parade if you’re looking for any splash in free agency. We got Cappa and Karas last year on day 1, but he said this year forget it. Instead of external FA they’ll focus on their own priorities - Perine, Hayden Hurst, and Vonn Bell. Gimme a lineman? He says that at best they’ll be looking for “insurance” at right tackle. Very interesting that he said the team is devoted to Collins and he thinks they’ll keep him even if he starts the season on PUP, which we all know he will. Also fascinating, this quote about Jonah: “Leader in the clubhouse to be starting left tackle next year, but the reluctance of anyone to say that directly raises eyebrows.” Dehner does not wildly speculate. He’s pretty buttoned down. That little nugget he dropped there gives hope to those of us who are tired of watching Jonah get folded, that, if his knee doesn’t heal AND allow him to play at a higher level than ‘22, then they’ll do something. What they’ll do, I have no idea. My fear is they’ll wait to see if Jonah’s knee is right, and by the time they figure out it isn’t, (August), it’ll be too late to find a significant upgrade. Dehner predicted draft picks like second round RB, late round linebacker, etc. who knows. He kicked dirt on the grave of Dru Chrisman’s Bengals career as follows: “The Drue Chrisman era ended the moment his punt to Skyy Moore buzzed low and down the middle of the field in the AFC Championship Game.”