HoosierCat

It’s really four of the last five since one is in Indy. That’s about as close as you can get without actually playing at paycor, and if the Bengals look playoff-bound, Lucas oil stadium will be flooded with Cincy fans. Aside from the Madrid game travel is really manageable. The longest trip is what, Houston? The early bye sucks but one possible silver lining is that it means they only play six games in September and October combined. So if they start slow, at least they’ll be relatively rested for the part of the season where they remember how to play football, and will have 11 games to get back in it.

Graziano is boarding the bandwagon. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/48758666/2026-nfl-schedule-release-overreactions-takeaways-best-games-opponents-matchups

14-3

Rumor has it as a late game in like week 15. We’ll know in a few minutes.

Sked leaks so far: Week 1 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Week 9 at Atlanta Falcons (Madrid) Week 10 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (SNF) Week 11 at Washington Commanders (MNF) Week 17 vs. Baltimore Ravens (Thursday Night Football) first seven games are 1 pm kickoffs, per reports (Jordan Schultz). Bye is week 6 if you believe Eight Five.

For reference: 39 Denzel Boston 4/$12.385m fully guaranteed 40 R Mason Thomas unsigned 41 Cashius Howell unsigned 42 Christen Miller 4/$11.795m fully guaranteed So Howell should get around 11.9. Get it done, Pumpkie, don’t spoil the good vibes.

Davis signed. Just Howell outstanding now. https://www.wlwt.com/article/tacario-davis-cincinnati-bengals-rookie-contract-draft/71297384

All I’ll say is buy your plane tickets now because jet fuel prices are already going through the roof (see Airlines, Spirit).

For all you world travelers, the full slate of 9 international games is here: https://media.nfl.com/news-and-releases/international/nfl-unveils-2026-international-games-schedule AFCN is well-represented on the world stage in 2026. In addition to the Bengals in Madrid, Baltimore heads to Rio in week 3, and the Steelers travel to Paris in week 7. I think we are the only division sending three teams overseas this year.

Likely they get a bye the following week, which would be perfect timing.

Reports out Bengals play Atlanta in Madrid week 9

Another data point: most of the defense, including Dex and all the new FAs, has 100% attendance at the voluntaries. https://www.wlwt.com/article/zac-taylor-shocked-by-dexter-lawrences-offseason-approach/71284369

Go Long…er! That’s a classic. Yes, Burrow should definitely skip the John Morrel endorsements.

I don’t expect the slow start to be an issue this year. I do expect the defense to look a bit of a mess early on. Lots of new blood means guys missing assignments and lining up wrong, but that will work itself out over the first few games. Enthusiasm and effort, by contrast, should be sky-high. On offense, well, if you believe all the rumors about Burrow agitating behind the scenes for major changes (and I suspect there’s some truth there) then the FO has delivered. No one can accuse them of a lack of spending or bold moves. So now it’s on our alleged franchise QB to get off the catwalk, put away the piano, wash the gel out of his hair and swap Met galas and fancy horse races for reps and film study. And so far I think things are moving in that direction. We’ll see how it goes.

Schedule chatter heating up. One of the more accurate projectors predicts week 2’s Thursday game will be Bengals @ Texans. https://stripehype.com/cincinnati-bengals-2026-schedule-release-date-rumors-leaks-opponents-more

Even at 90, Mike’s a tease!

TJ, this headline is for you! https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/bengals-president-mike-brown-still-111500816.html

CINCINNATI (WKRC) - The Bengals on Friday acquired linebacker Swayze Bozeman on waivers from the N.Y. Giants and signed college free agent safety Isaiah Nwokobia. Bozeman (6-2, 225), a second-year player out of the University of Southern Mississippi, originally was a college free agent signee of Kansas City in 2024. He has played in nine career games for the Chiefs (2024) and Giants (’25), totaling five defensive tackles along with four special teams stops. https://dayton247now.com/sports/bengals-acquire-linebacker-from-giants-waivers-swayze-bozeman

2026 sked comes out next Thursday at 730 pm est. https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-2026-nfl-schedule-release-date-confirmed-may-14 Prediction: Bengals get 1 overseas game, 1 SNF, 1 MNF, 1 TNF.

Dehner’s report from day 1 of minicamp: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7263972/2026/05/08/cincinnati-bengals-rookie-minicamp/ Howell and Davis not signed yet but they did sign participation waivers so they can practice. So no Shemar issues yet.

Lew, Young, Parker, Endries and Robinson all signed.

Final list, signed today: --G Liam Brown; 6-5, 307; Montana; Beaverton, Ore. --HB Kentrel Bullock; 5-10, 204; South Alabama; Columbia, Miss. --LB Jack Dingle; 6-4, 235; Cincinnati; Louisville, Ky. --LB Eric Gentry; 6-7, 221; Southern California; Philadelphia, Pa. --HB Jamal Haynes; 5-7, 195; Georgia Tech; Loganville, Ga. --OT Christian Jones; 6-9, 345; San Diego State; Avila Beach, Calif. --TE Josh Kattus; 6-4, 245; Kentucky; Cincinnati, Ohio --OT Corey Robinson II; 6-5, 311; Arkansas; Roswell, Ga. --WR Noah Thomas; 6-5, 203; Georgia; Pearland, Texas --CB Ceyair Wright; 6-0, 185; Nebraska; Los Angeles, Calif. https://www.bengals.com/news/five-draft-picks-college-free-agents-signed-2026-transactions

Yeah, Amazon has cheap own-brand chinos for like $20 a pop, so I have about 6 pairs in different colors and 6-8 polos from Penny’s because they are one of the few places I can find tall sizes.

Sweats and a hoodie are my basic uniform. If that’s giving up, I happily surrender.

Don’t ask me, man, I still need clothes with Garanimals tags to dress myself.