HoosierCat

Burrow walking into the weight room this year. https://youtu.be/t2mU6USTBRE?si=kTQ2WjAqrAWKJQWu

Oh. My Gawd. How -- HOW -- did I miss this? Yes folks, we have officially entered the "Tee Shirt Slogan" phase of the Taylor era, though in this case it's a weight room wall slogan...at least for now. But at least it answers the question, why did they have to do their jobs? Why did they have to keep shoveling? It turns out, because the Bengals are P.H.A.T. (extra cringe points for being an acronym)

Yeah terms weren’t out when I posted it. I guess they’re moving Ramsey to safety? Definitely feels like a make or break year for Tomlin.

Ugh. Fins trading Jalen Ramsey to Pitt. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45617415/steelers-acquire-all-pro-cb-jalen-ramsey-trade-dolphins

RIP Oliver Gibson. 53 is way too young. https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2025/06/29/oliver-gibson-dies-at-age-53-played-for-bengals-steelers/84411910007/

Looks like we have a stadium deal, at least in principle. From the Enquirer: Seems pretty reasonable as far as these things go.

This headline from da site made me bust out laughing. Former Equipment Manager Tom Gray Recognized in Canton While the accompanying story is, I'm sure a moving remembrance to some, I just couldn't stop giggling. Other teams get quarterbacks and wide receivers and head coaches etc., etc., honored in Canton. The Bengals? They get the equipment manager. Yup, boys, our team is being recognized for Hall of Fame equipment management. Dig out those jerseys and wear them proudly today, we've earned it!

Oh no doubt the first round has been rough, to say the least. There is still a chance for Hill and Murphy but it’s got to be now, this year. I thought Mims was about as solid as could be expected for a rookie who got thrown into the fire, and I’ll be surprised if he’s not better for it this year. Stewart remain to be seen. On a related note, another leaf for your tea-reading pleasure: Trey might not be signed, but is in Cincy working out. If he was in total FU mode I doubt that’s the case.

I don’t think Stewart has missed anything significant yet in terms of snaps. That will change if this stretches out into camp. On the flip side, that gives up more snaps from Murphy, Ossai, Sample and Johnson to look at and see if there’s anything new there — and really I’m not sure that isn’t more important. We already know that whenever Trey shows up, he’ll be fine, and that as a rookie Stewart’s impact was always likely to be limited. Someone else has got to step up.

Also nailed for 91 in a 65. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45545248/browns-shedeur-sanders-cited-twice-month-speeding Maybe Ohio can fund a new Browns stadium exclusively with Sanders' fines...

And then there were two. Jax inked Travis Hunter yesterday, so the only two first rounders left unsigned are Stewart and Jahdae Barron. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45563825/travis-hunter-signs-4-year-4665m-deal-jaguars

No, you’re not wrong. The FO is fine with winning, and a championship would sure be something, but they’re also fine with losing. Doesn’t make much difference to their bank account anyhow. Whether they field excellence or crap, they get the same fat check from Roger as every other team. So they are committed to doing the minimum needed, and basically hoping to get lucky, like they almost did in 2021. And before someone objects that the FO has been stepping up by doing things like guaranteeing money beyond the first year, and void years in contracts, that’s more the floor of what’s “the minimum needed” rising than anything else. And let me also add that they aren’t alone in this. Talk to a Bears fan and they sound just like us re a cheap, incompetent FO. And they aren’t the only fanbase that does. The big difference between those teams and the Bengals is they have better PR. The Bengals have never tried to hide what they are. So a point for them, I guess.

I mean, the length has always been the hang up. If Trey is so confident that he can play for several more years, he should ask for a no tag/no trade clause so he can hit FA next March. Pocket something like 28-30m this year and move on.

Interesting note on the stadium lease negotiations. To what extent it reflects positions now is unknown, but here was what each side wanted back in April: Bengals: 5 year lease extension $308 million from HamCo 50% of city tax revenue Bengals kick in $125 million HamCo: New 15 year lease $357.5 million from HamCo No mention of city $$ Bengals kick in $312.5 million

Shedeur getting off to a good start... https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45540231/browns-rookie-shedeur-sanders-cited-driving-101-mph

Yeah, saw that. If he can stay healthy it's a plus for them, but that's a big if. He's only managed 14 games in the past two years, and 34 in the last four.

Mike will outlive us all. 50 years from now he will still be out there at spring practices in his life-support golf cart, breathing like Darth Vader and occasionally muttering about ox carts and ditches.

Let’s see, 20 years ago I was a dumb asshole who had just moved back to the Midwest. Not much has changed since. Older, fatter, maybe 10% less dumb (being generous!).

When I was little and on the brink of doing something stupid because "everyone else was doing it," my mom would ask me, "if everyone else jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge, would you?" Clearly, Amphar's answer would be an enthusiastic yes. Not that he doesn't have company, starting with Katie and Troy. As for the fan who was lied to, I don't know who that might be. If he's talking about the fact the contract language isn't unique, that was reported weeks ago. It was such a "secret" that I saw it on f**king facebook. But in any event, I have to ask why he isn't posting wherever this sad fan is? Why limit his immense intellect and epic never-wrongness to what amounts to a legacy forum populated by half a dozen guys who stick around mostly out of friendship. Why not share his genius with, say, Bengals Twitter (or X now, whatever), where he can tell Joe Goodberry what an ass he is right to his virtual face? I am sure Joe will be impressed. Bookface, reddit, even cincyjungle are, I'm betting, full of fans in need of his correction, far more than visit this ghost town.

I don't think anyone (here at least) was much worried about it. Trey sitting out the season was never a viable option.

Did mine last year. Which reminds me, I have to order the extension wand so I can get the grill smoke stains off the back gutter...

Yeah, like I mentioned a couple weeks ago, teams that have inserted the language in the past also coughed up a little more upfront money or gave some other concession to smooth things over. And if that was the case, then Stewart needed to get over it and sign. But reports are that it is (unsurprisingly) not the case. As has been all too common, the FO doesn't want to negotiate, just dictate.

Changes at holder, long snapper, too. May have a new snapper this year. But yeah, needs to get sorted. Still plenty of time.

Shrug. Bengals picked the fight. I have no doubt Stewart will eventually sign, but for now we are where we are. Anyhow, in actual news, Taylor says the starters may get reps in more than one preseason game, which hasn’t happened since 2019. I approve, even given the injury risk. McPherson 1 for 3 on 50+ tries today.

Pratt a Raider. 1 year deal, per Schefty.