HoosierCat

TE or DB would be my preferences as well. I don't particularly have anything against Harrison but "backup swing tackle who might be a starter someday" doesn't exactly rev up my engines. Probably a safe pick tho. Sorry, TJ, you aren't getting pass rush at 28, TJ. Honestly looking at the DL room I'd be surprised if you got anything there before round 4.

I would expect the Ravens to match unless it's the kind of 100% guaranteed deal that Watson got and rumor says Lamar wants. And I don't see any of the other 30 teams doing that given how widely hated Watson's deal is. So if you are another team, why do the Ravens' front office's work for them? Either he will cave and sign a more team-friendly deal (that still makes him like a half-billionaire, poor fellow) or he plays on the tag. I think he's just dumb enough to play on the tag. Maybe, just maybe, he learned something from "betting on himself" last season, but I will believe that when I see it.

Yeah, Cleveland letting Johnson go only to sign Bates seems like just rearranging the deck chairs, but the Clowns front office has made much, much dumber moves, so who knows. I don't think the market is going to be what he thinks it will be.

Yes, of course. The state of the training room and the team's health and rehab equipment is exactly as important as the weekly lunch menu and putting the trainers in the best possible position to help players prevent, treat and recover as quickly as possible from injuries is utterly irrelevant to winning a Super Bowl.

Brugler goes Harrison as well. https://www.si.com/nfl/bengals/allbengals-insiders-plus/bengals-select-offensive-tackle-anton-harrison-in-the-athletics-latest-mock-draft

In news that surprised absolutely no one, Tyler Dragon has reported that the Bengals are not expected to franchise Bates. Bates, meanwhile, is out there blabbering about how he would love to play with Cleveland’s serial abuser QB. All about the Benjamins, indeed. And in Lamar news, the Ravens say they will franchise him today before the deadline.

Bit of a follow-up. Apparently player complaints about the training facilities (they gave them a D- grade) have been heard. Bengals are pouring $3 million into gutting and rebuilding the training room. Good move. https://www.bengals.com/news/training-room-facelift-mirrors-bengals-efficient-playoff-formula

McShay’s post combine mock up at ESPN plu$. His pick is…also Harrison. Apparently punditland isn’t buying what’s the Bengals are saying regarding the oline. Didn’t we see this movie in 2021?

Yup. Unidentified kid hurt, Mixon’s sister claims he was not involved, no arrests made. Hopefully whoever got hurt is ok. Between this and the incident a few weeks back, Joe isn’t exactly making it hard for the team to move on if they want to.

Let the post combine mocks begin! First up, Ryan Wilson at CBS, who slides OT Anton Harrison (a popular pre combine pick) to Cincy at 28. https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/nfl-mock-draft-2023-anthony-richardson-moves-up-board-new-wr1-lands-in-green-bay-in-post-combine-edition/ Given Pollack’s comments at the combine, this seems unlikely. Notably, he has Darnell Washington going two picks later. In other post combine mock draft news, I did one today at PFF. I took Washington in the first and a corner with a torn ACL in the second. I got an F for Washington and an A for the corner, so I think we can throw that mock draft machine in the trash.

Good post combine wrap up here. https://sports.yahoo.com/biggest-bengals-takeaways-2023-nfl-141154100.html

As I noted elsewhere, boring offseason are a blessing.

Yup. Mike Brown is a cheap bastard, part the infinity. https://themorningline.substack.com/p/bengals-gonna-bengal

The conversation around potentially dealing Higgins was all about whether you think they can or will do monster deals for him, Chase and Burrow at more or less the same time. If the answer was no then it made sense to deal Tee and get some value as opposed to letting him walk. If the answer is now yes, then the argument is moot and we can all get on with our lives.

Well, that’s not ideal… https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35760585/warrants-arrest-jalen-carter-ex-georgia-star-nfl-draft-prospect

Tobin: Bengals not trading Higgins. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35755082/bengals-tee-higgins-trade-rumors-find-your-own-wr Also in the above link: Translation: they’re still a ways apart.

Nice little read from Doc today, who reminds us that boring offseasons are a good thing. https://themorningline.substack.com/p/stable-set-bengals-are-boring-in

Yup, stuff is starting to happen. DC franchised Payne. Only tag so far. They also booted Carson Wentz. Cleveland letting John Johnson go. There’s some chatter they may go after Bates. Mariota out in Atlanta.

Pre-Combine mock from Mel. His pick at 28: Huh-huh. Mel said beavers. Huh-huh. Huh-huh. Note that Mayer and Kincaid are both gone by 28 and Darnell Washington goes with the next pick, so Mel has four TEs going in the first, which seems unlikely. In this mock, Pitt takes Joey Jr., and Baltimore gets Zay Flowers.

The combine is nigh. Batten down the hatches and prepare for the incoming rumor storm. https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/NFL/2023/02/27/NFL-prospects-combine-trade/7011677509948/

And the first signing is in the books: https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-roster-moves-cal-adomitis-long-snapper-signed So long Clark. Your bountiful tresses will be missed.

The chances they give up on Volson after one season are zero.

The thing at TE is that cupboard isn’t just bare, it’s also missing shelves and doors. If they had to play a game today, their starting TE would be Asiasi. The only other TE currently under contract is taxi squadder Tanner Hudson. As much as I like Hurst, he turns 30 this August. He’s not a long-term solution. I would love to have him back on a 1-2 year deal, 3 tops, but I wouldn’t pass on a top-tier guy at the position if that’s the way the draft falls.

NFC South? Fine. Bye.

Kewl. Just tried it out (only 4 rounds) and got Mayer in the first, Keion White in the second, LB Drew Sanders in the third and OT Tyler Steen in the fourth. (if Sanders is actually there in the third that means he must have, like, killed someone between now and then. I’m still taking him.)