HoosierCat

Nope, no DEs yet. Well, ok, we have DEs but not, like, good ones. But hey, Myles Murphy laid off the Cap'n Crunch, so you never know...

So if Army ever visits my neck of the woods I know what to cook.

And you were right! They caught the whole exchange for "Quarterback." Gotta say I am with Burrow on this one.

Steelers extended their GM for some reason. So now a 29-22 regular season/0-2 postseason record gets you a new contract in Pitt. Is Mike secretly running that franchise too?

Sorry I wasn’t around to help!

Jake’s GF is hotter than Joe’s and I will die on this hill. https://thespun.com/nfl/cincinnati-bengals/nfl-quarterbacks-fiancee-posts-jaw-dropping-swimsuit-photo

Lol 16 years later and nothing has changed. Front office is still incompetent, o-line still sucks and we still don't have any answers at DE. I swear, the team ought to change its name to the Cincinnati Groundhogs.

The Bengals have never seen a roadblock they didn’t love. I get it, though. It’s dumb, but I get it. The Bengals have been forced out of their comfort zone when it comes to spending, especially regarding guarantees. This is a reaction to that, a nitpicky, lawyer-y reaction attempting to limit payouts to only perfect circumstances. But actually doing that would look awful in reality. Imagine Stewart suffers some season-ending injury in camp and then the Bengals use that to screw him over on his contract. Boy, that would make us a destination for players, huh? Like I said, I get it, but it’s dumb.

Lol

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.