HoosierCat

Trey(Hendrickson, not Smith)’s entire situation is screwed up, and it’s pretty much all his fault. He signed that one-year, $21 million extension in July 2023, then like eight months later was bitching about being underpaid. Well, congratulations champ, you played yourself. If you hadn’t grabbed that bag which you now complain was too small, it would probably be your name, not Tee’s, at No. 1 on all the 2025 FA lists. The Bengals were clearly flummoxed by his attitude last year, and based on Duke’s senior bowl comments are not exactly chomping at the bit to give him more this year. They might toss him a few more bucks but nothing like what he would get on the open market. And honestly in this case I don’t blame them one bit.

Just to update, deal is for $2.035 million, $960k this year, $1.075 million in 2026. Reportedly no SB, nothing guaranteed.

Outside of Tee and Gesicki, I can sum up my attitude towards free agency this year in one word: "whatever." On offense it would be nice to get a decent guard. Maybe root around in the RB pile for a better option than Moss. On defense, the bottom line is that they were terrible last year, and I frankly don't care who leaves, up to and including trading Trey. The more turnover the better as far as I'm concerned. Even if we just replace trash with trash, at least it's new trash and we can all pretend they'll be better until September.

Yah I had Booker and Walker available today at pff. Went with Mykal Williams though. Got the LB in the second, Campbell, and Emmanwori in the third. I'd take that all day in real life but it will never happen!

Cap going up, up and away. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43921969/nfl-salary-cap-increases-substantially-2nd-consecutive-year The final number should come next week.

I’m with Army. LB is a glaring need. Goodberry might not like Walker as a DE but that’s fine by me, I’m not looking for a DE at LB, I’m looking for a LB. Here’s a fun fact. In the last four drafts, the Bengals have picked 9 defensive linemen, 8 defensive backs and one — one! — linebacker, Jeff Gunter, who retired last August. And that was a 7th round pick. Pratt turns 29 in May and looked washed for a lot of last year. He’s likely to be traded or cut. Wilson still has some life but he will be 29 before next season too, and ADG ticks over 28 in September. Bottom line, the position is overdue for an infusion of youth.

THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!!!

And Bengals creepypasta is born…No. 14 is Slandyman.

Jalon Walker. Joe’s not a fan at 17. https://youtu.be/R7l8k_wk-uY?si=3A_vbpUx_1hLhiIt

Andy gets an $8 million extension ($6 million guaranteed) from Carolina. https://www.si.com/nfl/bengals/news/former-cincinnati-bengals-player-andy-dalton-inks-new-deal-with-carolina-panthers-01jmdgrvbrpf

Two year extension for Rehkow. https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-sign-p-ryan-rehkow-to-contract-extension-bengals-roster-update

Fowler: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43894290/sources-bengals-aim-deals-chase-higgins-hendrickson Well, that would certainly be ideal. That said, I’m not sure how much of this is actually news. We knew they were going to give Chase a bag, we knew they wanted do something for Trey (as long as it wasn’t too much or something), and we knew they were talking to Tee and that the tag was an option. The question remains, are they literally going to put their money where their mouth is?

Tag would be good. Long term deal would be better.

First Stabby, now Spunky!

I have to say, the amount of trash speculation flooding the innertubes ahead of FA would be comical if it weren’t so ridiculous (and if so much of it weren’t obvious AI generated slop). Every other story right now is “Bengals Could Give Monster $150 MILLION Deal to Megastud Defensiveman” or “Bengals Give Up Next 10 Years of First Round Picks for Hyperbad Bonebreaker in Proposed Trade!” Actual free agency can’t here fast enough.

And away we go… https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2025/02/17/cincinnati-reds-spring-training-full-squad-workouts/78882833007/

Some notes culled from here. March 16: Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's injury guaranteed $35.25 million 2026 base salary is fully guaranteed. March 21: This is the deadline for the Bengals to exercise an option with quarterback Joe Burrow. In order to pick up Burrow's 2029 contract year worth $50,539,018, the Bengals must make a $10 million payment. Burrow's fully guaranteed 2025 base salary will decrease to $25.25 million from $35.25 million.

Tucker up to 16 accusers, really giving DeShaun a run for his money. https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/justin-tucker-allegations-seven-more-massage-therapists-accuse-ravens-kicker-of-sexual-misconduct-per-report/

Not to defend Burton at all, but the FO brought this on themselves. First, despite character flags, they used a premium pick on a meathead. Then they give said meathead a $5 million contract, with a million bucks up front. And finally, since they don’t actually have a spot to play him his rookie year, he’s got nothing else to do but be a meathead. And here we are. Like I said, not defending him but this was as predictable as the direction in which the sun rises.

One thing I learned very early on is that the saying about how 80 percent of life is just showing up, is 100 percent true. I’ve met any number of people who are supremely talented, yet fail because they can’t do something as simple as get to work by 9 consistently.

Yup, that’s where I’m at as well. Ultimately I don’t think they pull the trigger. They haven’t since Pickens and that’s not exactly a precedent to cite.

Here’s Mike Green. No brainer if he’s there but fat chance. https://youtu.be/1bY26Ie4YPY?si=rVkddepLtouTg9yk

Yup. When they didn’t extend him or move him in 2023, the writing was on the wall. Plan was to tag him in 2024 (done), draft his replacement that April (done) and let him walk in 2025 (tick tick tick).

Yeah, the Great Draft Hype Machine is kicking into gear as the annual cattle call approaches.

They've more or less telegraphed that's the plan for two years now. It's how they roll.