HoosierCat

To me, the Stewart thing has now reached farcical levels. Both sides are completely dug into positions that neither can defend without sounding foolish. Stewart's camp sounds like a toddler complaining that their friends got dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets the last time they went out, and they only got normal-shaped chicken nuggets and they aren't going to eat them even though everything but the shape is the same. Meanwhile, the Bengals are out here now claiming the clause is no big thing, that it will never be used except in the case of absurd hypotheticals...so they are making a big deal out of it why again? In the annals of dumb Bengals contract disputes, this takes the cake.

In the biggest non-surprise of the offseason, Hendrickson will not be reporting to camp today. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45793481/trey-hendrickson-report-bengals-camp-amid-contract-stalemate Things are reportedly going nowhere fast.

Well, as far as public opinion is concerned, when Mike is out there saying this “silliness” is about a clause concerning behavior that he thinks is not “going to happen ever,” I don’t think he’s helping the cause.

Well, Mike did say that he wants the new language in Stewart’s contract because he doesn’t want to have to pay him if he goes to jail. Because apparently that’s a concern for some reason. Jail. Why they drafted the guy if they are this worried he’ll go to jail, I dunno, but maybe now that they have 12 GMs they won’t do that any more.

I’m sure everything will be covered, guys. After all, they’ve got like 6 GMs now, so there’s more brainpower focused on this deal than any deal ever before in franchise history. This contract will be EPIC.

Not Bengals camp, but Titans camp will be missing one QB as Will Levis is having shoulder surgery and will miss the entire season. So our old pal Brandon Allen is now backing up Cam Ward. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45787046/titans-qb-levis-season-ending-shoulder-surgery

As expected, the Bengals are finally getting serious about Hendrickson, making a series of offers in the runup to camp. https://www.wlwt.com/article/trey-hendrickson-cincinnati-bengals-contract-progress-2025/65463198 I would guess it's because vets are scheduled to report tomorrow. I'll repeat what I said a while back: they will sign him to a new deal that gives him most or all of what he wanted, and that they could have done six months ago and avoided all this drama, because that's how they roll.

Yeah, it's way early this year. It's usually in the first week of August.

Some initial roster moves, both expected. Placed TE Erick All Jr. on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list Placed C Seth McLaughlin on the Active/Non-Football Injury list

Done. 80% guaranteed. https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nfl/cincinnati-bengals/news/and-then-there-was-one-bengals-agree-historic-rookie-contract-2025-draft-pick/d7f90db1ec8d52d9969671ff

From Ari Meirov on twitter:

Ha ha other NFL teams are so stupid! They have just one GM. But not the Bengals! If one is good, then THREE must be awesome! https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/7/18/24470113/bengals-front-office-moves-promotion-assistant-general-manager-trey-brown

Who could have seen this coming, amirite?

According to the dna test I did, I’m about 60% Irish/northern England, 30% southern France/Bavaria, and most of the rest is Scandinavian. So I too have a drinking trifecta!

Speaking of 2025 opponents, former Bengals and current Browns DB Tony Brown is now The Ap3x. https://substack.com/home/post/p-167486344

You get to retire?!?! Man, must be nice. Pretty sure I’m gonna die at work…

The rich get richer, and the taxpayers get soaked-er.

Lap and Parrish this time. https://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/lapham-parrish-to-be-inducted-into-cincinnati-bengals-ring-of-honor/PER7HKLRTNAJZBAO5V7KH56LQE/

This will make Mike's day, I'm sure.

He has one job…

Good convo with Dehner on the survey and more here. https://www.golongtd.com/p/substack-live-inside-the-cincinnati

New fan survey out and the verdict is in: everything sucks and ALL IS LOST!!! https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6485298/2025/07/15/bengals-2025-franchise-survey-results/ Highlights: FO sucks Tobin sucks Zac sucks We are never gonna win a SB Franchise going in the wrong direction This offseason sucked Organization hates its fans Seriously it’s pretty bad. Fan confidence has collapsed across the board.

Bengals kick the tires on another DT. https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/7/15/24468182/cincinnati-bengals-free-agency-workout-kyon-barrs-2025-training-camp-roster

So here’s a breakdown on the situation worth reading from Breech over at cbs. https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/back-to-school-back-to-the-draft-shemar-stewart-could-exploit-loophole-in-chaotic-rulebook-to-burn-bengals/ A couple points that really haven’t been discussed before. The first, money. Second, could he go back and play another year in college? Maaaaaaybe. That would be something to see.

I want Knight in camp, especially if Stewart is going to sit out. The last thing this team can afford is for its top two picks to both miss time.