HoosierCat

Yeah, PBS definitely should have been a covered field. I remember arguing for that decades ago. But no way an all-new dome gets done now, the cost would be, well, look at the Bears.

So a bit of news from my neck of the woods on the Bears' ongoing efforts to get a new stadium. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/40066053/bears-new-stadium-proposal-nonstarter The proposed stadium would need (at least) $900 million in public funds. Allegedly this would come from an existing hotel tax and not require new taxes. But what caught my attention was that the Bears are offering up more than $2 billion of their own money for the facility. Now, I get that the Bengals are not the Bears. Per Forbes last valuation numbers, Chicago was the fifth-most-valuable franchise, versus the Bengals at No. 32. But that chasm looks a lot closer in raw numbers: $556 million in revenue and $203 in operating income for Chicago versus $498 million/$104 million for Cincinnati. https://www.forbes.com/lists/nfl-valuations/?sh=5de79f6d1738 Looking at that, it's tough to argue that the Bengals couldn't handle every cent of the necessary stadium work themselves.

So they are keeping the B on the 50 yard line because it looks good on tv from a distance. https://www.bengals.com/news/updates-on-2024-paycor-stadium-renovation-projects

Looks like they liked RB Elijah Collins enough to throw in an $8k signing bonus to land him. https://www.cincyjungle.com/2024/4/30/24145762/elijah-collins-signing-bonus-bengals-udfa-oklahoma-state-rb-michigan-state

Interesting nugget out of KC. https://www.si.com/nfl/bengals/report-kansas-city-chiefs-wanted-to-trade-up-for-cincinnati-bengals-amarius-mims

Well, first thing to remember is that all this is coming from Tee’s camp, so of course they are as pure as the driven snow, never made any outrageous demands, etc. Also this report refers to the original conversations, which would have been in 2023. That said it just confirms for me that the Bengals never had any intention of resigning Higgins and that “tag and release” was always the plan. No surprise there, we’ve seen it multiple times before.

Dehner's early thoughts on the OL roster battle: https://theathletic.com/5455756/2024/04/29/bengals-post-draft-roster-reset-offense/

Boomer, Sims booted from The NFL Today show in favor of Matt Ryan. https://www.local12.com/sports/bengals/former-bengals-quarterback-boomer-esiason-leaving-cbs-tv-gig-22-years-nfl-today-cincinnati-phil-simms-bill-cowher-nate-burleson-matt-ryan-watt

Hendrickson is signed through 2025. That’s what he’s beefing about now.

Yeah, at this point I would say that barring some unpleasant surprise, the Browns, Trent and Orlando, Volson, Karras, Cappa and Mims are locks for the final roster. After that we got: C: Trey Hill, Nate Gilliam, Matt Lee G: Cody Ford, Jason Kirkland T: Jackson Carmen, Devon Cochran, D'Ante Smith Ford and Smith get you to 8. Does Carmen stick? I think they see him more of a guard and none of the centers seem like potential backups there, so having a swing guy would be useful. How many do they keep? Especially since they are now going RB by committee and have like 57 TEs in the house now. Going to be a very interesting group to watch this spring and summer.

The two main objections appear to be the aforementioned weight issue and that he was viewed as a pure center. Most of the centers who went higher like JPJ were also seen as potential guards. I think Lee could surprise in camp but most likely ends up ticketed for the taxi squad, at least to start the year.

The stupid is strong with this one. https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2024-nfl-draft-miles-sanders-bailey-zappe-james-bradberry-among-potential-post-draft-cut-candidates/

From Hobson’s reporting on the .com, which for once is pretty revealing, a couple things are clear. One, they were dialed in on DT in the second, and their board with Murphy gone was 2. Newton 3. Jenkins. Or at the very least Jenkins was the last DT they were willing to grab at 49. Two, they were not willing to trade up if it cost them one of the thirds. So if they tried to find a partner, it does not seem like they tried very hard. Personally I don’t think they tried at all. I would have been more aggressive, we will just have to see how it goes.

I refuse to believe this is an actual person and not the name of a football-themed G.I. Joe character from the 80s cartoon.

Here’s pff…

I’ll give it A, for whatever grades the day after the draft are worth. Mims will be first off the bench at either tackle spot, and heir apparent to Trent Brown. Jenkins and Jackson will both be immediate contributors on a d line that could not stop the run to save its life last season. Burton is an immediate upgrade in the slot. All is the second-best TE in this draft when healthy and McLaughlin’s hands are made of glue. And they may have stolen their center of the future in the seventh. The rest all have great upside. Yup, good freakin’ draft.

He is absolutely a steal. 55-game starter with great technique and functional strength. Absolutely doesn’t give up sacks. Biggest issue was his weight at the East west game, 288, but he played in Miami at 301 so I don’t think it’s a big concern. Give him a year to buff his run blocking and he will be good to go.

The funny thing is that the “injury issue” is mostly an illusion. Mims hurt his ankle, had tightrope surgery to fix it and then a hammy pull at the combine. But if you look at other players who had the same treatment, pulling a hammy within a few months after this type of procedure is common. Zach Moss is just one example. Mims will be fine.

Yeah, sucks picking up a guy with a good grade at the ass end of the draft. https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/daijahn-anthony/147537/draft-profile

Good signing. https://www.nfl.com/prospects/austin-mcnamara/32004d43-4e11-6062-cfc4-1b7b0a8f9d4b

(Pinches nose) JFC you people do know how the draft works, right? Sevens are just UDFAs the team would like to not have to compete for. Kid is a perfectly cromulent developmental guy who, like every other seventh round pick, probably won’t amount to anything, but who knows? Last time I checked, Karras any getting any younger and his deal is up soon. This guy is probably not the answer but may as well take a shot. https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Matthew-Lee-OL-UCF

This is just taking your pick of UDFAs

Almost done