HoosierCat

Stadium upgrade deal drops in Jax: Notable given that the Jags are down at the bottom of the revenue and profit lists with the Bengals, yet somehow have a spare $625 million laying around.

Breaking news, according to my bookface feed: Arby’s Potato Cakes returning for a limited time July 1.

Dillon Blake Pickens Scott Spikes Simmons KLINGLER Wilkinson Esiasion BAILED FOR MNF Ki-Jana Akili TRAUMA TRAUMA TRAUMA Mike Brown Sucks!

Oh joy. Massive in-season distraction incoming. https://www.nfl.com/news/afc-north-to-be-featured-on-hard-knocks-in-season-2024

Training camp sked announced for those looking to go. https://www.bengals.com/news/cincinnati-bengals-2024-training-camp-schedule

Speaking of bygone eras, RIP Homer Rice. https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-mourn-homer-rice

Yeah, this shouldn't be complicated to get done. That said, if the Bengals are set on waiting for Turner to sign at 17, this could drag out. The Vikings also took QB JJ McCarthy and apparently there's some snag in negotiations around his signing bonus. So I don't know how much attention Turner is getting at the moment.

Karras said it was basically 2 years, $12 million. I assume he meant 2024 and 2025. He was scheduled to make $5.8 million this season, so I assume 2025 will be something like $6.2 million. https://www.si.com/nfl/bengals/gm-report/ted-karras-shares-contract-details-after-signing-one-year-extension-with-bengals-01j091epk3mh

Karras is 310 and he does just fine. Lee played at 300 in Miami. Not concerned.

Yup. So far: 16 Byron Murphy four years, $16.08 million, fully guaranteed 17 Dallas Turner unsigned 18 Amarius Mims unsigned 19 Jared Verse four years $15.1 million fully guaranteed, $7.82 million SB

Good news, Pitt keeping loser HC. https://www.si.com/nfl/bengals/mike-tomlin-has-agreed-to-three-year-extension-with-pittsburgh-steelers-01j01n4a3n6k

Bengals will be doing joint practices with the Bears and Colts ahead of their preseason games. https://www.fox19.com/2024/06/06/bengals-announce-joint-practices-with-2-teams/

Some thoughts from cbs' "agent's take" column. Yeah, given that the Bengals don't seem to be in any hurry to spend down the circa $22 million in cap space they have left for this year (though I think $5-6 million of that will got toward extending McMoney, he's the only 2025 FA that jumps out at me as a "must" candidate to extend now) and Chase is already set to count $21 million against next year's cap, the "giant SB plus outrageous cash flow" approach seems most likely. Imagine Chase getting something like four years and $140 million with like $70 million in year one between the SB and salary and $100 million through year two. Maybe they toss a void year on the end of the deal and convert the year two salary into a bonus to spread out the hit more, I dunno.

Another day, another WR wants a bag. https://www.nfl.com/news/49ers-wr-brandon-aiyuk-not-present-at-mandatory-minicamp-amid-search-for-new-contract

For those interested, here's Dehner's take in full. tl;dr - he argues the Bengals will likely wait until next summer to extend Chase, so no deal this year. He expects a deal will get done eventually but it's also possible the Bengals flatly refuse to give guarantees beyond year one to anyone but Burrow. So there's a non-zero chance that it could all blow up.

I feel the need to give our head coach props for his fantastic trolling of the local sports media and terminally online Bengals fans today. Well played, Mr. Taylor, well played indeed. https://www.wcpo.com/sports/football/bengals/bengals-quarterback-joe-burrow-absent-from-bengals-ota-on-tuesday

The best argument for keeping both Chase and Higgins is to go back and look at how long it took and what it cost to replace Houshmanzadeh. First they threw his money at Coles, who immediately went to crap. Then they spent a second round pick on Simpson, who busted, and a fourth on Caldwell, who was meh. Then, of course, there was Batman. Finally they spent a third on Sanu. Yay! So it took two failed FA signings, three draft picks and four years. Everyone is a cinch to replace until they leave. Then we're all singing Joni Mitchell.

Theoretically, the Bengals could hold onto Chase through the 2027 season (so four years counting 2024) for something like $90 million: $30 million for 2024 and 2025, then two tags for circa $60 million. This would be a PR nightmare for the reasons Amphar already noted, plus it would tie up the tag for two years, potentially letting talent at other spots bleed away. Buuuuuut it would be significantly cheaper than a four year extension, which at the current market rate would be around $140 million with $120 million guaranteed. To be clear I don't expect them to do that, but looking at those numbers I can easily see how the two sides might have very different contract numbers in mind.

And so it begins... Translation: Bengals, Chase not close on money. What money specifically, you ask? It's the same old story Same old song and dance, my friend -- Aerosmith

Interesting to me mostly because he was the backup center. One more tea leaf re how they feel about our seventh round pick.

No argument, signing Chase now makes the most sense for both sides. We’ll see how it goes.

Scharping signs in Philly. https://www.si.com/nfl/bengals/news/former-cincinnati-bengals-guard-max-scharping-signs-with-philadelphia-eagles-01hzfrpj3b9n

No idea if they get something done before the season starts, but it feels unlikely to me. Not hugely so, but, like 70/30 against. I'm sure the Bengals would prefer to wait until next year, and handing Chase a big bag while Tee is chained up by the tag (and with clearly no shot at a new deal here) would be...awkward. If they do deal Tee I think the chance of an extension before opening day increases substantially. Otherwise (and I don't think they will deal Tee, just sayin') I might look at December. If all is going well maybe they pull the trigger around Christmas like they did years ago with Palmer.

No more excuses now.

I’ll bring the big cooler of lemonade.