AMPHAR

Sex Panthers releasing Von Bell. I think Bengals had a 2 year deal on the table and they wanted 3. Can't remember all the scuttle butt but at least he got 1. Do he or don't he get a phone call from Bengals? In a way, Tobin's hard line on not paying Safeties proving true this off season. Of course he really could boast if his drafted safeties played better, I guess.

Drew Sample signed up 3 years. Update: 3 yrs $10.5m.

The only thing we know for sure is the Bengals love Tee enough to give him the tag. That is a hell of a deal for the Bengals cash wise. By league rules they have to spend the cash anyway, cap structure is the only thing they are giving up and they don't really need it now. They may not need cap games next year either. Tyrek Hill signed $30m per. Played two seasons on that deal and this coming season is the first he'll count $30m against the cap. In his first 3 years he'll collect $72m but only count $50.6m via the cap. Given Chase has 2 years left on his rookie deal. They have a ton of wiggle room to play games to get him extended, paid, and not impact the cap. Tee don't have a lot of leverage right now. He can play the "get nasty" card and hope that works. He might look at the reality and come back to the table. Essentially that's what happen to Lamar Jackson. But we just don't know what the Bengals truly want to pay Tee. Given the Pittman deal, if I were the Bengals tagging Tee next year don't look so bad. You pay $43/$44m over 2 years? With the pressure to perform on the player. If they don't you can remove them from the books after the year. Any realistic extension for Higgins they are locking themselves into $70m 3 years and at least $46m in the first two. They only lose the ability to play cap games.

Pittman details are not out yet but reportedly $46m guaranteed. Pittman dominates targets for the Colts, so I expect Tee to get more. But that's the wild card in the Tee scenario. Last year Lamar Jackson got the cold shoulder with the tag. Then went back on his demands and got paid with the Ravens. My guess is Tee has already gotten the cold shoulder on the tag and they already know no offer sheet is coming. If a Tee trade don't happen and I'm not expecting that it will given the WR market this year. I doubt a team comes with significant trade compensation to make the Bengals bite. Then Tee is looking at situation he could lock in at least $46m and probably a lot more or play on $21m. Just mark it down now. Next year's WR draft will be loaded again. Tee will give a minor hold out for symbolic sake, but an extended holdout could really harm his market value.

Only 6 minutes until FA start! Fire up the war room.

No worries. Now's the time for the Tee camp to make the move. Just like Jonah last year. IF you are going to beat the $21m of the tag now's the time to do it. While team's have cap room in March. At the very least, it gets them a jump on next year's FA. Just a question if it ever becomes public nasty to force his way out. I assume he holds out like Bates and then it will be a question of when he joins. Its a publicity move because the agent don't have to request a trade at all. Just go sign an offer sheet with another team. The Bengals can then match or trade. Top 15 pick or equivalent and the Bengals should consider it. I wouldn't give him away. With Mike Evans at 31 locking in $35m. Tee Higgins could be looking at $50m+ You have to try. A question would be; IF they trade Higgins, how do the Bengals pivot? That's what they do.

Just hope Russ Wilson's ego didn't get checked in Denver and his personality issues follow him to Pitt. If Tomlin can get him to accept playing the way he did prior to the "Let Russ Cook" mantra. AFC North just got tougher. Hopefully he flops and does all the crap he did when he first got to Denver. Like private flim rooms the shit that really irks other players.

Cheap deal. Good move for Pittsburgh. Hopefully Russ causes a bunch of drama but its a good move unfortunately. Browns have the worse QB in division and the worst QB contract, lol.

Chargers have to do all of that because they are still $20m over.

Fuaga is my top wish list at OT. I just don't think he'll get to 18. Thus, I get nervous about about Bengals drafting OT at 18 if its the 4th OT taken. I would really like to read a comparison to Sewell and Slater because in that draft it was a strong indicator those two would be franchise tackles. The vibe I get with this class is everyone is saying they are great prospects but no one is getting the Sewell type hype.

That would be a mind blowing draft.

Teams just trading Jonah Williams type players around the league. That's mostly what free agency is. Been that way for decades now. Media will tell you differently. Vegas probably slightly moves its Superbowl odds.

The group of local reporters are under qualified. They've down so much fear mongering over the Burrow extension, self serving. It will always come down to Tobin's value evaluation. If Higgins wants more then another group of current Bengals will get the bag from him.

Good point on the elderly TE.

Hurst out there too. Although he had some health scare and I'm not sure he's playing. CJ, Irv or whatever low level TE, keep it cheap if you go that route. I wouldn't mind the same group back from last year at the same percentage or less in cap. Then if there's a true difference maker, maybe you make the play for them. I think Houston TE just signed tho.

I saw some videos and got sold on Bowers. However, my question and this pertains to any potential Free Agent investment in TE. How are you getting them on the field IF Tee Higgins remains? Chase/Higgins will play 95%+ snaps when healthy. Burrow 100% - 5 OL - 100%. That's 8 guys. They will play some RB -90% of the time. So you got 2 spots left. A Bowers pick with Tee on the roster basically says goodbye any significant production from 3rd/4th WR. Then they've always had the "Dru Sample" role so, I would think any high TE pick or FA signing would have to work in that role as well. Just would be curious to see them work it. Cause paying that much or drafting that high a TE is no good if they are only playing as frequently as CJ or Hurst.

I would think Bowers would have had to be the pick there. I guess. Latham at 18 would be awesome too, but I'd would prefer Bowers. Newton would have been hard to pass on. But that's all gravy if 4 QBs go above them. Can't imagine if it gets so crazy 5 or 6 QBs go above them.

Great the Broncos are gonna suck. Thanks. Just give KC a divisional walk again. Hopefully Harballs can get Chargers rolling.

Bengal fans can look at the cap and draft and talk about fixing holes. A lot of AFC playoff contenders are talking about plugging holes they have created to just get cap room. Bengals have a ba-jillon in cap room even after tagging Higgins. That move puts them in winning the off season even though the majority of talking heads will discount the move because Higgins was already here. That's stupid. To give up that advantage, Tee Higgins is worth a top 15 pick or equivalent, IMO. There's been a whole lot of wasted breath comparing to the Colts. Bengal fans should just worry about getting back to the Superbowl. We are far ways away from worrying about getting Burrow his 2nd superbowl championship, lol. To give Higgins up and take on the risk of replacement. They better get adequately compensated. The worse case IS still a great situation because if 2024 Tee don't work out. His money is off the books. I wish the Bengals could sign every franchise Free Agent to a 1 year deal.

It seems like the latest round of mocks have put more QBs in the top half of the draft. Most have 4 and some have 6. So Bengals will need to strike on whatever position doesn't get the run because there will be someone previously thought to be unattainable sitting at 18. The only slim way I could see a Powers-Johnson at 18 is no run on QBs.

RIP Mort Report.

lol. Did the owners release the report or the players?

I do not like the thought of Justin Fields in Pitt. There's a lot of potential with him and if used effectively in a system can really upgrade their QB spot that's been below average even with fat/slow Ben.

Quit carrying the NFLPA's water. 2 years in a row the NFLPA members have said their family/friends are too good to sit next to you at tax payer provided stadium. Yet fans get in the fetal position when they read this shit. OMG, "we aren't going to get free agents". "Just make them happy". Whatever happened to that fear mongering report about the Bengals supporting worker comp legislation that was sure to scare off Free Agents? There's a whole bunch of agenda driven people/organization AND NFLPA is one of them that's going to beg for public support via these stupid report cards. Quit supporting it. The collective of players are more than capable of going to negotiations when something is truly important to them. The owners should release one that grades players on ability to pay child support. Ability to show up sober on game day. Report showing how much expense is needed to sequester players a night before a game because they can't stop getting high or whatever. Ability not to hit your girlfriend.

Players can strike or stfu. Its not a problem. Quit falling for the union bullshit.