AMPHAR

There's a tad bit there. If you watch videos he is messing with a glove. He does clinch his fist. The Pike and Mo show is clearly drama driven a bit. Its bait reporting to get the exact reaction. Same thing last week when J'mar Chase wasn't seen on field. IT was we aren't saying he's holding out, could be anything, but the front office should blah, blah, blah. Joe not pushing the ball down the field could be a number of things. I think he's thrown at every practice. I know when I went down there it was clear work on screens and under center day. They don't have Browning to take reps so it could easily be work load management. I won't worry until there's report of an MRI or whatever. The more interesting part from yesterday is supposedly Chase and the QB coach were on the cart together, Chase with jersey in hand. Some think they were heading over to indoor field to throw routes. IF true seems to suggest he'll be practicing with the team before Week 1.

I have a hard time believing Chase is in the building AND contract talks are not productive. I would think IF it was trending towards him holding out for week 1 he'd get the F out of dodge. Then I'd really have a hard time believing he's going to be in the building for week 2 and not play in KC. There's no way he'd maintain respect from his team mates being guaranteed $26m and healthy and he isn't playing.

The Ocho has opined on the Chase situation:

Obvious observation but in order to get all these guys touches, the ball must be snapped. So converting 3rd downs and getting snap counts up into the 70s is the only way to do it. That goes directly back to the O-line improving dramatically on 1st down runs and cutting out negative or 1 yard carries and of course negating pass rush pressures.

Not sure how much Burton will impact passing game this year without injury. However, his possible impact on return game does at least keep him active on game day. Last tackle spot is interesting. Both Ford and I guess Kirkland give you options for depth inside. I have not seen Carman work inside this preseason so I'm guessing he's done given the late snaps in the 4th quarter. Maybe a Mims PUP or IR placing saves him. Caught Zac's post game. He seemed to be annoyed at someone on offense about not picking up the blitz that caused them problems. He acted like those should have not been surprised. I'm guessing its either a Center or QB not making the calls to change protection. Both were off the right side on the edge. The only other candidate for mistake would be Ford, I guess.

Williams does look good in play extension. Sure, who the hell is he going against but he can compose himself and reload while keeping eyes down the field.

Homers. Bear looked like ass. 1. Impressive showing by Bengals D. They could only get stuff with a reverse, bullshit PI, and some impressive play extending vs. I'm not sure what depth along Bengals line. 2. Kirkland impressive at LT. Really only 1 notable D-line rush vs. Ford. The free runners come from secondary blitzes. Hard to know who to blame with out All-22. Kinda BS doing that stuff in Preseason but whatever. 3. Multiple gash running plays 4. Bengals would probably have the lead without OL penalties 5. Burton looks good on returns. Not a whole lot of college experience so do you trust him in regular season? 6. Battle seems to be buried deep on the depth chart. I'm not sure he's going to have a big role this year. We'll see. 7. Newton is impressive DB depth

Bengals are opening up Sept 8th in all orange. Burrow, Higgins and Chase featured in promo.

If you guys love field goals as much as I do, then great news! Money Mac extended.

I'm not reading to deep into Trent's injuries. Zac runs a vet friendly camp. I do think you don't start him if he's not punching the clock a couple weeks out from the opener. I think I read the Bears offensive starters are going to square off against the Bengals D 2s and 3s. I'd expect to see Dax and DJ turner getting 1st half reps. Hopefully that back 7 can make plays in the first quarter/half.

Evans played 24 offensive snaps last year. Special teams hit for sure. I don't think D'Ante Smith played a snap last year. Did he get hurt last year? Shame really just another OL miss by the front office at this point. Wasn't really expecting him to make the team, did he play Saturday? With injuries to Trent Brown and Mims. Cody Ford is the guy first off the Bench for RT or jumbo packages like last year, the practice in Chicago confirms that. Cody also provides guard depth. I guess the major question will be is Mims hurt serious enough to land him on a PUP or IR list that takes him out the first few games and saves a roster spot for another tackle? The starting lineup on Saturday will be interesting. Are you starting prime backs up that have made the team already or are you protecting them and not playing them? I would not be playing Ford at this point. Then does Carman start LT? If he does is he the prime LT back up or do they need to see him play better to make the team?

Apparently Bengals got their ass kicked up in Chicago today. Kudos to the local radio guys for taking any bad news about the team and linking it to the front office and J'mar Chase. D'ante Smith and Chris Evans carted off in air casts. Tony Pike take "Well the front has to sign J'mar Chase now". Yeah, seems like they are trying to stir the drama story line a little. Just a side effect of starters not playing meaningful snaps in preseason, now the media needs to stir up drama over practices because they don't have any material of substance to talk about.

Justin Jefferson produced 1,400 then 1,600 then 1,800 his first 3 years. Chase hasn't topped his rookie season of 1,400. Again assuming what the negotiation tatics would be. Its quite unreasonable to be asking for THE TOP RATE a year early with those stat lines in comparison. Targets are what they are but anybody with an honest bone in their body is putting JJ over Chase at this point.

I assume Chase wants to beat JJ deal. How do the Bengals beat or match a JJ deal a year earlier than JJ without Chase producing a season that beats a JJ top season? Have no idea if Chase is willing to take a medium deal to give him more security or if its all or nothing. If its all or nothing then I guess he's either playing on a current contract or holding out as long as he can. Its a tough thing to ask for that type of contract a year earlier than JJ got it and not even have beaten his best year. Assuming of course that's what is being asked. Justin Jefferson played 4 years with 2 of them being over 1,600 yards. Chase has had 1 season over 1,400.

Supposedly Chase flew with the team to Chicago. So? The world might not be ending.

I'll probably always be in the camp of first preference of paying Chase and Higgins through Burrow's 2nd deal. I expect/hope Burrow to be good enough to basically play through a 3rd deal. The Bengals have landed two top end performers, proven. They know it works. At some point IF you draft good players you are going to have to say goodbye to someone as contracts come up and a greater percentage of "unknown" in spots. You know it Burrow/Chase/Higgins gets you in the Superbowl talk with a horrible o-line and bend but don't break D.

I haven't reached that point with Chase. But yes, there will be approx 20-25 WRs taken in the top 150 in next year's draft class. If you look at highschool recruiting rankings there are way more 4 and 5 star prospects entering college. Basically the WR market is flooded. That point supports the view of not paying WRs and especially 2 WRs. I think if you peal the onion back while there seems to be a huge supply of guys that can run and catch at an all-pro level in t-shirts. That number so far has dwindle when the pads come on and the bullet fly. Also WRs are getting paid as the cap grows.

I just assume Ben Baby and ESPN are just being the agent's voice. Chase has $26m coming to him and its all basically guaranteed. The issue for Chase is the AJ Green situation. AJ and the Bengals were close to an extension that would be close to the Julio Jones contract. Then AJ tore up something lower body in practice. It was constant is he going to play or isn't he that entire season. I think the Bengals gifted him the franchise tag the following year that put $18m in his pocket but AJ being on that practice field cost him some money. He was never the same most national reporters when spouting off "cheap Bengals" will never give them credit for franchising AJ. He was done and no other team would have paid that amount to him for a singular season, IMO. Chase has $26m in his pocket now. Risk he doesn't suffer a bad injury or sever down turn in production over the next two seasons and he could at least expect another $25m with a franchise tag. I don't blame him for sitting out because a new deal would surely land $80m in his pocket for those same 3 seasons. Talking about a difference of $30m at least. Don't really blame Bengals either at this point. Chase has never produced more than 1,600 yards and he's under realistic control for 3 seasons and substantial less cash ($30m).

Kirkland working out to be a competent back up or fringe starter would be welcomed. I remain skeptical. They thought similar about Adeniji and removed all obstacles for him to start various spots. He was low tier at all of them. Then one day last year. Whelp we were wrong, Adeniji goodbye. Just speaks to the disaster the O-line has been and maybe the questionable talent evaluation going on. Adeniji hurts his chest. Comes back gets a ticket to the starting line up at RG. Plays horrible. Next year back up but then gets starting job at RT once La'el gets injured. Keep in mind they elected to start La'el off 2 summer practices. La'el played horrible to start the year. Adeniji played horrible at RT as a back up. Then next TC, they cut him and keep the players they benched in favor of him. Weird. Kirkland. Again, I hope the hype works out. But they added tackles in front of him and started him inside for a reason. The question or doubt is Pollack. Remember Pollack started Price as a rookie over a clearly better option in Hopkins. That OL has been disaster for so long, hopefully they can string together a competent starting 5 for most of the year. Just tired of hearing these rags to riches late round finds that have never panned out under Pollack.

I'm not worried about J'mar Chase at this point. Won't start get worried until he or his camp goes public about missing regular season games. Maybe his absent from yesterday's camp is a prelude to that. Who knows? Hard to have a take either way. Don't know what has been offered. Don't know what has been asked. If a "hold in" produces a long term deal for Chase prior to the season. I wouldn't really give a fuck about him missing whatever training camp time.

1. Don't like the Bears all orange. Hope the Bengals all orange looks better. Bear's all orange whenever they break them out is horrible. 2. Teair Tart - Sign me up. Wanted him this off season. However, if you go back and check through the game day threads on the various Bengal boards. He dropped "the peoples elbow" on the back of Karra's neck during the last Titan v Bengals match up. It would have topped any Vontez Burfict cheap shot. I'm surprised it hasn't more coverage but anyway some the scuttle butt after his FA visit about why they didn't sign him was personality. 3. Didn't like the Mims pick at the time. Just didn't like the Bengals taking a lightly played OT based on their recent history of busts along taking the 5th,6th,7th tackle off the board when your 1st CB was there. Loved what I saw of him at camp and the feedback on camp reports. Hopefully he's back soon and can pick it up. 4. I think Bengals are practicing with the Bears this week. Not shocked the starters won't play in the game. All meaningful work will take place out of sight from fans. Which again makes preseason games more of a bullshit money grab. 5. I also believe Cody Ford got the "swing" tackle reps last year during regular season games. I think all his preseason snaps came at guard this past Saturday.

Crap. At least it doesn't involve surgery. Hopefully the rehab goes well and fast.

There have been big bengal crowds in Nashville the past few years very fun road trip. I am guessing Bengal "JIM" will have one of his tailgates and those can get quite huge so keep an eye out for that and location. After the victory then its on the bars, bring cash and request "Welcome to the Jungle" in every bar you go in.

I said played a good first half and he did.

Also Kudos to the Brown family. The have done a lot for the fan experience inside Paycor. I just hope there will be a day a Superbowl banner will hang in it.