AMPHAR

Joe does dress like a goof.

On 2nd thought Ossasi will have trouble come close to those numbers in FA. Its a packed top 50 for edge players in the draft about 12 rated in top 50 prospects. Realistically a DE needy team could potentially add 2 in the draft's first 2 rounds if they chose. Plus there' a couple more names out of his 2021 class that have bounced around in trade talks that would be hitting FA for the first time ranked higher than him but probably be in that $15+m range. Then a couple more teams prioritized over him last year still available. In the end its a thin FA class again. Hendrickson is the top FA and the Bengals could land him with a simple tag. Probably what they'll do starting off IF surgery goes well. He'll need to go off the charts crazy with sacks these last few games to up that market value, IMO.

That said. Given the NFL Head Coaching math of success. IF the Bengals would have a job opening this year or next they would have several quality applicants. WHY? Every coach from pee wee to the pros knows the pains of the job. 1. Its rare to even get the opportunity at all. 2. The chances of success are slim no matter how good a coach you think you are. 3. Any new HC will have Burrow, Chase, and Higgins and a manageable cap. 4. Patient Ownership. So yes, you are likely to get 4 seasons. Which would beat the average life span of a head coach in the NFL. Fans across the league (not Chiefs fans) forget the struggle finding another elite coach once they fired Marty. Browns have never found one since firing Marty. Broncos same shit. Teams have wondered in the wilderness for multiple seasons looking for HCs. I think that probably goes hand in hand in finding a QB. That's why its ridiculous to try to separate Zac success from Burrow. Most successful winning head coaches had HOF QBs.

Zac Taylor is way above average coach. To suggest otherwise is emotion talking not reality of the NFL. Zac Taylor is nearing the top 100 all time wins in the NFL. Top 50 playoff wins. 1 of 60 coaches to win a Conference Championship. Would anyone be in favor of enshrining Forrest Gregg, Sam Wyche or Marvin Lewis in the ROH? ZT if given the same number of games would eclipse Wyche, maybe Gregg, and fall short of Lewis in total wins but has already beaten them all in playoff wins. So when a head coach nears the top 100 in wins. The names clearly are not impressive until you realize how much turnover and how many guys actually get hired/fired as NFL head coaches. You see a lot of fans wanting to get rid of Tomlin, Harbaugh, McDermott. That's fine. Expectations are bitch for sure. The boredom of fans with a certain level of success breeds frustration. Doesn't breed quality opinion. Just from a numbers stand point alone it is very hard to find that elite HC. The fact the Bengals fired or moved on from a top 30 win coach, and top 50 playoff season Head Coach and elevated the franchise with the very next hire is quality. The reality is that is hard to do.

If Burrow is playing, then I want them to win a many games as they can with the biggest offensive number as possible.

Firing Zac would be easier if he was a complete Buffoon. Every AFC team that's paid a franchise QB save KC has a message board fan base that wants a GM, HC, or OC change. Everyone. Not to say those demands are not somewhat justified, just saying none of those guys are buffoons and its harder reality to improve upon on it. Message board fans take the path of least resistance to fix an under performing team so they work up in their minds the current leadership is just lucky and there's vast untapped coaching pool that automatically can do better. See it all the time in Bengal land. Everyone here assumes Joe Burrow is Joe Burrow with any other coach in America. Probably, maybe, not 100%. Zac Taylor should be fired because somehow Jake Browning had a free pass to 2nd QB snaps and he's also had enough time to get it done and hasn't. However, there's a ton of Josh McDaniels in the world that can go down in flames just as easy.

$15m seems about right with cap growth. There are multiple players from his draft class that basically the same player stat wise so I don't think the market will be as strong considering he was a FA last year and could only muster a 1 year deal.

Nah, I'd like to see Burrow notch another win in a game Lamar starts. Its a dumb narrative but one that's constantly referenced. I would also like to see if the defense can keep Lamar in check another time.

One of the bigges issues next year in rebuilding a defense will be the FA class once again appears weak. Before tags and extensions I've seen Hilton listed as a top 30 FA. That's not good if you're hoping to rebuild a defense.

I'd like to see an extension for Ossasi, if it can be done in a fair range. Murphy not sure if you pick up his 5th year. I think both are valuable as rotational pieces but neither are going to be foundation pieces for a defense. Both have played good well 4 weeks in a row vs. quality QBs where it seems covering underneath routes is a real struggle for the back end of the defense.

I'd say 2022 was the missed opportunity. They were the best team in football the 2nd half. Lost 3 starters on the OL and lost a close one in AFC Champ game. Really just the same organization failure once they paid Dalton. They had a killer roster for 2 seasons and once they had to pay the key pieces they were never able to add or replenish to get them over the top. That's the danger in bringing back Tobin and Zac. Although I think they will because you know when Burrow plays he's elite with Zac and I don't think they'll be daring enough to go in another direction.

I think its proving out that Murphy's DE class was average or worse after Will Anderson. The drafting mistakes Bengals make when they focus on future roster holes vs. BPA.

Unless this defense led by the DEs contains Allen and Lamar the next 2 weeks, the only DEs I'm concerned with are Trey and Ossai. Mildly concerned with Ossai, I think he's worth a mid-level contract. Outside of that every DE should be facing the axe or bench next year when it comes to snaps and roster spots.

I don't know if you advocated specifically for the Watt contract or not. Who cares if you did or didn't? You claimed they could learn a lesson about using their leverage extensively. The Watt contract just happens to be the alternative because the Trey hold up was about guaranteed money. With Trey missing games and rumors off season surgery it now appears the Bengals identified the risk correctly and proceeded correctly in that negotiation. I am disappointed Trey is having a down season one of his worse. I am also glad that they aren't locked into paying him $30m. They can sit and wait to see what off season surgery looks like and have options to retain him if they want to. Trey probably isn't looking at $30m dollar pay day in a singular season next year except maybe from the Bengals. Seems kinda simple. Again, what lesson should the Bengals learn? Seems like they were not off base in this situation.

Again, what lesson? They were right in not guaranteeing multiple years for him.

Bengals had multi year deals on the table. The sticking point was the guaranteed money. Trey wanted up to 3 years and then 2 years. They compromised to 1 year and kept the right to tag. Most likely the year 1 and tag year for the Bengals would have been in the range of the 2 years offered. I don't think Trey has quit because his inability to play has now put those year 2 amounts into question. He won't get it on the open market without some incentives pushed beyond the 2026 season. The Bengals could now pass on the option of tagging him or having him play on the tag. It was smart of the Bengals to play hardball his off season. A bunch of Pittsburgh fans are questioning the value of Watt butt they are stuck and if he doesn't revert back DPOY standard it will be an issue they must work around.

Steelers have to pay Watt $64m the next 2 seasons, I believe guaranteed. Carries $94m dead cap next year, and $54m the following. What lesson are you talking about exactly? Bengal contract negotiations are annoying but I'm sure glad they have an option to tag or move on from Trey this coming off season.

I think both Ravens and Steelers are showing their age and that could be a factor the rest of the season.

Trey quitting could be true, but I doubt it. Its low logic thinking, IMO. The final offer on the table rumored was 2 yr $55-60m. He wanted that 2nd year guaranteed. At some point was wanting 3 year guaranteed. That was the hold up. Trey missing time AND if he's truly quit that just furthers the Bengals position as correct. I don't think he quit because that is not going to help him get that remaining money off the 2nd year. Furthermore the rumors are he's putting off surgery in case of playoff run. All the rumors will play out in the future months, but the Bengals were 100% correct in holding their ground over guaranteeing money to a 30+ old DE coming off career highs and somehow had an issue with his contract for consecutive years.

Way too early for this kinda of BS. Get to 6-8 first then start writing/reading/spewing this crap. Allen and Lamar could drop 40+ on that D and everyone quickly forgets about the slight improvement they've shown the past 3 weeks.

I'd take any AFC North division winner at home over any AFC South Wild Card team in round 1 if it should work out that way.

I wouldn't rule out a losing record division winner. The conversation for the Bengals the next two weeks is win out. If they are still in the mix sitting at 6-8, then we'll see.

I think there were too many Red Zone Field Goals to give Joe Burrow all the credit. Game could have been over in the first half. Defense gifted the offense the ball at the 2 yard line and got 0 points. They still needed that last fumble to ice it because the offense turned it over in game killing mode. Which is fine. Because its likely Burrow will have to carry them in order to win in Buffalo. Al Golden for one game deserves huge amounts of credit because that's as bad as I've seen Lamar Jackson vs. a Bengals D in a long time. You have to remember Lamar tapped out in multiple games vs. Lou's best units. Stephen A. Smith just proves he don't watch games. Anyone watching in real time was worried that the story line would have been Bengals fail to capitalize on Ravens mistakes after the first half. I think even the TV guys said something to that extent gong into half time break.

Burrow vs. Allen. The QB vs. QB head to head is one of the dumbest talking points in the NFL. They don't play each other. However, its always talked about so its important in that arena for Burrow to beat down Allen and then Jackson even if playoff chances are slim. Defense has played better the past 3 weeks but Buffalo is whole other monster to deal with.

Uh oh, that's big trouble there. They love the "Renegade" moment in that stadium.