AMPHAR

Just saw Bengals have given Hendrickson permission to seek trade. So he gone. Frees up $21m at some point and hopefully brings some decent picks. Not real sure about this one. We've watched Hubbard and Atkins physically break down. Then Dunlap production fall off a cliff. Trey pretty damn good and will be tough to replace.

I cool with the Bengals holding the line on guarantees with Higgins. He had 100% last year guaranteed going into a contract year. A lot of people said he looked like a monster in TC. Then he had a disaster first half of the season. Then the last 7 games salvaged it a little to make his overall numbers look respectable. At some point the "insiders" or at least local media need to quit taking the agent's message and ask the obvious. Does he only want to play with Burrow IF he's getting paid/structured like an elite WR?

Good news on Giesicki if it holds.

$30m might be the number. It better be back loaded. If Tee isn't willing to do that, then Tee doesn't really want to play with Burrow and is playing the public opinion game. Bills just signed Shakir. 4 years at $53m. But it COULD BE 2 year at $21m. He's produced less than Tee the past 2 years but he's in his ball park. It's COULD BE 2 years because IF he stays at his current level they'll probably dump before the extra $34m kicks in. There's a bunch of teams dumping their high priced WRs. I have no problem with Bengals overpaying on the tag and refusing a trade unless it significantly beats the comp pick. Give Tee a contract that SAYS $30m a year. Pay him $40 for the next 2 or something. Then years 3,4, are up in the air with the remaining $80m or whatever. If he's not willing to do that then he doesn't want to be here and all the insiders not calling that out are not reporting the reality. This is what the Eagles have done.

I really don't see the value in Tee at $30m a year with Chase. Sorry. Tee has become the newer version of the Indoor practice field. Signing him is more symbolism vs. benefit. I would absolutely jump at any top 50 pick. Don't think the Bengals can trade Tee for a slightly better comp pick. Too much crying will happen. I doubt teams are offering up a top 50 pick. Trey - I say do it unless there's a basket of picks to be had. Although it be great to pay Trey just over the next 2 years. But if you have to risk year 3/4. He's just too consistent. You'd have to get a 1st or the equivalent in a trade. Not sure that's doable based on Hasson Reddick trade last year. Today, they are on the hook for $48m cash AND cap with Tee and Trey. If neither are here then that's at least $48m in cap room and realistically frees up $70m of cash. Then you'll have some sort of picks as well.

Probably functions as a 1 year deal with an option year. He has a ton of starts in the league. Better than back up money but I wouldn't say it locks them into Cappa starting either. Wonder if the Bengals tried to trade him and teams didn't want the $8m for only 1 year?

Thuney traded to Da Bears for a 4th. Chiefs take a $11m dead cap hit and I guess that helps them with the tag for Smith. They have less than $1m of cap room. If you like Chiefs FA LB or Safety then there's not much the Chiefs can do about it right now until move restructures/cuts/trades are done.

Hubbard's rumble in the jungle should be and I think will be a signature sports play in Cincinnati ranking up there (not surpassing) with the Pete Rose 4,192, Dillon 278 etc. I'd go as far as saying that playoff moment should be recognized somewhere inside Paycor or on the Paycor grounds. Happy retirement Sam!

I think direction of the off season is pay a lot of money to the existing offensive stars. Build your defense via the draft. I don't see interior o- line factoring in the first.

I don't think they are going next man up at Guard. Volson might end up being the starter but from the sound of it he's gong to have to fight off a challenger. So I wouldn't think they'd want both guard spots in question to start TC. My guess is RG comes from FA. There's some decent ones. Questions but decent. I'd expect Ford to be back a Guard. Cochran played well enough to be a lock for the 3rd tackle spot which Ford was basically filling.

Probably $58 but that's still not 100%. When people start digging into these contracts sometimes the guarantee doesn't kick in until new league year BUT the agent includes all of it in the press release which is picked up and reported. That's how you have people thinking the Ealges have signed ALL these offensive players but when you look at it the cash is pushed back and there a opportunities for getting out of it and its less than the reported amounts.

They should be able to get something for Pratt, maybe a 5th. He's a decent LB, he could easily find himself in a season where he grabs 6+ TOs. Hubbard with his injury and contract, I doubt anyone but Lou would trade for him. I wouldn't rule out Hubbard coming back on a greatly reduced, earn your spot in TC type contract.

Over the weekend Debo Samuel getting traded for a fifth, but then in a surprise the 9ers indicate Aiyuk could also be traded. When it comes to Tee, teams have been selling off those big WRs deals in the past year.

Tag your it. Osa Odighizuwa expected to be tagged or extend by Tuesday. So that's a potential 3 of an already weak top 10 FAs that might not hit the market. The Boyz will have to make some moves once applying the tag. It's around $25m and they have under $2m of cap room.

Last year Chiefs tagged Sneed then traded by the end of March to the Titans. They swapped 7th rounders and picked up a 3rd this year. As it relates to the Bengals, I can't see Tee getting his freedom via tag and trade with that type of compensation. This is were the Joe Burrow stuff could hurt him. It'd be hard to declare winning that type of trade for Tee. My guess is some team will have to come up with a top 50 pick this year to make a trade and tag work for Tee. Bengals would get slandered nationally basically trading Tee for that. OK for other teams, but not Bengals.

Hard to say. Stuff I've read over at the Chiefs Planet there is a negative view on the situation. Things will be fluid, just from their cap situation alone should tell them that there are several moves coming.

KC will have to make some moves to tag they have $7m of cap room and tag cost is $23m. The interesting part would be IF he plays on the tag they'd have $61m in the interior line on an offensive unit that has fallen drastically off. As it stands right now its open season on all their other FAs. But the lack of cap room guarantees some sort of restructuring/cuts are coming.

Dvante Adams has a Taco Bell in his house. I think its silly for these players to also want food at their place of employment.

Trey Smith tag your It. I can't wait to read all the hot takes about the evils of tagging players regarding the Chiefs.

Hmmm LaCanfora had Tee in a patriots uni getting $30m a year just a couple weeks ago. Cruel business. Tee got cut by the Pats before he even signed.

There's a few out their draft class that fit the profile of break out. I'd put Ossai at the top of that list of the ones that weren't first or second rounders. Even with a strong draft class, I'm guessing there will be some money spent in FA for DL. Whether its for the guys they drafted we'll have to see. The kept 10 last year. 5 Inteior, 5 edge. Sample wasn't among that group his season was already over on cut down day. Rankins already gone. Zach Carter already gone. Ossai FA, Hill FA, Hubbard (cut?) Trey (trade?)

Tee, Trey, Chase have sucked the wind out of the offseason. I would like to see/read about an extension for Ossasi and eventually Sample. Those are two rotational pieces on the DL worthy of keeping. While its a strong draft DL wise they are staring at being down two DTs (Rankins/Hill) when FA opens and two DEs (Ossasi/Sample) and maybe a 3rd if Trey doesn't dance.

Tee its the same issue as its been since Chase broke out in 2021. Can they or should they build a team around 2 highly paid WRs? The Bengals and Joe have indicated "yes". Unfortunately for Tee, he's the Robbin in the scenario. Once the tag is applied is he good enough to get a long term top of market deal AND part ways with a top 50 pick? Nobody knocked on his door last year. The Bengals are guaranteed a comp pick so a team is going to have to beat that and probably more considering Joe has made a big stink. That's were it could hurt Tee. So he doesn't like the tag. What's a hold out get him? Its clear as mud unless there's a round of injuries in the summer/prior to trade deadline and the trade value goes drastically up but team's are typically locked in cap wise and then there's teams dumping WRs like last year for cheap. If you don't like the tag AND you can't get to a long term number. Then settle for a deal that pay you more in 2025 and throw in 2026 and 2027. Have an out after 2026 in case you explode stat wise. Then move on. If the Bengal offers aren't paying at least $26mil in cash for 2025 then they are in the wrong, IMO. Somehow when there's this much clarity it seems to get done.

The family babysitting/family hospitality room is just lack of awareness by the NFLPA. Yes, let's get all the wives/girlfriends together at the game with the kids monitored by our husband's employer. Great idea! Serve alcohol, even better! I guarantee if you could get that made into an show independent from the NFL propaganda, it would out draw the pro bowl. Joe already freaked out when his house got broke into and people found out he had that model shacked up in there. I'm sure he'd love TMZ finding out who Joe's guest was in the family room this week or which girlfriend/wife didn't show because she has a black eye etc. Best idea I ever heard. "My mommy says my daddy fucks to many hoes on the road and that's why she got a new car". Make it mandatory and coaches wives/kids too. Guarantee the Ravens wouldn't have been blind sided by Justin Tucker.