AMPHAR

Bengals typically keep 2 pure Centers. Hill the C they drafted from Georgia was running at guard, a lot. I'd say Lee is safe. Chase back in practice is the best news. Hope they get a long term deal done but if not and he produces a top season. This has to be the offseason to sign or trade him.

In 3 WR sets its going to be Irvwin, Iosivas. I'm guessing they'll run a lot more 2 and 3 TE sets in name only. Sample is really the only one that truly functions as a in-line TE. Gesicki will function more like a 3rd WR most of the time. Last year they seemed to like to run Hudson on top of some stack formations out wide, I imagine that will continue a little whether it be Hudson or another TE. They'll probably work a few 2 back looks as well. Its a crowded group of skill guys. I'd hate to see Burton catch the "bust" label. If Zac/Burrow can't convert 1sts downs and get the snap counts up into the 70s there will be some guys catching heat. Really the snap count thing greatly falls on the line to eliminate negative plays and when they call their run game on 1st down they need to be way more effective than what they've done recently.

You only can line up 11. Burrow, Chase, Higgins and 5 OL - That's 8 guys 100% snaps. That leaves you 3 fighting for the remaining snaps. They will have a RB on the field 99% of the time That's 2 spots 1. Sample or some other form of blocking TE will be 45% of snaps. 2. So that's Gesicki (2 TE looks/Slot), Iosivas, Jones, Irwin, Chase Brown (2 back looks), Hudson and Burton fighting for 55% Who are you taking off the field for Burton? Every single one of the players listed before Burton have gotten the majority of practice snaps with Burrow and have been pretty much been left on the bench during preseason games. Unless there are drastic injuries Burton will not be a big factor on offense the first half of the season and maybe not at all. His best hope is being a return factor that would at least get him active on game days. Even before Burton IF the Bengals are not snapping the ball 70 times a game there will be some whipping boy from the fan base because they aren't producing.

Does a lengthy hold out by Chase do more to get him a new contract or put him on the path of playing on his 5th year rookie option and then franchise tag? The latter route gets him about $50m for 2024,25, and 26 seasons. Its just hard to think a sit out of multiple games gets him closer to the rumored deal with the Bengals. Then is he going to hold out his rookie 5th year and franchise years too? I guess that could happen. IF Chase doesn't get the deal prior to the start of the 2024 season, IMO, the best path to that $120m mark is to produce a top season in 2024.

I do not see a big role for Burton in the first half of the season as a pass catcher without injury. If he can get active on game day due to returning that would help his cause.

Another board claimed his brother posted back in time for KC. I'd say its hit or miss.

I believe Colts are playing starters. The best match up and I hope I can see it is Latu vs. Kirkland. Latu has a ton of hype. Kirkland probably is the 4th tackle on the roster. It'd be nice for him to win that battle.

On a per season basis Justin Jefferson was a far superior player vs. Chase his first 3 years. That's the time frame Chase is asking to be paid on. Its completely fair IF the Bengals pump the brakes and see that 4th season before the giving up that amount. I don't know what they'll do. I hope it doesn't get annoying but Chase will not build his case by sitting out. There are young players coming in a producing comparable numbers. There will be 20 or more WRs that will carry a top 150 grade this draft and probably well into the future.

5th rounder beat Chase's best year last year as a rookie. Puka 4th rounder beat Chase's best year in his 3rd season. St. Brown. 3rd rounder beat Chase's 2nd best year in his 3rd season Nico Collins. 1st rounder 18th overall pick was comparable to Chase his rookie year and hit 1,800 his 3rd year. Justin Jefferson. There will be rookie's/young players that produce as WRs very early in their career and carry a much lower cap hit. Chase has not produced a season like the players he's modeling his next contract after. Those are facts. I'm in favor of paying Chase but paying him that amount is certainly questionable at this point.

Can I only assume most people in favor of paying Chase a larger sum than JJ are simultaneously thinking he reaches those stat levels. I think/hope he does. I'm still in favor of paying both Chase and Higgins and thinking you can build a Superbowl winner doing so. There's going to be 19-20 WRs taken in the top 150 picks in next year's draft. Same for the year after. There's only so much sitting out Chase can realistically do with his current stat lines and hopes of $120m. He's got a little leverage right now with public support but that will dwindle next to nothing if he misses week 2. Realistically there's not too many bridges he can burn given those stat lines and those contract demands. Eventually Chase is going to have to pop off a league top 3 receiving season to justify it. Bengals give him that contract today, its a clear overpay in the moment.

Given that type of money you have to get SUPER seasons like 1,600-1,900 league leading (or top 3) seasons. Chase hit the top 5 his rookie year and hasn't sniffed it since. That's a big ask of the Bengals, IMO. Pay him like that absolute top despite never being it. If you make him wait and he pops off one of those seasons. Well, he's already asking for the most guaranteed money anyway.

$120M given the timing is certainly entering the world of making the Bengals take on a lot more risk considering Chase has only averaged 1,200 yards his 3 years. There's a lot of other factors in his numbers like the health of QB of course, but still locking in at that rate before ever producing 1,600 yards is certainly entering the world of unreasonable. That writer isn't going to be around owning up to his mistake if Chase just remains at the sub 1,600 yard level. When you hand over that type of money and guarantee it you are wanting super seasons that get your team as close a possible to a Superbowl.

Murphy Rumors MCL sprain - 2/3 weeks.

Zac Taylor post practiced seemed annoyed. Some very short answers to questions. Zac on Joe's black glove; "You'd have to ask him, he's been doing it for a couple years.". Zac thinks Joe looks good throwing.

Apparently it was the Bengals defense dominating. They are on quite the roll lately. Hopefully Murphy is ok or not serious and the D can jolt back up into the top half of the league.

Colts offense got off to a quick start in red zone but according to the tweets or X remarks the Bengals D is doing well in the first 11 v 11. 1. Maybe 2 Bengal sacks according to one on looker. 2. Dax Hill playing well. Near pick 6 and several other break ups. He might be our No. 2 CB. 3. Burton TD. 4. Higgins dominating it sounds like 5. Gesicki active day as well Maybe Burrow has struggled vs. the D recently, because they are good?

Joe practicing vs. Colts and reportedly has hit Higgins several times. So much for his wrist relapse.

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.