AMPHAR

Sooooooooooooo? If Zac Moss is such an upgrade why didn't Houston just sign the cheaper/better RB? Instead they give up a pick and take on slightly more money. However, its the path chosen by the Bengals so at least they got something in return.

If I were Higgins, I'd be nervous to go there. Better hope that contract is great.

I just don't see the upside. Zac Moss isn't horrible. Probably solid. But they only save $1m in cash, if that. $2m in cap room. The people shoving Mixon out the door was first about money then about game breaking, then about only gaining what's blocked for you. I don't think Moss is bringing that extra gear or wiggle, because if he could, he wouldn't be so cheap. This could blow up on them for what saving $2m in cap room? Hopefully it works out. Voodoo stats are iffy and can be fools gold because you really have to account for the Competition, Formation, and game situation. Zac Moss's voodoo stats are going to be super awesome if he gets the week after week touches Mixon was getting behind this line with Burrow? Its a whole different world going from needing to run to be the best chance to win and running when the HC/QB want you to and we are first throwing to Chase then Higgins etc.

Rumor mill: I didn't realize there were so many trade value charts floating around. Bengals have been talking to Panthers on a Higgins trade. Asking price is both 2nds. Counter is a 2nd and a 5th. So pending which value chart you frequent. Bengals are asking for mid 1st round value, Panther countering with low 1st round value. Although Tobin is on record talking about how he values these low round picks so there's another trade value chart that suggest pick 33 and pick 141 are worth and equivalent of pick 13. Not sure I buy that, but whatever. Panthers got a bunch of differing picks so I'm not sure which numbers they are actually talking about.

Very interested to hear the local flavor on the Moss/Mixon swap. If the conversation is mainly about pass blocking, then oh boy hold on to your butts. Edit: Looks like Texans are moving fast on Mixon.

They save both cash and cap room but its not significant to hold up dealing with another player. If it is, then we are in fucking trouble. Moss has never cracked a 1,000 yards rushing or 200 yards receiving. So my guess is Chase Brown is the guy or there's another move coming? Brown, Moss, Williams seems like a step back, IMO. Broncos have released the entire team but somehow have held on to Perine who they didn't play during the year. Weird.

I don't get a lot of heart burn losing Reader. Although his market is hotter than what I would have guessed.

That is a shocker. I did not see that one coming. Hopefully the group of RBs collectively is equal or better. I really hope Mixon don't end up in the North or AFC for that matter.

Keep him. Tee looks stuck to me. He's going to have to have his best season to approach #1 WR money. His agent can do whatever he wants but there's no way Tee is holding out, becoming a lockeroom cancer, or faking injuries and still getting #1 WR money coming off a sub-700 season. Bengals will have the tag next year and the WR draft class will be loaded again. Tee will be just 1 year older and further removed from his best season. Tee playing on the tag is not the best outcome for the Bengals but its hardly a negative. If they tag again next year they are paying the same or less than the Colts are paying to Pittman. Bengals are pushing all the risk on the player and giving up cap manipulation.

I didn't see Chido returning unless on the cheap. With the addition of Stone, givin his numbers I'm not sure the Bengals need to add a body to the secondary. They can always add competition/upgrade but I'm not sure there is a dire need. Just more or less interested in how the snaps/roles of the secondary shake out.

And they did. 1 compensatory pick has now been changed to 97th overall, 3rd rounder.

Its hard to beat the Mixon restructure. Paying him less than $6m and some of that is incentive. Then off the books. Any on paper upgrade to be signed before the roster bonus would require more cash out the door and cap implications for 2 seasons or more.

Eh, Stone? Alright I guess. Young vet talent. See what happens. Like it better than Nick Scott last year but would have perferred Von Bell. But now we have the Raven's secrets. Edit: Ravens fans seem upset so I like it a little better now. Up to Lou to figure out the pieces/snaps/roles etc.

That's a lot of money for a guy I got to now look up on the interwebs. Yeah: The Phins aren't having a great offseason. They still have to do work to secure Tua long term

I think Hill and Battle have big upside. Its up to Lou to figure out all the pieces. If he needs Bell to help him do that, then I'm all for it.

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.