AMPHAR

Highest paid QB. Soon to be among the top paid WR (Higgins, Chase). Pro Bowl LT, Tom Brady's Center and RG, First Round RT. Can't score a TD? Failure of those players and the off season program and game prep week. Unfortunately it looks like we are spending Weeks 2-6 once again over analyzing the offense and wondering if it will ever kick into high gear.

Annoying as shit watching Cleveland Browns players and fans celebrating. Not even competitive.

I would guess that's a Zac decision.

Preseason game 1. They just don't grind in camp and it shows early on. The problem is now you are looking at a possible 0-2 division start again. No surprise the unit that played in the preseason looked competent. No excuse not to have the starting line at least get a series or two during preseason. They can't get any push what so ever and the timing in the run game is just off. Then the coaching staff should have expect passing game struggles with Burrow not practicing all summer.

Glad to see the Sonny Crockett look coming back.

Alas rival fan bases relishing the demise of the Bengals after this deal because Mike Brown is cheap. Weird thought process. Mike Brown was a cheap ass in the 90s before PBS became a reality. I don't know what you would describe him as post Marvin Lewis. However they are still a 0 championship front office but they have moved up in the top half of franchise post Marvin. Yesterday more proof. 1. Palmer (Hobson reminded me) was the highest paid player at one point - 2 division champs 2. Dalton - signed a big but team friendly deal with incentives - 2 division champs 3. Burrow - highest paid 2 division champs, 1 AFC Champ, 1 AFC runner up. I don't know if Mike Brown ever sees the top of the mountain, however it won't be because of cheapness. The rest of AFC North is simply going to have to deal with a very competitive Bengals franchise for the next decade like the previous decade before. The Bengals will probably win the North more times than any other AFC North team the next 10 years. Just the way it is now.

I say it absolutely worth trying to keep Tee no matter cap costs. People always run out current Superbowl Champ didn't have............ That shit changes like the wind. IMO, it really comes down to whoever gets the money bag will have to play at a championship level. Then up to front office to back fill quality. If they don't pay Tee, fine. Pay Chase but FO will need to find a replacement for Tee. Then whoever or whatever combo of players that gets Tee's money will need to deliver. Unfortunately recent History once they dump money into Dalton. They were horrible at drafting replacement O-line. Then defense got old, fat, and self absorbed.

I'd slow your roll on losing Tee. I'm confident Bengals will put an offer on the table that will be tough to pass up. 1st - they view WR as impact/franchise position. 2nd - they view Tee as an elite player at that position. It will come down to whether or not Tee wants to try to beat it, in offseason 2025 because he's gonna get the tag. I'd wait for the structure of the Burrow deal. I don't see the Tee situation like Bates were the basically say they don't want to sink that much money into that position. I think they value WR position and Tee to use the tag AND to put a top market offer out there. Then as the Bengals operate. If Tee don't want to play ball then that money will go to some other Bengals willing to deal.

It seems to me the last few Burrow led Bengal teams that lost to the Browns have a good/decent opening drive going then a turnover happens. Then the rest of the day the offensive mojo doesn't work for whatever reason. Then Browns D-line tee offs, the defense pursues very well to the ball. They get in that comfort zone and then aren't afraid to ride Chubb behind that line. Be nice to set them back on their heals early in the game. But it will be tight game all day long probably. Make the Browns play caller go away from Chubb. But allow the Browns to get comfortable they could win by 10+

Media is going to media. You get the Burrow deal done to avoid a Lamar Jackson monster distraction. Just better to get it done so they'll move on to the next superstar about to expire. I believe the Bengals will attempt to resign Higgins but its up to him to agree.

I don't have any inside sources on the contract itself. Just reading tea leaves of what I was told and the contract was largely done last week. I hope my speculation is true.

Obvious key to the game. OL line play. Past 3 JB starts vs. the Browns - 12 sacks. Garrett has had huge days against Brown and Williams. I would hope some professional pride would kick in because they have not played great against the Browns and even worse up in Cleveland. I'll take a 1 point win and be happy.

This offense has been good. It hasn't been great. There's plenty of room to add 20/30 yards per game and about 3 points per game. I'd be disappointed if Brown doesn't have a significant role without another back stepping up.

That's what I'm thinking about. Since Ossi got hurt in camp/preseason he'd have to clear waivers before they could put him on IR to return. I guess. Another factor might be they may think he can beat the estimated healing time.

I'm just going to guess and say: The lack of practice reps for Burrow was related to contract status and the contract IS DONE. Again, just a guess no insider info.

Was he eligible for PUP? Once you are cleared medically and practice it used to be you could not be PUP'd. Then I thought in order to use IR designation out of TC you had to cut them first then if they made it back put on IR or something.

Hopeful an extension is coming soon.

Nah. Adeniji was the one on a free pass the past couple years and Carman has been better since day 1. Pollack should eat crow on this.

Correct. That and Adeniji has never been better than him. Carman catches more grief because they didn't take Sewell and he hasn't lived up to his 2nd round selection.

Allan George released reported via tweet machine.

Hiring of Marvin Lewis the AFC North the most competitive division in football. You simply have not seen the North dominated by 1 franchise similar to what you see in the West. Chargers won West 4 years running. Then the Broncos 5 in a row. Then Chiefs 7 times. The Bills have won East 3 in a row, following a 11 year run by the Patriots. If you want to host an AFC Champ game you can puss through TC and start 0-2 like they did last year. Hopefully it won't repeat this year.

Nah, same people that made that trade found Brock in whatever bullshit round he was drafted. Also have been Superobwl Runner Up, and 2 time - Conference Champ runner up the past 4 seasons. That group isn't getting fired until the mojo of the current core goes south.

this point has also been confirmed by Manning himself when Peyton has done QB breakdown videos of Burrow. Given Callahan's connections through his dad and relationship with Peyton. Surprised he wasn't plucked from the Bengals already.

Writer did a good job. I have said this a number of times. You could literally see the approach change in that Sunday night game. He started taking check downs. At first it resulted in punts. Continued through halftime and the rest of the game and fought back to take a lead (I think) then tie. Only to lose on a Tucker FG. From that point the offense began a steady climb up the rankings. The O-line improved. 2nd half the year they were the best AFC team. Then unfortunately injuries to OL and not a great AFC Champ game by the secondary. The best way to slow Joe Burrow and the Bengals is deep coverage get pressure with 4. OBJ is not a Whitworth type protector, but paired with Jonah on the RT. You'll have upgraded edge protection from the previous two years. Assuming they continue to check it down and hopeful reduction in fast edge pressure. Teams are going to have to come out of those deep looks.

The game was hard to watch. Very sloppy penalty wise. So either the refs sucked or the players have alot to clean up. Probably a combo of both. Now on to preseason fools gold. Mobile QBs can and should feast in preseason. The Packers got a lot done with the stretch play action, roll out opposite. So did Atlanta. Then Ridder had some good scrambles. Then late in the game Browning feasted scrambling around. Defenses probably aren't game planning deep into rush lanes etc. I think Carman earned his back up role. I have not done a deep film study but I think he was decent early vs. Packers, horrible late vs. Packers and solid most of the time vs. Falcons. But overall they are putting him at LT to start the game then over to RT late in the game. Tells me he's the swing tackle role. We'll see. Out of the QBs we have Browning would be my choice to back up. Seems more mobile. But this offense is like pulling teeth to convert a 3rd or score a TD. As a result Money MAC looks awesome. Bijan Robinson should be high on your fantasy draft board, IMO. Looks to be the real deal.