AMPHAR

I would have loved to have Flowers back at one point. But he's been a bubble guy for a while. After the draft, Flowers wasn't going to resign with the Bengals even IF they offered a 1 year. Don't understand the mourning of a bubble guy moving on. Flowers and his agent saw the crowded room and wisely moved on.

Quoting myself because the reality of losing Brown is just hitting in KC. Donovan Smith will get first run for them at LT during OTAs over the RT they overpaid for. Smith has given up major pressures despite blocking for Tom Brady's quick release. Smith almost got benched last year in Tampa. I think their tackle spots are going to be something they'll need to manage because Mahomes is a play extending freak. Meanwhile the AFC runner ups are going to have to manage putting either a former 1st round LT at RT or an under performing 2nd rounder at RT with a Pro Bowl LT.

Black Friday game would be better IF it honored the traditions of black friday. You know first people in the door get a 500 inch TV for $3. Stuff like that. Get some mom's fighting in the stands over Cabbage Patch dolls.

I think its completely fair to ding the Bengals draft for not landing a TE. A LITTLE. I wouldn't go overboard in doing so. Like anything with the draft we'll see. Irv Smith has 15 starts in 4 seasons and more alarming played 8 games the last 2. There's a good chance a TE they could have gotten in this draft will out produce Irv IF he gets injured, maybe even if he stays healthy. Then again Myles Murphy grabs you 8 sacks, put Mahomes down in the 4th quarter of AFC Champ game and Irv gives them a healthy season and grabs a TD in the AFC Champ. Nobody is going to give a hoot about not drafting a TE. I think they traded an opportunity in getting pass rush for solving TE. They've been good at finding productive TEs. No problem with what they did. There will always be "what ifs"

IMO and (there is no basis for it) Jonah and his agent tried to take advantage to either get a long term deal this year (via trade) effectively giving him more cash than the $12.5 for this year or use the trade to legally tamper with teams for next year's market. I just thought it was unlikely Williams would do anything to jeopardize next year. Average guys got paid and there will probably be more considering cap growth. See if he can win the RT job.

Exciting. I think Jonah could give the best RT season they've had since Andre Smith OR he could get beat out by Carman. Then its anybodies guess what happens. Either way if the line remains healthy they should be a top 10 unit, IMO.

Williams injury/rehab makes sense. But he also jumped Adeniji? Pollack has played Adeniji over Carman at every opportunity.

Just kinda says they know Williams is moving on. So I also don't think they'll want to cut a younger tackle like Smith or Adeniji just to keep Williams around who will not be there in 2024.

I had not heard this. So Carman is getting first run at RT over Williams? That tells me Williams will not be around somehow. I just can't see Williams who they've declared a starter the 1st OTA since they drafted him is not going to open up TC as starter at RT with $12.5m cap hit. Also kinda surprised he's leaped Adeniji this early. Adeniji has always been the first off the bench for Pollack. My guess would have been the opposite for opening day TC starting reps.

The next step is the schedule. I fully expect the Bengals to be featured to the max in prime time. Hopefully can avoid two Thursday night games like the NFL has floated out there. It would not shock me in the least if KC hosts Bengals opening night. Just the way the KC fans booed each pick last weekend. Its a sexy match up. But if they don't end up in that slot I think end up with some early season key match ups and if that's the case something has to be done to make sure the line isn't sleep walking through those match ups. The past 2 seasons they've had 4 winnable games in weeks 1 and 2. Vikings, @Bears, Steeler, @ Cowboys. The line and Burrow were just so far off what would become that season's norm. 1-3 record. Just can't start off that way and expect to be the No. 1 seed. The Bengals have had the home Thursday night game for a long time. Stats for the games within the season (not opening night or Thanksgiving) strongly support the home team. Of course, placement of the bye. To get No. 1 seed they'd have to be around 2 or 3 losses.

Do they keep 7 WRs? With this addition probably means 1 or 2 spots realistically open.

As it stands right now, if you are tackle with Cincinnati Bengals not named Orlando Brown Jr, better come to camp ready to compete because not everyone is going to stay OR will need to be versatile and help at guard.

Now I remember that story. Thanks for posting.

Bengals could find a Free Agent back to replace Mixon but its not risk free. I'm not sure I want them playing poker just to effectively add $6m of cap or whatever it is to the $17m they already have. Given the $17 includes earmarks for Burrow, Tee, or any other current Bengal they want to extend. The risk is as simple as this. They are knocking on the door of a Superbowl and everyone talks about "window" and stuff. Perine, Hurst, and Mixon were critical components in counter balancing the cover 2 looks they were getting. Now Perine is replaced with a rookie. Hurst is replaced with Irv IR Smith. Now you want another new face? OK. On paper it can be done. I would put that trio behind how the secondary comes together as the top things to watch at TC. 1. Secondary roles 2. Underneath targets (Irv, Brown, and Mixon or ???) 3. Right Tackle and overall Line being ready to actually start the season 4. Pass rush/D-line rotation

1st - pass blocking back. Fans can take that too far. See Fournette projected failure at TB because of pass blocking. Just bad takes, IMO. 2nd - it doesn’t sound like Mixon is getting cut.

I’m avoiding any hot takes regarding secondary. A lot of speed, athletes, versatility. New parts. 2 things will be interesting, IMO. What roles develop and how quickly can they get up to playing high level feetsball.

Bengals drafts have been working this way for a while. Boring but solid. National guys typically look up around round 6 and say something like, “hey the Bengals have added some good players” “like what they’ve done” seems like this is the norm.

Love hearing the punt return stuff!

Irv Smith will put up numbers IF healthy. Health and then they’ll be TE shopping again next year is the concern

Princeton has cool uniforms. This is isn’t a Higgins replacement, ITS A CHASE replacement!

Twin Brother Sydney Brown.

Sweet pick.

Secondary room is very new. Coaching staff still isn’t 100% of the roles. Anybody making bold proclamations about playing time is just ignoramousmoose

Zac Kuntz would be awesome. Probably won't make it to them. I'm not feeling OT at all. They have a bunch of bodies there and I don't see them adding to that derby without an exit.

Is Dax Hill a full time Safety? Could his versatility create packages with 3 safeties? Don’t know but you have to love the overall speed and athleticism the DB room has morphed into. Now it’s seeing how the pieces fit together and seeing if Lou can get them playing as high a level as the past 2 seasons. Like last year with LG, clearly the Bengals are not obsessed with checking off a player to fix the last spot on the line. This year RT. If there’s a player they like they’ll take ‘em. If not, move on.