AMPHAR

You chose to argue a point that wasn't made. Learn to read. Accept your bias and change it. If a Bengal fan thinks they can win a Superbowl but they describe the up and coming draft as "digging a hole" or "painted themselves in a corner" then that's bullshit and they do lack objectivity. Guard play has been less than average, IMO. Yet, they've won playoff games. Recorded top 10 scoring offenses and yard producing offenses. Some of the guys they've cut found other teams. So what's unjustifiable? Pointing out facts to refute emotional garbage?

I don't think IOL is a deep enough hole that it forces the Bengals to reach for a guard in the draft. As you have admitted pre-draft this roster as constructed can win a Superbowl. Pending how the draft falls there are several players I'd rather have than a guard. But describing it as they've painted themselves in a corner or dug a hole is the typical chicken little fan/media syndrome. Get over that and things won't be as hard for you in the future.

lol. You can't even get the conversation correct. No one has claimed the IOL is fine. You admit they can win the Superbowl with the roster as constructed? True or False? So how did they dig themselves in a hole before the draft or paint themselves into a corner concerning the guard position? Try to keep up.

except when you realize they did win multiple playoff games with Volson, Sharping and Carmen playing significant snaps. The point is the Bengals will not have to reach for a guard at any point in this draft. T

I look at stats and see with those guards they've been top 10 offense yardage and points over multiple seasons. There's just a group of fans that aren't objective and have no interest in being objective. Enjoy the Bengals how you want but your eyes and judgements don't trump stats. Sorry. They could line up today and play with those guards and perform top 10. What facts would you use to disagree?

Cappa signed before FA. Supposedly they cut him because they had doubts about his future ability to stay healthy.

lol. What am I going to tell you that over $100m dollars in contracts hasn't told you already? Enjoy the Bengals how you choose. Referring anything so far this offseason as "digging a hole" is sensationalizing bullshit. Cappa was supposedly hurt and there Patrick supposedly is a healthy equal talent. Guard situation can be improved but nothing at this point is a critical failure point in regards to the offense.

I could go without Dehner's gaslighting. They could line up today and play with the guards they have today. Its just an odd perspective many Bengal fans and media have towards the team. They've dug themselves a hole, lol. Uh, they've returned 10 of 11 starters and replaced the one that was cut. That unit produced points that rivals the greatest era of offensive football in team history. Its a spot they can and probably will improve. Digging holes, GTFO.

That and hopefully Golden can develop more of rotation among the DL instead of running them into the ground.

Burrow doesn't give a shit about playing behind Volson or whoever. Zac doesn't give a shit about calling plays to hide 2 low tier guards. Draft isn't going to reflect that either. They'll pick a guard candidate IF that's the a player with an adequate grade. If it was the other way around there would be another FA guard addition. What they are going to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on WRs but refuse and ignore Joe over $8m FA guard? Nah. Its simply not the panic button issue its made out to be. It can be improved and hopefully will but they can line up today and think Superbowl with who they have.

I'd question a RB pick that early with Chase and Perine on the roster. IMO, it would be stupid. 1st Zac and Joe have no interest in protecting anything with a running game. Joe is very much like Dan Marino in regards to the run game. I don't know if that's a positive or negative. So I'm not sure what another RB would do other than be a question all season long of why so and so isn't getting more carries? Joe said it best when talking about Mixon. All they care about the run game is to be efficient and keep them on schedule in down and distance. Zac - wants an RB that can catch and protect. They have 2 already that have shown to be able to do that. 2nd - Guard talk. Yes, they can upgrade guard. However it is not a gigantic hole and very close, IMO, to be coming an overrated talking point. They return everyone from a top 10 unit except RG in which they cut the starter and then replaced with an equal talent. The talk was Cappa was hurt all year so I guess you can say an upgrade via health is already there, I guess. Anyway they got 3 guys with a bunch of starts between them at guard. Sure fill the hole via the draft IF BPA dictates it otherwise wait for another round or so. In no way shape or form should they reach for one.

Politicians are never going to turn down a chance to play "city planner". Its a pile of money they get to play power broker with. Create or expand some Stadium Authority department etc. Its foolish for fans to think these gov entities would ever get tired of the stadium game. They get billions of dollars to play with/manage/mismanage/lose/pocket whatever.

Risner would be a decent add. Not sure if it will happen but there's a couple guys that have been available and for whatever reason haven't gotten phone calls from anybody. League can be weird like that. Quinton Spain went from starting in the Superbowl to no one wanting him not even for a look.

Is it too late to camp out on top of building until the Reds score a run?

Brown family doesn't want to move. As the story goes they were gone in 1993. Then a last minute deal to turn the "yellow" riverfront section into a stadium club was reached. Then Marge blocked it. Which put on them on path of Baltimore which people mocked, then Cleveland took it. This all started even before they were in Superbowl 23. When the salary cap grows based on league wide revenue and your stadium can't match what other league team's produce they aren't going to stay in Cincinnati and lose millions in revenue while their expense grows. Its best the County looks forward instead of resisting. Put forth the plan now to get them to sign the extension and don't default on the promises. Give another city or county in this case an opportunity to start throwing around new stadia ideas then all of sudden Hamilton County is in a worse situation than 1995 because they have way more debt invested in the riverfront today and the only way that is managed is by having more patrons visit the Riverfront.

Guard is a need for sure. But they have over 100 NFL starts between the top 3 today. IF you get Mims/Brown performing up to a level expected/hoped for then hiding low quality starting guards is quite doable. But they could line up today with what they have and with who they are throwing to, you can expect a top 10 offense. Its really more about optimization and getting rid of the handful of negative plays that have plagued this offense for what seems like an eternity. An equal problem all these years is average to bad tackle play as well. Jonah Williams? Brown Jr. while he hasn't been that much of an upgrade and Right Tackle has been a parade of hoping they get at least average. If there's a high quality tackle at 17 just given the history. They have to consider it.

The reality is Cincinnati is only a major league city when you factor in regional populations. Thus there are obvious in market relocation options as well. Obviously Chicago. But Columbus? Louisvillde? Boone County/Florence? Sure. If Cincinnati could make it work, then those market could. When factor in UFL markets. All new/existing college football and soccer stadiums that could serve as a temp home a move would be easy.

That was the exact same attitude in 1989. People laughed at the thought of Jacksonville Bengals. Laughed at Nashville, Charlotte. Flat out thought he was lying about Baltimore. What you can or can not see isn't a factor. All those markets I listed above are better and no worse equal to Cincinnati today. Haven't even discussed a move within the market but out of Hamilton County. Its best if the County makes a good faith effort in the current time to keep them. Then keep those promises. Fuck around and they'll once again find out how easy it is for a NFL team to move.

It'd be easy to move. Any UFL city could take them tomorrow operational wise. The Oilers moved in a year played a season in Memphis. Bengals have all the leverage and if the county drags their feet and attempts to test the Brown family willingness to move, they'll just paint themselves into a corner like the last time. The entire riverfront is built on a pile of debt financed by sales tax. Every Bengals home game is like a minor opening day. They are stuck, its best to give the promise of improvement to get them to sign the option years then try like hell to meet those so they'll sign the next extension.

I think it works out with Trey. I'd rather have feel good vibe during Training Camp because you give the local scribes a little bit of grey they'll rush to turn it to pure black immediately so hopefully he's traded or extended before July.

Just NFL business. No need to be upset. Trey will get squared away eventually or maybe traded. He'll realize the going on the McAfee program the "Bengals Cheap" narrative isn't going to go as far as it would have prior to signing Chase/Higgins. Eventually it will revert back to him because just about everybody wanted to return so what's his fucking problem with winning? Hold out gets him no where. Tag is looming. Really nothing to worry about. He's here or they get a boat load of a trade.

Trey is limited in his leverage. A holdout gets him nothing, because with Tee/Chase done he's the prime Franchise Tag candidate for next year and maybe afterward. If your Trey, I guess you have to hope the Bengals don't go scorched earth and pull all offers after the draft and call your bluff. If your the Bengals I'd get my price or I'm leaving the possibility open that a team gets frisky during draft weekend and ups the ante. Bottom line for right now there isn't a whole lot of incentive for either party to move before draft day, I guess.

Just a guess. My guess is one or more of the tackles is on their target list at 17. Brown has 2 years, entering his 30s, and has had injury issues popping up. They've had OT injuries just about every year. A OT draft pick could do the following: Improve guard (play OT draftee there immediately), add to OT depth, plan for future. Maybe that's why they've halted guard FA search. Signing a starter at guard takes a spot this OT prospect could use. Then you are looking at drafting a guy that doesn't get on the field at 17. I'd say Safety is another spot in which a first rounder has an opportunity to get on the field. DL- its a mucher tougher battle. Then in the later rounds they could look for a pure guard. But there's only 1 spot among the OL group right now open maybe 2.

Perine is a big upgrade in short yardage. They'll still need better blocking. There's a couple DEs I'd be more than comfortable taking at 17. However, DT/DE have positional depth AND its odd typing this, both those positions don't have a clear path to being active on game day much less snaps. Now if the guy is a standout and jolts to the top of the depth chart that's great. But with injuries last year they were keeping at least 1 DL inactive on gameday. A more healthy roster plus the vets they probably can find a similar graded player at 17 that has a bigger path to snaps. Safety, maybe. Obviously G which would be best to grab a OT and play them at G for a year or 2.

You tryin to say Jesus Christ can't hit a curve ball? -