AMPHAR

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? -

IMPACT? Well depends on what you personally judge as making an impact, but below are the DL/LB hybrid top guys from previous year with percent of snaps, and sacks. By and large the opinions of this year's crop as a whole has it a better and deeper vs. 2024. 1. Byron Murphy 11 - 40% snaps, .5 sack 2. Johnny Newton - 47% snaps, 2 sack 3. Braden Fiske - 60% snaps, 8.5 sacks 4. Dallas Turner - 26% snaps, 3 sacks 5. Jared Verse - 75% snaps, 4.5 sacks 6. Chop Robinson 53% snaps, 6 sacks 7. Kris Jenkins, 44% snaps, 3 sacks. Rams got the most out of their 2 front seven picks (Fiske and Verse). All these guys were mid 1st/2nd rounder types. Of course got to factor in scheme, injury, roster make up. With the Bengals, I think any pick in the first 4 rounds at DT or DE would mirror a 40% snap count 3-4 sacks at Best. That's with the assumption of Trey extension. They are going to have to fend off Trey, Ossai, Murphy, Sample at DE. DT - Hill, Jenkins, Slaton, Jackson. So there's a bigger potential of IMPACT at Safety. OT/G. (Assuming any OT would play inside first), IMO. I do feel like not getting 2 DL from this draft would be disappointing.

Vikings had $70m of dead cap when they did JJ deal. Mainly dealing with Kirk Cousins. That was about 27% or 28% of the cap. In that year. That forced them to push more cap in the back years with JJ. Which could present a problem for them in 2027/2028 Where as the Bengals got two WRs under contract and probably only have 1 problematic year with Chase (but also $40m of potential cap savings). That's the advantage of dead cap elimination. Rapien or whoever's rants are idiotic because 1st they need drama to get views 2nd you have to pay attention and reconcile numbers which they probably don't have the skills to do so to recognize multi year cap strategy. Finally the Bengals could sign a handful of FAs with the cap room they have now without cap gymnastics. Cap room isn't an issue. Its probably most likely the guys available are only going to become options as the price goes down OR they don't get the guys they wanted in the draft. Its a little clearer when you realize the the franchise is trying to win instead of buying into the cheap narrative.

They are idiots. Bengals don't have 20% of the cap used up in dead cap. Thus the Bengals don't need to push cash paid this year into future years. The trade off is having Chase/Higgins in reasonable situations in the outer years. For example: The Higgins deal will allow them to get out of the contract after 2 years. IF they don't Higgins is only a $32m cap hit in year 3 and $36 year 4. So you basically got a two year deal with a injury plagued player none of the cap hits are not unmanageable in his deal. If he has his two best years they can keep for a 3rd. If he's only 60% of snaps played they can move on from him. That's the trade off the Bengals can evaluate Higgins's roster spot more on merit vs. an unreasonable cap hit years 3/4. They are married to him for 2 years. This is not hard to figure out and I can say that because its exactly what I posted on here several times. The ideal contract for Higgins was something they could get out of after 2 years without major cap implications because he has had trouble staying on the field. Quit listening to uninformed agenda driven social media. They are never going to say the reality because it is boring and boring don't drive people out there to watch their videos.

Vet. Nothing exciting. But I'd rather go cheap at G vs. cheap on pass rush. So hopefully this a coupled with a Trey return. PFF grades pass the smell test. Although I think those are highly overrated. Don't like that he's coming from low tier QB troubled offenses that aren't know high level passing attacks. Because that's what the Bengals are and that's what he'll be in IF he signs up for duty.

I think Trey will end up back in Cincinnati and I think the only alternative would be some sort of decent trade package if he isn't.

OT - Mims, Brown, Cochran, ? G - Ford, Volson, ?,? C - Karras, Lee So realistic 3 spots open. There's 4 guys on the roster that are no names right now. So I think you'll get some additions before the draft. I think.

Didn't watch the first one. I will probably watch this one. Maybe it helps Burrow get that Arbys endorsement? Or Jimmy Johns.