AMPHAR

Higgins $26m, Chase $22m and Trey $19m. $67m in cash/cap space already allocated to those 3. I would guess at min they have $110m planned for cash expenditure this year IF all are extended. Any extension/restructure of Burrow only helps IF he puts off his money. The details of the Allen/Mahomes new deals aren't out but it probably pays them more money this year while creating cap room. A Burrow restructure of that type is not what is needed and there's been no indication Burrow is willing to push off his money. Fans/Media want the Chase, Trey, and Tee deals done in March. I do too, just to move on to another topic, but there's really no requirement to have them done at the start of FA. Start of TC or July 15th will be the critical point. Although, I'm guessing Trey will be gone by then. Burrow pushing off his $25m salary planned for this year into a guaranteed 2026 roster bonus would help cash flow and cap.

Chiefs did it to be within cap rules. They've already lost a couple starters. Bengals are under the cap and there's no need to restructure at this time and at the current time have lost 0 of the big 3. Although Hendrickson is probably going I would assume. Colts insider says they are talking to him along with 2 other teams.

coconut cream pie cheesecake at the Cheesecake factory is legit and I assume it was Baker's favorite.

So are they not going to have a Jeff Ruby's dinner this year? Kinda sad.

Can't extend until after year 3. Bengals probably saved $34m cash when Chase backed out. It goes both ways Chase elected to only get paid $5m for a triple crown season. Is he going to do the same in 2025 and only get paid $21m? Look how fast AJ Green fell apart and he was playing games with his contract at the time his ankle got rolled into on that Dayton surface. Its a spread of about $43m of JJ's total cash through 2025 and what Chase will get paid without an extension.

there was some stuff about Denver promising feature back role then they basically lied or it didn't work out. He was on the trade block once during 2022/2023 or maybe it was rumor. He got cut right before 2024 season. I hope he is the same player because he's another weapon catching out of the backfield and that's a good combo with is pass blocking. Little less unpredictable.

Eh, the Bears traded and signed guards fairly quickly in FA. That kinda concerns me about Jenkins with back problems that flopped at RT first.

Slaton is a rotational run stuffer. His highlights look like he'll give them some pursuit in the run game which was sorely needed. I like that about Jackson's rookie year too. Hopefully they can get some decent rotation going and get BJ back to a 500 snap or less player. Nothing they've done for the D is earth shattering just depth. They are working to bring back Ossai. Have an offer out to Trey, but we'll see how that shakes out. They've passively blamed Lou in the offseason about the shit performance of the D. If they get most the band back together I think it reinforces that thought. I kinda agree with it. But I'm also an idiot. So we'll see. IMO, it wasn't a great FA class to begin with so I don't think there's a "hell yeah" moment for the D unless they get Trey to return. But ultimately it looks like we'll get a clear answer to was it Lou or lack of talent?

Bengals sign reserve Eagles LB Oren Burks. To a cheap deal. Davis Gaither moving on to Cardinals.

Commanders might be out on Trey because they just traded for the Gas Mask Bong Left Tackle from Houston. Tunsil. Edit: remove trade comp its a bunch of picks from 2025 and 2026. Wait til finalized. I guess if they have their 2nd rounder or whatever they still could give it to the Bengals.

Reporting error, I guess. Good time to remember unless Bengals acknowledge the signing, there's some chance it doesn't happen. Everyone trying to be first on the news this day. I don't think Bengals can report guys off different teams for a couple days considering this is the tampering period. Edit: Bengals.com will acknowledge the report by place "Reports:". I don't think the team acknowledges it until they sign.

TJ Slaton a Bengal?

For sure Moss. When he was healthy he played 0 ST snaps. Now you have a couple backs that can get snaps in the offense and also contribute to STs with Perine and Herbert. I'm assuming Herbert isn't a FA. Then Williams is looking at a uphill battle.

A couple have resigned with their team. No big deals so far. All the dudes talked about are still out there. As a whole the FA class isn't ridiculous so far. The big headliners have been guys extending with their team or trades.

Perine is back to the Bengals. Mahomes shouldn't have dissed him on the bench.

Xavier Worthy arrested. Hmmmm just reference all the Burton hot takes and Bengal front office jabs about taking risks. Maybe Chiefs should down size their scouting staff? I think they traded up to take him. That's two premium draft picks (higher than Burton) for them in back to back off seasons. The overall point here is the NFL doesn't have policies preventing employment for players with character risks. Thus teams that want to compete can't eliminate rare talent with character question marks. It isn't an organization flaw, its a risk of doing business. How in the world did the Ravens with all their scouts and scouting software (uses Madden ratings by the way) miss Tucker getting rub and tugs?

Gesicki done is great news.

Rapien has Higgins on a private jet to Cincinnati to sign a deal. He's been a mouth piece for the Higgins camp all off season. Hope its done, Bengals have a way out after two years, and the drama is over concerning Tee.

Anyone notice a difference between Trey and Tee trade rumors? Trey has actual teams named, with projected trade packages. Tee - its some teams called, they don't listen. I'd guess Tee's market isn't what they want and the subsequent rumors are the last chance to play hard ball before they sign the extension. IMO, if Tee's agent is smart. Tee should sign first hours of FA. Once the money starts going his leverage melts down to a holdout which doesn't help him improve a depressed market. If his market was $30-35m a year no doubt. Some team would talk offer sheet at least then maybe try to talk down the 2 1st. There's no rumors of that even happening.

Bengals have or had a $30-32m a year offer on the table. Trey also did an interview unrelated to the leak and said there's no place he'd rather be. Doesn't sound absolute he's gone yet. Sounds like they did the proactive thing and let him seek his market. My thought is if they got that kind of money on the table no matter the structure a team is going to need to have a significant trade package and if they do a trade it then there's a combo of players getting that money if Trey don't want it.

Maybe Lou turns out to be a Dick Lebeau. Go on to become a legendary DC after taking so many arrows for a bad D in Cincy. However, Lou's playoff run in 2021, 2nd half 2022 is the outlier of his Bengals career. The D sucked ass most of the time he was here from a stats standpoint. 1 week Mike White is carving him up months later Mahomes can't figure him out. Al gets to pick up the pieces and probably holds the future of Tobin and Zac in his hands. Basically you are going see first hand whether or not Tobin drafted quality players spoiled by Lou or if he handed Lou a basket of cobras.

Number of sacks is what it is. But Trey was easily the most clutch pass rusher I've seen in a Bengals uniform. It seemed like whenever they need a pass rush he either was hitting the QB, sacking the QB, or getting a holding call. That's not replaceable by a singular player. So I would think Al Golden would love to have him back but also knew he was there to get young players to mold together and support Joltin Joe and there was a chance Trey wouldn't be back.

Koonce has been getting some Bengals heat. Maybe there's something out there in the rumor world? I like Ossasi coming back. Draft picks impossible to say pending on who was on the board at the time. I have believed they need to get younger on DL since 2023 so 2 picks in a deeper DL vs. last year that had multiple guys I would have loved is a plus. Then the Onwururike FA? Upside and durability concerns. Koonce and Onwur like because former top 100 picks. I don't think Golden would have an excuse not to bump this defense up with all this plus the potential he's selling with the returning guys. I would expect Sample to get a shot at a return as well.

Eh, shit hits the fan this time of year every year. It helps to realize Tobin era Bengals are a winning team that has challenged for a Superbowl. This might be the all time high in shit meter. Just off the top of my head: 1. Sapp - rebounded added several pieces to a 2005 Div Champ 2. Shaun Rodger trade fall through. - rebounded to add several guys on the way 2009 Div Champ 3. Carson Plamer retire threat/Chad Johnson trade - 5 straight playoff appearances. 3A. J. Joe wants gatorade - rebounded to have the entire secondary room former 1st round picks, I think. Drug Andy's ass to the playoffs and multi Div Champ 4. Lawson/William Jackson III - I assume everyone remembers what happened. If they trade Trey. That leaves them 4 DL. Sure Mike Brown from the 90s can sweep in at any minute and have them go into the draft needing 6 DL and enter TC with a pool of 5th round picks and UDFA diamonds in the rough along with $70m unused cap room. I doubt any of that happens and at the same time knowing that it isn't guaranteed Superbowl appearance either.

It really helps if you realize they are winning team under Tobin. Things aren't perfect but it really helps to avoid the absolute panic. I could be wrong but trading Trey leaves them 4 DL. They keep 10. Bengals are going to walk into draft weekend needing 6 DL having 70m of cap room? Doubtful.