2025 FA Thread: Rehkow 2y/2m | Rankins, Cappa Cut | Higgins Tagged

[HoosierCat]

6 hours ago, Stripes said:

I’m iffy on Adomitis. I thought he was part of the kicking problem in 2024. I suppose Simmons likes his continuity.

I don’t think a one year deal expresses any real confidence. You’re going to need a body for spring workouts, OTAs and camp anyhow, and if he gets cut the cost is $0 beyond the per diem. We’ll see if there’s any competition signed, but based on this I’d guess there will be.

[COB]

Rankins was one of the most disappointing free agent signings we’ve ever had.  I think he was sick all season, he just didn’t play even close to his capabilities then suddenly mystery illness and we never see him again.  Bad luck for him and us.

I hate the way the Hendrickson situation is lining up.  If he doesn’t get a new deal or get traded into an arranged new deal, he’s acting like there will be trouble.  We just don’t need another holdout of the mojo destroying/let’s all pile on the bengals FO variety.  The national media will be all too happy to oblige.  We need focus and no distractions this year.  

[ArmyBengal]

1 hour ago, COB said:

We need focus and no distractions this year.  

The front office needs Terry Tate, “Office Linebacker” !!

https://youtu.be/Kg5cdZ-Fnpc?si=i5fuESS4xQT3SlCw

 

[COB]

On 2/22/2025 at 1:10 AM, ArmyBengal said:

The front office needs Terry Tate, “Office Linebacker” !!

https://youtu.be/Kg5cdZ-Fnpc?si=i5fuESS4xQT3SlCw

 

Some of those hits were alarming.

[ArmyBengal]

6 hours ago, COB said:

Some of those hits were alarming.

Best commercial ever

[COB]

Dehner in the Athletic, meandering about re Bengals FA and draft picks:  He talked about how we need two guards, and said we suck at developing mid round linemen.  Interesting quote about why:

“Partially, that’s been for lack of attempts. They have selected fewer offensive linemen in the second and third rounds of the draft than any other franchise over the last 15 years. They took Jake Fisher in 2015 and Jackson Carman in 2021. Both picks busted.”

[HoosierCat]

14 minutes ago, COB said:

Dehner in the Athletic, meandering about re Bengals FA and draft picks:  He talked about how we need two guards, and said we suck at developing mid round linemen.  Interesting quote about why:

“Partially, that’s been for lack of attempts. They have selected fewer offensive linemen in the second and third rounds of the draft than any other franchise over the last 15 years. They took Jake Fisher in 2015 and Jackson Carman in 2021. Both picks busted.”

Yup. And the other part, as Amphar noted recently, is that when they do use a premium pick on interior OL and get a good player, they won’t pay for a second contract (see Steinbach, Zeitler).

One scenario I could see playing out this time around is that Kelvin Banks is BPA at 17, they draft him, and stick him at LG, with a potential shift to LT in two years when Brown’s contract is up.

[HoosierCat]

Trey all lovey-dovey…

Quote

"We've had multiple good conversations," Hendrickson said. "It's just actions speak louder than words. That's how I play my game as well, even though I am a trash talker."

Tucker mentioned how tough it is to negotiate with the Bengals, but Hendrickson cut him off and defended the franchise. He also made it clear how much he loves the coaching staff, the front office and he certainly wants to be in Cincinnati.

"They've taken such great care of me though," Hendrickson said. "It was also like that in free agency. They had to take a chance and believe in me. I don't want that to go underappreciated because we do have this little uncomfortable business negotiations. They've taken care of me off the field as well, with my wife they've been so supportive. They've taken good care of me."

https://www.si.com/nfl/bengals/news/trey-hendrickson-shares-update-on-contract-talks-with-bengals-we-ve-had-multiple-good-conversations-01jmwkhhjp71

[COB]

Ross Tucker seriously does not like the Bengals FO.  He’s been that way for years.  I can’t recall if he had an unpleasant interaction when he was a free agent or what.

[ArmyBengal]

We’ve all had unpleasant interactions with the front office !!

[TJJackson]

1 hour ago, ArmyBengal said:

We’ve all had unpleasant interactions with the front office !!

Bengals FO sucks big dead donkey dong

[AMPHAR]

Quote

“Partially, that’s been for lack of attempts. They have selected fewer offensive linemen in the second and third rounds of the draft than any other franchise over the last 15 years.

I don't see it as a number of 3rd rounders or higher the last 15 years as being relevant.    They keep 9/10.  Typically 4 tackles, 2 true Centers then the rest guards and combo G/Ts.    Those spots prior to 2017 were filled by high draft picks and high performers.   They simply weren't going to use a 3rd round pick because there wasn't a need.    During those years they rolled through Steinbach, Whitworth, Boling, Bobbie Williams, Zietler through the guard spots.  Then had Collins, Winston, Pollack, and Roland filling in as 6th tackle/first off the bench.  I think Roland is the only player drafted outside the top 150, maybe undrafted.

Post Alexander.  Has been a flop of draft picks and they tried to address via free agency which hasn't provided great success.  

Also its true the Bengals aren't a line friendly scheme or QB as well.    IMO, it starts with New Line coach selling Zac/Burrow on more short yardage running Next year they need to blow the LOS up in 3rd and 2 run.  Get it with ease.   I don't think Zac/Burrow truly want to run the ball then when its clear they struggle winning the LOS in short yardage its becomes automatic to put the ball in Burrow's hands.   New line coach is going to have to convince them they can block it well enough so Zac isn't having to answer questions post game about not letting Burrow throw it because its easy to default to that. 

These past 2 seasons 2nd and 3 have been the most stressful downs for the simple fact they can't consistently move people.  

Another factor in all of this is they are a super soft team practicing.  Its just very hard to flip a switch and say OK now we are running it when you haven't been taking full advantage of padded practices in TC/Practices. 

 

 

 

[AMPHAR]

Not a FA but free agency effecting.   Bills reup Shakir at a $15m average, $32mil up front.  Probably takes Buffalo out of any major FA WR.  Does it effect the Higgins value? 

[COB]

Shakir played 3 years on his rookie deal then got an extension and a big raise, exactly what we should have done with Chase.

[HoosierCat]

Tobin...

Quote

"We're fortunate to be in a position to where we can fit them all in," Tobin said about Cincinnati's stars on Tuesday. "We've managed our cap well. We've got low dead money. We want a high payroll and low dead money so the people that are in Cincinnati playing for us can get all the money. That's what we want, and we're in a position to re-sign these guys, and it's a good position to be in. It really is, and we're going to attack it. And we don't want to just re-sign these guys and pay more for the same football team we had last year. We want to add to it as well."

"Obviously Tee is the one that's not signed for the future right now, and so that puts the onus on us to do something," Tobin noted before discussing Ja'Marr Chase and his contract situation. "He [Chase] is going to end up being the number one paid non-quarterback in the league. We're there. let's get it done.

"The earlier we can do some of this stuff, the freer it gives us to build the rest of the team. We have other needs that we want to build, and so we want to get these kind of things done early enough to where we can really focus on building out the rest of the football team, but they're all priorities to us but the ones that aren't signed, are the ones that are on the table first."

https://www.si.com/nfl/bengals/allbengals-insiders-plus/duke-tobin-provides-latest-update-on-tee-higgins-at-2025-nfl-combine-01jmyrv3zat7

Alrighty then. Let's get 'er done, Duke.

[HoosierCat]

Also re Hendrickson:

Quote

"He is super engaged and and we're cognizant he's been a great signing for us," Tobin said about Hendrickson. "We've been a great fit for him. He's been a great fit for us. We would like to extend that. We would like to keep him not only happy, but with us on on a longer term basis. And we're going to talk. He's under contract right now, and we're going to talk as the offseason goes, and hopefully come up to an agreement that everyone's acceptable of you know, but are we there yet? We're not there yet."

 

[HoosierCat]

 

[COB]

1 hour ago, HoosierCat said:

Also re Hendrickson:

 

Duke Tobin is not a poker player.  Dude tries to say nothing, but gives himself away.  Like he can’t help it.

[HoosierCat]

16 minutes ago, COB said:

Duke Tobin is not a poker player.  Dude tries to say nothing, but gives himself away.  Like he can’t help it.

Overall I liked what he said today. Sounded like us, frankly. We’ll see if he can turn it into reality.

[COB]

He was saying all the right stuff about how he wants to keep him.  Then he just slips in there, “He’s under contract right now,”.  
 

Everyone knows he’s under contract right now.  You don’t have to throw down your strongest negotiating point while you’re talking about how much you want the negotiations to succeed.  It’s akin to the “there’s only one pie and everyone wants a piece” statements they occasionally make.  These dudes start making excuses about why they can’t or won’t pay guys before the negotiations even start.  
 

 

[ArmyBengal]

Well… if they can somehow manage to get these things done with a friendly structure AND manage to add to the mix, most would color that as a massive offseason win.

[COB]

I just watched the press conference, and Duke comes off way better in person than he does when you read the transcript.  He seems sincere.  
 

Just my opinion, but if they can’t get a very reasonable deal out of Trey, just say goodbye.  If he was the key to a good defense, we would have had a good defense.  He’s getting up there in years, 

Sign Tee first, which Tobin straight up said would be the priority.  Then sign Chase.  I actually agree with Tobin.  Hendrickson’s under contract.  I sincerely hope he doesn’t hear about this post from his dad.  

[TJJackson]

After all of Duke's "all is well" statements, Tee responded with a cap

A literal emoticon of a cap

https://x.com/teehiggins5/status/1894584342334046384

In internet slang, a cap refers to lies/deception

any guesses on who I believe?  a member of the FO or Teeeeeeeeeeee?

best guess is we get another year of Tagged Tee

My anger, tho, isnt all directed at the FO, for a change.   The three got together and promised theyd work it up to keep them together.  They clearly failed to keep their promise, starting with Burrow taking too big a piece of the pie.  You can tell me all day he is/was worth it, but I will point at the promise made and broke every time you do

[AMPHAR]

IMO, Tobin reference Trey being under contract in response to repeated questions concerning how, when, and why these extensions for Chase, Trey, and Higgins would happen.    He came off optimistic.  I'm not sure how they are done.  

Media/rival fans have been expressing doubts of this happening since they won the AFC.  So I feel like most want these done so they can move on to new stories.

What I got from it was they feel they are among the best in the AFC.  Trying to win a Superbowl, I think Zac mentioned that later.   At one point mentioned on the field let downs across the board to finish games.  

I think fans/media trying to frame this as a front office problem are dead wrong.  You don't go 1-4 in 1 score games vs. opponents that were in the division round (except Pats) and then win 5 in row without talent in the NFL.   I can't remember if it was Zac or Tobin but they felt like several games could have been handled earlier and didn't have to be close IF they make the plays they expect.

I think Al might get a veteran FA.  I assume LB to replace an eventual trading of Pratt.  But other than that he'll be tasked with getting a young defense to improve.  Tobin very bullish on Dax Hill and the overall talent in secondary.  

Tobin was wishy washy on the line.  You don't fire the line coach if you feel its doing a good job.  I think he'll be trying to add new players there but isn't going to burn the bridge with the existing players until he's got the new players under contract.  Just my thoughts.

Gesicki feels like an extension is more in play than previous rent a TEs. 

 

[HoosierCat]

1 hour ago, TJJackson said:

After all of Duke's "all is well" statements, Tee responded with a cap

Yeah, at this point it appears that the proverbial turd in the punch bowl is Tee.

Zac, Duke and Burrow are all singing from the same hymnal. Chase is clearly going to get paid. Even Hendrickson is publicly defending the FO now.

And then there's Higgins, who I suspect is butthurt about the incoming tag. While I get it, I also have a very hard time ginning up much sympathy for a guy whose worst-case scenario is a $26 million payday this year.