2025 Opponents Set/Offseason Notes

[HoosierCat]

So the Stewart holdout is apparently due to the FO trying to pull something with the standard contract language.

Quote

Early in the process, the dispute centered on the amount of salary paid out as a training camp roster bonus, a source told ESPN. But as other first-round picks have signed deals across the league, that issue has subsided.

Now, however, the dispute has shifted toward contract language that appears to be materially different from deals given to Cincinnati's previous first-round picks. According to a source, the conflict stems from wording that could potentially affect the guaranteed money on the rookie deals, which would set a precedent for future Bengals contracts.

I think I've been pretty forgiving of the front office this offseason, but not here. Quit ****ing with shit that ain't broken, Katie. Let's get the first round pick on the practice field.

[ArmyBengal]

I'd rather not hear anything about contracts to be honest.
To start, I have no idea one way or another how an NFL contract is structured.
Next, if there was a team to fuck up something simple like a first round contract, I would believe it would be us.

These things should almost be copy and paste, with a percentage higher, from last year.
Maybe they never heard the saying, "Work smarter, not harder".

Fucking UGH !!  Get this done Bengals.

[HoosierCat]

26 minutes ago, ArmyBengal said:

These things should almost be copy and paste, with a percentage higher, from last year.

And they basically are. Been that way ever since they instituted the rookie salary system. You could say it was the main point of it all.

But every once in a while some agent feels like he has to justify his princely fee -- or some front office lawyer decides that they just have to change something that no one else thinks needs to be changed -- and we end up here in the Land of Avoidable Picayune Disputes.

[ArmyBengal]

Yep, here we are.

Hey Bengals... don't do that.

[COB]

Bengals FO seems to like these sort of squabbles.  They do it over and over.  

[HoosierCat]

30 minutes ago, COB said:

Bengals FO seems to like these sort of squabbles.  They do it over and over.  

I don't think the FO (meaning the Browns/Blackburns) has ever really bought into the idea that the NFL has developed over time into a mega-corporation with 32 subsidiaries. They still view the Bengals as family business, and no one is gonna tell them how to run their shop, dagnabit! You see the same dynamic at work in how they vote against almost everything in league meetings, even when that means a 31-1 vote. They've had to be dragged kicking and screaming into modernizing, and even after a couple decades it's still a work in progress.

[COB]

5 hours ago, HoosierCat said:

I don't think the FO (meaning the Browns/Blackburns) has ever really bought into the idea that the NFL has developed over time into a mega-corporation with 32 subsidiaries. They still view the Bengals as family business, and no one is gonna tell them how to run their shop, dagnabit! You see the same dynamic at work in how they vote against almost everything in league meetings, even when that means a 31-1 vote. They've had to be dragged kicking and screaming into modernizing, and even after a couple decades it's still a work in progress.

That about sums it up.  Mike also enjoys being an iconoclast.  

[ArmyBengal]

Switching gears for a minute.

I was thinking about the 2nd year guys and really hoping to see how an offseason in a pro weight room and their approach to the game impacts the team this year.

Many in that draft class got snaps during their rookie year, which should go a long way in their development.

Amarius Mims opens the season as the RT starter and I am still excited about him as he was inexperienced coming in.
Both Kris Jenkins and McKinnley Jackson should be good in the DT rotation with Hill and Slayton starting, which I like.
Burton luckily finds himself in a position to make an impact this season, but he's such a dumbass that it's hard to say.
It's a shame that Erick All will miss this season because he looked solid when getting snaps last season.
From all accounts it sounds like Josh Newton is going to get first crack at the slot CB position vacated by Hilton leaving.
I'm hoping to see Tanner McLachlan get more opportunities at the TE spot with All going down for the season.
I think Cedric Johnson is just lost in the DE mix and will be lucky to see many snaps unless Trey holds out.
Daijahn Johnson is the back up to battle at the strong safety position and will get snaps for sure.
Matt Lee might have some competition at the backup center spot with the UDFA addition of Seth McLaughlin.

By and large, the 2024 draft class looks at least solid with many looking to get a good share of snaps in 2025.
Here's to hoping they got some good guidance and took advantage of the NFL strength training program.

[AMPHAR]

I think the Bengals move slow.   I believe they were proven correct in some of those 31-1 votes as well.

Pod Cast need content.  That's it.    Rookies have held out of ACTUAL TRAINING camp practices under the rookie slot system.  They don't happen often and don't last long.  Thus aren't very memorable.  As a whole TC isn't as important as it was either contributing to that.

There's been plenty of rookies miss May practices due to a graduation rule.   Its just something not to worry about until July but you aren't going to get clicks, views stating that.