2025 Minicamp

[ArmyBengal]

Yes the clause is used by other teams.  Yes, most of those players still practice.
However, what other teams or players do is completely irrelevant.  I mean who cares what the Eagles do?
What does Shemar care of if Jihaad Campbell has that clause or if he's on the field?
He doesn't and shouldn't.  He cares what happens with his contract as he should.

The reality of the situation is the Bengals have never used this clause on ANY first round pick in ALL HISTORY.
They may or may not use it in other players contracts, but that doesn't matter either.
It's something new and Shemar doesn't want to be the first player because it lacks fairness.
Tell me why Shemar should have that language in his contract.  Why?  Because the front office wants it?  That's it.  
What has the team given in response to something new being added to a contract that has never happened?
If they want him to be the first, do something like Hoosier and others have suggested in sweetening up front money.
You know, because if we are so worried about what other teams are doing, they do that as well.

Let me go back to Joe for a minute and I don't know that dude from Adam, but he has insight and access the normal fan doesn't.  Do you have ins with Bengals decision makers?  With players and agents?  He fucking spoke with Shemar's agent to get his take for Christ sake.  So yeah, his opinion is at least worth the listen REGARDLESS of whether I agree with him or not.

Let me clarify something else.  I originally felt the Bengals front office was completely at fault.  I dug in a little more, read and listened and changed my opinion.  Turns out I completely agree with the thought of Shemar getting bad advice in how to handle this situation.  They have played their part in this bullshit happening.  However, to suggest the Bengals have played this flawlessly (See no mistakes on their part) might be the dumbest take of all.  No fault huh?  Not even a little?  

Lastly, you still can't manage to ever consider another person's opinion outside of your own.  You don't discuss anything here, you simply put your thoughts out there as a final product without the ability to question.  Everything is debatable and everything can be discussed with varying view points.  That's the whole point of people coming together to share their thoughts.

Amazing how many people on this board have you on ignore, completely disregard your posts and generally agreed with me on you being an insufferable dick. 
 

[HoosierCat]

When I was little and on the brink of doing something stupid because "everyone else was doing it," my mom would ask me, "if everyone else jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge, would you?"

Clearly, Amphar's answer would be an enthusiastic yes. Not that he doesn't have company, starting with Katie and Troy.

As for the fan who was lied to, I don't know who that might be. If he's talking about the fact the contract language isn't unique, that was reported weeks ago. It was such a "secret" that I saw it on f**king facebook.

But in any event, I have to ask why he isn't posting wherever this sad fan is? Why limit his immense intellect and epic never-wrongness to what amounts to a legacy forum populated by half a dozen guys who stick around mostly out of friendship. Why not share his genius with, say, Bengals Twitter (or X now, whatever), where he can tell Joe Goodberry what an ass he is right to his virtual face? I am sure Joe will be impressed. Bookface, reddit, even cincyjungle are, I'm betting, full of fans in need of his correction, far more than visit this ghost town.

[ArmyBengal]

Yes AMPHAR, there are plenty of places where being a dick is not only NOT looked down upon, but encouraged.
Us guys have been here largely for over 20 year and basically enjoy each other's takes without the need argue.
Do I agree with everything all the time?  No, but we aren't insufferable pains in the ass that just have to be right either.

We are like the old guys that get together in the diner to chat up our favorite team and escape our wives.

Despite others objections to your approach and even completely ignoring you, which I don't even remember the last time hearing people do that here, we have tolerated the approach.  It's getting old.

[AMPHAR]

This is a tiny town, boy.  We don't like your kind around here.    lol.    

 

 

[Stripes]

I'm sure I was annoying 20 years ago as "Touchdown_Bengals!" (what a creative name!) spamming the forum as a pimple-faced teenager. Now I wake up with random neck pain and have a startlingly growing collection of pills.

Let's go win a Super Bowl for fuck's sake. We've all been sitting here long enough waiting around for the impossible.

[ArmyBengal]

20 years ago, I was still in the Army.  Newly married with my first on the way.  What I didn't know was that in the VERY near future I would get orders to deploy to Afghanistan and left two weeks after my son was born.  I was gone for 15 months and saw combat every week I was in country.  How I made it back when others did not still haunts me.

Fortunately, it gave me a new perspective on life and I was able to pursue education and build a career and life for my family and I post military.  One which continues to be rooted in service to others.  The only downside is I now have a low tolerance for stupid.  I've gotten better as I've gotten older, hence AMPHAR not being banned yet, but something tells me that may change in the VERY near future as well.

[HoosierCat]

Let’s see, 20 years ago I was a dumb asshole who had just moved back to the Midwest.

Not much has changed since. Older, fatter, maybe 10% less dumb (being generous!). 

[ArmyBengal]

21 minutes ago, HoosierCat said:

Let’s see, 20 years ago I was a dumb asshole who had just moved back to the Midwest.

Not much has changed since. Older, fatter, maybe 10% less dumb (being generous!). 

Hilarious !!

[COB]

20 years ago? I had a five year old and a two year old.  I’m pretty sure it was 2005 when I discovered this message board.  Discovered message boards at all, really.  I promptly posted some Pulitzer level ravings about Marvin.  Man, that dude wore out his welcome.  it was great to have found this board and I’ve really enjoyed it all these years.  I hope Mike Brown falls over dead tomorrow.
 

[HoosierCat]

Mike will outlive us all. 50 years from now he will still be out there at spring practices in his life-support golf cart, breathing like Darth Vader and occasionally muttering about ox carts and ditches.

[Stripes]

SPLACK!

*dentures fly into the TrashGPT 2065 Micro-Compactor and automatically re-print on the bathroom matter synthesizer*

[COB]

It’s a long-accepted fact that Mike is immortal.  But in what form?  Highlander?  Vampire?  Demon?  

[Stripes]

Every time a Bengals fan dies, their soul essence is syphoned directly to a phylactery stored under Mike Brown’s scalp. You can see them formed as new moles. They sustain and replenish his life force.

[ArmyBengal]

This is so obvious…

Everyone knows there is a jellyfish species thought to be immortal. Why do you think Tee got his extension and a big pay day? He collects jellyfish. Tee Higgins is the new supplier of jellyfish embryos which Mike has turned into a serum which injects directly into his bloodstream.

Common knowledge. Duh…

[TJJackson]

Army was a medic, so you know it just has to be true

[ArmyBengal]

7 hours ago, TJJackson said:

Army was a medic, so you know it just has to be true

Of course it’s true, I read it on the internet…

[ArmyBengal]

It’s being reported one of the hang ups is the Bengals only wanting to do a one year deal with Hendrickson.

Can’t say I’d be happy with that just to go through this again next off season. Unless there’s something outside of just getting older, I would like to see a longer extension with a possible out after a couple years.

[Stripes]

If true, that’s way too conservative. Take a freaking risk.

[COB]

I find it hard to believe the Bengals are only offering one year.  But, if they are, it’s essentially an effort to kill the negotiations.  Pretty much telling him play on your deal this year plus whatever PR driven raise we give you, then gtfo.

[HoosierCat]

I mean, the length has always been the hang up. If Trey is so confident that he can play for several more years, he should ask for a no tag/no trade clause so he can hit FA next March. Pocket something like 28-30m this year and move on.

[ArmyBengal]

Dare I comment about a take from Andrew Whitworth when asked about Trey and Shemar...

I found a recent take of his interesting in that when he was playing here in the midst of the 5 straight playoff appearances without being able to get passed the first round, he wondered as a player why they wouldn't just go all in to get over the hump?  Sign one big name free agent or just see the organization say we are going to go win a Super Bowl.

God knows I have felt that way as a fan, so his perspective was intriguing to me.
While full understanding they have had success in not going after the big name, but rather a greater number of solid players, that feeling is again one I have been thinking about.

Take care of Trey, fix shit with Shemar and then go after a defensive player that may get that unit back into the top half of the league.  Swing for the fences while you have arguably one of the best offenses in the league.  If you miss, so be it.  I'd just like to see some aggression to win a championship.

Then again, maybe I'm wrong and steady as we go is going to get us there some day...

[HoosierCat]

No, you’re not wrong. The FO is fine with winning, and a championship would sure be something, but they’re also fine with losing. Doesn’t make much difference to their bank account anyhow. Whether they field excellence or crap, they get the same fat check from Roger as every other team.

So they are committed to doing the minimum needed, and basically hoping to get lucky, like they almost did in 2021. And before someone objects that the FO has been stepping up by doing things like guaranteeing money beyond the first year, and void years in contracts, that’s more the floor of what’s “the minimum needed” rising than anything else.

And let me also add that they aren’t alone in this. Talk to a Bears fan and they sound just like us re a cheap, incompetent FO. And they aren’t the only fanbase that does. The big difference between those teams and the Bengals is they have better PR. The Bengals have never tried to hide what they are. So a point for them, I guess.

[COB]

That about sums it up.  I think it’s a point of pride with Mike that he just doesn’t give a fuck what anyone thinks.  
 

It’s ironic that I’m a bengal fan and a tribe fan.  The tribe has José Ramirez, insanely good player, one other great player, then a bunch of guys.  The owner doesn’t care.  Just getting paid.  Made the ALCS last year and responded by trading away the team leader, the heart of the team, Josh Naylor (only one year left in cheap deal then he’s getting big money) and their all star second baseman (also due to get paid).  Now the Reds are better than us.  
 

The one difference - Mike is a Highlander who sees the team as his legacy and I believe has instilled a “never sell” ethos in his heirs.  We’re stuck with the Brown family.  The Dolans, who own the Guardians, have agreed to sell controlling interest in 2028 to some rich guy named David Blitzer who owns the 76ers and the New Jersey Devils.  Supposedly he’ll spend like a real owner, we’ll see.  At least there is hope.  
 

 

[ArmyBengal]

Hope sucks