Husband to my beautiful wife. Father to my amazing kids. Attorney. Fan of the Cincinnati Bengals Reds & Inter. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiam
To be clear, the Chiefs didn't collapse in the second half. Lou Anarumo made a tremendous adjustment to mainly rush three and the Chiefs had no answers and were held to 3 points.
The Bengals won this game. Don't let anyone else claim it was anything less than that.
Overlooked on this incredible Ja'Marr Chase catch is the poor spot. The refs ruled (incorrectly) that Chase was down by contact by Ramsey at the 11. But Chase doesn't even have possession of the ball yet when Ramsey grazes him as he's going to the ground. Chase gets up & gets...
Burrow with 4,165 yards and 30 passing TDs with the Bengals in 1st place in the AFCN through 15 games after reconstructive surgery a year ago, that's all.
Bengals should seriously explore trading a 3rd rd pick for their former RG Kevin Zeitler. Giants are a sinking ship & would likely welcome assets for their rebuild. Bengals can't risk an injury to Burrow with this atrocious OL. A 3rd rd pick is more than worth it to save Burrow.
Pray for Tee Higgins, too. Obviously an innocuous-looking play, but hope Tee is doing ok and my prayers are with him (he's even dealt with a personal tragedy this year losing his father).
Prayers for Tee and of course Damar Hamlin. 🙏🙏
The
#Chiefs
' Super Bowl ring appears to have a typo, listing the
#Dolphins
as the 7th seed when they were actually the 6th seed.
(The Steelers were the No. 7 seed.)
Really cool that Joe Burrow offered his family suite to Browning's family for today's game.
Happy Birthday to Joe. Class act and a tremendous teammate and leader.
So few people really talking about the Bengals historic road comeback down 18 in a Conference Championship Game
Image if Mahomes had engineered an 18-point comeback at home (like Manning in the 2006 AFCCG) for the conference title. Media would call for his immediate enshrinement
As a long-suffering Bengals' fan, I feel a sense of moral obligation to root for the Buffalo Bills during the playoffs. Both fan bases have a shared kinship in frustration and misery. I'll live vicariously though Bills fans during the playoffs.
Vonn Bell's $6M 2024 base salary was fully GRTD last season by CAR
This will be a Russell Wilson-type signing, where the Bengals will ink him to a 1yr/$1,210,000 deal, with the Panthers paying the difference ($4,790,000)
Mr. Tepper will get a nice Holiday basket from Mike Brown
If Burrow's injury was acute in nature as Zac said, then the
#1
organizational goal must be to build a 1990s Cowboys OL-type fortress in front of Joe for the rest of his career.
No more time for the Volson's of the world to learn on the job.
The Bengals essentially loaned Vonn Bell to Carolina (who paid a hefty premium for the loan to the tune of $13M fully GRTD) for 1 season, to then get him back this season (with Carolina footing 80% of the bill), all while netting the Bengals a 6th rd. comp. pick.
Fascinating.
The Bengals also got a 6th round 2024 compensatory that indirectly came from Vonn Bell going to Charlotte for a season.
Now they have the comp pick and Bell in the same season--along with most of the salary being paid by the Panthers.
NFL Honors tonight.
Chase very likely to win OROY.
Taylor should win COY.
Burrow should win CPOY (though I dislike this award in general, mainly for lack of clarity of how comeback is defined).
Lastly, Big Willie Anderson should be voted into the HOF.
Bengals blew an 11-point 4th quarter lead vs. a 1-win team playing a backup QB making his NFL starting debut. Cannot happen.
The penalty on Mike Hilton was the worst call I've seen. Just a terrible and likely game-deciding call.
Both statement above are true.
It all makes sense once you realize that Joe Burrow really is Kevin McAllister and the entire plot depends on him being asleep at the beginning.
It's science.
Joe Burrow is 1-8 (.111) in the first two weeks of the season since entering the league.
Here's his average performance:
38 Attempts
24 Completions
63.2%
200 Yards
5.8 YPA
1.3 TDs
1 INT
76.6 Passer Rating
3.9 Sacks
0.7 Fumbles
62.8 PFF Grade
17.9 Points Scored
This is a guy
Bengals 2021 Offensive Line.
LT Penei Sewell (rookie contract)
LG Joe Thuney (sizeable FA deal)
C Trey Hopkins (already on a modest, vet deal)
RG Quinton Spain (re-sign in offseason)
RT Jonah Williams (rookie contract)
Can switch Jonah/Penei, don't care.
This is doable.
The Chiefs were 11-2 in their final 13 games this season (including playoffs), with their only two losses coming against the Bengals.
I truly believe that Lou Anarumo's 2nd half adjustment & scheme will go down as one of the greatest coaching feats in NFL history.
Can the
@Bengals
defense be the key to a Super Bowl LVI upset?
@MattHamilton25
looks at how Cincinnati's halftime adjustments against Kansas City can translate to slowing down the Rams next Sunday.
NFLPA really needs to make certain Tua cleared concussion protocols from last week's game. Today's hit coupled with last week's isn't a good look. Hope Tua is ok.
I don't think that's the rule, Tony.
Burrow's leg movement was no different than signaling to motion a player. He wasn't pulling away from the center which would have been a false start.
If the result of this game were different, this play and catch by Ja'Marr Chase would be considered one of the best plays in Club and League history.
As it were, it is still an absolutely ridiculous catch.
Deshaun Watson (and the Texans in general) can and should serve as a roadmap for Joe Burrow and the Bengals. Watson tore his ACL on Nov. 2, 2017. He recovered in time to start and play every game in the 2018 season. Watson didn't miss a beat and made the Pro Bowl in 2018.
When a player like Carlos Dunlap gets demoted, yet a player like Bobby Hart keeps a strangle hold on his starting job despite repeated struggles, don't tell me players don't notice. Why are some jobs on the line, and others not? Gives players reasons to question coaches.
Rookie Ja'Marr Chase already has more receiving yards (1,429) & TDs (13) in a single season than Bengals' great AJ Green had in any of his 9 seasons with the Club
Green made 7 consecutive Pro Bowls & was a 2x 2nd-team All-Pro
Just to put Ja'Marr's rookie season into perspective
Here's a proposed contract extension for Joe Burrow:
8yrs/$408M
$142,635,000 fully GRTD at Signing $240,635,000 in total guarantees
$51M AAV
$60M Signing Bonus
2023 Cap Hit = $18,980,025 ($7,464,982 increase from currently scheduled $11.5M Cap Hit)
2023 Cash Spend= $61.01M
If report is true, Bengals would be wise to try to poach Bill Callahan from Cleveland and unite him with his son in Cincinnati. Offer him an assistant HC/OL Coach position, so Cleveland can't block him, and bring on Willie Anderson as assistant OL Coach for when Callahan retires.
I really think people still don't realize how truly talented Ja'Marr Chase is, even after his historic rookie season
This is a plyr who didn't play competitive football from January 2020 (LSU title game) until September 2021 (20 months!), yet abused defenses like a 6-year vet.
If KC loses vs LV, CIN wins vs BAL, & BUF wins vs NE:
BUF
#1
KC
#2
CIN
#3
Yet in a potential
#2
vs
#3
divisional, CIN doesn't get the benefit of a coin flip deciding the venue vs KC, but BAL does get such a benefit when conditions are same (uneven games & head-to-head win)??
Frank Pollack and Marion Hobby are resoundingly better coaches than Jim Turner and Nick Eason. The Bengals coaching staff has improved demonstrably with these hires. These are good hires and should be lauded as such. Key player personnel acquisitions will be key.
The first paragraph isn't objective reporting here.
A source can confirm facts, but using a source to state an opinion (which clearly contradicts the several FO personnel statements on the same topic) is a bit odd.
WR Tee Higgins is not believed to be in the Bengals future plans, a source tells me
The two sides never got close on an extension. Unless something "shocking" happens in next 24 hrs, he will play this play the season w/ no long-term deal from Cincy
I object to the use of the word, "just" here.
Division realignment began with the 2002 season, meaning there have now been 20 seasons with 8 divisions.
The Bengals have won exactly 25% of the AFCN division titles which is statistically consistent.
"Just" is a biased term here.
Cincinnati finished the season 10-7, winning the AFC North for just the fifth time in franchise history.
@Real10jayy__
broke the record for most rec. yards in a rookie season in the Super Bowl Era (1,455) and the most rec. yards by a rookie in a single game (266) in Week 17.
Bengals fans need to get out of their feelings over the innocuous comments made by CJ Uzomah today. He's merely commenting on his new team.
Feeling slighted (as a fan, no less) by mundane comments of former players during a standard presser really isn't a good look.
...tackled just shy of the 5 yard line, which is where the ball should have been placed. 1st & goal just outside the 5. Instead, 1st & 10 at 11, and Bengals offense fails to capitalize and only gets a FG. Not blaming refs for drive stalling, but it was a terrible spot.
Bengals currently have $34.78M in Cap Room, so they don't need to restructure anyone because that is plenty of Cap Room to address their needs
They'll add $16,858,842 upon the likely releases of Waynes & Hopkins to get to $51.64M in Cap Room
They'll make multiple FA OL signings
There ended up being no run on OTs at the end of Rd. 1.
Only 5 OL (4 OTs & AVT) selected in Rd. 1, and a realistic chance of only 1 or 2 more before 38.
Bengals are in a great spot to add a quality OL at 38.
That's about as cheap as they come from Chase Claypool. Typical Steelers' brazenly dirty play. Taking a 38-point whooping with typical Steelers' class and style.
Bengals' external UFA signings so far:
S Geno Stone (2-yrs/$14M)
RB Zack Moss (2-yrs/$8M)
TE Mike Gesicki (1-yr/$2.5M)
DT Sheldon Rankins (2-yrs/$24.5M)
S Vonn Bell (1-yr/$1.21M)
OT Trent Brown (1-yr/$??M)
There's still time for the Bengals to convert the $6M roster bonus set to be earned by Trey Hendrickson on 3/20 into a signing bonus to create an extra $4M in Cap Space. Bengals never do this, but would be a welcomed change with negligible risk (maybe even to get Larry O back).
The 2023 season should also retire the notion that the Bengals can just grab any TE who can breathe & he'll thrive with Burrow
Sample should be re-signed as a blocking TE
Hudson will be an UFA (VSB deal perhaps?)
But CIN needs to address TE in a way that's not an afternthought
"Just because we had success last year does not mean that we're going to replicate the same success. There's a lot of work we have to put in."
--Bengals HC Zac Taylor. Best line of the offseason so far by Zac. Every season is a different in the NFL and nothing is guaranteed.
Bengals getting really athletic at their worst position. Akeem Davis Gaither is an athletic freak. Bengals looked to have finally fixed their LB position.
With Burrow extended, all eyes turn to Tee Higgins.
Kelce's absence last night highlights the immense value of having 2 elite pass catchers. When Chase missed 4 games last season, Tee was option 1 and performed very well.
Teams should want to retain two elite pass catchers.
Burrow's best throw of the game last night was the 13-yard pass over the middle to Boyd to convert a 3rd & 4 and put the Bengals in the RZ.
An absolute dart by Burrow. No indication of any wrist issue to that point.
Clowney hit came 3 plays later. Shame as Burrow was cooking.
Bengals should go get JC Tretter.
Mike Brown does have a fondness for Ivy League players dating back to Pat McInally and heck, even Fitzmagic, and a few others.
Could slide Karras to LG where he played well for NE last season.
Divisional familiarity to boot.
Where are the articles asking the Eagles and Howie Roseman how they are going (or whether they intend) to extend DeVonta Smith next year with AJ Brown on the books with sizeable cap hits starting in 2024 and Jalen Hurts in line to sign his massive extension?
The Bengals made the Baltimore Ravens quit in the 4th Quarter at home in a game for first place.
The Bengals know it and the Ravens know it. The Bengals even pulled their starters.
The rematch in the Jungle will be intense.
On to the NY Jets (can't overlook their DL).
You don't have to sell La'el Collins on all the non-monetary benefits (fit with Pollack, playing with Burrow, etc.) if you just offer him the best deal.
Yes, you never want to overpay, but you also owe it to your entire organization to protect the organization's biggest asset.
So the Bengals traded up for Ryan Finley in the 2019 Draft & kept Jake Dolegala on the 53 the entire 2019 season. Finley now benched for a journeyman QB & Dolegala is not on the roster.
In 2020, the Bengals have kept 2 kickers on the 53 for most of the season.
This is poor.
JC Tretter wears
#64
, which is same number worn by long-time Bengals C/RG Bruce Kozerski, and I can't think of another successful Bengals' OL who rocked
#64
since Bruce retired in the mid-90s.
Time to get JC in stripes and into that glorious
#64
jersey.
FWIW, on the 4th & goal pass play in which there were offsetting penalties and a replay of 4th down (before the KC hands to the face penalty which resulted in an automatic 1st down), Joe Mixon got in the EZ. He was ruled short, but he got in. Didn't matter in the end.
Except your incompetent officiating crew ruined this moment for Boyd, all 66K+ fans in attendance, fans watching on TV, and gave the Raiders reason to gripe because of the inexcusable whistle. The ref who blew that whistle should never officiate another playoff game. Embarrassing
Also note that with Trae Waynes' release yesterday, Trey Hendrickson now carries the highest 2022 Cap Hit on the Bengals ($14,448,235)
Tremendous first season in stripes for Trey. One of the best FA signings in franchise history.
Just a reminder that the Bengals do not have single OLineman on a multiyear contract worth >$10M AAV
In contrast, all four veteran Defensive Line starters have contracts at or > $10M AAV
Hendrickson $15M
Reader $13.25M
Hill $10M
Hubbard: $10M
Need same type of investment in OL
If Bengals trade for Collins, they could still sign a Jensen type on the OL, make a big splash at CB (JC Jackson perhaps), and also still sign a veteran Guard (an Andrew Norwell-type), and likely retain CJ.
It'd likely mean both Larry & BJ walk, but pick
#31
could focus on a 3T
Let's stop this now. The Bengals back in the mid-2000s paid Carson, Chad, TJ, Rudy, and Big Willie all market-rate deals.
Both Tee and Ja'Marr will be extended when the time comes (and Burrow of course).
If there's an odd man out, it may be Bates if no extension is reached.
Bengals would absorb an $8.235M Cap Hit if they acquired Kevin Zeitler via trade. Bengals currently have ~$10.8M in Cap Space, so it is doable. To create even more room, Bengals should consider trading John Ross for a 6th/7th which would clear $2.3M in Cap Space.
Bengals should seriously explore trading a 3rd rd pick for their former RG Kevin Zeitler. Giants are a sinking ship & would likely welcome assets for their rebuild. Bengals can't risk an injury to Burrow with this atrocious OL. A 3rd rd pick is more than worth it to save Burrow.
I like Jonah and he played RT in college, but imagine if there is a trade market for him and if the Bengals drafted Dawand Jones.
Imagine a tackle bookend of Orlando Brown and Dawand Jones.
Carl Lawson is better than Hendrickson. Adding Hendrickson and losing Lawson does NOT improve the team. You are merely running in place operating this way.
Ja'Marr now over 1k receiving yards on the season through 11.5 games
How about Jake Browing's night so far?
Has led the longest drive of the season (92 yards) and the longest play of the season (76 yards).
If I'm the Bengals, here are realistic options I prioritize in FA:
1.) LG Joe Thuney
2.) RT Daryl Williams
3.) WR/Gadget Curtis Samuel
4.) Re-sign Carl Lawson
5.) Tag WJIII
I know they don't sign Gs, but the Reader signing could represent the beginning of philosophical changes
Will Fuller would look awfully nice in a Bengals' uniform. He'll be an UFA in 2021. Would be the deep threat they always envisioned John Ross to be. Bengals had interest in Fuller in the 2016 Draft when he was selected 3 spots before they drafted WJIII.
Really excited to see what the Zack Moss + Chase Brown pairing does for the Bengals' offense.
I think it makes the running game more efficient and explosive.
These two will likely exceed Mixon's output with a combined Cap cost less than what Mixon's would have been.
One year after signing Cappa & Karras on day-1, landing Collins in the first week, and drafting Volson to procure 4 new starters on the OL in one offseason, the Bengals go out and add Orlando Brown - the consensus best tackle on the market.
Protect Burrow.
Well done!
$31M Signing Bonus is likely to be the only amount fully GRTD at signing (48%) but this is how the Bengals can structure a deal with enough Yr-1 cash which serves to effectively guarantee at least the first 2 years.
$16M AAV & taking him from KC!
Well done, Duke, Katie & Troy!
Kerrigan and Trai Turner would be a couple of nice additions in week 2 of FA. Kerrigan visiting today gives a strong indication of an imminent signing.
For Joe Mixon, the best thing about getting traded is that he won't get a paycut since Houston just assumes the 2024 cash obligations (unless the Bengals agree to take some on of it, but I doubt it)
Best thing for CIN = they get a pick which wouldn't be the case with a cut.
We can all agree that the Bengals would have won SB LVI had they decided to wear blank pants. Need black pants in the next super bowl (which the Bengals can pull off as either the home or away team, btw).
Bengals are 0-3 in the SB wearing white pants.
Black pants are the key.