Lots of Facebook rumors floating around that we will be playing the Fins in Spain this year.

From the NFL on CBS.

20 hours ago, theguru said:

So great for Tee and Chase.  Hopefully they both have a strong four years.

Now seriously, what about our defense, we need help?

I am by no means a Mike Brown / Katie Brown Blackburn apologist, but they are really in a no win situation on the national reporting level.

For weeks all we heard was don't be cheap, pay Chase and Higgins.   Typical Bengals,  always penny pinching.

So they signed Chase and Higgins.

Today on ESPN Radio:  What are they thinking?  Now they have no money for defense! 

Granted, ESPN and most national media outlets are lazy, but you can't complain about both things and be taken seriously.

2 hours ago, Tranquility Base said:

I am by no means a Mike Brown / Katie Brown Blackburn apologist, but they are really in a no win situation on the national reporting level.

For weeks all we heard was don't be cheap, pay Chase and Higgins.   Typical Bengals,  always penny pinching.

So they signed Chase and Higgins.

Today on ESPN Radio:  What are they thinking?  Now they have no money for defense! 

Granted, ESPN and most national media outlets are lazy, but you can't complain about both things and be taken seriously.

The media is the media but we are Bengals fans and this fan didn't want to commit all that money to Tee.

Either way, we need to do something on D. 

Honestly the Bengals at this time were not in a position to not spend money to keep their top players. Does the defense and interior of the OL have to get better? Absolutely, however the Bengals also were not in position to just let another talented player leave for nothing. They still have money to add to the interior of the OL, and Hendrickson is still under contract too. Which sounds like there is a better chance of them also able to extend him too. 

 

This has probably been discussed throughout the thread, but you can spend whatever on players, but the more you spend, it greatly enhances the importance of drafting well. The Eagles didn't win the Super Bowl because they broke the bank in free agency, but rather because they nailed consecutive drafts.

Can someone help me understand the "franchise tag" in this case?  Now that Higgins is signed, does the "franchise tag" become available for somebody else or it not applicable anymore?

15 hours ago, Tranquility Base said:

I am by no means a Mike Brown / Katie Brown Blackburn apologist, but they are really in a no win situation on the national reporting level.

For weeks all we heard was don't be cheap, pay Chase and Higgins.   Typical Bengals,  always penny pinching.

So they signed Chase and Higgins.

Today on ESPN Radio:  What are they thinking?  Now they have no money for defense! 

Granted, ESPN and most national media outlets are lazy, but you can't complain about both things and be taken seriously.

No one wants to admit it, but Joe didn’t help the situation during his Super Bowl tour.  And it appears the organization (and fans) are so fearful of upsetting him (and the ramifications that could lead too) that they worked to accomplish the things that Joe wanted.  Unfortunately, I believe many think this will negatively impact roster building for years.  Good drafts and development of our own may help the situation.  Who knows what Joe and ownership discussed this off season, but I wish it had been ownership expressing a plan to make the team better and getting Joe on board with that plan.  I am not sure if that happened or not?   But, on the surface it appears the Bengals formed their plan around Joe’s very public demands.  Team was in tough spot and I personally wished they would have went a different route. 

1 hour ago, nkypete said:

Can someone help me understand the "franchise tag" in this case?  Now that Higgins is signed, does the "franchise tag" become available for somebody else or it not applicable anymore?

I do not believe it is an available option. Teams are required to use a franchise tag by a certain date each year. Someone can correct me if I am wrong.

31 minutes ago, FatNate said:

No one wants to admit it, but Joe didn’t help the situation during his Super Bowl tour.  And it appears the organization (and fans) are so fearful of upsetting him (and the ramifications that could lead too) that they worked to accomplish the things that Joe wanted.  Unfortunately, I believe many think this will negatively impact roster building for years.  Good drafts and development of our own may help the situation.  Who knows what Joe and ownership discussed this off season, but I wish it had been ownership expressing a plan to make the team better and getting Joe on board with that plan.  I am not sure if that happened or not?   But, on the surface it appears the Bengals formed their plan around Joe’s very public demands.  Team was in tough spot and I personally wished they would have went a different route. 

I'm on the opposite side... good, I'm glad he put the pressure on. The Bengals were showing no signs of EVER stepping into the 21st century way of business in regard to contract structure, etc. and this past week is a step in the right direction. 

13 hours ago, theguru said:

The media is the media but we are Bengals fans and this fan didn't want to commit all that money to Tee.

Either way, we need to do something on D. 

Not a Bengals fan they hired a new DC so the defense should be fixed lol. Not likely. I don't see them making the playoffs this year.

24 minutes ago, ChickenWyngz said:

I'm on the opposite side... good, I'm glad he put the pressure on. The Bengals were showing no signs of EVER stepping into the 21st century way of business in regard to contract structure, etc. and this past week is a step in the right direction. 

It’s only a success if this is one of moves that secure a Super Bowl over the next four years. I do not believe many teams have won Super Bowls with this much of the payroll allocated to two WR, which makes question the process.  I hope I am wrong. 

59 minutes ago, FatNate said:

It’s only a success if this is one of moves that secure a Super Bowl over the next four years. I do not believe many teams have won Super Bowls with this much of the payroll allocated to two WR, which makes question the process.  I hope I am wrong. 

To be fair, that much money allocated to two WR's is unprecedented, so it definitely hasn't happened. 

1 hour ago, ChickenWyngz said:

I'm on the opposite side... good, I'm glad he put the pressure on. The Bengals were showing no signs of EVER stepping into the 21st century way of business in regard to contract structure, etc. and this past week is a step in the right direction. 

Generally speaking players play, coaches coach, and owners decide but in this case why not try what Burrow wants, what do we have to lose?  In other words, I agree with you.

3 hours ago, FatNate said:

No one wants to admit it, but Joe didn’t help the situation during his Super Bowl tour.  And it appears the organization (and fans) are so fearful of upsetting him (and the ramifications that could lead too) that they worked to accomplish the things that Joe wanted.  Unfortunately, I believe many think this will negatively impact roster building for years.  Good drafts and development of our own may help the situation.  Who knows what Joe and ownership discussed this off season, but I wish it had been ownership expressing a plan to make the team better and getting Joe on board with that plan.  I am not sure if that happened or not?   But, on the surface it appears the Bengals formed their plan around Joe’s very public demands.  Team was in tough spot and I personally wished they would have went a different route. 

I think Joe helped the situation, not hurt. As it forced the Bengals to actually spend money and do contracts differently than they like to do. Even if the Bengals didn't extend Higgins back, there is no guarantee the Bengals would have spent that money in the right spot in other places. The Bengals have tried that approach at other areas like with Bates, thinking they don't want to pay that much money for a safety and could spread that money around to other areas. Which allowed them to extend Wilson, Pratt, Hubbard, etc. Now looking back on it, the money probably would have been better spent just paying a top player like Bates, and letting those other guys move on sooner. 

It is important for the Bengals at this time to spend money on their most talented and keep them. Now that said, I don't think the Bengals should go the next 4 years paying both Higgins and Chase. Take the next two years and run with it, and also extend Hendrickson two more years. Then after 2 years try to trade Tee and get something back in return.