Just now, nkypete said:

I miss Kevin Zeitler.

I never understood that one.

18 hours ago, REALSPORT said:

I guess I'm in the minority, but I like what the Bengals have done so far.  From what I've read the Higgins deal is team friendly and gives them an out in two years.  Hendrickson either 1) agrees to any extension the team offers 2) plays the final year of his deal or 3) sits out and makes nothing.  It doesn't look like other teams will meet both his $ nor the Bengals trade demands.  I'd like to see them move on from Pratt, just not sure who would replace him.  Things could change but I still think they go edge or safety in round 1 and guard in round 2 or 3.  

As I earlier alluded to, the signings are fine if you have confidence the Bengals can draft well and are able to fill in the gaps in the FA market with some hidden gems. The Chiefs have been atop the NFL world in large part because of Mahomes, but more importantly, they are awesome on draft day.

22 hours ago, bugatti said:

As I earlier alluded to, the signings are fine if you have confidence the Bengals can draft well and are able to fill in the gaps in the FA market with some hidden gems. The Chiefs have been atop the NFL world in large part because of Mahomes, but more importantly, they are awesome on draft day.

The defensive side of the ball especially.

1 hour ago, REALSPORT said:

The defensive side of the ball especially.

No doubt. They've paid Chris Jones as the anchor up front, but beyond that, everyone has been on the chopping block. We are talking All-Pro level players they've parted ways with.

Will the Bengals move?

3 minutes ago, MaddenCurse44 said:

Will the Bengals move?

Doubtful, it is a negotiation tactic.  

On 3/23/2025 at 4:16 PM, theguru said:

From Lance McAlister and the Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals have signed unrestricted free agent G Lucas Patrick to a one-year contract for the 2025 season.

Patrick (6-3, 313), a ninth-year player out of Duke University, originally was a college free agent signee of Green Bay in 2016. He has played in 107 career regular-season games with 64 starts for the Packers (2017-21), Chicago Bears (’22-23) and New Orleans Saints (’24). 

He also has seen action in five postseason contests with three starts for Green Bay.

 

From CincyJungle.com

Patrick spent last season with the New Orleans Saints, starting 10 games. He’s been a consistent starter for the last five seasons, having originally commenced his career with the Green Bay Packers.

There’s going to be a spot for Patrick to both help along the line, having started as a center and guard during his career, so if nothing else, he gives Cincinnati depth at three different spots along the offensive line.

 

I think Patrick is a good addition. He is an experienced starter. His highest grades are at LG and C. He only played 88 snaps at C in 2024, but graded as the 5th best C in those snaps. Graded at #34 at LG in 474 snaps in 2024. 

On 3/23/2025 at 8:37 PM, REALSPORT said:

I guess I'm in the minority, but I like what the Bengals have done so far.  From what I've read the Higgins deal is team friendly and gives them an out in two years.  Hendrickson either 1) agrees to any extension the team offers 2) plays the final year of his deal or 3) sits out and makes nothing.  It doesn't look like other teams will meet both his $ nor the Bengals trade demands.  I'd like to see them move on from Pratt, just not sure who would replace him.  Things could change but I still think they go edge or safety in round 1 and guard in round 2 or 3.  

A lot of sports talk on Hendrickson this week. Based on all I heard, the Bengals think they have a fair offer on the table for Hendrickson and I don't think they are going to change it. They feel they gave Hendrickson visibility to his market value by letting him talk to other teams and that proved the Bengals have a fair offer on the table. I also wonder if Al Golden has weighed in and said Hendrickson is not a must have player for his defense so don't overpay.

The Bengals have been generous with Hendrickson. He came here as a free agent, so clearly they paid him more than anyone else in the NFL wanted to at that time. They gave him a raise and extension a couple years ago. They made an offer to extend his contract this year and I am sure there is another raise in the offer. This is not a Bengals are cheap situation. It is a what is Hendrickson's real value situation. I think Hendrickson is down to his second last tactic - public media pressure. That isn't going to work. The only thing left after this is hold out. That won't work with the Bengals. The offer is the offer. Accept it, play out the contract or sit out. It's Hendrickson's choice on how it goes for him this year. 

On the football side, Hendrickson is a one trick pony. He is very good at that trick but his sacks are a little inflated by piling up numbers against bad teams. That is why no other teams were willing to step up and go after him. He will be 31 at the end of this season. If I were Hendrickson, I would attend training camp and do the work he wants to do to get ready for the season, but do a quasi holdout to save the body for real games. Then sign the contract before the opener and take the money you can get. The NFL is a precarious place for a 30/31 year old.

2 hours ago, theguru said:

Doubtful, it is a negotiation tactic.  

The organization is a mess. 

On 4/5/2025 at 2:18 PM, Voice of Reason said:

A lot of sports talk on Hendrickson this week. Based on all I heard, the Bengals think they have a fair offer on the table for Hendrickson and I don't think they are going to change it. They feel they gave Hendrickson visibility to his market value by letting him talk to other teams and that proved the Bengals have a fair offer on the table. I also wonder if Al Golden has weighed in and said Hendrickson is not a must have player for his defense so don't overpay.

The Bengals have been generous with Hendrickson. He came here as a free agent, so clearly they paid him more than anyone else in the NFL wanted to at that time. They gave him a raise and extension a couple years ago. They made an offer to extend his contract this year and I am sure there is another raise in the offer. This is not a Bengals are cheap situation. It is a what is Hendrickson's real value situation. I think Hendrickson is down to his second last tactic - public media pressure. That isn't going to work. The only thing left after this is hold out. That won't work with the Bengals. The offer is the offer. Accept it, play out the contract or sit out. It's Hendrickson's choice on how it goes for him this year. 

On the football side, Hendrickson is a one trick pony. He is very good at that trick but his sacks are a little inflated by piling up numbers against bad teams. That is why no other teams were willing to step up and go after him. He will be 31 at the end of this season. If I were Hendrickson, I would attend training camp and do the work he wants to do to get ready for the season, but do a quasi holdout to save the body for real games. Then sign the contract before the opener and take the money you can get. The NFL is a precarious place for a 30/31 year old.

Bengals have all the leverage here.  Trey didn’t have to sign the extension which I believe would have made him a free agent this year.  In this instance, I am fine with the way the Bengals have handled this deal.  Don’t over pay or over extend him based on his age.  He will play well this year and probably sign a mid-$30M deal next year with another team.  But I am not agreeing or buying the one trick pony narrative.  We have no idea of the inner workings of the defense scheme.  He has no help.  None.  As far as I am concerned he is told to attack the QB and he does that better than anyone else in the league.

On 4/5/2025 at 2:18 PM, Voice of Reason said:

A lot of sports talk on Hendrickson this week. Based on all I heard, the Bengals think they have a fair offer on the table for Hendrickson and I don't think they are going to change it. They feel they gave Hendrickson visibility to his market value by letting him talk to other teams and that proved the Bengals have a fair offer on the table. I also wonder if Al Golden has weighed in and said Hendrickson is not a must have player for his defense so don't overpay.

The Bengals have been generous with Hendrickson. He came here as a free agent, so clearly they paid him more than anyone else in the NFL wanted to at that time. They gave him a raise and extension a couple years ago. They made an offer to extend his contract this year and I am sure there is another raise in the offer. This is not a Bengals are cheap situation. It is a what is Hendrickson's real value situation. I think Hendrickson is down to his second last tactic - public media pressure. That isn't going to work. The only thing left after this is hold out. That won't work with the Bengals. The offer is the offer. Accept it, play out the contract or sit out. It's Hendrickson's choice on how it goes for him this year. 

On the football side, Hendrickson is a one trick pony. He is very good at that trick but his sacks are a little inflated by piling up numbers against bad teams. That is why no other teams were willing to step up and go after him. He will be 31 at the end of this season. If I were Hendrickson, I would attend training camp and do the work he wants to do to get ready for the season, but do a quasi holdout to save the body for real games. Then sign the contract before the opener and take the money you can get. The NFL is a precarious place for a 30/31 year old.

Honestly the person Trey should be mad at is himself and his agent. There is zero reason why he should have agreed to that one year contract extension two years ago. He was coming off of 3 great years when he signed that one year extension, which is the only reason he is still here. With him turning 30, and knowing he would be 31 by this season. There is zero reason why they should have agreed to a one year extension and for pretty cheap overall at that. His agent should have even told him, if he wants to Max out on his earnings, his best interest would have been getting back to Free agency sooner and not signing a rather cheap one year extension. Trey and his agent are the ones who put themselves in this position. 

Just now, futurecoach said:

Honestly the person Trey should be mad at is himself and his agent. There is zero reason why he should have agreed to that one year contract extension two years ago. He was coming off of 3 great years when he signed that one year extension, which is the only reason he is still here. With him turning 30, and knowing he would be 31 by this season. There is zero reason why they should have agreed to a one year extension and for pretty cheap overall at that. His agent should have even told him, if he wants to Max out on his earnings, his best interest would have been getting back to Free agency sooner and not signing a rather cheap one year extension. Trey and his agent are the ones who put themselves in this position. 

To continue this Trey talk. The Giants are apparently looking to trade Kayvon Thibodeaux. Apparently people think it would only take a second or a third round pick to get him. He is still only 24 and would be under team control for two more years on his rookie contract. If I’m the Bengals I am calling right now and making that happen. Get him and then you trade Trey and get that second or third round pick back that you gave up. Not to mention if saves them a little money this year then and can use that to go sign a veteran guard. 

On 4/5/2025 at 4:23 PM, MaddenCurse44 said:

The organization is a mess. 

Disagree completely 

From the Bengals:

New numbers just dropped.

Tim Krumrie will be announcing the 2nd and 3rd round picks for the Bengals in Green Bay.