Ja'Marr Chase and Trey Hendrickson were named to AP's 1st team ALL-Pro teams. Ja'Marr was the top vote-getter along with Justin Jefferson at WR. Trey was the 2nd Edge guy after Myles Garrett (Watt was 3rd). Joe Burrow is honorable mention after Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson

The 3 UK home teams have been set for next year...Jaguars, Jets, and Browns...we play all 3. Games will also be played in Madrid and Berlin with the home teams expected to be from the AFC because of the 8th home game rotation The Bengals have been mentioned as a team that is overdue for a European game. Being the initial home team in Madrid would be kind of cool

Why aren't the Bengals even considering or interviewing the top candidates for DC like Robert Saleh or Dennis Allen? Is it because they would command more money than the Bengals are willing to pay? They haven't hired a big name coach and this is the perfect time to do so with the offense clicking on all cylinders. The window is here and all the front office seems to be doing is counting pennies instead of putting a serious contender together.

It's one thing if these coaches have no interest coming but to dismiss them without any consideration is ridiculous. This window is open and the front office has alot of things it NEEDS to do right this off season with re-signing the big guys on this team, releasing players to make room for better defensive players and most importantly getting a quality defensive coach to run that side successfully.

Action or lack of actions speak volumes. Get a top defensive coach singed that will finally steer this defense in the right direction.

I don't think it's any big secret that our 2024 defense cost us games this past season. Moreover, our lack of pass rush in many games (besides Hendrickson) was just pathetic.

As with so many position groups there's a lot to think about/fix here, IMHO. Here they are:

Trey Hendrickson - 31 years old next season averaging 14 sacks per season over last 5 years. With back to back 17.5 sack seasons I don't think it's much of a stretch to think he's going to demand a new contract, again. Can/will the Bengals be able to keep him?

Sam Hubbard - 31 years old next season averaging about 4.5 sacks a season over last 5 years. This subject touches a nerve around here, but here is my take. They need to either cut Sam or restructure his contract and put him as a rotational backup. His career has been in decline last couple seasons and we have to get better production from our DE's not named Trey.

Myles Murphy - 24 years old next season and a 1st round draft pick in 2023. Has 3 sacks to his credit all in 2023. Hasn't moved the needle much in his young career but I doubt he's a cut candidate yet. Will he find his stride next season? I have my doubts.

Joseph Ossai - 25 next season with 9.5 career sacks. He had 5 sacks this year with all of them coming in back half of season. I believe at best he's aa rotational type backup.

And the rest: Cam Sample, Cedric Johnson, and Isaiah Thomas Sample has flashed a bit here and there and if he can come back from injury he's worth a look. Not real sure about the rest?

In summary IMHO we have to bring Trey back and we need to either go get a good free agent DE and they're expensive or pray we get a great DC that can develop this bunch we have. We have to get some pressure on opposing QB's besides Trey.

According to Paul Dehner JR. The Bengals denied him his request to interview Duke!

People are going to be upset that I bring this up but we have to talk.

Why does Walters get a pass? Many claim he is a great coach, but say Chase and Tee were no brainers when it comes to Tobin picks.

Now if Chase and Tee were no brainer picks, then where is the development of all these wide receivers we've drafted?

Why does he get a pass around here?

2025 - 2029

Then Unrestricted FA in 2030.

That is the timeline on how long the Bengals have Burrow.  They have already burned through 5 years, if you need any reference point on how quick it will go.

The Bengals are 38-30-1 when Burrow starts, he has missed  13 games with two serious injuries in those 5 years.

They have won 5 playoff games.  Raiders, Titans, Chiefs, Ravens and Bills.  They have lost two others, the Super Bowl and the ACF Championship 2 years ago.

Passing attempts: 2,547
Passing completions: 1,748
Completion percentage: 68.6%
TD–INT: 140–46
Passing yards: 19,001
Passer rating: 101.2

He has been better than anyone had imagined when he was drafted #1OA. 

Burrow is entering the absolute prime of his QB Career,  Ages 28-33, and his contract is a bargain compared to other QB contracts that will be signed in the next few seasons.

There should be alarm bells going off in the FO.  This team, and their historically miser -first approach, needs to be drastically altered to capitalize on what they have in front of them.

As a Bengal Fan, the next 5 years are certainly exciting, but so were the last two years of no playoffs and 9-8 records.   To me, both were wasted seasons, but this year was more egregious given the healthy and MVP worthy Season he posted.  

Must Do's:

Cut the waste:  Hubbard, Rankins, Cappa, Sample, etc.

Buy 4 Premier FAs: Teven Jenkins, Becton at Guards to start.  LB and Safety as well.

Sign Higgins and Chase to 4 year extensions.  Essentially matching burrows time in stripes and the primes of their careers.

Draft:  BPA on Defense in the first 3 rounds.

Go win two Super Bowls.

Not great!

The only awards that matter. But I need some help.

Assistant Coach of the year -

Offensive Player of the year - Jamarr Chase
MVP - Joe Burrow
Defensive Player of the year - Trey Hendrickson
Comeback Player of the year- Joe Burrow
Offensive Rookie of the year - Amarius Mims
Defensive Rookie of the year -
Most Improved Player of the year -
Most Disappointing Player of the year Offense -
Most Disappointing Player of the year Defense -
Breakout Player of the year - Chase Brown
Most Likely Player to breakout in 2025 -

I know the game has changed and evolved in the new sexy area of passing and high scoring games but im of the mindset that football always has and always will be a game won in the trenches. It has been criminal of this organization the amount of hits Burrow has taken in his career (that blames goes on EVERYONE in that building). These next few hires are crucial for the future of this team and fan base. O line coach, d coordinator and d line coach has to be guys that prioritize the lines!!! Have to control the lines to allow Joe to work and our linebackers and secondary to play. Any secondary in the NFL is gonna suck behind this d line that generates zero pressure. Heres to a hopeful brighter future and a team built to play in the AFC North