Their motto is

(03-12-2025, 06:25 PM)pally Wrote: Cheap isn't the word I would use. They are risk adverse so they are unwilling to put themselves in future cap hell. They are slow to adapt creative ways o structuring contracts. And above all, they refuse to overpay players above what they think is their worth. But we've seen it with Joe, Sam, even Trey when he first signed...they are willing to spend money but they prefer it to be on their terms

Risk adverse at a high level. They have too high opinion of the franchise that players should take less to be here.

Cheap isn’t it. They just don’t have the same resources as others. In 2023, the bengals were 30/32 in operating income.

The easy fix would be to sell 10% of the team to a private equity firm who could help modernize the bengals from a contractual standpoint.

Long story short, I believe the bengals are somewhat handicapped vs other teams, but they don’t have to be.

(03-12-2025, 06:42 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: Risk adverse at a high level. They have too high opinion of the franchise that players should take less to be here.

I don’t think that’s true. It simply doesn’t happen in the nfl, where players take less.

more like " cash poor" compared to other teams that have cash to put into escrow or bonuses for these mega contracts
I still dont understand that if they know they need to rely on draft more why not invest a bit more in your scouting dept and get an actual GM that knows how to evaluate talent?
They just aren't that serious about winning like other teams are.

Yes.

Lowest non-QB cash outlay in the league

(03-12-2025, 06:44 PM)Bengalbug Wrote: I don’t think that’s true. It simply doesn’t happen in the nfl, where players take less.

Rarely but they think they should

Yes, they are cheap. They actively do things to intentionally fill up the cap when others are being creative to SAVE cap room.

And as I've been saying its not just that they're cheap, its that they are DUMB too. If you wanna be cheap wouldn't it make sense to invest in scouts? If u did that you would have more contributors on rookie deals. That SAVES money. Also, if you wanna be cheap wouldn't it also make sense to identify your stars early and extend them ASAP? The smart teams do this. Look at how the Eagles have handled their stars compared to us. Its asinine.

I have a hard time saying they are cheap without fully knowing how money they actually have to give out.
From what we've heard, they're more likely "poor," at least when it comes to comparing to most of the other owners around the league.
They also have a...different? unique? philosophy when it comes to how contracts should be structured.
In their minds, if a contract is, for example, 3 years and $30 mill, each year they are on the team essentially "guarantees" that amount, and they typically hang onto players with just 1 year remaining or all the way through contract.
So to them, they don't need to guarantee 50-60% of the contract because that player will essentially get that money after X years playing in the contract.

They are prudent and cautious. They don't allow anyone to cheat them, but they often cheat themselves.
They also tend to demand loyalty from a place of insecurity instead of earning it.
All hallmarks of small-minded family dominated businesses.

Yes, and incompetent.

(03-12-2025, 07:42 PM)RunKijanaRun Wrote: Yes, and incompetent.

The first no. The latter… maybe. Especially in regards to Chase.

Is the sky blue? Is water wet? ???

(03-12-2025, 06:42 PM)Bengalbug Wrote: Cheap isn’t it.  They just don’t have the same resources as others.  In 2023, the bengals were 30/32 in operating income.  

The easy fix would be to sell 10% of the team to a private equity firm who could help modernize the bengals from a contractual standpoint.

Long story short, I believe the bengals are somewhat handicapped vs other teams, but they don’t have to be.

Well and most other owners made their money in other business pursuits. The Bengals ownership is rich. Other owners are mega rich. Most of them atleast.

It’s all relative of course. I’m glad they don’t spend my money like they spend their own. Then again I’d like to earn what they earn as well.
Everyone should value the dollars in their pockets that’s for sure.

(03-12-2025, 10:23 PM)wanga Wrote: It’s all relative of course. I’m glad they don’t spend my money like they spend their own. Then again I’d like to earn what they earn as well.
Everyone should value the dollars in their pockets that’s for sure.

That's just it. The cba sets the salary cap at a certain percentage of revenue. It's basically guaranteed to make money.

Yes, the cap is like $200+ million, but it's all in proportion.

(03-12-2025, 06:28 PM)El guapo Wrote: I was hoping for a fact-based argument. Everyone has an opinion of course. Being the cheapest team in the league seems more like a reputation they have gotten than a factual argument. Like, back in the day they were the team of criminals because of a few bad apples.

Go to Spotrac and you won't find them at the bottom of the list in spending. Like, what makes them cheap? Lack of scouting? Some coaches they've had say they prefer the approach. And that's not a ton of money anyway.

Not exactly sure what you're after, but the Bengals do pay their top players good money. Palmer, Burrow and soon you can add Chase, Higgins and possibly Trey. The FO does business their way and won't be pushed into doing unreasonable contracts. 
As for FA, it's the usual recliner GMs getting bent out of shape because they are not getting the players they want. It's always easier to spend other people's money.

This is my perspective.

Our owner is a frugal, stubborn, old man who was never wealthy on his own.  He taught Katie everything he knows.  There is no indication they have any real smarts when it comes to building a championship team.  We have seen very recently zero creativity around structuring contracts and freeing up cap space.  They couldn't care less about their reputation or the fans.  They do not appear to have any care or take any pride in having a winning football team.  If they do, it doesn't show.

They have a very tight inner circle that has run the Bengals for decades upon decades.  That = an echo chamber.  Who has been brought into the FO that can give fresh perspective, come up with creative ideas, help move out of old, stubborn ways and move into the modern NFL way of running an NFL franchise?

I honestly don't think there is anything complicated about the Bengals FO.  They simply care far more about the business/money side than they do about the winning football games side.  I actually understand this and it makes sense as this is their livelihood and their personal income/paycheck vs other owners who are independently wealthy and bought an NFL team for fun/status.

They are also more than likely incompetent to run a modern NFL franchise when compared to their counterparts that run other NFL teams.

(03-13-2025, 09:19 AM)Mickeypoo Wrote: This is my perspective.

Our owner is a frugal, stubborn, old man who was never wealthy on his own.  He taught Katie everything he knows.  There is no indication they have any real smarts when it comes to building a championship team.  We have seen very recently zero creativity around structuring contracts and freeing up cap space.  They couldn't care less about their reputation or the fans.  They do not appear to have any care or take any pride in having a winning football team.  If they do, it doesn't show.

They have a very tight inner circle that has run the Bengals for decades upon decades.  That = an echo chamber.  Who has been brought into the FO that can give fresh perspective, come up with creative ideas, help move out of old, stubborn ways and move into the modern NFL way of running an NFL franchise?

I honestly don't think there is anything complicated about the Bengals FO.  They simply care far more about the business/money side than they do about the winning football games side.  I actually understand this and it makes sense as this is their livelihood and their personal income/paycheck vs other owners who are independently wealthy and bought an NFL team for fun/status.

They are also more than likely incompetent to run a modern NFL franchise when compared to their counterparts that run other NFL teams.

Because the Bengals are their business. Other owners typically made their millions in other industries and their football team is just a side hustle for prestige.

(03-13-2025, 09:19 AM)Mickeypoo Wrote: This is my perspective.

Our owner is a frugal, stubborn, old man who was never wealthy on his own.  He taught Katie everything he knows.  There is no indication they have any real smarts when it comes to building a championship team.  We have seen very recently zero creativity around structuring contracts and freeing up cap space.  They couldn't care less about their reputation or the fans.  They do not appear to have any care or take any pride in having a winning football team.  If they do, it doesn't show.

They have a very tight inner circle that has run the Bengals for decades upon decades.  That = an echo chamber.  Who has been brought into the FO that can give fresh perspective, come up with creative ideas, help move out of old, stubborn ways and move into the modern NFL way of running an NFL franchise?

I honestly don't think there is anything complicated about the Bengals FO.  They simply care far more about the business/money side than they do about the winning football games side.  I actually understand this and it makes sense as this is their livelihood and their personal income/paycheck vs other owners who are independently wealthy and bought an NFL team for fun/status.

They are also more than likely incompetent to run a modern NFL franchise when compared to their counterparts that run other NFL teams.

Yeah, The Family lucked into Burrow and Chase. Before that it was 30 years without a single playoff win. Just by blind chance, a team should be able to win a playoff game in three decades in a league that emphasizes parity. We just got to hope that with the foundation of Burrow the Bengals have a string of luck on draft picks and the way the ball bounces, because I think the grade is in with reference to FO/ownership competency and willingness to make the financial sacrifices necessary to bring a Lombardi.