(12-28-2024, 11:07 AM)Destro Wrote: Both Tee and Trey had asked to be traded. Neither lost themselves money, this year. Both will want money. So in keeping with the spirit of the thread, we give one what he wants, the other runs away to a new team. Trey goes, we are left with the junior college defense. Tee leaves, we got a WR#2 spot to fill.

Looking around, having an elite #1 WR and QB trumps the offense. How badly does Burrow need someone like Tee as the #2? Plenty have issues with Tee, but how many #2 WR are as good as him? I'd say few, which is why he wants #1 money. The offense should be able to function without a possible WR#1A as the #2, especially with a genius on offense

Defense left with players that have a flash play every 4 games and trash at all other times. A player intercepts a punt pass and all of a sudden people forget they have been playing two hand touch for 4 weeks. Losing Trey, drops our sack leader. Means little to get a sack making it 2nd and 18 when the defense gives up 29 yards on the next play.

Said all the blah blah to say let Tee go. Offense can score and win without him. Defense needs a lot of help.

(12-28-2024, 10:44 PM)Destro Wrote: or the Stealers.

(12-28-2024, 10:59 PM)NUGDUKWE Wrote: With wasting this year of Burrow and Co. Hopefully the FO realizes that this is the time franchises wait and hope for and it's time to go all in and figure out the future when you get there.

(12-28-2024, 11:08 PM)bfine32 Wrote: Here's the pickle:

You can't pay Tee and Chase

You must pay Chase

Chase is better w/ Tee

I've been all over the place about paying or not paying Tee. Currently, I'm at:

(01-03-2025, 11:03 PM)Wyche Wrote: I'm with you. Push in all of the chips, go over the cap for a year if you have to.... don't other teams do this? Get to the damn bowl and deal with the shit after.

(01-03-2025, 11:13 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Even if the Bengals were to go that route, do you think that they could actually assemble a Superbowl defense that would support the offense? (I realize that there's a lot of probability involved, with guys still developing and some others coming back from injuries) But the Bengals got a lotta holes to fix.. I know that it CAN be done, but I don't trust our front office to GET it done.

(12-28-2024, 12:35 AM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: It’s not either or. They can do both if they make the right cuts.

(01-03-2025, 11:03 PM)Wyche Wrote: I'm with you. Push in all of the chips, go over the cap for a year if you have to.... don't other teams do this? Get to the damn bowl and deal with the shit after.

(01-03-2025, 11:13 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Even if the Bengals were to go that route, do you think that they could actually assemble a Superbowl defense that would support the offense? (I realize that there's a lot of probability involved, with guys still developing and some others coming back from injuries) But the Bengals got a lotta holes to fix.. I know that it CAN be done, but I don't trust our front office to GET it done.

(01-03-2025, 11:21 PM)Wyche Wrote: Oh I hear ya brother.....I think it would have to come with a HUGE broom. A lot of defensive position coaches, if nothing else, have to go. Some underperforming players gotta go. I think the defensive problem is multi faceted. I'm not much on hindering the offense if we can keep from it. I think this offense is good enough to win it all if the defense can just manage top 20.

(01-04-2025, 12:27 AM)bengalsboy Wrote: They don't need to go over the cap.They are close to 60 million under it right now.Get rid of Hubbard and Rankins.Then they will have close to 80 million.

(01-04-2025, 12:48 AM)NUGDUKWE Wrote: I wonder if a change in coaching on the defensive side is going to be considered now? Don't get me wrong I would be all for them bringing someone with a new vision and try and really overhaul the defense. But they have played better as of late and I'm curious if the front office will just try and fix it with the group we have.

(01-03-2025, 08:40 AM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Like who? People just keep saying player x in FA but never mention specific names. Tee IS the top FA available this year. I’m sure we’d all love for them to go out and sign a Trey Smith for example, but anyone who’s even remotely familiar with this team knows they aren’t paying that kind of money to a guard. We would already have Joe Thuney if they did (he supposedly wanted to come here). Part of the problem with this years crop of FA’s is it’s mostly guys on the wrong side of 30. Especially on defense. That’s just not something this team has ever been big on.

(01-04-2025, 01:26 AM)WychesWarrior Wrote: As others have mentioned, they've played better against suspect offenses....Broncos notwithstanding. I sincerely hope not when they do evals at the end of the year. I wouldn't mind a complete defensive staff overhaul. If not, at least position coaches replaced. I have the same questions.

(01-04-2025, 11:18 AM)jason Wrote: You know this organization... All kinds of jobs got saved because of this 4 game win streak.

(01-04-2025, 09:52 AM)Go Cards Wrote: Then Tee should fetch a nice draft pick or 2 to go with his available money he frees up to help find his replacement. 

Then if you can't find the top FA then they would need to get multiple players per they have multiple holes to fill much bigger than WR. This got them to the SB before without one name being a huge signee. But the difference was the Bengals had great players still on their rookie contracts. Those that say the Bengals can't draft are basically admitting that they will never win the SB. Because the league is set up for teams with solid players on their rookie deals mixed with stars. They had Tee, Chase, Burrow, and Wilson who was still good at the time mixed with the Bates, Boyd and Readers. Now our star rookies are the ones getting paid and the Bengals will need to hit on the draft somewhere else. 

Tell me an easier position to fill with someone ready to play now than the #2 WR who has a star player drawing the double teams away from them ? One that the Bengals regularly have success with since you like their track records so much. Albeit I do believe they've shown willingness to change in recent years.   Yet it is well documented you do not, and that's fair enough even if I disagree.

Not going to just claim the Bengals will not sign a player like Trey Smith and cling onto it just because of their track record. Nobody Expected Orlando signed until it happened. Even though he was not an IOL it was a shocker on here if I recollect correctly. 

Bengals have done many things lately that are out of the norm like actually spending money in FA and building practice fields. 

But bottom line is Joe Burrow is going to get what he wants, if he seeks a better interior O-Line then he will receive it. Yet seems he wants Tee instead presently. I think it is a big mistake and think Joe is possibly the best QB in the NFL, but not suited for GM much like most great players are better on the field than building teams.

Brady won many with no name WR's and the list of WR's the Mahomes has been winning titles with is not that impressive. Having 2 great WR's is not a prerequisite of winning a SB or becoming dynasty. Just ask Dan Marino or Warren Moon because this is not some new theory. Can remember the Rams doing it and Az achieving this goal but not many others and they did not keep doing it for long. Plus would be interested to see where teams with 2 great WR's winning SB's defense are ranked.

Great QB's make good WR's great and the Bengals have one of the very best and need to protect their commodity. As I've pointed out before, look at how Joe is getting these TE's paid only to see them not be worth the money once Joe quits throwing to them.  Joe is the key imho, just need a team around him, not necessarily a team of stars.

(01-04-2025, 09:52 AM)Go Cards Wrote: Then Tee should fetch a nice draft pick or 2 to go with his available money he frees up to help find his replacement. 

Then if you can't find the top FA then they would need to get multiple players per they have multiple holes to fill much bigger than WR. This got them to the SB before without one name being a huge signee. But the difference was the Bengals had great players still on their rookie contracts. Those that say the Bengals can't draft are basically admitting that they will never win the SB. Because the league is set up for teams with solid players on their rookie deals mixed with stars. They had Tee, Chase, Burrow, and Wilson who was still good at the time mixed with the Bates, Boyd and Readers. Now our star rookies are the ones getting paid and the Bengals will need to hit on the draft somewhere else. 

Tell me an easier position to fill with someone ready to play now than the #2 WR who has a star player drawing the double teams away from them ? One that the Bengals regularly have success with since you like their track records so much. Albeit I do believe they've shown willingness to change in recent years.   Yet it is well documented you do not, and that's fair enough even if I disagree.

Not going to just claim the Bengals will not sign a player like Trey Smith and cling onto it just because of their track record. Nobody Expected Orlando signed until it happened. Even though he was not an IOL it was a shocker on here if I recollect correctly. 

Bengals have done many things lately that are out of the norm like actually spending money in FA and building practice fields. 

But bottom line is Joe Burrow is going to get what he wants, if he seeks a better interior O-Line then he will receive it. Yet seems he wants Tee instead presently. I think it is a big mistake and think Joe is possibly the best QB in the NFL, but not suited for GM much like most great players are better on the field than building teams.

Brady won many with no name WR's and the list of WR's the Mahomes has been winning titles with is not that impressive. Having 2 great WR's is not a prerequisite of winning a SB or becoming dynasty. Just ask Dan Marino or Warren Moon because this is not some new theory. Can remember the Rams doing it and Az achieving this goal but not many others and they did not keep doing it for long. Plus would be interested to see where teams with 2 great WR's winning SB's defense are ranked.

Great QB's make good WR's great and the Bengals have one of the very best and need to protect their commodity. As I've pointed out before, look at how Joe is getting these TE's paid only to see them not be worth the money once Joe quits throwing to them.  Joe is the key imho, just need a team around him, not necessarily a team of stars.

(01-03-2025, 10:44 PM)Wyche Wrote: I'm starting to think that Tee's "request" was a ploy made by his agent. Obviously I'm just speculating, but he fired said agent, and has since said it wasn't about getting paid like a #1 and that he understands playing with a QB like Burrow, and having Chase presents him with a lot of opportunity in this offense. I think Tee actually wants to stay. 

You have excellent points with the rest though. It's hard to argue against, but I like Tee Higgins the player, and I REALLY like Tee Higgins the person. I hope they can work it out personally.