(06-16-2025, 09:32 AM)Soonerpeace Wrote: My take is that the clause is approved by collective bargaining and has been used. The Bengals haven’t used it and like the clause. Shemar’s team don’t want to be the guinea pig. They feel they have the leverage.

(06-15-2025, 10:45 PM)Essex Johnson Wrote: What mascot will  Salt lake city or San Antonio decide to call the relocated Bengals?  

(06-16-2025, 08:49 AM)Sled21 Wrote: The San Antonio Defenders.

(06-16-2025, 09:51 AM)Sled21 Wrote: Since other teams are using it, and the Bengals want to start using it, there has to be a first player. If they give in to Stewart and drop the clause, then next year when they try to use it that player will do the same thing. It's got to start with someone....

(06-16-2025, 09:47 AM)ochocincos Wrote: The Bengals don't really NEED Stewart to play significant reps right away, so they may be ok with not rushing to sign up and giving into his side's demands.
If Hendrickson holds out, they have Ossai and Murphy to cover starting duties, and they have Sample and Johnson to back them up.
Once Hendrickson returns to the field, that just makes the situation even better for the Bengals this season.

I know some people want to think Stewart should and needs to be a key cog in the defense this year, but the reality is...
1) Ossai returned likely expecting 50% or more of the defensive reps opposite Hendrickson (He consistently played 50% or more starting 12/1/24 and notched 4.0 sacks and 3 TFLs across those 6 games)
2) Murphy was more proven than Stewart coming out of college and is going into his 3rd year in the league, likely needing to be used a good amount this season to see if he's someone worth actually putting the 5th year option on. (That decision has to be made next offseason)
3) Speaking more on Murphy, how are people more positive with a player even more raw in Stewart when they have seen how Murphy has performed (or hasn't) in his first two years in the league?

My expectation is Stewart probably plays around 300-400 snaps (barring a big injury or two to force him into more), notching probably 2-4 sacks and a few TFLs.
He will get the 4th most defensive snaps among DEs, behind Hendrickson, Ossai, and Murphy.

(06-15-2025, 10:45 PM)Essex Johnson Wrote: What mascot will  Salt lake city or San Antonio decide to call the relocated Bengals?  

(06-16-2025, 11:43 AM)Nately120 Wrote: They'll go back to the Browns method and call them the San Antonio Blackburns, their colors will be red and black, and the logo will be a big B.  

(06-16-2025, 12:08 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: Since it's pure fantasy to think the Bengals are going to be moving any time soon, i'll stick with that theme...


Just to let everyone know, we have an ***OFFICIAL Bengals board fantasy football league*** and we have one opening for anyone that is interested. 

You need to DM TigerTeeth to join and we are on a first come, first serve basis. So get your DMs in and you just might win. 

The thread for that league is in the Fantasy Leagues subforum and it's stickied at the top "The Official Bengals Board Fantasy Football League"

(06-16-2025, 12:07 PM)coachmcneil71 Wrote: A large majority of the guys were groaning on draft night when they called his name. I was ok with it at the time.....Not so much now! He better play out of his mind or his career in stripes is already over as far as I care. I don't want him in this locker room.

(06-16-2025, 09:47 AM)ochocincos Wrote: The Bengals don't really NEED Stewart to play significant reps right away, so they may be ok with not rushing to sign up and giving into his side's demands.
If Hendrickson holds out, they have Ossai and Murphy to cover starting duties, and they have Sample and Johnson to back them up.
Once Hendrickson returns to the field, that just makes the situation even better for the Bengals this season.

I know some people want to think Stewart should and needs to be a key cog in the defense this year, but the reality is...
1) Ossai returned likely expecting 50% or more of the defensive reps opposite Hendrickson (He consistently played 50% or more starting 12/1/24 and notched 4.0 sacks and 3 TFLs across those 6 games)
2) Murphy was more proven than Stewart coming out of college and is going into his 3rd year in the league, likely needing to be used a good amount this season to see if he's someone worth actually putting the 5th year option on. (That decision has to be made next offseason)
3) Speaking more on Murphy, how are people more positive with a player even more raw in Stewart when they have seen how Murphy has performed (or hasn't) in his first two years in the league?

My expectation is Stewart probably plays around 300-400 snaps (barring a big injury or two to force him into more), notching probably 2-4 sacks and a few TFLs.
He will get the 4th most defensive snaps among DEs, behind Hendrickson, Ossai, and Murphy.

(06-16-2025, 01:24 PM)BFritz21 Wrote: Great post.

I think Ossai and Murphy are both in for big years because they seemed to be coming into their own last season and were poised for big years regardless, and I think Golden's aggressive style with various looks and stunts will unleash them into big years.

That's why I think Hendrickson is really hurting himself with this holdout because, if other players have bigger years and see the field more, then he'll have less leverage after this season. 

I hope Stewart gets in soon because, while we might not have had that language in contracts, it's standard now, so we're just adapting with the times. 

Stewart needs to stop listening to his agent and realize that we're in a new time.

(06-16-2025, 01:35 PM)ochocincos Wrote: If Murphy was coming into his own last season, that's not good.
He finished with 0 sacks and 1 TFL on 353 defensive snaps last season, which was 48 more snaps than he had his rookie season.
This really is his prove-it year. And the only reason I mentioned he will get snaps is because he needs to get snaps for team to decide on whether to pick up his 5th year option or not. His performance in new scheme could be very impactful to that decision. With that said, he hasn't performed well up to this point to really deserve much playing time otherwise.

(06-16-2025, 08:49 AM)Sled21 Wrote: The San Antonio Defenders.

(06-16-2025, 10:58 AM)rfaulk34 Wrote: Names like Bengals, Eagles, Cardinals, travel. You don't need to change the name or colors even. 

(06-16-2025, 01:24 PM)BFritz21 Wrote: Great post.

I think Ossai and Murphy are both in for big years because they seemed to be coming into their own last season and were poised for big years regardless, and I think Golden's aggressive style with various looks and stunts will unleash them into big years.

That's why I think Hendrickson is really hurting himself with this holdout because, if other players have bigger years and see the field more, then he'll have less leverage after this season. 

I hope Stewart gets in soon because, while we might not have had that language in contracts, it's standard now, so we're just adapting with the times. 

Stewart needs to stop listening to his agent and realize that we're in a new time.

(06-16-2025, 11:01 AM)rfaulk34 Wrote: SA already has a UFL team. They don't need an NFL club. 

(06-16-2025, 01:51 PM)KillerGoose Wrote: Admittedly, this is a lot to bet on if your Cincinnati. Murphy was worse on a per-snap basis than he was in 2023. He failed to log a sack and logged only five more pressures on 50 more snaps. That's just the numbers side of it, but from a film perspective I don't see anything that gives the signal of "big year incoming". He was already being utilized in stunts, so that aspect won't be new to him. 

Now, Ossai had his best year as a pro last season so he may continue growing. There's at least some optimism there. Murphy didn't look good, though. Regardless, Trey is a top tier pass rusher. I think him not being available hurts Cincinnati more than it hurts him.

(06-16-2025, 01:51 PM)KillerGoose Wrote: Admittedly, this is a lot to bet on if your Cincinnati. Murphy was worse on a per-snap basis than he was in 2023. He failed to log a sack and logged only five more pressures on 50 more snaps. That's just the numbers side of it, but from a film perspective I don't see anything that gives the signal of "big year incoming". He was already being utilized in stunts, so that aspect won't be new to him. 

Now, Ossai had his best year as a pro last season so he may continue growing. There's at least some optimism there. Murphy didn't look good, though. Regardless, Trey is a top tier pass rusher. I think him not being available hurts Cincinnati more than it hurts him.