(03-18-2025, 08:16 AM)Sled21 Wrote: It might be close to the same roster, but when you look at it closer it really isn't. Slaton is taking over for Rankins, but Jenkins and McKinley should both be a lot better in their second year, and they looked pretty good last year for rookies. Dax Hill wasn't playing last year but will be back this year. Cam Sample wasn't playing last year but is back. Oren Burkes I think will be much better for us than ADG. Hubbard, love him, but he was horrible playing hurt last year. Ossai and Murphy should be better at DE. Logan Wilson should be healty. DJ Turner should be healthy. Zach Moss, if he's still around, should be healthy. Adn finally, hopefully McMaybe is back to healthy again. Same team, but there was a lot going on last year people tend to overlook

(03-17-2025, 11:55 PM)sandwedge Wrote: I believe we lost a couple of games last year because our kicking game couldn't get it right.

(03-18-2025, 01:12 AM)rfaulk34 Wrote: It would be nice if Chase and Tee could reach him. Unfortunately, i don't think his brain is penetrable. 

(03-18-2025, 09:05 AM)Ell Prez Wrote: It’s the same roster. For every IF you just said, the opposite could be said. Ever seen a player regress? What if Hendrickson gets just 12 sacks. What if Mims, Jenkins, Turner regress. What if CTB sucks again. What if Ossai can’t get consistent pressure and Murphy gets 2 sacks all year. What if Hill is injured again. What if OBJ gets injured.


The starting roster to this point is 95.45% the same players as last year. One new starter in Slayton.

Props go out for singing Chase and Tee. I think that needed to be done. But that can’t be it. And it appears that was the plan all along. Hang our hat on the moral victory of singing our two receivers.


It’s okay to be critical. I know we’re all passionate fans. Why else would we be here posting to a message board lol. I’ll cheer as loud as any fan. Probably cry if they win a superbowl. But I’ll be vocal in my opinions of this team not being good enough. This was the biggest offseason of the JB era and so far we have the exact same team. Yeah things could be worse. We could hypothetically lost Chase next year and tee next year. So I’m glad we got them signed. But this isn’t enough to go in to the playoffs and win 3-4 games, in a row, against the league’s best teams.

(03-18-2025, 09:05 AM)Ell Prez Wrote: It’s the same roster. For every IF you just said, the opposite could be said. Ever seen a player regress? What if Hendrickson gets just 12 sacks. What if Mims, Jenkins, Turner regress. What if CTB sucks again. What if Ossai can’t get consistent pressure and Murphy gets 2 sacks all year. What if Hill is injured again. What if OBJ gets injured.


The starting roster to this point is 95.45% the same players as last year. One new starter in Slayton.

Props go out for singing Chase and Tee. I think that needed to be done. But that can’t be it. And it appears that was the plan all along. Hang our hat on the moral victory of singing our two receivers.


It’s okay to be critical. I know we’re all passionate fans. Why else would we be here posting to a message board lol. I’ll cheer as loud as any fan. Probably cry if they win a superbowl. But I’ll be vocal in my opinions of this team not being good enough. This was the biggest offseason of the JB era and so far we have the exact same team. Yeah things could be worse. We could hypothetically lost Chase next year and tee next year. So I’m glad we got them signed. But this isn’t enough to go in to the playoffs and win 3-4 games, in a row, against the league’s best teams.

(03-18-2025, 09:05 AM)Ell Prez Wrote: It’s the same roster. For every IF you just said, the opposite could be said. Ever seen a player regress? What if Hendrickson gets just 12 sacks. What if Mims, Jenkins, Turner regress. What if CTB sucks again. What if Ossai can’t get consistent pressure and Murphy gets 2 sacks all year. What if Hill is injured again. What if OBJ gets injured.


The starting roster to this point is 95.45% the same players as last year. One new starter in Slayton.

Props go out for singing Chase and Tee. I think that needed to be done. But that can’t be it. And it appears that was the plan all along. Hang our hat on the moral victory of singing our two receivers.


It’s okay to be critical. I know we’re all passionate fans. Why else would we be here posting to a message board lol. I’ll cheer as loud as any fan. Probably cry if they win a superbowl. But I’ll be vocal in my opinions of this team not being good enough. This was the biggest offseason of the JB era and so far we have the exact same team. Yeah things could be worse. We could hypothetically lost Chase next year and tee next year. So I’m glad we got them signed. But this isn’t enough to go in to the playoffs and win 3-4 games, in a row, against the league’s best teams.

(03-18-2025, 09:19 AM)higgy100 Wrote: Absolutely we lost a couple that way and also some via terrible terrible offensive coaching/play calls when inside the opponents 35-40 yard line in getting either way too conservative or continually throwing those all or nothing deep fades on 3rd/4th and 1. I believe it's true that teams are never as bad as they seem or as good as it looks. 

KC game was wrapped up and, naturally, they get a call on the last play of the game. Lose a fumble against NE on the goal line and then another terrible officiating call on a TD catch that was admitted to be wrong. Add in the BS officiating at the end of the Ravens game OTR and we're talking  3-4 more wins, a playoff berth and probably a home game. Sure, every team has their SOB stories but these were just so so bad going against Cinci. Take KC and all their breaks. Again, a team is never as good or bad as it seems.

(03-18-2025, 09:49 AM)Bengalbug Wrote: Honestly, regression in a positive direction is much more likely from a large majority of the roster.  This is due to the not great play from young guys, history says they usually get better with time.  

If all the players you mentioned have the outcomes you listed, sure it’s likely a 9-8 team.  But if just a few players on defense improve, that will have a fairly large impact.

(03-18-2025, 09:41 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: Yes, it is your right to be critical. It is also members right to challenge your thought process.

The Bengals have been an average team the past 2 years going  9-8. The good news is they shall have no distraction from Chase and Tee heading into camp. Yes, they have added 1 starter while losing no starters to date. Hilton is still available, we may lose him.

There are teams who have improved their roster on paper like the Bills and lots of bad teams who have lots of cap space. Others like the Chiefs are regressed on the paper. The Steelers do not have a starting QB nor do the Giants. The Raven's have lost the net of starters gained to starters lost. So have the Browns.

I would argue the Bills on paper are the best team in the league and the Chiefs on paper are now 2nd or 3rd. Why mention it? The hill to climb in 2025 may not be as steep attempting to catch the top team in the AFC. It all matters, our 2025 schedule matters.

I will say I am happy where we sit less than one week within free agency. I will add I loved the. fact we cut 2 undr performers and forced Hibbar to retire. That is a new step for us, not showing blind loyalty and hoping a guy who had a bad year gets better. I will also add we need 2 guards, not 1 still. 

The bad news is we have not addressed our guard situation at all yet and the defense only limited. The good new is it is less than one week into free agency and far from over.

I did not respond to change your view, it is apparent you are dug in, I responded to share my view less than 1 week into free agency.

(03-18-2025, 10:03 AM)THE PISTONS Wrote: The Ravens game that we missed a FG in OT...saying we lost on a FG is a simplification.

We had a huge lead and were dominating, then I believe Chase Brown fumbled and the team imploded. The Ravens kept scoring.

Them, in OT...instead of trying to get closer, Zac played for a very long FG which we missed.

So yes...the FG is easy to point to, but the team collapsed and made many errors.

(03-18-2025, 09:41 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: Yes, it is your right to be critical. It is also members right to challenge your thought process.

The Bengals have been an average team the past 2 years going  9-8. The good news is they shall have no distraction from Chase and Tee heading into camp. Yes, they have added 1 starter while losing no starters to date. Hilton is still available, we may lose him.

There are teams who have improved their roster on paper like the Bills and lots of bad teams who have lots of cap space. Others like the Chiefs are regressed on the paper. The Steelers do not have a starting QB nor do the Giants. The Raven's have lost the net of starters gained to starters lost. So have the Browns.

I would argue the Bills on paper are the best team in the league and the Chiefs on paper are now 2nd or 3rd. Why mention it? The hill to climb in 2025 may not be as steep attempting to catch the top team in the AFC. It all matters, our 2025 schedule matters.

I will say I am happy where we sit less than one week within free agency. I will add I loved the. fact we cut 2 undr performers and forced Hibbar to retire. That is a new step for us, not showing blind loyalty and hoping a guy who had a bad year gets better. I will also add we need 2 guards, not 1 still. 

The bad news is we have not addressed our guard situation at all yet and the defense only limited. The good new is it is less than one week into free agency and far from over.

I did not respond to change your view, it is apparent you are dug in, I responded to share my view less than 1 week into free agency.

(03-18-2025, 10:36 AM)ERIC1 Wrote: 1) there was no  distraction  with chase and or Higgins among the players actually playing the game last year..only amongst fans and sportswriters 2) we just showed blind loyalty to Burrow and kept a receiver that cant stay healthy and misses one third of the season

(03-18-2025, 10:35 AM)higgy100 Wrote: Wasn't really referencing that Ravens OT game as losing by the missed FG as that was lumped into terrible play calling in settling for a long FG. In hindsight, Money Mac ,in his brief 12 games played, really only screwed up the LAC game with 2 4th quarter misses.

(03-18-2025, 10:36 AM)ERIC1 Wrote: 1) there was no  distraction  with chase and or Higgins among the players actually playing the game last year..only amongst fans and sportswriters 2) we just showed blind loyalty to Burrow and kept a receiver that cant stay healthy and misses one third of the season

(03-18-2025, 10:56 AM)rfaulk34 Wrote: Lay off the liquor and come back to reality. Both Chase and Tee were distractions right before the opener last year. Tee got hurt the week of the game and Ja'Marr said "we'll see" if he was available to play. There was a definite black cloud over the team going into the weekend. 

Before that, there was Ja'Marr doing is hold in the entire camp and Tee was freshly tagged and people wondered what his mindset would be re: business decisions. 

How many times have you said that fans have no idea what players are thinking and saying? Then you turn around and type that bullshit in your first sentence...like you know what the players are thinking and saying. Stop being a huge ***** hypocrite. 

(03-18-2025, 10:36 AM)ERIC1 Wrote: 1) there was no  distraction  with chase and or Higgins among the players actually playing the game last year..only amongst fans and sportswriters 2) we just showed blind loyalty to Burrow and kept a receiver that cant stay healthy and misses one third of the season

(03-18-2025, 10:58 AM)jason Wrote: Because without that QB this team is a blind squirrel looking for a nut, and that's for all 3 thirds of a season.

(03-18-2025, 10:59 AM)RunKijanaRun Wrote: Blind loyalty to Burrow is fine with me. He’s the straw that stirs this drink. Give him the tools he needs and he will win a SB at least once.

(03-18-2025, 10:58 AM)THE PISTONS Wrote: Yep. I'm sure it was some kind of distraction ranging from mild to more. And it likely distracted the players themselves.

(03-18-2025, 11:00 AM)THE PISTONS Wrote: Yeah...I think we had to keep them both. I just think there's a lot of work to be done before this is a SB contender.

We need to start nailing drafts. Easier said than done.

On paper, our drafts always look decent at the time of draft. Then, the guys don't develop.