Ossai is back

[THE PISTONS]

(03-11-2025, 12:43 PM)Sled21 Wrote: It takes two to make a deal..... or should the Bengals just give in to all the player's agent's demands? I'm all for getting deals done, but they had agreed on money and time with Chase last year, then he got all iffy over guarantees. I'm not a fan of fully guaranteed contracts.... look at what Watson's deal did to the Stains

Watson's deal hurt the Browns not because of the contract, but because he sucked.

Chase is the top player at his position. Those are the guys you can't negotiate with much. You either pay them, or trade them.

[J24]

(03-11-2025, 03:35 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: Watson's deal hurt the Browns not because of the contract, but because he sucked.

Chase is the top player at his position. Those are the guys you can't negotiate with much. You either pay them, or trade them.

I would say the draft picks that the Browns  gave up hurt more than him playing like crap.

[J24]

(03-11-2025, 12:43 PM)Sled21 Wrote: It takes two to make a deal..... or should the Bengals just give in to all the player's agent's demands? I'm all for getting deals done, but they had agreed on money and time with Chase last year, then he got all iffy over guarantees. I'm not a fan of fully guaranteed contracts.... look at what Watson's deal did to the Stains

Guaranteed money in the second year is what the market dictates for elite level players. I can't speak for everyone else but I personally want the Bengals to pay market value for players. That's not a hard ask.

[Sled21]

(03-11-2025, 03:35 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: Watson's deal hurt the Browns not because of the contract, but because he sucked.

Chase is the top player at his position. Those are the guys you can't negotiate with much. You either pay them, or trade them.

Watson's deal hurt them because it is fully guaranteed. Yeah, he sucks, but he could also just as easily be injured and not playing well, or could be lazy. Whatever the outcome, they are stuck with him and his fully guaranteed money unless he assaults another masseuse. They have to get a rookie or 3rd tier QB because they are stuck paying his contract. I hate fully guaranteed contracts. 

[Bengalitis]

Ossai hasnt done much, I wish he was cut. His injuries are the most memorable of him.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(03-12-2025, 08:05 PM)Bengalitis Wrote: Ossai hasnt done much, I wish he was cut. His injuries are the most memorable of him.

Disagree, he was really good in the AFC Championship game a couple years ago until the late push on Mahomes. He was our second best 
pass rusher last season and he is only 25 and fits Golden's Defense more than Lou's. I bet he flourishes this year and you eat your words 
if he can stay healthy.

[samhain]

(03-12-2025, 11:03 AM)Sled21 Wrote: Watson's deal hurt them because it is fully guaranteed. Yeah, he sucks, but he could also just as easily be injured and not playing well, or could be lazy. Whatever the outcome, they are stuck with him and his fully guaranteed money unless he assaults another masseuse. They have to get a rookie or 3rd tier QB because they are stuck paying his contract. I hate fully guaranteed contracts. 

You aren't keeping elite players if you don't guarantee money.  Most of the league is willing to dish it out.  You don't give it out to every fan favorite or flash in the pan, but you can't escape it if you want to keep a guy like Ja'marr.  Guys like him rarely get away from the teams that draft them, and smart teams extend them early to offset cost.  

They need to stop playing games and pay up.  It makes them look extremely inept.  

[samhain]

(03-12-2025, 08:08 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Disagree, he was really good in the AFC Championship game a couple years ago until the late push on Mahomes. He was our second best 
pass rusher last season and he is only 25 and fits Golden's Defense more than Lou's. I bet he flourishes this year and you eat your words 
if he can stay healthy.

I think there's an argument for Ossai being an ascending player.  If the narrative is Lou being a stick in the mud with rookies, then another year to find with regime change out is reasonable.  

This offseason has been bad, but if they can get a couple of guards to free up draft capital on defense, then it might not look awful when it's over.

[Luvnit2]

(03-12-2025, 08:11 PM)samhain Wrote: You aren't keeping elite players if you don't guarantee money.  Most of the league is willing to dish it out.  You don't give it out to every fan favorite or flash in the pan, but you can't escape it if you want to keep a guy like Ja'marr.  Guys like him rarely get away from the teams that draft them, and smart teams extend them early to offset cost.  

They need to stop playing games and pay up.  It makes them look extremely inept.  

I get the concern to want to add new blood. Yet, so far in 2025, Bengals have lost 2 players, Gathers and Herbert. Who have they not paid and lost this year?

[NUGDUKWE]

(03-12-2025, 08:14 PM)samhain Wrote: I think there's an argument for Ossai being an ascending player.  If the narrative is Lou being a stick in the mud with rookies, then another year to find with regime change out is reasonable.  

This offseason has been bad, but if they can get a couple of guards to free up draft capital on defense, then it might not look awful when it's over.

Lou did show a tendency to put players in the dog house. Ossai had periods of not alot of play time when he was healthy. If he stays healthy I could easily see him have his best season with just the potential for more playing time.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(03-12-2025, 08:14 PM)samhain Wrote: I think there's an argument for Ossai being an ascending player.  If the narrative is Lou being a stick in the mud with rookies, then another year to find with regime change out is reasonable.  

This offseason has been bad, but if they can get a couple of guards to free up draft capital on defense, then it might not look awful when it's over.

There is. Last time Golden was here Logan Wilson was playing like one of the best young LB's in the NFL. That is the sign of a good coach.

Ossai is a little undersized, but he can play standing up or with his hand down, he is versatile and has the ability to play LB if needed as a blitzer.

We will see on the Guard front I agree. Need a couple Guards to free up the Draft.

(03-12-2025, 08:17 PM)NUGDUKWE Wrote: Lou did show a tendency to put players in the dog house. Ossai had periods of not alot of play time when he was healthy. If he stays healthy I could easily see him have his best season with just the potential for more playing time.

Well said Nug. I could see the same.

[TJHoushmandzadeh's Shiny Shoes]

I’m pleased Ossai is back.

If he was on another team he’d have been one I’d have been targeting in free agency as a potential breakout candidate.

At 24 he’s barely older than some of the players in the draft and is coming off of the best spell of his career with his spell down the stretch. A one year prove it deal is ideal to let him compete for snaps and add some depth to DE room.

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(03-12-2025, 08:14 PM)samhain Wrote: I think there's an argument for Ossai being an ascending player.  If the narrative is Lou being a stick in the mud with rookies, then another year to find with regime change out is reasonable.  

This offseason has been bad, but if they can get a couple of guards to free up draft capital on defense, then it might not look awful when it's over.

I'd love for Ossai to have a breakout season (though this offseason makes me question if the Bengals would even bother re-signing him if he does), but Ossai has been in the NFL for 4 seasons already. We're wellllll beyond talking about rookies when it comes to Ossai.