03-13-2022, 11:46 PM
(03-13-2022, 11:30 PM)bengals1969 Wrote: Joe Burrow gets a vote on CJ’s value to him. Removing a weapon that Burrow obviously values, especially with a overpowered Oline, isn’t sound football.
Sample doesn’t appear able to fill CJ’s shoes.
Bengals won’t find a FA TE to fill CJ’s shoes.
On the other hand CJ has a no better place to be than with Burrow.
I’m betting CJ returns with a little sweeter contract that fits the available money and let’s the Bengals get the FA’s they covet.
I think the rapport with Burrow is a positive. I disagree that current FA's couldn't replace CJ. We need to face the truth, he is is not an upper tier TE. There are many many who could have done what CJ did on the field. We fans tend to over value our own players a bit much. See twitter, you would think Jessie Bates was Ed Reed.
But as to available TE's that could be better on the field than CJ and even less expensive, I would suggest Tyler Conklin and Mo Alie-Cox. These are vets that our resident 22-Film analysts rate higher than CJ. A guy like OJ Howard is much more athletic with a very high ceiling and a low price tag who could be ready to break out this season with a good QB.
We also cannot dismiss the Burrow factor, great receivers can make a QB look good but a great QB can do the same for the guys he is throwing to.... I have zero doubt Conklin and Mo would surpass CJ's production on the field, however no new guy will replace his hype/culture fit.
In my humble opinion.
