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From that first link... " Per the report, things didn't get past the preliminary stage".
![[Image: pre-purchase-inspection-just-need-someon...15721.jpeg]](https://southfloridacarappraisers.com/previews/pre-purchase-inspection-just-need-someone-to-kick-the-tires-1603312215721.jpeg)
(I do wonder where he would have even played, though. Can't be putting his hand down at DE in the AFCN at 240lbs, our DE would literally weigh less than the Ravens RB. Lol)
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(03-12-2025, 10:33 AM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: From that first link... "Per the report, things didn't get past the preliminary stage".
Dig the one negative out of the articles..... they tried. He obviously was wanting way more than they were willing to pay. But it kind of shows they aren't just sitting on their hands like many say, they are out looking
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(03-12-2025, 10:33 AM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: From that first link... "Per the report, things didn't get past the preliminary stage".
(I do wonder where he would have even played, though. Can't be putting his hand down at DE in the AFCN at 240lbs, our DE would literally weigh less than the Ravens RB. Lol)
My guess is they were looking for him to be Pratt's replacement.
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(03-12-2025, 10:33 AM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: From that first link... "Per the report, things didn't get past the preliminary stage".
(I do wonder where he would have even played, though. Can't be putting his hand down at DE in the AFCN at 240lbs, our DE would literally weigh less than the Ravens RB. Lol)
The AFC North isn't special or unique or some super tough division where only big people play like people always try to make it out. TJ Watt is 250 and does just fine his partner on the other side Alex Highsmith is 242 and their 3rd rusherer who is pretty good Nick Herberig is 240. Ojulari did fine against AFC North teams last year, in fact getting 5 of his 6 sacks against AFC North teams.
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(03-12-2025, 10:32 AM)Sled21 Wrote: Bengals tried but did not get pass rusher Azeez Ojulari from the Giants....
https://bengalswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2025/03/11/bengals-near-miss-prized-target-free-agency/82277649007/
But have reached out to the Bears Guard Teven Jenkins. Last year Jenkins was 18th out of 135 Guards. 75.8 pass blocking rating.
Get her done....
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/bengals-express-interest-in-one-of-free-agency-s-top-remaining-guards/ar-AA1AIQ65?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=c2188dbe78ac4d31b4029478d2a03b40&ei=14
Going to be competition for a OG from the Giants.
"Guard remains a position to watch for Giants. They went hard for Will Fries, whose decision came down to the Vikings or Giants. Fries got over $17M per year. Top remaining guards: Teven Jenkins, Mekhi Becton, Brandon Scherff, Will Hernandez, Kevin Zeitler."
From Jordan Raanan on X.
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(03-12-2025, 10:51 AM)Nepa Wrote: Going to be competition for a OG from the Giants.
"Guard remains a position to watch for Giants. They went hard for Will Fries, whose decision came down to the Vikings or Giants. Fries got over $17M per year. Top remaining guards: Teven Jenkins, Mekhi Becton, Brandon Scherff, Will Hernandez, Kevin Zeitler."
From Jordan Raanan on X.
That competition is why teams end up overpaying in FA. I am sure there are other teams who also need a guard. KC traded their starting all pro guard Thuney so they need one also.
Giants are down to 22 million in cap space and have 7 guys they signed included big money safety Holland not accounted for yet. Did they spend the money on a safety versus a guard?
Please use 2025 free agency to fix the trenches, not the draft!!!!!!!!
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I feel like this is almost worse (almost) than not even trying. So they called and realized it’s too much for them and said, he we’ll just pay Ossai $7M and be complacent. If you don’t bring in new players, expect the same results of last year and possible worse as other teams are surely brining in new players.
All 32 NFL teams have the draft. I consider that a wash unless we can really pull off one of the best drafts in the league. Which is statically not likely.
The bengals took huge steps forward on the two offseasons where we brought it Awuzie, Reader, apple, Capa, Karras, Bell, OBJ.
Unless our draft can net talent like the 2020 draft: All pro QB, high level WR Higgins, average/above average LB Wilson.
Can the 2025 draft net 1-2 pro bowlers? Because that’s the kind of talent we need to add to get a 9-8 team to superbowl again.
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(03-12-2025, 10:41 AM)Au165 Wrote: The AFC North isn't special or unique or some super tough division where only big people play like people always try to make it out. TJ Watt is 250 and does just fine his partner on the other side Alex Highsmith is 242 and their 3rd rusherer who is pretty good Nick Herberig is 240. Ojulari did fine against AFC North teams last year, in fact getting 5 of his 6 sacks against AFC North teams.
Both 3-4 OLBs, playing with two 295lb DEs.
And yes, Ojulari did fine against AFC North teams last year, as an OLB in a 3-4.
Are we switching to a 3-4 with Golden? I can't imagine we'd change our defense for Ojulari, so I can only picture it turning out like Manny Lawson 2.0. Too big to be a LB, not big enough to stick his hand in the dirt. Or Michael Johnson the first 2 years when Marvin couldn't make up his mind if he wanted him to be a LB or DE, so he kept having to fluctuate back-and-forth in weight.
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(03-12-2025, 10:33 AM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: From that first link... "Per the report, things didn't get past the preliminary stage".
(I do wonder where he would have even played, though. Can't be putting his hand down at DE in the AFCN at 240lbs, our DE would literally weigh less than the Ravens RB. Lol)
Yep.
And i, in fact, nearly missed on marrying Kathy Ireland back in the '80s. Right after i nearly missed out on spending the night with Sean Young after we nearly met at a bar.
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(03-12-2025, 11:01 AM)Ell Prez Wrote: I feel like this is almost worse (almost) than not even trying. So they called and realized it’s too much for them and said, he we’ll just pay Ossai $7M and be complacent. If you don’t bring in new players, expect the same results of last year and possible worse as other teams are surely brining in new players.
All 32 NFL teams have the draft. I consider that a wash unless we can really pull off one of the best drafts in the league. Which is statically not likely.
The bengals took huge steps forward on the two offseasons where we brought it Awuzie, Reader, apple, Capa, Karras, Bell, OBJ.
Unless our draft can net talent like the 2020 draft: All pro QB, high level WR Higgins, average/above average LB Wilson.
Can the 2025 draft net 1-2 pro bowlers? Because that’s the kind of talent we need to add to get a 9-8 team to superbowl again.
You are dismissing we have the best WR tandem in the NFL under contract. You are dismissing we have somethig=ng few others have, a great QB.
You are also assuming the Bengals are done with FA (before it officially starts) and will not improve our extremely bad guard play in 2023 and 2024.
It is far from over. There are still FA's that can take us back to the playoffs. Joe has proven, get him to the playoffs and he makes us a very tough out.
Please use 2025 free agency to fix the trenches, not the draft!!!!!!!!
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(03-12-2025, 10:36 AM)Sled21 Wrote: Dig the one negative out of the articles..... they tried. He obviously was wanting way more than they were willing to pay. But it kind of shows they aren't just sitting on their hands like many say, they are out looking
"The measure of a man's intelligence can be seen in the length of his argument."
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(03-12-2025, 11:02 AM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Both 3-4 OLBs, playing with two 295lb DEs.
And yes, Ojulari did fine against AFC North teams last year, as an OLB in a 3-4.
Are we switching to a 3-4 with Golden? I can't imagine we'd change our defense for Ojulari, so I can only picture it turning out like Manny Lawson 2.0. Too big to be a LB, not big enough to stick his hand in the dirt. Or Michael Johnson the first 2 years when Marvin couldn't make up his mind if he wanted him to be a LB or DE, so he kept having to fluctuate back-and-forth in weight.
Doesn't matter that they are "3-4 OLB" they put their hands down on a majority of pass rushing plays. I can show you a montage of them all hands down, I can show you a montage of Trey and Sam hubbard standing up in a two point stance. Rush stance is fluid for multiple reasons but bottom line they are down and play hand down plenty to be successful.
People put WAAAAY to much stock into general terms like 3-4 OLB or 4-3 DE. It's way more nuanced then that. Defenses are multiple and can be almost indistinguishable at times.
Fun fact, I went back and grabbed the clips, both sacks Ojulari got on Burrow his hand was on the ground.
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(03-12-2025, 10:36 AM)Sled21 Wrote: Dig the one negative out of the articles..... they tried. He obviously was wanting way more than they were willing to pay. But it kind of shows they aren't just sitting on their hands like many say, they are out looking
Looking doesn't really matter if they don't actually add talent to improve the team though.
That's like saying, "We're trying!" when it comes to these big contracts with Higgins, Chase, and Hendrickson. People won't really care if they "tried" if something doesn't get done because the thought is they should have offered a deal that they couldn't say no to.
Zac Taylor 2019-2020: 6 total wins
Zac Taylor 2021-2022: Double-digit wins each season, plus 5 postseason wins
Zac Taylor 2023: 9 wins despite losing Burrow half the season
Zac Taylor 2024: Started 1-4. Ended 9-8 but barely missed playoffs
Changes needed to do better in Sept/Oct moving forward.
Sorry for Party Rocking!
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(03-12-2025, 11:08 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: You are dismissing we have the best 2 WR tandem in the NFL under contract. You are dismissing we have somethig=ng few others have, a great QB.
You are also assuming the Bengals are done with FA (before it officially starts) and will not improve our extremely bad guard play in 2023 and 2024.
It is far from over. There are still FA's that can take us back to the playoffs. Joe has proven, get him to the playoffs and he makes us a very tough out.
I’m not ignoring that at all. We had them last year. We need to be better than last year, no?
Yes off season isn’t over. All I’m saying is so far this offseason has been a failure. Still time to turn it around. We’ll see
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(03-12-2025, 11:40 AM)Ell Prez Wrote: I’m not ignoring that at all. We had them last year. We need to be better than last year, no?
Yes off season isn’t over. All I’m saying is so far this offseason has been a failure. Still time to turn it around. We’ll see
I wouldn't call it a failure. We've hit a bunch of singles. We do need to add 1 or 2 big impact guys on defense though. Somehow.
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Insider look at the Bengals negotiating tactics Ojulari and his representation:
![[Image: icegif-895.gif]](https://www.icegif.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/icegif-895.gif)
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The Ojulari example is what frustrates me about the Bengals. As bad as the defense or any player is they still preferred the "devil they know, over the one they don't". Typically the only time we get a outside player is after they miss out on bringing back their player (then they scramble).
Ojulari was an option for them only if Ossai didn't return, but he shouldn't have been viewed as a rebound signing if they were really interested. No reason they couldn't have chosen him over Ossa and seemed to have a plan in this process other than that plan being a "backup signing".
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I honestly like them bringing back Ossai. I thought he was starting to come on late last season when we needed it. We still need to grab a DE/OLB early in the draft though.
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(03-12-2025, 11:58 AM)jj22 Wrote: The Ojulari example is what frustrates me about the Bengals. As bad as the defense or any player is they still preferred the "devil they know, over the one they don't". Typically the only time we get a outside player is after they miss out on bringing back their player (then they scramble).
Ojulari was an option for them only if Ossai didn't return, but he shouldn't have been viewed as a rebound signing if they were really interested. No reason they couldn't have chosen him over Ossa and seemed to have a plan in this process other than that plan being a "backup signing".
Well, you/I say no reason but they have their reasons, obviously.Problem is there's an ingrained stench that permeates from the Bengals FO that we've all breathed for years and years. But, without us knowing all the why's/why nots behind closed doors regarding every topic or point of discussion, I won't allow myself to just assume worst-case scenario with everything going on as if they're clueless on it all. It always takes two (many times three) to tango.
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