Enough About Trey

[jj22]

What is going on with Pratt? If it wasn't for Trey, this would be the offseason story / blunder.

What is the end game? It's past June 1st so a cut or trade could have been done. Why are they waiting? Are they hoping he returns?

I read somewhere that it was more of the Bengals not wanting to bring him back then it was Pratt not wanting to return. Are they trying to get him to take a pay cut?

This situation is odd and has been overlooked by the media and fans alike. He isn't mentioned by LB coaches, local media, or even Zac anymore. It's as if he isn't on the team so why does he remain on the team?

Say what you want about Pratt, but he has earned some goodwill, enough to be able to be treated decently (released and able to find another team). The way they have handled him has went from "there must be a plan" to flat out petty.

[c766]

As it turns out, even the most incompetent NFL teams sometimes can do the obvious.

Germaine Pratt was a bad LB on a bad defense. He also makes a good amount of money.

They will release him when they are comfortable with the options they have to replace him. They do not need to rush tho.

Pratt wont start on any playoff caliber teams anyway. He would barely play

[Sled21]

(06-04-2025, 12:50 PM)jj22 Wrote: What is going on with Pratt? If it wasn't for Trey, this would be the offseason story / blunder.

What is the end game? It's past June 1st so a cut or trade could have been done. Why are they waiting? Are they hoping he returns?

I read somewhere that it was more of the Bengals not wanting to bring him back then it was Pratt not wanting to return. Are they trying to get him to take a pay cut?

This situation is odd and has been overlooked by the media and fans alike. He isn't mentioned by LB coaches, local media, or even Zac anymore. It's as if he isn't on the team so why does he remain on the team?

Say what you want about Pratt, but he has earned some goodwill, enough to be able to be treated decently (released and able to find another team). The way they have handled him has went from "there must be a plan" to flat out petty.

Pratt is the one that requested a trade. As far as the Bengals are concerned, he's still under contract and playing here. Why would they "handle" him any differently? His agent evidently did not bring any offers for him....

[jj22]

Players have requested a trade before. That never led to coaches, media, FO never mentioning them again..... They act as though he isn't on the team. Are you saying you believe he will be? There was a time it was a certainty he would be cut. Has this changed with the fanbase?

Sounds like some just expect him to return once he realizes he won't be traded.

Hobson for example already has Knight starting opposite Wilson. Not even a hint or mention of Pratt. None of them acknowledge he's even on the team anymore.

As far as Pratts capabilities goes, rewatch any big game last season. There is no win if not for Pratt. Denver? A loss if not for Pratt. Never underestimate the importance of a playmaker. Other playoff teams won't. 

[SunsetBengal]

I'm guessing that at this point the team is waiting for training camp to roll around, and then see what teams might be in need of a plug and play starter at LB. If it is a team that has any promise or postseason aspirations, the Bengals might could get as high as a 3rd round pick for him.

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(06-04-2025, 12:58 PM)Sled21 Wrote: Pratt is the one that requested a trade. As far as the Bengals are concerned, he's still under contract and playing here. Why would they "handle" him any differently? His agent evidently did not bring any offers for him....

Then he did his job correctly. If you're not given permission to seek offers, a team giving you an offer while you're under contract with another team is tampering.

[c766]

(06-04-2025, 01:04 PM)jj22 Wrote: Players have requested a trade before. That never led to coaches, media, FO never mentioning them again..... They act as though he isn't on the team. Are you saying you believe he will be? There was a time it was a certainty he would be cut. Has this changed with the fanbase?

Sounds like some just expect him to return once he realizes he won't be traded.

Hobson for example already has Knight starting opposite Wilson. Not even a hint or mention of Pratt. None of them acknowledge he's even on the team anymore.

As far as Pratts capabilities goes, rewatch any big game last season. There is no win if not for Pratt. Denver? A loss if not for Pratt. Never underestimate the importance of a playmaker. Other playoff teams won't. 

Grades ; OVERALL GRADE. 60.6 · 110th/189 LBs ; PASS RUSH GRADE. 54.5 · 122nd/189 LBs ; RUN DEFENSE GRADE. 70.1 · 63rd/189 LBs ; COVERAGE GRADE. 53.4 · 125th/189 LBs 


If you want a bottom tier LB, Pratt is a great option

[jj22]

Everyone had a down year on defense last year. But still in all big games Pratt shined as he always does when the lights come on.

Wilson struggled just as much. Name a defensive player outside of Trey that shined? At least Pratt has flashed and did flash last year as a playmaker still when we needed one the most.

[c766]

(06-04-2025, 01:15 PM)jj22 Wrote: Everyone had a down year on defense last year. But still in all big games Pratt shined as he always does when the lights come on.

Wilson struggled just as much. Name a defensive player outside of Trey that shined? At least Pratt has flashed and did flash last year as a playmaker still when we needed one the most.

YOu are making things up.   He was bad all year 

[Sled21]

(06-04-2025, 01:04 PM)jj22 Wrote: Players have requested a trade before. That never led to coaches, media, FO never mentioning them again..... They act as though he isn't on the team. Are you saying you believe he will be? There was a time it was a certainty he would be cut. Has this changed with the fanbase?

Sounds like some just expect him to return once he realizes he won't be traded.

Hobson for example already has Knight starting opposite Wilson. Not even a hint or mention of Pratt. None of them acknowledge he's even on the team anymore.

As far as Pratts capabilities goes, rewatch any big game last season. There is no win if not for Pratt. Denver? A loss if not for Pratt. Never underestimate the importance of a playmaker. Other playoff teams won't. 

When was this? I've never been certain they would cut him, I didn't even think they would. I have always thought Golden will relegate him back to a two-down backer, which is why I suspect he wanted traded. Knight and Wilson are starters, but that leaves one other backer, right? I suspect that will be Pratt on 1st and 2nd, then someone better in coverage on 3rd.

[jj22]

We don't beat Denver without Pratt. Rewatch the game. Re-watch any primetime or big game.

[*ochocincos*]

(06-04-2025, 12:50 PM)jj22 Wrote: What is going on with Pratt? If it wasn't for Trey, this would be the offseason story / blunder.

What is the end game? It's past June 1st so a cut or trade could have been done. Why are they waiting? Are they hoping he returns?

I read somewhere that it was more of the Bengals not wanting to bring him back then it was Pratt not wanting to return. Are they trying to get him to take a pay cut?

This situation is odd and has been overlooked by the media and fans alike. He isn't mentioned by LB coaches, local media, or even Zac anymore. It's as if he isn't on the team so why does he remain on the team?

Say what you want about Pratt, but he has earned some goodwill, enough to be able to be treated decently (released and able to find another team). The way they have handled him has went from "there must be a plan" to flat out petty.

Either way we slice it, this is Pratt's last season under contract at worst.
Until they really see how well Knight and Carter perform, they may not feel comfortable cutting/trading Pratt.
But they invested a 2nd and 4th into LB for a reason, so I expect they'll at least put Knight into position to play a good amount of snaps this season.

If Pratt is kept, I see a lot of Wilson-Burks-Pratt with rotational roles for Knight and Carter.
I see Knight likely replacing Pratt with Carter rotational across if Pratt is gone.

[c766]

(06-04-2025, 01:22 PM)jj22 Wrote: We don't beat Denver without Pratt. Rewatch the game. Re-watch any primetime or big game.

This is not accurate

Why do you keep restating an opinion that is not backed up by statistics?

[007BengalsFan]

I am not sure why people think the Bengals need to do something with Pratt. Right now he is under contract so it gives the Bengals many options. They might be waiting to see more from their new linebackers before they cut Pratt. They might want Pratt to go back to being a 2 down LB and see him as being a contributor on defense for 1 more season. They may be waiting until another team has injuries so Pratt's value goes up and they can trade him for a decent draft pick. They may even hold on to Pratt until the season starts and trade him during the season to a needy team. At this point there is absolutely no reason to cut Pratt so Im not sure why people are surprised he is still on the team.

[jj22]

(06-04-2025, 01:45 PM)c766 Wrote: This is not accurate

Why do you keep restating an opinion that is not backed up by statistics?

Because I watch the game. If Pratt doesn't pick of bombs away Bo with a little over 2 minutes left, game over. The secondary wasn't stopping him. Couldn't' stop him. You can ignore all the other big stops he made through that game if you want. Also note, I said big games and primetime. We all saw the struggle of the defense. But big games, there's no denying Pratt was impactful. 2nd only to Trey. 

[jj22]

It's not only that the Bengals need to do something with Pratt, it's that they have completely from top down ghosted him as if he doesn't exist. That is unique and different.

And if that is how they feel they should do something with him. How can he come back when they don't even mention him as a player on this team anymore.... 

I think their approach is super curious. Especially if they want to keep him. 

[J24]

(06-04-2025, 01:06 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: I'm guessing that at this point the team is waiting for training camp to roll around, and then see what teams might be in need of a plug and play starter at LB. If it is a team that has any promise or postseason aspirations, the Bengals might could get as high as a 3rd round pick for him.

More like a 6th for 7th rd swap. I can't really see a top 100 pick for an average LB!

[TKUHL]

Should they just arrange a sleep over with him? Dudes getting paid millions. With the way the defense played last year I wouldn’t think anyone other than Trey even deserves to be mentioned. He’s under contract, Bengals don’t have to do anything.

[NATI BENGALS]

(06-04-2025, 04:46 PM)jj22 Wrote: It's not only that the Bengals need to do something with Pratt, it's that they have completely from top down ghosted him as if he doesn't exist. That is unique and different.

And if that is how they feel they should do something with him. How can he come back when they don't even mention him as a player on this team anymore.... 

I think their approach is super curious. Especially if they want to keep him. 

It’s on him. He is the one who requested the trade.

He could have showed up for OTAs and been with the team he signed a contract to play for. Did he?

[jj22]

It doesn’t sound like he’s welcomed in the building. They’ve all but moved on. He’s not even mentioned in passing.

Even Trey was threatened over mandatory’s.  It’ll be telling if Pratt doesn’t show for that. If this is really on him. Although I doubt the local media and team wouldn’t even acknowledge the absence the way this has gone.