Bengals bungling things up - new rookie contract clause

[Mango]

18 hours ago, Gugny said:

The Bengals aren’t going into year 8 with a top 2-3 NFL QB. 

 

If any window appears to be closing, it’s certainly not Cincinnati’s. 
 

Two common denominators in the Josh era:  Josh and McDermott. 
 

Zero Super Bowl appearances. 
 

Making fun of the Bengals is laughable. 

 

The Bengals have not made the playoffs since 2022. They've missed 3 of 5 years since they drafted Burrow.

 

Trying to conflate the overall functionality and success of the Bengals FO because of one SB appearance is silly.

 

They've haven't just largely underperformed expectations for the majority of Burrows career, they're getting him destroyed out there by giving him trash at the OL.

[EasternOHBillsFan]

6 minutes ago, Mango said:

 

The Bengals have not made the playoffs since 2022. They've missed 3 of 5 years since they drafted Burrow.

 

Trying to conflate the overall functionality and success of the Bengals FO because of one SB appearance is silly.

 

They've haven't just largely underperformed expectations for the majority of Burrows career, they're getting him destroyed out there by giving him trash at the OL.

 

Much like the Steelers defense, which has been worn down to a nub because of their trash offense. The Bengals and Steelers are both being mismanaged at this point, but Zac Taylor is still an absolute mystery as to his value.

[Gugny]

7 minutes ago, Mango said:

 

The Bengals have not made the playoffs since 2022. They've missed 3 of 5 years since they drafted Burrow.

 

Trying to conflate the overall functionality and success of the Bengals FO because of one SB appearance is silly.

 

They've haven't just largely underperformed expectations for the majority of Burrows career, they're getting him destroyed out there by giving him trash at the OL.

So what’s worked better?  
 

Addressing the WR and neglecting the line?

 

Or addressing the line and neglecting the WR?

 

Early playoff exits at this point of the Allen/McDermott era are absolute failures. 
 

 

[Cray51]

51 minutes ago, Gugny said:

So what’s worked better?  
 

Addressing the WR and neglecting the line?

 

Or addressing the line and neglecting the WR?

 

Early playoff exits at this point of the Allen/McDermott era are absolute failures. 
 

 

If early playoff exits are absolute failures, what do you call not making the playoffs 3 of the past 5 years?

 

is there a word in the known universe that can explain that abomination?  That’s surely worse than winning your division each of the past 5 years and at least making the playoffs

[Gugny]

58 minutes ago, Cray51 said:

If early playoff exits are absolute failures, what do you call not making the playoffs 3 of the past 5 years?

 

is there a word in the known universe that can explain that abomination?  That’s surely worse than winning your division each of the past 5 years and at least making the playoffs

The AFCE is a shitshow. 
 

Winning that division is akin to Kramer winning a Karate match.  

[Cray51]

7 minutes ago, Gugny said:

The AFCE is a shitshow. 
 

Winning that division is akin to Kramer winning a Karate match.  

So you can’t answer the question.

 

lotta deflecting here

[Augie]

2 hours ago, Gugny said:

So what’s worked better?  
 

Addressing the WR and neglecting the line?

 

Or addressing the line and neglecting the WR?

 

Early playoff exits at this point of the Allen/McDermott era are absolute failures. 
 

 

 

Addressing the Oline. 

 

The Bengals seriously addressed WR, and they have missed the playoffs in 3 of the last 5 years with Joe Burrow at QB. He’s not chopped liver.  The Bills addressed the OLine, and we are regulars in the playoffs and a top Super Bowl favorite. We didn’t win the SB (yet), but we were in the playoffs, while the Bengals sat at home. 

 

Some people want to whine so badly about our GM and HC they lose sight of reality.  The Bengals are doing better is not a hill I’d want to die on. 

[Mango]

3 hours ago, Gugny said:

So what’s worked better?  
 

Addressing the WR and neglecting the line?

 

Or addressing the line and neglecting the WR?

 

Early playoff exits at this point of the Allen/McDermott era are absolute failures. 
 

 

 

Imagine writing a post about "early playoff exits" in order to prove a point that a team that has missed the playoffs two years in a row.

 

I guess you're right. If you miss the playoffs more than you make the playoffs I guess you can't have very many early exits.

 

But to your point, since the Bengals have decided to go this route of 5th year options and tags they've made the playoffs zero times. 

 

I don't think anybody disagrees that the Bills need to do more to address weapons around Josh. That includes the draft and money. They absolutely do But if you asked me right now to trade the other 52 players on the Bengals not named Burrow for the other 52 players not named Allen I would laugh you out the door.

 

I'll beat this drum over and over again, great QB's who want the payday have to do more with less skill talent around them. The $50-60M deal has to cover the deficit in spend elsewhere

[The Frankish Reich]

On 6/11/2025 at 12:56 PM, Billl said:

Defaulting would likely be something along the lines of holding out in order to get an extension after year 3.

Exactly. Maybe we should've thought of this before inking Cook's rookie deal.

Seriously, though, if this is allowed by the CBA, why wouldn't a team do it? And if it is allowed by the CBA, congrats to the Bengals for hiring a lawyer smart enough to figure that out.

[ColoradoBills]

7 minutes ago, The Frankish Reich said:

Exactly. Maybe we should've thought of this before inking Cook's rookie deal.

Seriously, though, if this is allowed by the CBA, why wouldn't a team do it? And if it is allowed by the CBA, congrats to the Bengals for hiring a lawyer smart enough to figure that out.

 

If Cook holds out, he doesn't get paid.

[Sierra Foothills]

Back to the topic at hand, The Athletic digest which I receive via email every day said this:

 

"Stewart and his agents asked for a standard, slot contract for his draft position (No. 17). Cincinnati wants to set a new contractual precedent with more aggressive language around voided guarantees. Stewart understandably does not want to be a guinea pig for all players that come after him."

 

I would agree with this characterization and Stewart's reaction, 100%.

 

[mjt328]

On 6/12/2025 at 11:52 AM, Gugny said:

Bengals bungled their way to a Super Bowl a few years ago. 
 

That must have been neat for their fans. 
 

The following year, they Bungled their way past a wonderfully prepared and enthused Bills team and went the the AFCCG. 

 

I bet that was pretty cool for their fans too. 
 

Seems to me the Bills bungled more than the Bengals. 🤷‍♂️ 

 

 

No so much.  Like the Bills with Josh Allen, the Bengals struck gold by drafting the right QB.  One of Joe Burrow's injuries also helped them luck into a prime draft slot, where they could draft Jamar Chase.

 

But lucky breaks only last for so long.  At some point, it comes back to the franchise making smart decisions.  For a brief 1-2 season period, the Bengals did surpass the Bills as the AFC's #2 team.  Hard to argue that point.  But the Bengals shine at the top was very short-lived, because they have a terrible owner and crappy front office.  The big difference between the Bills/Bengals is that once players started getting paid and vets started aging out, we were able to keep a competitive team together.  They have not.

 

Over the last few years, we lost Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis, Mitch Morse, Tre White, Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde.  And we just kept right on rolling.  Last season was our big test, and we passed.  Our offense was better than ever.

 

Meanwhile, the Bengals have been a downhill trajectory for the last two years.  Their O-Line is really bad, and wasn't upgraded much in the offseason.  Their running game hasn't been effective since Joe Mixon left.  Their defense is terrible, and Trey Hendrickson is holding out.  The situation with their top pick is a joke.  Depth across the team isn't great either, which is why they can't seem to overcome injuries.

 

[Gugny]

1 hour ago, Mango said:

 

Imagine writing a post about "early playoff exits" in order to prove a point that a team that has missed the playoffs two years in a row.

 

I guess you're right. If you miss the playoffs more than you make the playoffs I guess you can't have very many early exits.

 

But to your point, since the Bengals have decided to go this route of 5th year options and tags they've made the playoffs zero times. 

 

I don't think anybody disagrees that the Bills need to do more to address weapons around Josh. That includes the draft and money. They absolutely do But if you asked me right now to trade the other 52 players on the Bengals not named Burrow for the other 52 players not named Allen I would laugh you out the door.

 

I'll beat this drum over and over again, great QB's who want the payday have to do more with less skill talent around them. The $50-60M deal has to cover the deficit in spend elsewhere

I’ll simplify it. 
 

Let’s get to a Super Bowl before we start making fun of teams that have been to a Super Bowl.

 

In the last 5 years, let alone since the fu*king. 90s. 
 

[QCity]

2 hours ago, Sierra Foothills said:

Back to the topic at hand, The Athletic digest which I receive via email every day said this:

 

"Stewart and his agents asked for a standard, slot contract for his draft position (No. 17). Cincinnati wants to set a new contractual precedent with more aggressive language around voided guarantees. Stewart understandably does not want to be a guinea pig for all players that come after him."

 

I would agree with this characterization and Stewart's reaction, 100%.

 

 

Voided guarantees, now there's an oxymoron.

 

Just give him the standard rookie contract. There wasn't any issue last year with Mims at #18. This seems like a very, very petty battle to pick.

[NoSaint]

5 hours ago, Augie said:

 

Addressing the Oline. 

 

The Bengals seriously addressed WR, and they have missed the playoffs in 3 of the last 5 years with Joe Burrow at QB. He’s not chopped liver.  The Bills addressed the OLine, and we are regulars in the playoffs and a top Super Bowl favorite. We didn’t win the SB (yet), but we were in the playoffs, while the Bengals sat at home. 

 

Some people want to whine so badly about our GM and HC they lose sight of reality.  The Bengals are doing better is not a hill I’d want to die on. 

meh. Both are frustrating. 
 

I’m not loving a debate between whether it was better to watch Phillip Rivers or Donovan Mcnabb?  Just spitballing two good QBs without rings from 20 years ago
 

I think I’d be ok tanking a few seasons in exchange for an appearance. 12-5 and Super Bowl run followed by 5-12 or two 11-6 seasons losing in the divisional? I think probably give me the first

[Augie]

41 minutes ago, NoSaint said:

meh. Both are frustrating. 
 

I’m not loving a debate between whether it was better to watch Phillip Rivers or Donovan Mcnabb?  Just spitballing two good QBs without rings from 20 years ago
 

I think I’d be ok tanking a few seasons in exchange for an appearance. 12-5 and Super Bowl run followed by 5-12 or two 11-6 seasons losing in the divisional? I think probably give me the first

 

Both can be frustrating. 

 

There is no arguing which franchise I prefer. 

[Tuco]

7 hours ago, Sierra Foothills said:

Back to the topic at hand, The Athletic digest which I receive via email every day said this:

 

"Stewart and his agents asked for a standard, slot contract for his draft position (No. 17). Cincinnati wants to set a new contractual precedent with more aggressive language around voided guarantees. Stewart understandably does not want to be a guinea pig for all players that come after him."

 

I would agree with this characterization and Stewart's reaction, 100%.

 

The language he's fighting against is exactly the same as the contracts signed by the players drafted ahead of him and behind him. Not sure how that would make him a Guinea pig.

[Sierra Foothills]

2 hours ago, Tuco said:

The language he's fighting against is exactly the same as the contracts signed by the players drafted ahead of him and behind him. Not sure how that would make him a Guinea pig.

 

If that's the case, can you please prove it?

 

On what basis are you contradicting the reporting of The Athletic?