POLL Cin at SF Sunday 4:25pm est

[jbuck]

my memory has gone to shat. I put a gag order on myself

 

[Cincyfan78]

bengals aren't as cheap as they used to be, but they do not like overspending. on the other hand, we do employ the leagues highest paid player.

No one should like over spending...that's how you get into situations like NO, Pitt, and others who then have to make tons of moves and cuts to get under the cap each year...

Since 2020 Bengals have finished 11th in cap space, 16th in cap space, and 24th in cap space...They will finish around 4th/5th this year depending on how contracts shake out the rest of the year, and bonuses. Some of that was earmarked for a potential Higgins extension which did not happen. Some of that will carry forward for next year where they will start out with a TON of cap room before looking to sign guys like Chase, maybe Higgins (let's assume for a moment that ship has not yet sailed or could be a franchise tag situation), Reader and Williams (who has to be at least approached about being the long-term RT as his play has been very, very good).

Bengals have been very good about their signings, getting guys in that mid 20's age range, signing fair 2nd contract deals, and drafting/developing well and then retaining those players into their second contracts, which is where (usually) the real value of experience and talent is displayed.

That is what enables a team to pay a guy like Burrow and/or Chase together without dismantling the entire team, or one side of the ball completely suffering the ills of having to pay the other.

We can make fun of those 90's and early 00's Bengals...and even into the mid 2010's for not doing things needed to re-sign guys, or find guys to build around key cornerstone players...but since Katie and her husband have taken over the reigns, hired Taylor, and allowed Tobin the free reign to work his magic in the draft and F/A...to try and draw any parallel to those past teams directly ran by Mike Brown to today's organization isn't accurate, or fair.