st pete gogolak

I guess they don't plan on punting next year.

Sorry but it Bengals obtaining two quality OL. That would scare me more than anything because Chase, Higgins and Boyd with a competent OL will be a handful.

Was flipping through the channels and caught replay of TB game. Opening kickoff. Bass pooches to right corner. TB returner caught it at 8 or 9 yard line and returns to the 24. Bass did this successfully all year. I was shocked we couldn't execute this at end of KC game. This exact kickoff puts KC in terrible dilemma. KC returner can (1) let it bounce and hope it rolls into the end zone (ball on 25) or out of bounds (ball on 40). If neither happens, game is probably over. (2) fair catch at the 8 or 9 yard line. The extra 15 yards make FG that much more difficult. Of course, you still need to play defense so maybe it goes into overtime in any event. (3) return the ball and break a long return. Absent a long return, game over except for a long Hail Mary. Again, who knows but I'd like our chances defending a Hail Mary.

Thank God we have Josh Allen. When you have Allen, Mahones, Rogers, Burrow or Herbert, you pay them, plain and simple. When you have Mayfield, you don't. It's the tweeners that drive you crazy - Prescott, Carr. Can't live with them, can't live without them. Thank goodness we're not in that boat.

I don't know why so many people want to run Williams out of town. He was terrific at RT in 2020 (anyone remember Jordan Mills' half decade at that position?), he was serviceable at RG in 2021 and better down the stretch when the whole OL performed better. I think his value is that if Dawkins or Brown go down, he can step in at RT. After the JAX game, I was thinking OL Rounds #1 and #2 of the draft. With the way the line played after inserting Bates, I'd be happy with Dawkins (who really turned it up down the stretch), Bates, Morse, Williams and Brown as opening OL next year. Brown had a really rough 4th quarter against Ingram but I believe he has the potential to be All Pro in two years. Obviously, it depends on what we do in free agency but I see us taking a CB #1 unless we make a dramatic move in that direction in FA.

We're not going to go after Scherff, not at $18 million, not at $10 million. I think we'll add depth to the OL with mid-round draft picks. Everyone complaining about "too many high draft picks being devoted to defense" is falling into sunk cost fallacy. Where can we get most help immediately from FA and the draft? I think it's going to be some variation on veteran outside pass rusher on relatively bargain basis (Melvin Ingram?) and help at cornerback and possibly linebacker. Would it be nice to add a #1 round WR or RB? Sure but I just don't see it.

A. A lot. B. Whatever it takes. C. A ####load. Honestly, has a team ever had an easier offseason than the Bengals? $50 million under the cap. Spend it on two quality OL and draft a couple more. On the other hand, I'm not as afraid of the Bengals' cap space as some others on the board. Do you really expect Mike Brown to spend to the cap?

This is an example of the stupidity of having the free agency period before the draft. I don't know how good Davis is but if we resign Phillips to a mulit-year deal at starter money and if we get minimal savings by cutting Star, are we really going to draft a DT in Round #1? I doubt it. Does anyone know the reason why the draft follows free agency? Is it NFLPA (free agents make out better) or the owners? I just don't get it.

How's our 2018 draft grading out? s/

It's not whether the allegations are true or not. It's the appearance of impropriety. Believe me, this lawsuit will continue to get a lot of press and the NFL will try to bury it. I'm not saying I'm in favor of a lottery and I'm not saying tanking works. For God's sake, look at the Sabres. They tanked for a 20% chance to pick Connor McDavid and they're still trying to work their way out of that ####show. In order to successfully tank, you need a lot of things to go right. You need to know your target(s), how likely you will be able to obtain your target, how your target will fit in to overall effort to rebuild team, etc. Some tanks are incredibly successful (Penguins tanking for Mario Lemuiex probably the most famous). Most are not.

It's going to happen. The Flores lawsuit guarantees it.

If McKenzie decides grass is greener elsewhere and we want to move on from Beasley, how about Braxton Berrios from the Jets? Fills slot role, jet sweep role, kick returner role, plus weakens division opponent. No idea what he would cost on the open market. Would it make sense to approach a guy like this and say, "play one year on a below market deal with Josh and you'll hit the open market next year and make a fortune."

What's the rush to dump Williams? His cap hit isn't horrible, at a minimum he's a decent starting guard and if Dawkins or Brown get hurt, he can slide to RT. As bad as the OL was during that mid-season stretch, I wouldn't be disappointed if they rolled with Dawkins - Bates - Morse - Williams - Brown to start 2022. If they can upgrade, terrific, but it's not the crying need it was at mid-season.

This is no comment on Brady other than at LSU, he had Joe Burrow throwing to, among others, Jefferson and Chase and handing off to Edwards-Helaire. That's mind-boggling! So when he has incredible talent, he's a great coach (LSU) and when he has no talent (Carolina), he's a bad coach. Does that mean the jury is still out?

In a nod to New Orleans foodies, I guess you now have to call their stadium "Commander's Palace".

I agree with almost all the comments above but I guess I'm not making myself clear. Even if we bring back the same personnel (we won't), can we mix it up more on D so we're not giving opposing offenses the same look every game. As far as I can tell, we played 4-2-5, rush four, blitz occasionally, play zone with two high safeties. I didn't see much 4-3-4, even against run heavy teams. Can't recall seeing any 3-2-6 ala what Bengals played in second half against KC. Did we play any man-to-man? My point is that we just can't trot same defense out every game, especially against elite QB's. Hopefully, we'll get some new personnel so that we can effectively throw some different looks at teams next year. Somewhat off topic, if you're a DC and you're playing Josh next year, are you thinking of playing the 3-2-6 with a spy similar to what Bengals played? Of course, the way to attack that D is to hammer with the run, preferably with a power back. We definitely need to run the ball better next year, especially out of the gate.

Kudos to the Bengals DC for the second half game plan against KC. Playing a lot of 3 man fronts with a spy and man to man in the back was pretty brilliant. Would our 2021 D even been capable of pulling that off? All I saw all year long was 4 man front, some blitzes (we were middle of the pack on blitzing I believe) and two high safety zone, fairly soft zone at that. Even in the first NE game, when NE is bringing in an extra OL and obviously emphasizing the run, we're playing our usual 4-2-5. Should we try to add some flexibility in 2022? If we retain Frazier, could we? One thought is that if we are retaining Edmunds, draft a run-stopping MLB in the middle rounds and play a 4-3 against run heavy teams with Edmunds outside. Experiment with some 3 man fronts in the pre-season. Something, anything, that would give our opponents something to think about.

Peyton Mannintg.

So nothing between Marchibroda in 1991 and Pettine in 2014 (other than Wade which doesn't count) and then nothing until the other day? That's kind of sad.

I agree with all of that but I still think it was a quirky outcome where being seeded #4 was preferable to being seeded #3.

I thought it was odd when Bengals announced Burrow would sit out last game of season against Browns. Third seed was on the line and chance for additional home game(s) down the road. I guess they knew what the were doing. Raiders, Titans and Chiefs after epic battle with Bills so much better than Pats and Chiefs. Well played.

Instead of specific reason, how about a general reason? What's the record for teams following an OT win in the playoffs? I forget exactly but it is horrendous, something like 1 - 11. Generally, it's hard to win an OT game in the playoffs and come back next week to win. Bengals v. Bills in AFCCG would have been anything but a cakewalk. It would have been a dogfight. On top of that, who's going to cover Chase?

Not that it's saying much, but if Knox sticks around for another two or three years, he'll be the best TE in Bills history.

I started the thread in response to many, many posters whining about our window closing because of Josh's contract. I was curious what people thought about big second contracts to QB's in general, not specific to Josh. I agree. If you have a top 5 (top 10?) QB, you pay him and it is up to the GM to draft well and look for bargain FA's.

Honestly, this has nothing to do with Allen, certainly not a cheap shot. My personal opinion, when you have an upper echelon QB (Mahones, Allen, Herbert, Burrow, Rogers) you pay them and it's up to your GM to work the cap to make the team Super Bowl competitive. It's when you have a tweener (Prescott, L. Jackson) that it becomes difficult. You don't give big money to a Kirk Cousins or Mayfield. I can see the Browns letting Mayfield play out fifth year option on prove it basis.