It makes zero sense that we start every season so bad. Some is on Zac but most of it is on Joe for always playing like shit the first couple games. Defense did enough to win the game yesterday and Joe was just awful. He'll turn it around like he always does, but starting every year 0-2 is so fucking annoying.
He's the only difference maker left on the entire defense...and he's unhappy with his contract. No way cheapo Mike pays a non-qb after his age 30 season.
Yeah Trey is awesome but he's the only good player on defense. Maybe it gets a little better when Hill, Rankins, Murphy, and Jackson come back. But that doesn't solve the issue of having a bunch of shitty db's. This is on the ownership for being cheap per usual. They never get close to spending the cap or do things every other franchise does to manipulate the cap. We could have easily signed another DT and CB, but instead we chose to be cheap and rely on rookies/previous draft picks who have not hit (fuck you Dax Hill). Letting Bates walk has absolutely killed the defense and they have not come close to replacing him. Trey only has 1 more year left on his deal and the Browns will surely let him walk too. Duke Tobin should be on the hot seat for his shitty drafting but he won't because he's basically part of the Brown family. Joe is awesome (except in week 1) but this team is going nowhere with an awful defense.
For what we're paying two pretty average linebackers, Bates could have been brought back. What a horrific decision in hindsight. The talent level on this team compared to the Super Bowl/AFCCG run of teams is not even close. This is where having 4 scouts and relying on your coaches to identify talent (Frank Pollack) really starts to make a difference. It's absolutely infuriating that the front office lowballs its star players and thinks it's smart enough to overcome it. We basically haven't drafted an impact player since 2021.
Let’s run the ball up the middle 3 times and settled for a 53yd field goal attempt. Unreal. Your franchise qb is throwing for 392 yards and we don’t pass.
I also hope every individual involved with our defense meets up at Yeatman’s Cove tonight and participates in a mass suicide
The Ravens could have been, and almost were, called for a penalty on literally every play that final drive. Except the last, most egregious one(s). The NFL protects its star quarterbacks and top teams. Joe Burrow apparently doesn't qualify. Ultimately they shouldn't be a in a position to get fucked by the refs. A team with a QB and WR playing like they did should NEVER lose that game. But the Bungals always find a way.
Yeah maybe we should actually draft competent defensive players so we stop losing games when scoring 30+.
Need to lock down the obvious guys and just draft straight OL and defense. There’s no need to do anything else. We have whiffed on so many picks over the past few years.
Our rounds 1-3 picks from 2021-2023 minus the obvious pick in Ja’Marr Chase have completely sucked. This is why we’re bad. Jackson Carman- not even on the team anymore Ossai- highlight of his career was getting the late hit on Mahomes Daxton Hill- he’s so bad the team has played better since he got injured CTB- the best out of the group but he still sucks Zach Carter- am unaware of anything he has contributed Myles Murphy- I’m not sure why we thought drafting a DE doesn’t get sacks in the first round was a good idea. He also might as well not be on the team. He doesn’t do anything. DJ Turner- shitty Jordan Battle- shitty
Actually thought Dax was coming along nicely as a corner. Imo he's the best one we have (yikes). Our drafts have been absolutely abysmal though, no question about it. Can't sustain success when you almost never hit on draft picks. Cappa and Volson are hot garbage. And so is Frank Pollack. No one develops under him.
Zac with a Super Bowl appearance and multiple playoff wins likely coaches in Cincinnati as long as he wants to. Unless maybe Burrow wants him gone. Also do not think a guy who made the staff choices and draft picks for those late-stage Belichick Pats team is the solution in Cincinnati. Vrabel would be preferable between the two, at least for me.
This article summarizes mock draft picks for us. Really don't want Sherman. I could live with Loveland but man we need defense. https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-2025-mock-draft-roundup-2-0
Here's a more recent version, much better choices IMO: https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-2025-mock-draft-roundup-3-0
OSU has a ton of draft eligible guys who are borderline 1st round, but not clear 1st round. LT Simmons probably goes first, but that’s going to depend upon the rehab and testing from the injury that ended his season in October. DE Sawyer, DE Tuimoloau, DT Williams—could see the Bengals draft any of them in 1 or 2.
He's a good prospect, but a reach at 17. If this were a trade-back type of franchise, he'd be a nice option late 1st.
Not sure if folks followed this story, but there is a gang that burglarized multiple athletes while they were playing away games, They hit Joe Burrow in December. They have been caught. I bet that trying to re-sell the JB9 diamond encrusted pendant gave them away. https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/joe-burrow-burglary-suspects-photos-stolen-goods/story?id=118576933