Geno Stone takes pay cut

[*pally*]

https://overthecap.com/geno-stone-agrees-to-pay-cut-with-bengals

Quote:Geno Stone Agrees to Pay Cut with BengalsPosted on May 6, 2025 by Jason Fitzgerald
The Bengals and S Geno Stone have agreed on a contract modification that should guarantee Stone’s position with the Bengals this year per a source with knowledge of the contract. Stone, who was scheduled to earn $6.475 million this year, agreed to a one year $4.9 million contract, a reduction in salary of $1.575 million. The Bengals guaranteed $1.5 million of the new contract, which given the Bengals history is a virtual guarantee on his entire year’s salary.

Stone had signed with the Bengals as a free agent in 2024 on a two year $14 million contract. Stone started 17 games for the team last year and had four interceptions but there was some chatter that the Bengals could move on due to overall inconsistent play, changes in the defense, and salary concerns. The new deal ends any of that speculation for the future. Stone will be a free agent in 2026.

[SunsetBengal]

That's encouraging news. I hope that it means that they're gathering as much cap room as they can to get the extension with Hendrickson done and possibly sign Brandon Scherff to play Right Guard.

[WeezyBengal]

(10 hours ago)SunsetBengal Wrote: That's encouraging news. I hope that it means that they're gathering as much cap room as they can to get the extension with Hendrickson done and possibly sign Brandon Scherff to play Right Guard.

Money being available isn't the issue here IMO. Their unwillingness to spend it is. 

[jj22]

Good to see them acknowledge the elephant in the room.

[Bengalbug]

(10 hours ago)WeezyBengal Wrote: Money being available isn't the issue here IMO. Their unwillingness to spend it is. 

Being a bit presumptive. I’ll make a wager they either still bring in someone, or extend Hendrickson.

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

(9 hours ago)Bengalbug Wrote: Being a bit presumptive.   I’ll make a wager they either still bring in someone, or extend Hendrickson.

It needs to be both. 

The Moss + Stone deals freed up over $3 mil in cap. Cutting Volson would save $3.5, Pratt another $5. 

And we could always restructure Burrow for $19. 

But other than a RG & S (which seems unlikely now) I do not see a place to spend it at this point. Though someone usually gets cut after camp. 

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

Does the post-draft, post-FA timing of this seem odd to anyone or is it just we tme?

I mean, I'd think we'd be much less likely to cut him now, since there is no real way to replace him? Though I guess Blackmon & Simmons are still out there.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

Good, hope we can get an extension for Trey done and like Sunset said, bring in one more Guard for insurance.

[WeezyBengal]

(9 hours ago)Bengalbug Wrote: Being a bit presumptive.   I’ll make a wager they either still bring in someone, or extend Hendrickson.

Hope you are right. 

[*pally*]

Geno was going to say no the renegotiating then decided that he thought the Bengals were clearing cap space for Trey so said yes

[phil413]

The leftover safety group (especially Simmons naming Cincy) was a threat to cut Stone if needed. They can either stand pat, or sign another safety for depth. More lively, it makes too much sense to add the savings toward a significant raise for Trey in a tradeoff vs guaranteed money after next year.

I really feel that matches a 2 year plan to win now that matches Tee's deal and helps guard against paying Trey a ton of money when production goes down. It gives him what he's worth this year and full guarantees next year, then free agency or say only 5-6M guaranteed 2 years from now as a parting gift.

[WeezyBengal]

(5 hours ago)pally Wrote: Geno was going to say no the renegotiating then decided that he thought the Bengals were clearing cap space for Trey so said yes

Damn, thats a team player right there. 

[reuben.ahmed]

Is he still our starter?

[Truck_1_0_1_]

If Ed Reed didn't, "Luck," into 95% of his INTs, then one can't say Geno did luck into them the past 2 years, as most of his picks were of the Ed Reed Variety (ie: standing around in the field and a tipped pass comes to you), thus I feel (gut feeling) that he will show this year that he isn't nearly as bad as he looked at times last year and that his subpar athleticism is not such a bad thing.

Just don't ask him to be a run stopper lol, that he can't do.

[Bengalbug]

(3 hours ago)Truck_1_0_1_ Wrote: If Ed Reed didn't, "Luck," into 95% of his INTs, then one can't say Geno did luck into them the past 2 years, as most of his picks were of the Ed Reed Variety (ie: standing around in the field and a tipped pass comes to you), thus I feel (gut feeling) that he will show this year that he isn't nearly as bad as he looked at times last year and that his subpar athleticism is not such a bad thing.

Just don't ask him to be a run stopper lol, that he can't do.

That’s why they got Demetrius Knight.

[samhain]

I don't think money is the issue when it comes to free agency. They still have players like Pratt and Volson that they can let go of for more space. I'd have to guess that the money is for a Hendrickson extension. They badly need him on board if they have any hope of making a run. This is nowhere close to a championship defense personnel-wise. It's even further out if Trey isn't here.

[Joelist]

I have to think this came from Golden, who saw Stone's play level jump when Lou simplified the system and turned him loose to attack. Stone BTW would also do well in a role like Mike Hilton played. Either way we're gathering cap either to do Trey or Risner or both.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(1 hour ago)Joelist Wrote: I have to think this came from Golden, who saw Stone's play level jump when Lou simplified the system and turned him loose to attack. Stone BTW would also do well in a role like Mike Hilton played. Either way we're gathering cap either to do Trey or Risner or both.

We get Trey extended and add another Guard like Risner or Scherff and I am happy with this Offseason for sure.

Bottom line we didn't lose anybody essential to our success.

[Clark W Griswold]

(1 hour ago)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: We get Trey extended and add another Guard like Risner or Scherff and I am happy with this Offseason for sure.

Bottom line we didn't lose anybody essential to our success.

Hopefully this leads to an extension for Trey.
I gave up hoping for another guard. They signed Patrick and drafted Fairchild so they are probably thinking they are set for the IOL.
I really hope they surprise me and sign another Guard but I just don’t see it happening.

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

(1 hour ago)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: We get Trey extended and add another Guard like Risner or Scherff and I am happy with this Offseason for sure.

Bottom line we didn't lose anybody essential to our success.

Good point, Nate. As much as many disliked our outside FA plan/draft plan to roster building, myself included, it is important to remember, we did not loose any big oieces, either.

Hilton is the biggest, and he is still looking for work. ADG & Bell would be next. I don't really count Cappa, Rankins, and Hubbard as losses.  

Yes, IMHO, we messed up the roster build going forward. But we did do a good to very good job of keeping our good players here: Tee, Chase, BJ Hill, Gesicki, Ossai, etc. 

At least we didn't go backwards. 

That is a C offseason, though. Not completely over yet, either.