Dysfunction at it's finest

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(Yesterday, 02:52 PM)TJ528 Wrote: I think the only issue with that is...if he says nope I'm not signing.  Goes into the 2026 NFL draft, how far does he drop because now he's a character issue.  

He only cares about money. He doesn't care about playing the game of football.  He only had 4 sacks in his college career and yet he thinks he's worth more than he is. 

Thats where this NIL and players not signing and going back into the draft the next season leads. 

Every other team in the NFL also has to try to deal with the Bengals FO. They'd be more understanding than you think.

Everyone in the NFL cares about money. It's a $23b business. They have lockouts because they care about money. They have unions, lawyers, and agents because they care about money. Pretending that everyone in the NFL is doing it purely for the love of the game is kind of silly. This sentence was brought you to by *Insert Advertising Sponsor Here*, the official *Insert Sponsor's Business Field* of the NFL.

[*ochocincos*]

(Yesterday, 12:17 PM)TJ528 Wrote: I get where your coming from but 75 wins is still under .500 in baseball.  Being a .500 team in baseball is still a crap team because your not making the playoffs.  In football, the Bengals finish 9-8 and they'll looked at as a shit team.  Since 2003, the Bengals have been a consistent team in regards to winning season.  They've had good and bad season.  No matter how much we want the Browns to change their business model, they arent.  They've changed somewhat because in the past they would've never given Tee and Jamarr big contracts.  They've been known to sign 1 and let the other walk. If the Bengals had signed Jamarr and Trey and let Tee walk you'd  hear people bitching and complaining about that.  So you can't make everyone happy.  Again, my guess is eventually Trey gets done.  Shamar, I could give 2 shits if they let him go back to the draft in 2026 and let him be someone elses headache like they did with Ricky Hundley in 1984. 

I get it, but 75 wins is .463 win %
The closest in NFL to that is 8-9, which is .471%

If a NFL team is 1 game under .500, they aren't considered TERRIBLE to the point of swearing off going to games because of it.

2016-2019 was one of the worst periods for Reds+Bengals combined.
Neither team even got to .500 any of those 4 years.
Outside of those 4 years, either the Reds and/or the Bengals have been mostly near .500 or above over the past 20 or so years.

[TJ528]

(Yesterday, 03:04 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Every other team in the NFL also has to try to deal with the Bengals FO. They'd be more understanding than you think.

Everyone in the NFL cares about money. It's a $23b business. They have lockouts because they care about money. They have unions, lawyers, and agents because they care about money. Pretending that everyone in the NFL is doing it purely for the love of the game is kind of silly. This sentence was brought you to by *Insert Advertising Sponsor Here*, the official *Insert Sponsor's Business Field* of the NFL.

I'll give you everyone in the NFL cares about money, but the players also care about playing the game of football. 

It's crazy to me that there's 40 unsigned players from the draft, and only 1 not practicing.  

Again, i loved the pick.  To me, the  kids getting crappy advise from his agents, but we'll see what happens. 

[*Nately120*]

(Yesterday, 03:28 PM)TJ528 Wrote: I'll give you everyone in the NFL cares about money, but the players also care about playing the game of football. 

It's crazy to me that there's 40 unsigned players from the draft, and only 1 not practicing.  

Again, i loved the pick.  To me, the  kids getting crappy advise from his agents, but we'll see what happens. 

He's almost 22. That's old enough to storm the beaches of Normandy and write the song "Yesterday."  The guy is being a pain in the ass, but he has the freedom and security to do so. I realize it's frustrating, but acting like he's some kid who doesn't know what he's doing or he's helplessly falling under the sway of a sneaky agent just makes it seem like we're looking for some sort of faceless, non-Bengals related villain (as in not the guy we drafted and not the team we root for) to blame this on.

Add in that Trey is like 40 years old and he's also being duped by a sneaky agent and this whole thing is extra pointless.

[TJ528]

(Yesterday, 03:36 PM)Nately120 Wrote: He's almost 22. That's old enough to storm the beaches of Normandy and write the song "Yesterday."  The guy is being a pain in the ass, but he has the freedom and security to do so. I realize it's frustrating, but acting like he's some kid who doesn't know what he's doing or he's helplessly falling under the sway of a sneaky agent just makes it seem like we're looking for some sort of faceless, non-Bengals related villain (as in not the guy we drafted and not the team we root for) to blame this on.

Add in that Trey is like 40 years old and he's also being duped by a sneaky agent and this whole thing is extra pointless.

Nately,

Completely agree with you. He isn't no damn kid. I should've used young man instead...ha....

At 22 yo, I was serving our country in the military so I'm there with you. I sure as hell wasn't no kid. 

[DTrain60!]

(Yesterday, 12:43 PM)kalibengal Wrote: there is a ridiculous rumor floating around on FB that Musk is buying the Bengals . As much as I detest Musk, the idea of someone coming in and allowing us to modernize and level up to the rest of the big boys is what this team needs badly.

If Musk ever does buy the Bengals, since he lives in Brownsville TX, the Bengals most likely would be relocated to San Antonio or Austin if/when the Hamilton County/Paycor stadium lease question answers itself.

[*ochocincos*]

(Yesterday, 03:36 PM)Nately120 Wrote: He's almost 22. That's old enough to storm the beaches of Normandy and write the song "Yesterday."  The guy is being a pain in the ass, but he has the freedom and security to do so. I realize it's frustrating, but acting like he's some kid who doesn't know what he's doing or he's helplessly falling under the sway of a sneaky agent just makes it seem like we're looking for some sort of faceless, non-Bengals related villain (as in not the guy we drafted and not the team we root for) to blame this on.

Add in that Trey is like 40 years old and he's also being duped by a sneaky agent and this whole thing is extra pointless.

Stewart definitely knows what he's doing.

College athletes are less likely to "bend the knee" to the NFL now that they can get paid millions in college.
Stewart 100% got paid $1+ mill already being in the NFL, so he isn't so cash-dependent to need to just take what the Bengals offer.

This 100% though is all about money and risk of losing money.
It may ultimately be around the vagueness of what constitutes the voiding of any guarantees, and his camp may be arguing for more specificity or removal or certain conditions in that voided guarantees wording before signing.

I don't recall any reports of Stewart being a troublemaker, nor do I remember him having on-field problems like Burfict did coming out of college, so it really could come down to worry of having something taken away for an action that doesn't seem to justify a void.

[Whacked]

@ MODS

Just curious…..

Why did that dude c766 get banned?

I have no dog in this fight - just being nosy and so I can learn what not to do. lol

Thanks

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(Yesterday, 07:13 PM)Whacked Wrote: @ MODS

Just curious…..

Why did that dude c766 get banned?

I have no dog in this fight - just being nosy and so I can learn what not to do. lol

Thanks

I am not a mod, but he was insulting people constantly. Was surprised he lasted this long. A lot of posts got deleted he would go at it with some
posters so bad. I actually got along with him to a point, but he was trolling a ton.

[TKUHL]

(Yesterday, 02:57 PM)TJ528 Wrote: Kids getting crappy representation from his agents and it's making the kid look bad.  

Again, loved the pick when it was made, the more this goes on and the  way he talked the other day at mini camp make me wonder if there are character flaws with Stewert TBH. 

This pick shouldn’t have happened to begin with.

[TKUHL]

(Yesterday, 07:23 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: I am not a mod, but he was insulting people constantly. Was surprised he lasted this long. A lot of posts got deleted he would go at it with some
posters so bad. I actually got along with him to a point, but he was trolling a ton.

You have always been a pretty cool dude on here. Very knowledgeable with the team and league in general. Always been respectful with me. So thanks man.

And I’ve seen dude getting into it with people on here. Think he’s just a troll.

[Ell Prez]

(Yesterday, 03:19 PM)ochocincos Wrote: I get it, but 75 wins is .463 win %
The closest in NFL to that is 8-9, which is .471%

If a NFL team is 1 game under .500, they aren't considered TERRIBLE to the point of swearing off going to games because of it.

2016-2019 was one of the worst periods for Reds+Bengals combined.
Neither team even got to .500 any of those 4 years.
Outside of those 4 years, either the Reds and/or the Bengals have been mostly near .500 or above over the past 20 or so years.

When you think about it, our superbowl team was 10-7. One game away from being 9-8 which with 17 games, is basically .500

We really weren’t a great team. We got hot at the end and got lucky. Hard to replicate that. The only way to replicate success in the nfl is to be pretty dominant. The margin of error to make the Super Bowl is very very slim. The probability we ever make another superbowl in the Joe burrow era is pretty low. It’s because we’re not a dominant team. I think we’ll make some playoffs and then have to get extremely lucky to beat 3 teams and then beat the NFC. Winning home field and a bye is such a massive advantage.

[Soonerpeace]

(Yesterday, 08:29 PM)Ell Prez Wrote: When you think about it, our superbowl team was 10-7. One game away from being 9-8 which with 17 games, is basically .500

We really weren’t a great team. We got hot at the end and got lucky. Hard to replicate that. The only way to replicate success in the nfl is to be pretty dominant. The margin of error to make the Super Bowl is very very slim. The probability we ever make another superbowl in the Joe burrow era is pretty low. It’s because we’re not a dominant team. I think we’ll make some playoffs and then have to get extremely lucky to beat 3 teams and then beat the NFC. Winning home field and a bye is such a massive advantage.

And 12-4 the next year. We’d beat the Bills so easily 13-4

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(Yesterday, 05:39 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Stewart definitely knows what he's doing.

College athletes are less likely to "bend the knee" to the NFL now that they can get paid millions in college.
Stewart 100% got paid $1+ mill already being in the NFL, so he isn't so cash-dependent to need to just take what the Bengals offer.

This 100% though is all about money and risk of losing money.
It may ultimately be around the vagueness of what constitutes the voiding of any guarantees, and his camp may be arguing for more specificity or removal or certain conditions in that voided guarantees wording before signing.

I don't recall any reports of Stewart being a troublemaker, nor do I remember him having on-field problems like Burfict did coming out of college, so it really could come down to worry of having something taken away for an action that doesn't seem to justify a void.

Roquan Smith had the same fight in 2018 as a rookie with the Bears over wording that could let the Bears recover part of his guaranteed money if he was ever suspended for an illegal hit with his helmet. 

No 1st round pick should willingly give away their guaranteed money, and that goes double or triple for giving it away on potential fines or suspensions arising from on-the-field football plays (that sometimes you can't control). You also shouldn't believe a "we wouldn't do that, trust us" if they're still insisting they get the ability to do exactly that.

Roquan Smith was the last to sign from his class, and he won the standoff and got it removed from his contract. That was pre-NIL.


- - - - - -

And under-discussed aspect of this whole topic is that these guys are in a union, and unions are very keen on fighting any changes that are negatives for their members because if they don't, then that becomes an accepted precedence. 

If Stewart folds and signs the iffy wording, then it will be more expected every future Bengals 1st round pick after will do so as well. 
If Stewart holds strong and the Bengals fold, then it will be more expected that the Bengals don't try to pull that on their 1st round picks anymore. 

The players union might not be actively participating in it right now, but you can be certain they've made calls and sent messages of support to Stewart and his agent, because it will benefit or hurt future players/members.

[Bronxbengal]

Front office is ran by clowns and from the outside it looks like a shit show at its best. If it wasn’t for Joe we would be revisiting the lost decade.

[Whacked]

(Yesterday, 07:23 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: I am not a mod, but he was insulting people constantly. Was surprised he lasted this long. A lot of posts got deleted he would go at it with some
posters so bad. I actually got along with him to a point, but he was trolling a ton.

Thanks Nate

[sandwedge]

(Yesterday, 01:53 AM)t3r3e3 Wrote: Don’t be hating.  He’s reached the end of his Mike/Katie rope, some of you haven’t.  Doesn’t mean he’s not a fan, just means he sipped slightly less Kool-Aid than you….

No, I'm just not a whiner

[sandwedge]

(Yesterday, 04:11 AM)wanga Wrote: It wouldn’t be high enough or too high, not scenic enough, made of the wrong rocks, in the wrong place or something else. 
Whingy people gotta whinge. 

[sandwedge]

(Yesterday, 09:30 AM)THE PISTONS Wrote: It just seems like one that either side could just give in on for the good of all.

Like he has to realize he won't be a knucklehead. And the Bengals have to realize the risk of him doing something like that is low.

We'll see if this leads to a camp holdout. That would be very bad.

So other teams have this clause in their contracts now, do you think he would be holding out if he had been drafted by anyone else? I'm not too sure he was all that excited it was us who drafted him.

[bengalfan47]

(06-12-2025, 11:08 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote:

This is the most cliched terrible argument that exists when fans talk about players money. If the average person could do what an NFL player could do, they would no longer be an average person and they would no longer be happy to make $100k a year.

There's ~25,000,000 people in the US age 20-25 who the Bengals could have drafted instead. They chose Stewart as the 17th best of them at football. He's not an average person. There are only 32 people in the entire world each year who are NFL first round picks. 

As a general rule, not even professional athlete-wise... if there's wording in a contract you don't like? Don't sign that contract. Signing a contract you don't like is about the worst advice you can give someone. That's a terribly weird take.

- - - - - - - -
Besides, the average person gets to choose who they work for, and they get to negotiate for their salary and their companies generally aren't guaranteed profitability through huge tax breaks and anti-trust exemptions.

So unless you want to get rid of the draft, the rookie wage scale, the salary cap and revenue sharing... and open up the NFL to an actual free market system, I don't think you want players being held to the "average person" standards.

We would have never gotten Joe Burrow. He would have signed out of college with New Orleans for hundreds of millions of dollars and a minority share of the team if he were able to get his services bid on by companies like a true "average person" in the job market.

One thing you are forgetting is that the fans are the ones who pay for this. The "Average" people are the ones who buy the tickets, watch the games bet on the games and pay for their million dollar salaries. Im not saying it is all on Stewart because I have watched 40 plus years of the Bengals dealing with their picks this way but at the end o f the day the reason that they have this opportunity to make millions is because people love watching football. Things like this turn people off and there are so many other things to do on Sundays now.  Every job that I have ever worked if you do something to make the company looked bad you are terminated. I dont know why the NFL should be any different.