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[Cincinnati Bengals]

Bengals reportedly adding Trey LaBounty to scouting department

Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

The wheels of change are slow, but they turn.

The Cincinnati Bengals are working their way through voluntary OTAs as they prepare for the 2025 season, and I come with good news.

No, it’s not about Trey Hendrickson or the season schedule. It’s about the team’s scouting department.

The Bengals, who lost a scout earlier this week, have hired a new face to fill the void. Former Stanford and Miami (OH) tight end Trey LaBounty will serve as a scouting research analyst.

Labounty posted the news at first on his LinkedIn account.

“Excited to announce I will be joining the Cincinnati Bengals as a Scouting Research Analyst!” he wrote. “Thank you to Ownership, Duke Tobin, Samuel Francis, and all the amazing people within the Bengals organization for believing in me and my ability to add value within the intersection of scouting, research, and analytics. I can’t wait to get to work, helping us to build the best roster possible, and bring a Lombardi home to Cincinnati. Who Dey!”

According to LaBounty’s profile, he’s been an intern for the Buffalo Bills since June 2024 and previously worked as a data analyst for Stanford football.

This move comes two days after former Bengals scout Christian Sarkisian was lured away by Northwestern. Now LaBounty, who was most recently a scouting intern with the Buffalo Bills, will assume the open position.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/5/14/24430172/trey-labounty-bengals-scouting-department

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

The good, bad, and ugly from the Bengals’ official 2025 schedule

Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Season opener in Cleveland, Thanksgiving night appearance, and so much more.

The 2025 schedule for the Cincinnati Bengals has officially arrived, and it is quite interesting for many different reasons.

The Bengals are set to host one primetime game in the Jungle and will also travel for three primetime matchups.

Yet again, Cincinnati is shunned by the NFL scheduling team for primetime home games but will see the Ravens in Baltimore under the lights for the 500th year in a row (slight exaggeration, maybe).

Let’s take a look at the good, bad, and ugly for the upcoming season...

The Good​

Cincinnati has an opportunity to open the season with a divisional win on the road against Cleveland.

Before you pounce at that, yes, the Bengals have been flat-out horrible to start the past few seasons, but the urgency will be there this year after they missed the playoffs in 2024 because of it.

Plus, this is a chance for the Bengals to start their AFC North record off with a win as well.

Paycor Stadium will then host a sold-out crowd to kick off the home slate, with the Jacksonville Jaguars coming to town.

This will likely be an offensive showdown with Trevor Lawrence, Brian Thomas Jr., and Travis Hunter visiting.

The Bengals also have a favorable bye week (Week 10) this season. It is almost right in the middle of the schedule, giving the team a breather before the back half of the season.

Cincinnati will also have three straight home games in Weeks 7-9, hosting the Steelers on Thursday Night Football, then the Jets, followed by the Bears. That will then lead them directly into the bye week.

The team will also close the regular season out with back-to-back home games, hosting the Cardinals and Browns.

And, of course, the Bengals will be on every television Thanksgiving night against the Ravens!

Does it suck that it is on the road for a major holiday? Yes, but hey, we get to watch Joe Burrow play football that day. I will be thankful for it!

The Bad​

Well, it is no secret the NFL scheduling crew does no favors for the city of Cincinnati.

The Bengals will be on the road for three of the first four weeks of the season.

Cincinnati will visit Cleveland in Week 1, Minnesota in Week 3, and Denver in Week 4.

That is a tough stretch for a team that has struggled to get the engine going early in the season...

The month of November and early December will also be challenging this season, but the Bengals have been stellar in that time since drafting Joe Burrow, so that is a positive.

The Bengals will have three road games in four games again... This time, the stakes will likely be much higher than earlier in the season.

Cincinnati will head to Pittsburgh on Week 11 (Nov. 16), Baltimore on Week 13 (Thanksgiving night), and then Buffalo on Week 14 (Dec. 7).

The Ugly​

The first thing I see when looking at the new schedule is Weeks 13-15...

Yes, it is going to be so much fun to see the Bengals on Thanksgiving this year, but that three-week stretch is borderline insanity for Cincinnati.

Joe Burrow and company will see the Ravens twice in three weeks with a trip to Buffalo tucked in between those AFC North matchups.

That is arguably the ugliest three-week stretch I have seen the Bengals have to play in quite some time.

I have said it numerous times, and I will say it again: The lack of respect for Paycor Stadium and the city of Cincinnati on primetime television is ugly.

Three incredibly marketable players with a stadium opposing teams who hate to play will only see the shining lights once this season... On Thursday Night. Ugly.

Anyway, the season is almost here, and we are all ready to see the Bengals back in action.

And there is one more good thing that remains, when Joe Burrow is suited up for Cincinnati, there is always a good chance the Bengals will win.

WHO DEY!

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/5/...lease-the-good-bad-ugly-cincinnati-2025-games

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Bengals share concerns over Hamilton County's choice for stadium consultant who’s employed by Browns

Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images

It's a curious choice, but does it matter?

Hamilton County made a serious move recently.

As the deadline looms for the county and the Cincinnati Bengals' stadium lease, all three commissioners for Hamilton County voted to part ways with lawyer Tom Gabelman, who helped put together the current leases for the Bengals and Cincinnati Reds' stadiums.

The county is bringing in new representatives, one of which the Bengals are bringing attention to as a potential conflict of interest in a recent statement:

“Recently, the Team was surprised to learn that Hamilton County had retained an outside stadium consultant who is, in fact, performing stadium consulting services for the Cleveland Browns. This was not disclosed to the team initially, and the team undertook research to finally uncover this truth.

“The team has expressed concern to the County that a stadium consultant performing services for the Cleveland Browns might not have Cincinnati’s best interests at heart. The County can decide how it wants to proceed, but the team felt it appropriate to share concerns over whether parties involved in discussions were working exclusively to advance local interests — or whether other conflicts might exist.”

The motion to move on from Gabelman was a last-minute move that Gabelman himself was unaware of until an hour before the vote.

The move was spearheaded by Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich.

“Now is actually the very perfect time, because we do have the deadline looming in just a month in a half,” Pillich told Brian Hamrick of WLMT5. “If we don’t make this switch and get some new eyes on the project in a hurry, I feel that we’re going to just tread water, as we seem to have been doing for quite some time.”

The big question here is how much does it matter that they brought on the same consultant that has been working on the Cleveland Browns new stadium? Probably not much. It isn't like this has anything to do with team building or what is happening on the field.

This is about getting a new lease in place that works for both sides. It seems this is solely about the stadium. It seems plausible this person can potentially put aside any bias for what could reportedly be $450,000 payday if their advice is used to reach a new lease. That seems like motivation enough.

Still, it seems like a confusing time to make this move with the deadline fast approaching.

All we can do is wait and see how this shakes out.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/5/15/24431136/bengals-hamilton-county-choice-stadium-browns

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Toughest and easiest stretches of the 2025 Bengals season

Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Here’s a look at the easiest and hardest stretches of the Bengals 2025 season.

The 2025 NFL schedule has been released and we not only know who and where the Cincinnati Bengals will play this upcoming season, but when those games take place. It’s truly difficult to consider a team’s strength of schedule this early in the offseason. You can go by two metrics—all the teams’ 2024 records or Vegas’ odds on the upcoming season.

Neither is super accurate at this point. After all, it’s possible the Bengals face Aaron Rodgers twice in 2025 if he signs with the Steelers. Many think that’s where he’ll play, but we don’t know because he’s busy doing whatever he does while everyone else gets ready to play football.

For the purpose of breaking down the Bengals’ easiest and toughest stretches of the season, I’m going to use Vegas’ current season win totals.

Easiest Stretch​

The Bengals desperately need to get the 2025 season started off right. The only season in which they found themselves with a favorable record after the first few weeks was the team’s 2021 Super Bowl season (.500 after four weeks in 2022).

Last year, at this time, I would have said the Bengals were starting the 2024 season off with a pretty easy schedule. Other than the Chiefs in Week 2, they had the Patriots, Commanders being led by a rookie quarterback, and the Panthers.

Of course, we know they lost to the Patriots, that rookie quarterback won Offensive Rookie of the Year, and the only team they beat in the first quarter of the season was the Panthers.

As luck would have it, the Bengals’ easiest stretch of their schedule, at least according to Vegas, is the very beginning of the season.

They start off in Cleveland against the Browns (4.5), then they’re home against the Jaguars (6.5), on the road against the Vikings (8.5) and they continue their road trip to Denver to face the Broncos (9.5).

The Browns are among the favorites at landing the 2026 No. 1 overall pick as they’ll be choosing between Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, or rookie Shedeur Sanders at quarterback. AFC North games are often ugly, especially against the Browns, so I’m not expecting the Bengals to open the season with a beatdown of a division rival on the road. I do think, though, they’ll do everything they can to open at home 1-0.

When they do open at home, it will be against the Jaguars, who finished the 2024 season with a 4-13 record. They brought in head coach Liam Coen to help elevate former No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence’s play, but the Bengals should be out of the Jaguars’ league.

It gets a little tougher after that. They go back on the road up to Minnesota to face the Vikings, where we’ll get to see Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson on the same field together. This will come down to the battle between J.J. McCarthy and Joe Burrow, though, and my (and Vegas’) money is on the latter.

They stay on the road in Week 4, and it gets a little tougher still as they’ll take on the Denver Broncos in the shadow of the Rockies. Bo Nix led the 2024 Broncos to a surprising 10-7 record and a trip to the playoffs, where they were eliminated by the Bills in the Wildcard round. Whether he has a sophomore slump or not, Vegas believes Burrow and the Bengals are better, though not by a lot.

Overall, the four teams in Bengals’ opening stretch have an average projected record of 7.25.

Toughest Stretch​

The Bengals host the Lions in Week 5, but after that, they face several teams they should beat. Their toughest four-week stretch of the schedule comes near the end—from Weeks 12 through 15. That’s when they play the Ravens (11.5) on the road, then the Bills (11.5) on the road, back home against the Ravens (11.5) again, and then they go to Miami to face the Dolphins (8.5).

This stretch is obviously highlighted by the Ravens and Bills. While the Bengals play the Browns in Week 1 and Week 18 and there’s a month in between their games against the Steelers, the NFL saw it fit to have the Bengals and Ravens battle not only on Thanksgiving, but just a couple of weeks later as well.

The Bengals and Ravens are predicted to battle it out for the AFC North, but Vegas, at least for now, gives Baltimore a slight edge (their record prediction for the Bengals is 10.5).

In between the Ravens games, the Bengals travel to Upstate New York to face the Bills in December. Now being in the cold doesn’t mean the Bills necessarily have the upper hand, because the Bengals beat the Bills soundly in the divisional round in the snow in 2023, but Vegas likes the Bills slightly more than they do the Bengals at this point.

After that brutal three-game stretch, the Bengals go back on the road to Miami to face the Dolphins. Miami finished with an 8-9 record in 2024 but found their way to the playoffs in 2022 and 2023. Tua Tagovailoa and Mike McDaniel can work some magic on the field, and the Bengals will need to be on their A-game to come back to Cincinnati for their final two games with a win in South Florida.

Overall, the Ravens, Bills, and Dolphins have an average projected record (over four games) of 10.75.

—

What do you think of the Bengals’ 2025 schedule? What stretches of games will you have circled on your calendar?

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/5/16/24430557/cincinnati-bengals-toughest-easiest-2025-nfl-season

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Weekend Discussion: What will be the Bengals’ final record in the 2025 NFL season?

Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images

Will the Bengals finally get back to the playoffs?

Greetings, Bengals fans!

We’ve finally got the full 2025 Bengals schedule, which opens September 7th at the Cleveland Browns.

It’s another daunting schedule for the Bengals that features nine games vs. playoff teams from last season.

So, when it’s all said and done, what will the Bengals’ final record be for the 2025 NFL season? Let us know your thoughts throughout the weekend!

And Who DEY!

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/5/16/24431641/bengals-final-record-2025-nfl-season

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

NFL continues to use Bengals as a primetime draw...for opponents

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

They want the Bengals in your city.

As the Cincinnati Bengals’ 2025 schedule was released, it was again clear that the NFL wanted to use the Bengals as a primetime draw.

Joe Burrow throwing touchdowns to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins always makes for great TV, so it makes sense that they would get the national spotlight.

Another primetime matchup with the Baltimore Ravens makes sense, but it is yet again in Baltimore. On Thanksgiving Night, no less.

The meeting in Cincinnati? Ho-hum, 1 pm kickoff time. The NFL seems to want to use the Bengals as a primetime draw... for opponents.

Just one of their primetime games is in Cincinnati, which is a Thursday Night Football matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bengals will likely do a special uniform, or “Stripe The Jungle” night and with it being their only home game in a primetime slot, it will likely be the Ring of Honor game as well.

Of course, the Bengals could see another home primetime game or two with the NFL’s flex scheduling, but there certainly seems to be an imbalance of games focused on other cities vs. Cincinnati.

Including prime time, solo timeslots and the 4:25pm national televised games, the Bengals have had 9 Home games and 19 Away games since 2022.

— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) May 15, 2025​

The Bengals are a big draw since 2021, but the NFL is using them like a traveling circus.

Bring them to your city for a prime time sell out crowd!

— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) May 15, 2025​

Primetime games are fun. You get the entire day to build the anticipation, tailgate lots fill up earlier. The whole world has their eyes on your game. Players love that.

You know who else loves it? The fans. The Bengals have built an electric offense full of star power that eyes across the globe want to watch. Isn’t it only right that the fans in Cincinnati get to watch them under the lights more than opposing fans?

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/5/17/24430609/nfl-bengals-primetime-opponents

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Can you guess this Bengals DB in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Bengals player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Bengals fans! We’re back for another day of the Cincy Jungle in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

If you can’t see the embedded game and you’re using Apple News, click this link.

Previous games​

Friday, May 16, 2025
Thursday, May 15, 2025
Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Cincy Jungle in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Bengals player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Who Dey!

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/5/17/24432023/sb-nation-bengals-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Can you guess this Bengals receiver in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Bengals player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Bengals fans! We’re back for another day of the Cincy Jungle in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

If you can’t see the embedded game and you’re using Apple News, click this link.

Previous games​

Saturday, May 17, 2025
Friday, May 16, 2025
Thursday, May 15, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Cincy Jungle in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Bengals player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Who Dey!

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/5/18/24432486/sb-nation-bengals-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Former Bengals safety and Super Bowl MVP isn’t worried about Shemar Stewart’s lack of college production

RVR Photos-Imagn Images

Some words that may ease your troubled mind from a guy who knows his stuff.

Shemar Stewart came into this year’s NFL Draft as one of the most athletically gifted edge rushers in a deep class, but he had a baffling lack of production in college, with only 4.5 sacks to his name after three years with Texas A&M.

Dexter Jackson, a former safety who was named the MVP of Super Bowl XXXVII and finished his career in the NFL with the Bengals in 2008, recently spoke with Roto Grider’s Ben Mendelowitz and shared his thoughts on why the lack of college production should not be concerning.

“When you talk about the lack of college production, this can sometimes be down to the college’s system or coach,” he said. “When transitioning to the NFL, it’s about finding the right system, coach, and even the right teammates. If you get drafted to a team that can give you all three of these things, then you can be a perfect fit for that team regardless of the numbers you put up in college.”

Jackson went on to say he thinks Stewart has all the intangibles he needs to have a solid NFL career. He also thinks a big part of his development could be the team’s ability to retain Trey Hendrickson, who is currently in extension negotiations and was absent from OTAs.

“You know the Bengals will put up points on offense, and on the defensive side, Hendrickson is a phenomenal player,” he added. “So, if he and Stewart can get after the quarterback on defense, you’re looking at a very dangerous team who can be a favorite to win the Super Bowl.”

Jackson, a fourth-round pick out of Florida State in 1999 by the Buccaneers, also played for the Arizona Cardinals and finished his career, in the NFL at least, with the Bengals in 2008, wrapping up a three-season stay with the team. He finished his career with 457 tackles, five sacks, five forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and 17 interceptions.

He’s been out of the league for a while, but it isn’t often for a non-quarterback to win Super Bowl MVP, let alone a defensive back, making him one of 10 defensive players to ever win the award.

Check out the interview here.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/5/...on-dexter-jackson-bengals-bucs-super-bowl-mvp

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Monday Discussion: 2025 Bengals Ring of Honor candidates

Photo by Clifton Boutelle/Getty Images

Lemar Parrish is among the candidates for this year’s class.

Greetings, Bengals fans!

Voting has opened for the 2025 Bengals Ring of Honor class, so we want you to let us know who your two candidates are for this year’s class.

Below are the candidates that season-ticker holders can select from.

Let us know who should make this year’s class!

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/5/19/24432868/2025-bengals-ring-of-honor-candidates

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Bengals adding 2 new scouts, per report

Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Some help after a recent departure.

After former Cincinnati Bengals scout Christian Sarkisian left to be the general manager at Northwestern, many Bengals fans wondered how the team would react. With one of the smallest scouting departments in the NFL, losing just one scout is a major loss.

Late Monday, it was reported that the Bengals would actually be hiring two new scouts in the wake of Sarkisian’s departure.

According to Neil Stratton, Josh Hinch and Tyler Ramsey are joining the Bengals scouting department.

Hinch lands in Cincinnati after spending time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New England Patriots. Hinch scouted the Southeast area for New England and is expected to step into Sarkisian’s vacant role.

The Bengals are also adding Ramsey, who comes up north from the Carolina Panthers. Ramsey also scouted for the Seattle Seahawks previously.

So after losing a scout, the Bengals are actually expanding and adding an additional scout to the front office, something many fans have clamored for in recent years. Though they will still be on the lower end, the more eyes in the building scouting talent, the better.

After scouting the SE for the #Patriots last season, Josh Hinch is moving west to Cincinnati, joining the #Bengals. Hinch originally arrived in NE in 2021 after stints w/the #Buccaneers, the @AAFLeague & @TheXFL.

Also Cincinnati-bound: former #Panthers & #Seahawks scout Tyler…

— Neil Stratton (@InsideTheLeague) May 19, 2025​

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/5/19/24433606/cincinnati-bengals-scouts-nfl-josh-hinch-tyler-ramsey

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Shemar Stewart still sitting out; Further details emerge over contract dispute

The Bengals just can't get deals done with their edge rushers, apparently.

The Cincinnati Bengals and the No. 17 overall pick are still stuck in a contract stalemate.

This isn't uncommon for a team and their first round pick, but the player sitting out practice — which Shemar Stewart still is — is not something you see as often.

Kelsey Conway from Cincinnati Enquirer added this detail to the reason behind the dispute:

Shemar Stewart is requesting that his contract language mirror the last two Bengals’ first-round picks, both of which were selections after pick No. 17, a source tells me.

Grey Zabel, selected at pick No. 18 right behind Shemar, was signed by the Seahawks last week. https://t.co/vdefbB8Fup

— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) May 20, 2025​

We recently also talk about how Stewart's camp reportedly wanted more of his guaranteed money tied to training camp bonuses, which would get him his money sooner in the season.

This will become a lot easier once the Arizona Cardinals and Walter Nolen (pick No. 16) finalize their deal, as both sides will likely meet in the middle of that contract and the recently signed No. 18 pick.

Stewart was billed as a high-ceiling guy who has shown all the traits to be a top edge rusher in the NFL, but he never translated that to sacks at Texas A&M, with only 4.5.

It would be ideal for him to get on the field sooner rather than later, but at the very least, he is still attending meetings and other off-field activities during the offseason.

If this gets to the point where he starts missing training camp, you really have to start worrying about what is going on.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/5/20/24433919/shemar-stewart-contract-dispute-bengals-texas-am-nfl

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Joe Burrow: Trey Hendrickson deserves to get paid

Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Joe Burrow shared some of his thoughts on the situation between the Bengals and the NFL’s leading sack leader.

All eyes are on the Cincinnati Bengals and Trey Hendrickson as the NFL’s defending sack leader continues his very public holdout from OTAs.

On Tuesday, superstar quarterback Joe Burrow gave his rare take on the situation.

“We’ll see what happens with that,” Burrow told reporters. “You guys all know how I feel bout Trey. He’s a great player. I love Trey as a guy. He goes out and plays well every single Sunday. He’s very productive. He’s a guy that deserves to get paid and get paid what he wants and what the market is.”

Hendrickson has racked up 57 sacks in his four years on the Bengals’ roster and had his best two years in 2023 and 2024, in which he had 17.5 sacks each. Despite the lack of the defense’s overall ability to get to the quarterback, Hendrickson consistently provided pressure and acted as a one-man wrecking crew.

He’s also the 14th highest-paid edge rusher in the league coming into 2025, per Spotrac, and outperformed every one of them in the season in which he turned 30.

The Bengals have reportedly offered Hendrickson a contract that would pay him $28 million per year, and it’s currently unclear how far apart the team and its best defensive player still are.

Burrow made it clear through his past interactions with the press that he expects the Bengals to do what they need to do to keep Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Hendrickson in Cincinnati.

Maybe saying Hendrickson deserves what he’s asking for is his way of pushing the front office to get a deal done so the entire team can get to work.

Joe and Zac speak to the media following practice https://t.co/lohnNFCzbK

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) May 20, 2025​

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/5/...-hendrickson-deserves-paid-cincinnati-bengals

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Podcast: Future Contract Extension Candidates

Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

“You want ‘em. We got ‘em.”

I don’t know about you, but I need a break from talking about extending a certain NFL sack champion of sack-pion, if you will.

I love Trey Hendrickson. I want him to be happy. I want it to be here. At this point, the conversation has become more toxic than the subject of Britney Spears’ 2003 banger of the same name.

So, let’s talk about someone else, shall we?

On this week’s edition of “Matt and Willie Know Ball” we look to the future. The Bengals extended Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins. Yeah, even Higgins. Nobody thought they would do it, but they did it. Duke Tobin told the rest of the NFL to go get their own, and he meant it.

To paraphrase Ariana Grande (also notable for extensions), “You want ‘em. We got ‘em.”

Who could the Bengals look to extend in the next year?

• Could it be a veteran offensive lineman? Perhaps the purveyor of a well-known haberdashery.
• Maybe the Bengals' newly announced Canadian interests would couple nicely with a Chase Brown extension.
• It could also be another young pass-catcher with an Ivy League pedigree.
• Maybe a young defensive end will step up or Geno Stone will go off this year.

Hey, it could happen pic.twitter.com/0UbiriwcfP

— Matt (@CoachMinich) May 21, 2025​

We also discuss the Bengals Ring of Honor. After adding Tim Krumrie and Corey Dillon a year ago, the most obvious picks are already in. The Bengals Ring of Honor voting could be a much tighter race in 2025. Matt and Willie make their picks. Perhaps the voice of the franchise or someone who went to the Brown/Blackburn Alma Mater could be next.

And then there is the news that the NFL has voted to allow their players to participate in Olympic Flag Football. What’s that all about?

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Be sure to subscribe to Bleav in Cincy to hear the latest from the whole crew! In addition to Matt and Willie Know Ball, you’ll hear from the Orange and Black Insider, Bengal Jim and Friends, and Three-and-Out.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/5/21/24434263/bengals-podcast-future-contract-extension-candidates

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Joe Burrow speaks on the Bengals’ fourth straight primetime game at Baltimore

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) throws a pass in the first quarter of the NFL game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Banks Stadium in Baltimore on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. | Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

An NFL expert also weighed in on the advantage the Ravens are getting.

Before we get to what Joe Burrow said Tuesday about the Cincinnati Bengals playing a primetime game in Baltimore vs. the Ravens for a fourth straight season, let me introduce you to a national name that fans should like.

Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis very candidly sounded off on the NFL’s decision to have the Bengals play a primetime game in Baltimore for a fourth straight season. Not to mention it’s a Thursday night game for a third straight season.

You can watch his full video below.

amazing how the NFL can pick & choose who gets these massive edges…

but for one team to get this edge 3 STRAIGHT YEARS is hardly fair

not sure if you noticed this quirk, but sorry to your fan base pic.twitter.com/RHADXO1eZd

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) May 19, 2025​

As for Burrow, who spoke to the local media for the first time since the end of the 2024 season, he too isn’t a fan of the NFL’s decision, even though the Bengals are playing on Thanksgiving for the first time in 15 years.

“Playing in Baltimore for the fourth straight primetime year isn’t ideal. Maybe we could get one of those in Cincinnati next year, please,” Burrow said.

The Ravens are very well known for their success at home on Thursday Night Football, with a 9-0 record in the past 20 years. That’s a clear advantage.

Then again, the Bengals were so close last year to winning in Baltimore on Thursday night. They, arguably, should have. If the Bengals’ defense is even remotely better against the Ravens this season, and the offense plays like it did against them twice last season, then the Bengals are fully capable of going into Baltimore on Thanksgiving night and winning.

But there is also no doubt that Burrow is correct that this matchup needs to be in primetime in Cincinnati at some point. It hasn’t been in the regular season since 2018 when the Bengals beat the Ravens on Thursday Night Football in Week 2.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/5/...h-straight-primetime-game-at-baltimore-ravens

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Bengals release letter calling statements made by county on contract negotiations ‘plainly false’

Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

It’s getting uglier.

The Cincinnati Bengals on Wednesday issued a sharply-worded letter to Hamilton County leaders and Prosecutor Connie Pillich, calling her recent public claims about the team’s lease negotiations for Paycor Stadium “plainly false,” according to Local 12’s James Pilcher.

The letter, which was signed by Bengals in-house counsel Emma Compton, marks the latest escalation in a tense week that began when Pillich urged county commissioners to fire longtime outside counsel Tom Gabelman and his firm, Frost Brown Todd, from stadium negotiations. Commissioners voted unanimously for the removal.

In the letter, Compton said the Bengals “express our serious objection to your public comments and urge you to withdraw such comments, which are plainly false.”

She also noted that Pillich has not participated in any stadium negotiations since taking office in January.

The Bengals cited their continued commitment to negotiations, including a $120 million investment plan and $45 million already spent on stadium upgrades. The team also reiterated its goal to finalize a term sheet with the county by June 1 and a comprehensive lease agreement by June 30.

The current stadium lease expires in June 2026, but the team must decide by June 30 whether to extend it.

You can read the letter in its entirety here.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/5/22/24435349/bengals-county-contract-negotiations-paycor-stadium

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Where does Joe Burrow stand in the QB landscape after the Brock Purdy extension?

Perry Knotts/Getty Images

Spoiler alert: Nothing much changed.

The 2022 NFL Draft’s Mr Irrelevant, the title given to the last player selected in the draft, has signed a five-year, $265 million contract extension with the 49ers. Brock Purdy’s new contract will include a $40 million signing bonus, includes $182.5 million guaranteed and will pay the quarterback an annual salary of $53 million.

So what does this mean for the Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow and the other quarterbacks? Nothing really. Burrow, Josh Allen, Jordan Love, and Trevor Lawrence all average $55 million per year, which is second behind Dak Prescott’s $60 million. Purdy falls in line right behind Tua, with a $53 million annual salary.

Patrick Mahomes, Allen, and Burrow are 1, 2, and 3 when it comes to overall contract value, but Purdy isn’t far behind, coming in at No. 5.

Finally, when it comes to total guaranteed cash, Burrow comes in at No. 4 with just over $219 million due to him no matter what. The only quarterbacks ahead of him are Allen, Prescott, and Deshaun Watson.

Purdy, with a little over $182 million guaranteed to him, comes in at No. 8.

The days of the Bengals benefiting from Burrow being on his rookie contract are gone, and the same goes for Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Now, all three of those players are among the highest-paid in their respective positions in the league.

At least other teams feel their pain as well.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/5/23/24435298/joe-burrow-nfl-qb-contracts-brock-purdy-extension

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Your daily Bengals trivia game: Saturday Edition

Think you can figure out which Bengals player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Bengals fans! We’re back for another day of the Cincy Jungle in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

If you can’t see the embedded game and you’re using Apple News, click this link.

Previous games​

Friday, May 23, 2025
Thursday, May 22, 2025
Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Cincy Jungle in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Bengals player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Who Dey!

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/5/24/24436339/sb-nation-bengals-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Billy Joel won't be coming to Paycor Stadium following health scare

Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Unfortunate to hear, but at least health is being prioritized for one of the greats.

The Cincinnati Bengals were set to help host Billy Joel at Paycor Stadium this Summer, but a recent brain disorder diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus has canceled that opportunity.

Joel released this statement:

“I’m sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding. This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision, and balance,” Joel's team said in a statement. “Under his doctor’s instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period. Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health.”

The biggest concern is obviously the health of the legendary musician who canceled the rest of his tour.

It is unfortunate for those who have been able to procure tickets. It would have been one heck of a show.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/5/24/24436232/billy-joel-paycor-stadium-health-scare

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Can you guess this Bengals DB in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Bengals player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Bengals fans! We’re back for another day of the Cincy Jungle in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

If you can’t see the embedded game and you’re using Apple News, click this link.

Previous games​

Saturday, May 24, 2025
Friday, May 23, 2025
Thursday, May 22, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Cincy Jungle in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Bengals player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Who Dey!

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/5/25/24436811/sb-nation-bengals-daily-trivia-in-5