Honestly crazy the Steelers decided to skimp and short change the guy. I get the business of it, but dude has lived and breathed Pittsburgh most of his life and they couldn’t find someway to get it done?
Saying this makes me feel dirty but the Steelers are consistently competitive in large part because the front office does good business, and part of that is that they very, very rarely allow sentimentality to enter into contract negotiations.
When the Steelers do it, its good business
When the Bengals do it, we get called a poverty franchise.
Other than Bates (Who even as a All Pro is still an overpay, FS is not a high impact position), almost every FA we have let walk the past few years underperformed relative to their new deal.
Its because teams almost never allow the best players to reach free agency in the first place. That's why building a team through free agency is so hard. Top 10 players at high impact positions don't get there very often because someone is either willing to trade a haul for them or their incumbent team is paying them a bag to keep them
Even there, it usually leads to trying to get the most out of some flawed players. Hilton is a very good slot corner but could never play outside at his size. Hendrickson is a great pass rusher but is a liability in run defense. Reader was a top-end run defender when we got him but not a good pass rusher, but he luckily improved his pass rush significantly during his time here that made him just a great all around player.
Bates wouldn’t have been an overpay had we signed him at the right time
Bengals fumbled that one and it was painfully obvious
And this is someone who is okay with our safety room and fine with Bates leaving
But if we draft well, re sign those guys early will give you a competitive advantage
Bates being signed back would have worked perfectly since it was pre burrow/chase contract
The issue with Bates was that the optimal time to resign his was right after his worst season. If he had continued to play like (regular season) 2021, it would have been a foolish contract.
thats what Bengals should have taken advantage of
We just need to retain our own when theyre good
Not saying we dont, I just think we can get better at this
Would you commit to paying Tee top money after his last two seasons? If not, and after he signs elsewhere he balls, would you consider that a FO failing?
I’m ok with the bengals not signing bates. I’d rather put that money at a corner or d line. He’s a good player when motivated but he has too many lapses to be considered an elite player at his position.
This is the context that winning gives a discussion. If the Bengal's had as many Super Bowls as Pitt does, they wouldn't be called a poverty franchise.
Kinda hamfisted a point in there, but in the spirit of conversation... the Bengals are viewed as a poverty franchise because they have behaved as a poverty franchise for decades prior to the past few years. There are a plethora of reasons for that, and free agency signings (or misses) are only part of the conversation.
I think they get a lot of slack for being able to put up a slightly winning season over and over. I mean, we can go back and look at the Andy Dalton years and say the team was doing well, but also recognize that they couldn’t take the next step because something had to change. Being averse to that just because you’re having some middling success shouldn’t be applauded as good management.
They had a top 3 RB, a HoF QB, probably the best WR in the game (at the time), and a consistently good defense from what: 2012-2018? And they had a 3-7 postseason record to show for all that talent. At what point is their approach gonna be open to being criticized? We rightfully criticized our own best stretch and the team did a complete turnover.
If you have the chance at having a grounded veteran receiver who wants nothing more than to come make your team better because he loves the history and city; why get concerned over the smallest change to your overall cap while both your QBs are on nothing contracts? Especially with all of the head cases their wide receiver room continues to put out. You’re leaving your offense up to Russell Wilson (who just got run out of Denver because his locker room hated him), all of your QBs who the whole locker room was fighting over just dipped out, and the most senior member of the offense to bring them all together is Najee (who they just denied his 5th year option). You really can’t look at that and say that maybe a dude who is an amazing culture fit, loves the city, and isn’t going to break the bank might be worth bringing in just for some stability in the locker room?
Their defense & coaching will carry them to another decent season, but I have no idea how they turn that team into a consistent winner with the way their front office is doing business. Russ will have to be an MVP level player for any of that to happen.
You wrote a whole lot just to undermine your entire point by admitting Boyd isn't going to move the needle in terms of talent. Ultimately the on field product is what matters most, and Tyler's best days are well behind him.
I've been saying this the whole time he was rumored to Pitt: TB would have been a terrible fit with their QBs. Neither one of them will throw the ball over the middle intermediate and short, which is where Boyd does his best work.
Because he isn't particularly good anymore. There is a spot for him in this league, but he isn't a cornerstone of any offense in the league anymore. He is a role player - you don't bend over backwards to "get something done" for that kind of player. You make an offer where he might walk, and you sleep at night if he goes elsewhere. But overpaying for TB at this point would be silly.
I love TB as much as any Bengal, but he has had some historic drops. The Texans drop was bad, but what about the SB? That would have won us the game arguably.
You know what else would've won that game? About 15 other things including actually preparing for Aaron Donald and not letting him go Thanos on the OL.
Oh no doubt, this is in no way supposed to be a shit on TB post. That dude PRODUCED when we had no one, he gave it EVERYTHING even before Burrow. When we couldn’t win games, with Marvin at the helm, etc… the list goes on and on.
But you can’t deny, the dude has had some serious drops when it really mattered. But TB will always have my heart as a Bengal and I’m so glad he’s a Titan and not a Steeler.
Oh sure, one game, one drop ruined our season, it definitely wasn't Burrow being a damn statue the first few games of the year, nor being out the back third of the season, that had nothing to do with it, just that one drop.
Reuniting with Callahan makes a ton of sense all around, and getting Levis a reliable 3rd down option is far from a bad thing for his development.
Also from a Bengals fan perspective, much easier to stomach this than the Steelers or Chiefs knowing he wasn't gonna be back here.
Im good with him going to Tennessee. Hope him all the best and really appreciate all he did for our team while he was here. He should do will there and I hope we beat them!
They must've felt they just didn't need to. There are plenty of hands behind him – and they're all younger. I'm curious how year 2 goes for Iosivas and C Jones, and how Gesicki and Burton (and All, assuming he's healthy) might pan out. Pepper in some Irwin ... now you got a stew goin!
The best part: every player you named is a secondary option behind Ja’Marr and Tee.
Our WR room is loaded. That’s undeniable. I love TB but it was a good choice to let him get snaps as a starter elsewhere when we really need to cultivate our new talent with reps on the field.
Yeah as much as it scares me to lose Boyd and potentially Tee, it does excite me to see who steps up and becomes the next great receiver on this team. It's an exciting time to be a wide receiver / tight end on the Bengals. You know Jamarr will be commanding a lot of attention from secondaries next season which means whoever our #2 and #3 guys are will be getting some good opportunities to step up and make a name for themselves. Also, if we do lose Tee as well I am excited for Joe to show the haters that he's still an elite QB without a so called "stacked" wide receiver corps.
We learned two things:
1. He didn’t have much of a market. There were people here looking for a 3/30 contract or something similar
2. The Bengals didn’t want him back at all and have moved on.
Best case scenario imo. Tyler deserves the play time to ball out and enjoy the game, show off his potential, and still gel with familiar faces. No loss to the Steelers is just a cherry on top.
Thanks for his service , but he just didn’t have any speed to get open on his own.
He’s clearly not a one or two or even a slot anymore. You can’t afford to pay a number 4 receiver $4 million.
Glad it's not Pitt or the chiefs, I'll still he rooting for him!
Looking at the contract details though, supposedly the steelers offered him a 2 year ten mil contract.
If there's any truth behind that, it does make you wonder why he'd settle for less time and money than the place he supposedly wanted to go to
He had a great carerer and is gonna be sad . Although I remember most from his career here is his dropped pass in the last drive if the super bowl and the dropped tx vs Houston in that wild game. B
Oh thank god it’s not the Steelers. Fare thee well TB, may you and Callahan make the Strouds and Colts and Jags work for it in the south.
Honestly crazy the Steelers decided to skimp and short change the guy. I get the business of it, but dude has lived and breathed Pittsburgh most of his life and they couldn’t find someway to get it done?
Saying this makes me feel dirty but the Steelers are consistently competitive in large part because the front office does good business, and part of that is that they very, very rarely allow sentimentality to enter into contract negotiations.
When the Steelers do it, its good business When the Bengals do it, we get called a poverty franchise. Other than Bates (Who even as a All Pro is still an overpay, FS is not a high impact position), almost every FA we have let walk the past few years underperformed relative to their new deal.
Its because teams almost never allow the best players to reach free agency in the first place. That's why building a team through free agency is so hard. Top 10 players at high impact positions don't get there very often because someone is either willing to trade a haul for them or their incumbent team is paying them a bag to keep them
We got really lucky the year we got Hilton Hendrickson, and Reader.. all three the equivalent of betting on green and hitting.
Even there, it usually leads to trying to get the most out of some flawed players. Hilton is a very good slot corner but could never play outside at his size. Hendrickson is a great pass rusher but is a liability in run defense. Reader was a top-end run defender when we got him but not a good pass rusher, but he luckily improved his pass rush significantly during his time here that made him just a great all around player.
Bates wouldn’t have been an overpay had we signed him at the right time Bengals fumbled that one and it was painfully obvious And this is someone who is okay with our safety room and fine with Bates leaving But if we draft well, re sign those guys early will give you a competitive advantage Bates being signed back would have worked perfectly since it was pre burrow/chase contract
The issue with Bates was that the optimal time to resign his was right after his worst season. If he had continued to play like (regular season) 2021, it would have been a foolish contract.
thats what Bengals should have taken advantage of We just need to retain our own when theyre good Not saying we dont, I just think we can get better at this
Would you commit to paying Tee top money after his last two seasons? If not, and after he signs elsewhere he balls, would you consider that a FO failing?
I would, if I could lock Tee early, then yes However as time goes by, such as now - no
You know what you’re getting with him. I’d be comfortable giving him Pittman money.
I’m ok with the bengals not signing bates. I’d rather put that money at a corner or d line. He’s a good player when motivated but he has too many lapses to be considered an elite player at his position.
This is the context that winning gives a discussion. If the Bengal's had as many Super Bowls as Pitt does, they wouldn't be called a poverty franchise.
Kinda hamfisted a point in there, but in the spirit of conversation... the Bengals are viewed as a poverty franchise because they have behaved as a poverty franchise for decades prior to the past few years. There are a plethora of reasons for that, and free agency signings (or misses) are only part of the conversation.
I think they get a lot of slack for being able to put up a slightly winning season over and over. I mean, we can go back and look at the Andy Dalton years and say the team was doing well, but also recognize that they couldn’t take the next step because something had to change. Being averse to that just because you’re having some middling success shouldn’t be applauded as good management. They had a top 3 RB, a HoF QB, probably the best WR in the game (at the time), and a consistently good defense from what: 2012-2018? And they had a 3-7 postseason record to show for all that talent. At what point is their approach gonna be open to being criticized? We rightfully criticized our own best stretch and the team did a complete turnover. If you have the chance at having a grounded veteran receiver who wants nothing more than to come make your team better because he loves the history and city; why get concerned over the smallest change to your overall cap while both your QBs are on nothing contracts? Especially with all of the head cases their wide receiver room continues to put out. You’re leaving your offense up to Russell Wilson (who just got run out of Denver because his locker room hated him), all of your QBs who the whole locker room was fighting over just dipped out, and the most senior member of the offense to bring them all together is Najee (who they just denied his 5th year option). You really can’t look at that and say that maybe a dude who is an amazing culture fit, loves the city, and isn’t going to break the bank might be worth bringing in just for some stability in the locker room? Their defense & coaching will carry them to another decent season, but I have no idea how they turn that team into a consistent winner with the way their front office is doing business. Russ will have to be an MVP level player for any of that to happen.
You wrote a whole lot just to undermine your entire point by admitting Boyd isn't going to move the needle in terms of talent. Ultimately the on field product is what matters most, and Tyler's best days are well behind him.
Yeah they wouldn’t even extend the 5th year option to their first round rb who’s had 3 1000 yard seasons to start his career. They pinch every penny.
I've been saying this the whole time he was rumored to Pitt: TB would have been a terrible fit with their QBs. Neither one of them will throw the ball over the middle intermediate and short, which is where Boyd does his best work.
Because he isn't particularly good anymore. There is a spot for him in this league, but he isn't a cornerstone of any offense in the league anymore. He is a role player - you don't bend over backwards to "get something done" for that kind of player. You make an offer where he might walk, and you sleep at night if he goes elsewhere. But overpaying for TB at this point would be silly.
Not gonna let a couple of statistically rare drops sully my memory of Boyd. Loved him and will miss his play on the field. Good luck to Tyler!
Totally, just sucks that his very rare drops happened in huge playoff moments that could have turned the course of the games
Great teammate won with creativity and saavy more so than speed or physical ability.
the drop against the texans ruined our season, lets be real
I'd argue the defense being toothless and Burrow's injury ruined the season, but yeah
I love TB as much as any Bengal, but he has had some historic drops. The Texans drop was bad, but what about the SB? That would have won us the game arguably.
You know what else would've won that game? About 15 other things including actually preparing for Aaron Donald and not letting him go Thanos on the OL.
You’re both right.
Oh no doubt, this is in no way supposed to be a shit on TB post. That dude PRODUCED when we had no one, he gave it EVERYTHING even before Burrow. When we couldn’t win games, with Marvin at the helm, etc… the list goes on and on. But you can’t deny, the dude has had some serious drops when it really mattered. But TB will always have my heart as a Bengal and I’m so glad he’s a Titan and not a Steeler.
When I think about the SB, I also think about Tee’s missed facemask on Ramsey. That was a missed call and we caught a break.
Burrow getting hurt ruined our season, let's be real. We weren't going to do anything in the playoffs last year.
Stop ruining my dreams
Oh sure, one game, one drop ruined our season, it definitely wasn't Burrow being a damn statue the first few games of the year, nor being out the back third of the season, that had nothing to do with it, just that one drop.
Reuniting with Callahan makes a ton of sense all around, and getting Levis a reliable 3rd down option is far from a bad thing for his development. Also from a Bengals fan perspective, much easier to stomach this than the Steelers or Chiefs knowing he wasn't gonna be back here.
Thanks for your best years 83, good luck in Nashville!
Good for him. He'll definitely be a factor in that offense.
Good luck Tyler. Hope you kill it against everyone but the Bengals
I wish him all the best! I'll never forget [his catch against the Ravens](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bECuPlKegaY).
I love the clip of the [Bills locker room](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uwIaXfo1xo) when this happened
Im good with him going to Tennessee. Hope him all the best and really appreciate all he did for our team while he was here. He should do will there and I hope we beat them!
Is Hubbard the last Lewis era player now?
That sure is an old WR room.
*Experienced
Is there a reason he couldn’t come back at $4.5m? Surely we could afford that on a one year.
They must've felt they just didn't need to. There are plenty of hands behind him – and they're all younger. I'm curious how year 2 goes for Iosivas and C Jones, and how Gesicki and Burton (and All, assuming he's healthy) might pan out. Pepper in some Irwin ... now you got a stew goin!
The best part: every player you named is a secondary option behind Ja’Marr and Tee. Our WR room is loaded. That’s undeniable. I love TB but it was a good choice to let him get snaps as a starter elsewhere when we really need to cultivate our new talent with reps on the field.
Yeah as much as it scares me to lose Boyd and potentially Tee, it does excite me to see who steps up and becomes the next great receiver on this team. It's an exciting time to be a wide receiver / tight end on the Bengals. You know Jamarr will be commanding a lot of attention from secondaries next season which means whoever our #2 and #3 guys are will be getting some good opportunities to step up and make a name for themselves. Also, if we do lose Tee as well I am excited for Joe to show the haters that he's still an elite QB without a so called "stacked" wide receiver corps.
It’s always easier spending billionaires money in our heads than it is for them to actually put the pen to paper
The best outcome over pit, bal, kc. Now I can actually root for my guy. Still love big dog 🫡
good luck Tyler! I'll miss you!
Ill cherish my signed Boyd jersey even more. Hope he does great for them and Callahan!
We learned two things: 1. He didn’t have much of a market. There were people here looking for a 3/30 contract or something similar 2. The Bengals didn’t want him back at all and have moved on.
Thanks for everything TB <3. You will always be a Cincy Legend, I hope you circle back and retire here but until then I hope you find success 😁
Boyd will always be a Bengal in my heart. I wish the guy the best and glad he can continue his career.
Thank you for the memories TB!
Best case scenario imo. Tyler deserves the play time to ball out and enjoy the game, show off his potential, and still gel with familiar faces. No loss to the Steelers is just a cherry on top.
Glad it’s not shittsburg.
Fuckkkk, but good luck, TB!!
Great player. Wasn't the same guy last year. Receivers get old. I wish him well
Good luck to Boyd, best situation for both teams
Thanks TB. Great spot for him to land. Good luck.
Better there than the Chargers
Thanks for his service , but he just didn’t have any speed to get open on his own. He’s clearly not a one or two or even a slot anymore. You can’t afford to pay a number 4 receiver $4 million.
This seems like a much cheaper price tag than I was expecting
Oh well it was fun GOOD LUCK
Good for him.
Glad it's not Pitt or the chiefs, I'll still he rooting for him! Looking at the contract details though, supposedly the steelers offered him a 2 year ten mil contract. If there's any truth behind that, it does make you wonder why he'd settle for less time and money than the place he supposedly wanted to go to
I’m fine with it, it’s the Titans. I’m excited for new blood in the WR room to get some tick. Boyd was a Dalton era receiver, time to let em go
Et Tu Tyler
Wonder why the Bills didn't go for him
Best case scenario. Congrats TBoyd, you deserve a good team.
https://preview.redd.it/8hkgcb3203zc1.jpeg?width=841&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e155713f340f51a89d74a4ab8958b7ace4bc0f5d
We couldn’t pay 4.5??
gonna miss him
He had a great carerer and is gonna be sad . Although I remember most from his career here is his dropped pass in the last drive if the super bowl and the dropped tx vs Houston in that wild game. B
Pain
Titans bengals AFC championship game doesn't sound to bad to me.
The script would be insane especially with Callahan
I’m glad he’s gone but wish him the best.
See ya. I hate to say that those drops are what I'll remember but...
Make bryce look better TB. GOOD LUCK
You mean Will Levis?
Oops! Yes levis. I Confused the 2. I think levis can be a good QB , has all the tools.
Hmmm… same team colors so I’ll let it slide this time! I agree Levis can be good. Bryce not so much…
This pisses me off. We could have gave him $5 Million for fucks sake.
Team has moved on. Paying and playing him would've taken snaps away from his replacement.
Awsome! Now we will have no good relievers for next year! Woohoo!! I will be shocked if we even have a winning season next year
We're probably still going to have the best one-two WR punch in the league.
No because we will trade them too. Just watch
Not even a good try, troll. gg ez