Strictly Stripes: A Cincinnati Bengals podcast

You probably guessed the top of the list for the Top 25 Bengals for 2023. Joe Burrow rounds out the list with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Shocker, right? But could D.J. Reader and/or Orlando Brown have made a case to beat out Higgins at No. 3 list? In the final-ever edition of the Strictly Stripes Podcast, Mohammad Ahmad breaks down the top-three on the list and reads through the rest of the fa...

Bengals fans got their wish. Chad Johnson and Boomer Esiason will be inducted into the Bengals Ring of Honor after season ticket holders respectively voted them into the Ring. Arguably the front runners for the induction, they beat out 11 other players on the ballot. But why were their selections so impactful? And who's up next in 2024? The Strictly Stripes crew talks about their selections and co...

Training camp is right around the corner. The Bengals are exactly a week away from their first practice of training camp. There's no shortage of roster battle and new faces on defense who will look to set their marks early. How many offensive linemen do the Bengals keep? Which backup wide receivers will make the team? Will we see first-team reps for rookie Chase Brown? Special guest Mike Petraglia...

Experience meets youth. Bengals veteran wideout Tyler Boyd is No. 9 on our Top 25 Bengals for 2023. Meanwhile, Logan Wilson, now entering his fourth season, is hanging tight at No. 10. Both players are worthy of being top-10 players. But does experience matter more than youth in these rankings? Boyd will turn 29 this year as he enters his eighth season while Wilson continues ascending. They'll eac...

The Bengals' defense isn't the same without Sam Hubbard. Hubbard provides no shortage of big time moments for the Bengals and is primed to continue doing so in 2023. That's why he's No. 11 on the Top 25 Bengals for 2023. But should those big time moments have him ranked up higher on the list? He's entering his sixth year with the team and will have an increased leadership role. His role will be cr...

Andrew Gillis flies solo to talk about Joe Mixon's contract restructuring and what it means for the Bengals in 2023, and how it impacts the Joe Burrow negotiations. Then, Andrew talks about the latest entrant into our Top 25 Bengals for 2023, linebacker Germaine Pratt. Music: Starfields by Hallman Music Link: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/nQ9ldbVF7D/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit m...

The AFC North has had a remarkably interesting offseason, with all four teams making major moves to solidify their rosters for the 2023 season. But which team had the best offseason? Andrew Gillis and Jimmy Watkins get together to talk about the Bengals, Browns, Steelers and Ravens, and what to make of their last few months of player and coach acquisition. What do we think of the division headed i...

The Browns and Bengals both have their franchise quarterbacks in place, so we joined the Orange and Brown Talk crew for their third annual NFL quarterback draft. Andrew Gillis and Mohammad Ahmad join Mary Kay Cabot, Ashley Bastock join Dan Labbe from our Browns beat for the annual tradition of drafting quarterbacks. The intrigue, of course, is where Joe Burrow and Deshaun Watson land. The five go...

The Bengals and Browns each have head continuity with Zac Taylor and Kevin Stefanski, respectively, as they've coached against one another for each of the last four seasons. They've taken both of their teams to the playoffs and are quickly rising in the coaching ranks. Andrew Gillis joins our Browns reporters, Dan Labbe and Mary Kay Cabot, as part of the annual tradition of an NFL head coach mock...

The Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns each revamped their rosters this offseason through a series of NFL Draft and free agency moves. But how well do either of their rosters match up against the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers? Andrew Gillis joins our Browns reporters, Dan Labbe and Ashley Bastock, to look at which respective positional groups in Cleveland and Cincinnati stick out a...

Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton isn't shy of the spotlight. From coining the infamous "Burrowhead" term to his other memorable quotes, Hilton has backed up his talking on the field as one of the best slot cornerbacks in the NFL. More remarkable than his ascension as a former undrafted free agent is the fact that he's been able to provide value for over seven seasons as he enters his third season in...

Edge rushers and nose tackles should take heed of Bengals left guard Cordell Volson. Volson is no longer a rookie and his massive size and strength aren't going anywhere. The North Dakota-built behemoth has a chance to take off in 2023 with his 6-foot-7 frame between Orlando Brown Jr. and Ted Karras. There were a lot of growing pains for Volson but he slowly but surely found his stride. That's why...

You can't leave the demeanor hound off the list. Bengals center and team captain Ted Karras made a strong first impression in Cincinnati last season and can very well capitalize on that in 2023. Karras was one of the best blockers protecting Joe Burrow in his first season with the team. His role won't change and that's why he's No. 15 on the Top 25 Bengals for 2023. On and off the field, Karras is...

Don't count out Evan McPherson's role for the Bengals next season. Sometimes special teams stars can get overlooked, especially on the championship contending team like the Bengals. But as the Bengals' kicker, he's a big reason why the team has made the Super Bowl and why they can get back. He's already drawn comparisons to future Hall of Famer and divisional rival Justin Tucker. "Money Mac" and "...

Bengals running back Joe Mixon still has a critical role on the Bengals' offense. Mixon, entering his seventh season with the team, is still on track to start once more behind quarterback Joe Burrow. His rushing numbers last season didn't match his 2021 Pro Bowl season despite setting career highs in the receiving game. Although Mixon is No. 17 on the Top 25 Bengals entering this season, he's agin...

The futue is looking up for Cam Taylor-Britt. Taylor-Britt already enters a new chapter in his very young NFL career. After taking over as a full-time starter late last season for the Bengals, he'll keep his starting role following the departure of Eli Apple. That means the expectations only get higher from here for Taylor-Britt. But Taylor-Britt looks built for the task. His postseason performanc...

Things are still a little awkward for Bengals offensive tackle Jonah Williams. Williams returns to Cincinnati as the team's likely starting right tackle but he still has to earn that job first. He still hasn't heard from the team front office on the move that was made to move him to right tackle, which can have ranging implications for next season. He'll be playing at right tackle for the first ti...

Is the pressure cooker heating up in the Bengals' secondary? Veteran safety Nick Scott is going to have to take a big lead and a big leap next season as he helps lead the charge in the Bengals' safety room. Teams will try to test Scott and first-year starter Dax Hill next season. Will Scott meet the task and protect the Bengals' success in the red zone? Red zone efficiency was the calling card of...

B.J. Hill is a true workhorse. The veteran Bengals defensive tackle, entering his sixth season in the NFL, played some of the highest total snaps amongst his teammates. Cincinnati will need the most out of Hill next season alongside his standout teammate, D.J. Reader. Since joining the Bengals via trade in 2021, his presence hasn't gone unnoticed in the trenches, which is why he's ranked at No. 21...

Tight end Irv Smith Jr. is going to be a critical piece of the Bengals' offense next season. Smith has some big shoes to fill in place of Hayden Hurst who left the team in free agency back in March. He'll be more than just the fourth option for Bengals quarterback in 2023 though. Hurst's impact on the offense was felt as a receiving threat and Smith will need to replicate that same energy. Smith w...

Dax Hill isn't a rookie anymore. The Bengals safety is going to become a surefire starter in 2023 and will do so without much veteran help by his side. Hill loses veteran safety Vonn Bell but will have new addition Nick Scott by his side. Hill won't have much time to waste learning his new role because he will likely be tested by opposing offenses. The second-year star can't afford to look like a...

Myles Murphy might be one of the most important backups on the Bengals' entire roster. Murphy won't be a starter in 2023, but his reps will be valuable. The Bengals desperately need juice in the pass rush and that's what he brings to the table. Will he mostly get reps on third down? Does he come in for Trey Hendrickson or for Sam Hubbard? Furthermore, what does defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo ex...

The last year has been tough for Bengals right tackle La'el Collins. After a rocky start to the first half of the 2022 season, Collins eventually found his groove during the Bengals' eight-game win streak to close the regular season. He tore his ACL in Week 16 at New England and is still recovering from that injury with the offseason workouts in the books. Collins was considered a cap casuality go...

The countdown begins for training camp. In five weeks, the Bengals will return back to Cincinnati to report for training camp with the goal of making another run to the Super Bowl. Competition battles are set, the stakes are high and the championship window is in prime position for quarterback Joe Burrow. What did mandatory minicamp mean for their championship hopes though? Several players shined...

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow keeps himself busy off the field. Burrow has marketed himself in a variety of categories and endeavors using his name and image as a powerful brand. Through a series of endorsements and investments, Burrow has already capitalized on his brand financially. What's his strategy though? How does he put his plan together? That's a question that Burrow can best answer hims...