Contract Details Surface For Bengals New Deal With Dalton Risner
The Bengals signed Dalton Risner to an undisclosed deal last month but the details have risen to the forefront. Over The Cap reports Risner signed a one-year, $1.337 million contract with the Bengals. The deal includes a $167,500 signing bonus.
Risner just posted a 67 overall Pro Football Focus grade last season on 537 snaps, including a career-high 76.2 pass-blocking grade.
Pro Football Focus projected him to sign a one-year, $4.5 million deal, making this a major bargain from that view. PFF also logs him with no sacks allowed across the past two seasons (1,282 total snaps). Risner is rarely penalized (none in 2024) and has experience starting at either guard spot since entering the league in 2019.
Risner has his new deal and a clear path to show he's best option at that right-guard position among all the Bengals vying for it. Lucas Patrick started in Week 1, but he's now out for a few weeks with a calf injury.
Risner allowed one pressure in Week 1 on 24 pass blocking snaps. He earned a 64.8 overall pass blocking grade according to PFF.
"That was his second time in full pads," Zac Taylor said of Risner's debut. "Thursday’s practice, Sunday’s game. That’s difficult. The above-the-neck stuff, he’s got. The experience, he’s got. He’s done a good job staying in shape so he’s ready to go. I thought he did a great job getting through the game and was durable and conditioning was fine. You can’t simulate the body blows and hits on your body and I’m sure the soreness he experiences right now. Which is probably something our guys feel Day 2 of training camp with the pads on. He’s doing everything he can to get his body back."
Cincinnati had arguably the worst guard play in the NFL last season from the pairing of Cordell Volson and Alex Cappa. Both were released in recent months to try a new mix.
Now the Bengals are banking on Dylan Fairchild and Risner to keep Joe Burrow upright this season.
Sullivan Thinks He Can Remake Adam Fox But That Will Be A Challenge
Mike Sullivan couldn't keep it to himself. He wants the whole world to know that he's displeased with Adam Fox.
Otherwise, why would the Rangers' coach go public asserting that the start of Fox's season will determine if he's an Olympian.
Then, Sully listed a whole bunch of things which – all put together – tell us that Mike knows that he's got a project on his hands – remake Adam into another Norris Trophy candidate.
"It won't be easy," says The Old Scout, "because a lot has happened since Fox was voted the NHL's best defenseman."
Actually three things that could be decisive have happened.
1. INJURIES: To the naked eye it's been obvious that Fox never regained his Norris form after being hurt – as well as playing hurt. This could be a career problem.
2. PERSONALITY: Low-key to a fault, Fox sometimes plays in a manner that makes one believe he doesn't know what "Gung-Ho" is all about.
3. THE TEAM: The 2024-25 season of discontent could very well have curbed Foxie's enthusiasm. As for his leadership quotient, if it was that high, he would have been named captain the moment Jacob Trouba was traded.
Perhaps Sullivan would have been better off keeping his thoughts about Fox's future to himself.
"Laying it on the line as the coach did may be Mike's motivation method," adds The Old Scout, "and it just might work."
It might – depending on whether Fox truly is injury-free and that he has the head for Sullivan's strategy.
