[The Franchise]

The Bengals were deep in adapting on the fly when Radicevic received the interest from Brown’s camp late Tuesday. That led to the Brown option’s leading the discussion at a Wednesday morning meeting with coaches, ownership and the personnel staff.

“We met as a group on it the next morning,” Radicevic said. “Really wanted to see if it was something we would be able to pursue. When we felt like it was something where both sides could be able to come to an agreement or get close to it, that’s when things heat up and gain traction and feel like this might be something that may come together. This was most of the day on Wednesday spent on that. Making sure it will be a good fit on both sides.”

For Brown, the reason they kicked tires on Cincinnati’s interest after talks broke down and Kansas City moved to Jawaan Taylor was pretty clear.

A man who blocked for two MVP quarterbacks, Lamar Jackson 2018 and Patrick Mahomes 2022, focused primarily on adding a third. Not to mention a second Lombardi.

“The biggest thing with him was he wanted to have a chance to win more Super Bowls,” Radicevic said. “He wanted to play with Joe.”

Brown didn’t need much selling in this conversation. He made clear initially that he sought a winner and the draw of Burrow was obvious. As he spoke with Radicevic, Burrow, Taylor, Pollack and others, one message stood out.

As much as there would be negotiations to follow, the deal was done in his mind when one point was made clear.

“For them to believe in me as a left tackle is enough,” Brown said. “I want to put my life on the line for that.”

When McGlinchey came off the board to Denver at five years, $87.5 million ($17.5 million average annual value) and $52.5 million guaranteed, the market looked to be higher than expected. Taylor’s getting $20 million per year with $60 million guaranteed from the Chiefs raised eyebrows.

The Bengals weren’t able to go to those same levels of the tackle market, but as talks progressed they found a creative way to make it work for both sides. Cold, hard, upfront cash.

They dropped a $31 million signing bonus into the contract, largest ever given to an offensive lineman. In all, he earns $42.3 million in the first two years. The cash paid and cap flexibility (a tolerable out after three seasons) in the back of the contract made even more team-friendly for the Bengals.

There are your basics. The rest is fluff bullshit.