CINCINNATI — Evan McPherson says he wasn’t paying super close attention to the details but he was more than aware that Harrison Butker received a contract extension on Monday.
As it turns out, a record one for kicker that in 2022 hit the game-winner in the AFC championship and won Super Bowl LVII in the closing seconds.
The 29-year-old Butker agreed to a four-year extension worth $25.6 million – $17.75 million guaranteed.
The obvious question for the 25-year-old McPherson after practice Monday was will that impact the way he looks at his next deal?
“Yeah, I mean, he’s been there he’s been around the block a little longer than I have, proved himself a little more but I don’t know. We’re just still grinding everything out and we’ll see if we can get something. I’m not sure,” McPherson said.
McPherson, who’s been kicking game-winning kicks for the Bengals since his first NFL game against Minnesota in 2021, is maintaining perspective throughout negotiations, insisting his not frustrated.
Evan McPherson reacts to Harrison Butker new four-year, $25.6 million deal. $17.75 million gtd. pic.twitter.com/JpUGDbVJfl
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) August 5, 2024
“No, it’s not frustrating like I’ve expressed before if it happens right now great,” he said. “I’m happy. But if it doesn’t I’m even more as happy. I’m just going to go out there and perform same either way.”
Whether the deal gets done before the season is still a big question.
“I hope. I guess I don’t really hope because if it happens it happens, if it doesn’t it doesn’t,” he said. “But I cannot confirm nor deny what will conspire because I truly I’m not certain.”
The kicker who has always had the baby-faced looks, the calm demeanor and once famously said before his playoff kick in Tennessee ‘Looks like we’re going to the AFC championship’ is not stressing about a new deal.
“I think it’s just some unneeded stress to worry about that because in the end at the end of the day, if I just made if I perform like I’m supposed to, it’ll get done,” he said. “And I believe that and I think if I just keep my head down keep playing something will come up eventually.”
As for Butker, it’s just pure respect. Butker has won playoff games and Super Bowls but one game that sticks out for McPherson is last December when he drilled six field goals and accounted 19 of Kansas City’s 25 points in a 25-17 win over the Bengals.
“He’s just fun to watch you super consistent with ball-striking,” McPherson said. “He does well under pressure. They would not have won that game without him and those conditions that we played in last year in Kansas City. I mean, nobody really understands how hard those kicks were that he made and so whatever he got. I don’t know what he got.”
Does McPherson think Butker is the best kicker in the NFL?
“I think he’s one of. I think there’s definitely some guys up there,” McPherson said. “I think Jake Elliot, I think highly of like (Justin) Tucker, obviously. I think those guys are really, really good.”
It was a huge day for Joseph Ossai at Bengals camp on Monday. He had a safety as a part of back-to-back stops on Zack Moss in the negative red zone for the Bengals offense. He thumped Charlie Jones on a pass in the flat. Ossai looks re-energized and refreshed for this – his fourth NFL season – and his most important in a Bengals uniform.
“I wouldn’t say there’s a point to prove,” Ossai said after Monday’s practice. “That’s kind of taking things and focusing on me. We’ve got to go win the Super Bowl. I would say that’s the point to be proven. Nothing with me. It’s just whatever I can do to be dominant and be the kind of defensive factor for the defense. That’s what I’m looking forward to. Nothing about me or what do I gotta prove. We’ve got to go win games. You gotta beat the Chiefs Week 2, but first we got to beat the Patriots week one and then go from there, win the AFC North and then on from there.”
To do all of that, Ossai knows he has to be a bigger contributor on defense.
“It’s a product of being healthy and being intentional with my workouts, being intentional with the things I do. I did switch up something,” Ossai said. “I stayed here instead of going away. I stayed and worked with those guys, Joey Boese and Garrett (Swanson). We were just detailed in a lot of things we did.”
Joseph Ossai records the safety in practice Monday, tackling Zack Moss. pic.twitter.com/VgvJQNYHIn
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) August 5, 2024
Providing inspiration in the offseason was Trey Hendrickson.
“I’m going to lie. Trey had a little convincing, he had a little bit of hand in that,” Ossai said. “He told me there was no use going somewhere else. It was good to stay here, stay focused and go to work. So that’s what I did.”
With Cam Sample out for the season with a torn Achilles, suffered last week, Ossai’s role becomes that much bigger. And so far, Ossai is showing that he could be taking the next step that the Bengals defensive edge position could desperately use going into the season.
After spending the first week of camp working out on the rehab field, Trent Brown was cleared off the Non-Football Injury list Monday, passed his physical and was cleared for practice. He took part in individual drills, as he slowly makes his way into team drills.
“I’m just easing in,” Brown said. “It’s about that time, about a month out. Gotta get in some type of football shape with us being a month away from our first game. So, I’m just following protocol.”
Neither Zac Taylor nor Brown feel an urgency to get Brown into preseason games, which start Saturday against Tampa Bay. Brown says he knows what he needs to do to be ready for the season.
“Absolutely. This is Year 10 for me. I’ve got a lot of reps under my belt already,” he said. “I think I kind of know how the game is played and how it needs to be played and what is expected of myself for myself and from a team standpoint. So I think I’ll be just fine.
“I don’t think it really makes a difference to go out there for a series and then you don’t play a game for like, a month or three weeks, two weeks whatever. So it is what it is. I think I’ll be just fine.”
“Just easing in…” Trent Brown who added about preseason “I don’t think so. I don’t this it matters to go out there for a series” pic.twitter.com/UHZOeRbprk
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) August 5, 2024
What is biggest thing Brown needs to do to get ready for the season?
“Just getting in football shape. That’s it” Brown told me. “I feel really close. I’ve just gotta get out there with my guys.”
As for competing for the right tackle spot with first-round tackle Amarius Mims, Brown did not seem overly concerned.
“It will play itself out. I’m not worried,” he said.
Camp Day 10 Observations:
