Bengals Keeping Or Cutting TJ Slaton? Shemar Stewart Year 2 Expectations, Nick Lodolo Returns To Form vs. Mets

Cincinnati Benagls Game Predictions, Reds Walked-Off, Knicks Storm Back To Take Game 4

On today's show, we go through each Bengals regular season game with predictions. Plus, the Reds' bullpen melts down again in a walk-off loss to the Padres & the Knicks make NBA history with a come-from-behind win against the Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. The Stone Shields Show sponsors: Book an appointment at Richter & Phillips today: https://richterphillips.com/pages/chatterbox-sports Learn more about our friends at QC Kinetix! Call (513) 655-3356 or visit qckinetix.com  Anthony Muñoz 78 Cigars! Get your box today: https://www.anthonymunoz.com/anthony-munoz-78-cigars   Apply today at Sharefax Credit Union: Sharefax.org or call 513-753-2440 The Cincinnati Reds had this one in their hands. Then, in a matter of innings, it slipped away. Wednesday’s 5-4 loss to the San Diego Padres was another painful example of a problem that has haunted Cincinnati throughout much of the season: an inability to finish games. The Reds carried a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the eighth after solo home runs from JJ Bleday and Eugenio Suárez helped build what looked like a comfortable advantage. Starter Brady Singer had done his job, allowing just two runs over six innings and putting the bullpen in position to secure the win. Instead, the bullpen faltered once again. San Diego chipped away in the eighth, getting RBI hits from Gavin Sheets and Samad Taylor to erase Cincinnati’s lead and tie the game at 4-4. What had been a promising afternoon suddenly became another tense finish for a Reds team that has struggled to lock down late leads. The decisive blow came in the ninth. With two outs and nobody on, recently recalled right-hander Chase Petty appeared one pitch away from sending the game to extra innings. Instead, he left a breaking ball over the plate, and Fernando Tatis Jr. crushed it just over the left-field wall for a walk-off home run. Petco Park erupted as the Padres completed their comeback and secured the series victory. For the Reds, the loss was especially frustrating because the offense did enough to win. Cincinnati collected 10 hits, hit three home runs, and received quality pitching from Singer. Yet they managed just one hit in six opportunities with runners in scoring position, leaving the door open for San Diego’s rally. The result dropped Cincinnati to 32-35 and continued a rough stretch in which late-game execution has repeatedly undermined otherwise solid performances. When a team gets three homers and a quality start, it expects to win. The Reds got neither the win nor the series, thanks to one swing from Tatis that turned a likely victory into another gut-punch defeat. Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name Holy (Trap). Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name Exercise (Rock). #Bengals #Reds #TheStoneShieldsShow

Bengals Restructure Joe Burrow's Contract: What Is Coming Next? Sal Stewart Plays Hero For Reds, Baker Mayfield Contract

On today's show, we discuss the Bengals' restructuring Joe Burrow's contract and subsequently creating $10 million in extra cap space. Plus, the Reds finally win a game after a solid bullpen effort and Sal Stewart's heroics. Also, should Tampa Bay extend Baker Mayfield? The Stone Shields Show sponsors: Book an appointment at Richter & Phillips today: https://richterphillips.com/pages/chatterbox-sports Learn more about our friends at QC Kinetix! Call (513) 655-3356 or visit qckinetix.com  Anthony Muñoz 78 Cigars! Get your box today: https://www.anthonymunoz.com/anthony-munoz-78-cigars   Apply today at Sharefax Credit Union: Sharefax.org or call 513-753-2440 The Cincinnati Bengals made one of the most significant financial moves of their 2026 offseason on Tuesday by restructuring the contract of franchise quarterback Joe Burrow. The move created approximately $10 million in additional salary-cap space, giving Cincinnati much-needed flexibility as it continues an aggressive effort to upgrade the roster after missing the playoffs for a third consecutive season. Burrow originally signed a five-year, $275 million extension in September 2023, a deal that included more than $219 million in guarantees and made him one of the NFL’s highest-paid players. Rather than reducing Burrow’s actual earnings, the restructuring likely involved converting a portion of his 2026 salary into a signing bonus and spreading the cap charges over future seasons. This is a common NFL accounting strategy that lowers a player’s immediate cap hit while preserving the overall value of the contract. The timing of the move is notable. Cincinnati entered the week with limited cap room after a busy offseason that included acquiring star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and making several free-agent additions. The extra cap space moves the Bengals from near the bottom of the league in available cap room to a much healthier position heading into training camp. Just a few weeks ago, reports indicated there had been no active discussions about restructuring Burrow’s deal, making Tuesday’s decision somewhat surprising. The move also represents a departure from Cincinnati’s traditionally conservative salary-cap management approach. Team executives have historically avoided frequent restructures, preferring long-term financial stability. For Burrow, the restructure is another indication of his commitment to helping the Bengals remain competitive. By creating cap flexibility, Cincinnati now has more room to address roster needs, extend young players, and navigate the remainder of the 2026 season. While the move does push some cap obligations into future years, it signals that the organization is firmly focused on maximizing its championship window around its franchise quarterback. Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name Holy (Trap). Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name Exercise (Rock). #Bengals #Reds #TheStoneShieldsShow

Cincinnati Reds Making Amateur Mistakes, DJ Turner Setting Tone For Bengals, Brendan Sorsby Eligible

On today's show, we discuss an abysmal 7th inning for the Reds in a 6-2 defeat against the Padres, how DJ Turner is setting the tone for the Bengals, Brendan Sorsby's eligibility and the Spurs taking Game 3 of the NBA Finals.  The Stone Shields Show sponsors: Book an appointment at Richter & Phillips today: https://richterphillips.com/pages/chatterbox-sports Learn more about our friends at QC Kinetix! Call (513) 655-3356 or visit qckinetix.com  Anthony Muñoz 78 Cigars! Get your box today: https://www.anthonymunoz.com/anthony-munoz-78-cigars   Apply today at Sharefax Credit Union: Sharefax.org or call 513-753-2440 The Cincinnati Reds had this game exactly where they wanted it Monday night in San Diego. Through six innings, they had scratched out a 2-1 lead behind a solid outing from Andrew Abbott and appeared poised to snap a frustrating losing streak. Instead, one disastrous inning turned a winnable game into another painful defeat. The unraveling began in the seventh. After Gavin Sheets tied the game with an RBI double, the Reds completely lost control of the situation. What followed was a sequence that perfectly captured Cincinnati’s recent struggles: three consecutive Padres bunts created chaos, defensive mistakes mounted, and a tie game quickly became a deficit. Samad Taylor reached on a bunt that produced the go-ahead run, exposing a Reds defense that seemed unable to execute even the fundamentals in a high-leverage moment. The collapse didn’t stop there. Cincinnati’s bullpen and defense failed to regroup in the eighth inning as Taylor delivered a two-run single and the Padres added another insurance run. A 2-2 game suddenly became a 6-2 Padres lead. What makes the loss especially frustrating for Reds fans is that the offense actually generated opportunities. Cincinnati collected nine hits but stranded nine runners and went just 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. Time after time, chances to build on the lead slipped away. When the game tightened, the Reds lacked the timely hit that could have changed the outcome. The 6-2 defeat marked Cincinnati’s fifth straight loss and continued a miserable stretch in which nearly everything that can go wrong has gone wrong. Injuries, inconsistent offense, bullpen issues, and defensive lapses are all contributing to a season that is beginning to drift in the wrong direction. Monday night wasn’t just another loss—it was a textbook example of a team finding ways to beat itself. Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name Holy (Trap). Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name Exercise (Rock). #Bengals #Reds #TheStoneShieldsShow

Bengals Get More Good News With Myles Garrett Trade, Reds In Shambles, AJ Brown To Patriots

On today's show, we discuss how the Bengals got more good news after Myles Garrett was traded to the Rams. Plus, the Reds are in shambles after getting swept by the Cardinals, AJ Brown officially traded to the Patriots and remembering Chicago Bulls legendary broadcaster Stacey King. The Stone Shields Show sponsors: Book an appointment at Richter & Phillips today: https://richterphillips.com/pages/chatterbox-sports Learn more about our friends at QC Kinetix! Call (513) 655-3356 or visit qckinetix.com  Anthony Muñoz 78 Cigars! Get your box today: https://www.anthonymunoz.com/anthony-munoz-78-cigars   Apply today at Sharefax Credit Union: Sharefax.org or call 513-753-2440 For the Cincinnati Bengals, the trade is still largely good news, even though Cleveland got a significant return. The biggest reason is simple: Garrett was a uniquely difficult matchup for Cincinnati. He recorded the record-setting 23rd sack of his 2025 season against Joe Burrow in the season finale and had become the one defender who could completely alter the Bengals' offensive game plan. Verse is an excellent young pass rusher, but he's not Garrett. Garrett was coming off a Defensive Player of the Year season and an NFL-record 23 sacks. Replacing that level of production is almost impossible, even with a player as talented as Verse. The trade also signals that Cleveland is thinking more about the future than maximizing its chances right now. Acquiring draft capital and a younger edge rusher aligns with a longer-term roster build, while the Rams clearly made the move to chase a championship immediately. That doesn't mean the Bengals should celebrate too much. The Browns didn't get fleeced. Verse is already a high-end young defender, and Cleveland added a first-round pick, a second-round pick, and a third-round pick. Several analysts have argued that Verse softens the loss considerably and fits the Browns' timeline better than a 30-year-old Garrett. So the Bengals' view is probably: Short term: huge win because Garrett is gone. Long term: less clear because Cleveland acquired a potential star in Verse and valuable draft assets. If you're a Bengals fan, the best part isn't that the Browns got worse overall—it's that you no longer have to face Myles Garrett twice a year. That's a meaningful change in the AFC North. Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name Holy (Trap). Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name Exercise (Rock). #Bengals #Reds #TheStoneShieldsShow

Ja'Marr Chase Breaks Silence, Elly De La Cruz Injury, Joey McGuire Responds To Steve Sarkisian

On today's show, we discuss Ja'Marr Chase breaking his silence at his youth football camp on his absence from Bengals OTAs and Cincinnati's offseason moves. Plus, Elly De La Cruz left Sunday's game vs. the Braves with a hamstring injury and Joey McGuire responds to Steve Sarkisian.  The Stone Shields Show sponsors: Book an appointment at Richter & Phillips today: https://richterphillips.com/pages/chatterbox-sports Learn more about our friends at QC Kinetix! Call (513) 655-3356 or visit qckinetix.com  Anthony Muñoz 78 Cigars! Get your box today: https://www.anthonymunoz.com/anthony-munoz-78-cigars   Apply today at Sharefax Credit Union: Sharefax.org or call 513-753-2440 Elly De La Cruz gave the Cincinnati Reds and their fans a scare Sunday when he exited a 6-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves with right hamstring tightness. The injury occurred in the fifth inning at Great American Ball Park when De La Cruz drove a ball into right-center field that appeared destined to be an extra-base hit. As he rounded first base, however, he suddenly slowed, grabbed at his leg area, and retreated to first rather than attempting to stretch the hit into a double. Trainers quickly came onto the field, and De La Cruz was removed from the game as a precaution. Before leaving, De La Cruz had been one of the Reds’ most productive players on the afternoon. He went 2-for-2 with a walk, stole a base, and scored two runs, helping Cincinnati avoid a series sweep against Atlanta. His departure immediately raised concerns because of his importance to the Reds’ lineup and his reputation as one of baseball’s most dynamic athletes. After the game, De La Cruz sounded cautiously optimistic. Through an interpreter, he explained that he felt tightness while making the turn around first base and chose to stop running because continuing might have caused more serious damage. Reds manager Terry Francona echoed that sentiment, saying the club hoped the star shortstop had recognized the issue early enough to avoid a significant strain. An MRI was scheduled for Monday to determine the extent of the injury. The timing is especially concerning because De La Cruz has been remarkably durable, appearing in 276 consecutive games and starting all 58 Reds games this season. Entering Sunday, the 24-year-old was batting .280 with 12 home runs, 37 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases, positioning himself for another All-Star campaign. Any absence would be a major blow to Cincinnati’s playoff hopes. For now, the Reds are waiting on MRI results, but the initial reaction from both De La Cruz and the organization suggests cautious optimism that the injury may be minor rather than a long-term setback. #Reds #Bengals #TheStoneShieldsShow