proPs for soP

[HairOnFire]

High praise for Mikey from Len Pastabelly

"If some owners folded on the Arrington situation, a lot of their fraternity brothers clearly gagged when it came time to vote Wednesday evening on the extension to the collective bargaining agreement. For weeks, a group of owners from low-revenue franchises vowed to reject any CBA extension that did not adequately address their needs for a dramatically enhanced revenue-sharing program, one that dealt with the increasing disparity between the high- and low-revenue teams.

We haven't been able to fully digest the elements of the extension passed on Wednesday by a 30-2 vote, but if what was approved really addressed the concerns of the low-revenue teams, then those concerns must not have been nearly as dire as indicated. According to reports, the top five revenue teams will kick in $30 million in new revenue-sharing funds, and there will be a few other adjustments.

In a league that figures to rake in $45 billion-$47 billion over the course of the new labor accord, the projected $800 million-$900 million in revenue sharing is a pittance. When it came time to stand up in the revenue fight, a lot of owners from low-revenue franchises must have been slinking in their chairs instead.

Give credit at least to Mike Brown of Cincinnati and Buffalo's Ralph Wilson, the lone two dissenters in the 30-2 walkover vote to approve the CBA extension. Television made Wilson appear a buffoon when, in essence, all the Bills' octogenarian owner did was tell the truth in conceding that he didn't understand the plan. There were a lot of team officials considerably younger than Wilson who, a day after the extension was ratified, privately admitted they didn't comprehend all the in's and out's of an agreement that wasn't cobbled together until 45 minutes before the deadline for acting on it.

To digest such a far-reaching plan in 45 minutes, one with implications of such scope, seemed unreasonable to say the least. As for Brown, well, he's been viewed by some as a skin-flint owner who doesn't spend on his team, and an alarmist whose longtime message has fallen on deaf ears in owners meetings. But anyone who has studied the books knows that Brown always spends to the cap limit, often has a bigger payroll than many of the richer teams, and enjoys one of the NFL's best profit margins because he does the unthinkable, and actually exercises fiscal responsibility.

This much we know about the Bengals owner: At least he's a man who votes his convictions, not like some of the other low-revenue owners with whom he was said to be aligned, and who abandoned him at crunch time."

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

"Anyone who has studied the books knows that Brown always spends to the cap limit, often has a bigger payroll than many of the richer teams, and enjoys one of the NFL's best profit margins because he does the unthinkable, and actually exercises fiscal responsibility. "

Tell that to the anti-Brown faction of the fan base... You know who you are.

[ArmyBengal]

As for Brown, well, he's been viewed by some as a skin-flint owner.

A Skin-Flute owner ??

Seriously though, Brown has come a long way and has to be given credit for turning over some of the power.

WHODEY !!!

[ShulaSteakhouse]

"Anyone who has studied the books knows that Brown always spends to the cap limit, often has a bigger payroll than many of the richer teams, and enjoys one of the NFL's best profit margins because he does the unthinkable, and actually exercises fiscal responsibility. "

Tell that to the anti-Brown faction of the fan base... You know who you are.

Yeah those 14 years straight of losing and horrible mismanagement, resulting in the worst run in Pro Sports history had nothing to do with good old "spend to the limit" Mike Brown. None of it was his fault, uh huh.

I could care less if he's spending as much money as everyone else, it's how he spends it that matters - and his track record speaks for itself....worst GM in pro football history hands down.

I don't see how anyone can argue with that.

So he hired Marvin - a freakin' chimp could've done that - and it's something that should've been done 10 years ago.

I refuse to just forget about everything he's done (or not done) because he finally decided to get his head out of his a$$ and hire a competent, experienced coach outside of his little family run org. Why should someone be praised for that after 14 years of not doing it?

Sorry, no love for the guy here at all, too many years of pain for me to just forget it all over one hire and ONE WINNING SEASON SINCE 1991. I have higher standards than that as a fan.

[kingwilly]

What TNBT forgets is that there is no column next to "Wins" and "Losses" for "Business Rating"..or a "Desire To Win" rating

Sometimes it takes risky business moves to win...the old "Risk/Reward" concpet, and usually you can't "Buy" a championship under the current CBA, hence the Parity in the NFL. So against these circumstances, yes, Mike Brown has a particular skill for the business-side of things that is often viewed as "Cheap" or "Thrifty!", as some call it. But until they count these aspects towards who goes to the playoffs and wins championships, it is TOTALLY IRRELEVANT.....

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

Worst GM in pro football history?

Worse than the Cards? I don't think so. At least we went to a Super Bowl. Worse than the Browns? Same thing. Worse than the Saints? Once again, don't think so.

[HairOnFire]

(((Heavy Sigh)))

Yet another positive article is written about the Bengals, only to be greeted with scorn by those who would rather cherish and nurture the little ball of hatred that has formed and grown within their bowels. For far too many here they'll be no "poop-o-healing" anytime soon. Instead, with each new day their little ball of hatred will grow denser, blacker, and far harder to pass.

No good can come from this.

[kingwilly]

I agree, there have been some bad GM's.

HOF - it is not a matter of bearing hatred..it is a matter of having some revisionist history happen beacuse we went .500 a couple of years and then had a winnning season.

It is about keeping perspective on past events while also noting the progress and evolution of the organization.

I would not so much as categorize it as scorn...more so as a reality check of the "bandwagon" media butt-kissers.

[NJ29]

I will never give someone credit for deciding to turn the team over. He did absolutely nothing, and we all forgive him for the years that he drove the team into the ground.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

I will never give someone credit for deciding to turn the team over. He did absolutely nothing, and we all forgive him for the years that he drove the team into the ground.

First of all, he did everything.

1. He hired Marvin.

2. He hired Duke Tobin.

3. He redid the entire weight room.

4. He outwitted the city and county and got one of the greatest stadiums in the league built right here in Cincinnati.

5. He continues to have the final word on free agents and draft picks.

[Stripes]

Ah why must we crap all over Mikey? Sure he's had his shortcomings, but those days are over, and his decisions of late have all worked well. Give the man a break.

[HoosierCat]

Ah why must we crap all over Mikey?

Great idea. And likely a huge local revenue opportunity for Mikey! Instead of a "dunking booth," why not a "crapping booth"? The line outside the "port-a-Mikey" would stretch for miles.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Worst GM in pro football history?

Worse than the Cards? I don't think so. At least we went to a Super Bowl. Worse than the Browns? Same thing. Worse than the Saints? Once again, don't think so.

Yes, worst GM in football history. Yes, worse than the Cards, though the Bidwell morons give him a run. Browns haven't been around long enough, but they got the right guy (Crennell) after 5 years, not 15. Yes, worse than the Saints, they went to the playoffs multiple times during the Bengals run of putridity. He'd get worst in sports history if you exclude some of the complete idiots (like Isiah Thomas) running the NBA.

In case you're too young to remember, Paul Brown was still GM until 1991, so Mike doesn't get credit for the Super Bowl run. Gee, what stopped happening in 1991 and didn't resume until Mike Brown ceded control a couple of years ago? Oh, I know! Winning! The Bengals were a winner before Mike took control, and became a winner again after he let go. He managed 0 winning seasons in the 15 that he was in charge.

But yes. We should all thank Mike for finally realizing his own gross incompetence and stepping aside from day-to-day operations I'm sure he's a really nice, quality guy, just completely incompetent as GM of an NFL team. And the one thing I don't hear mentioned enough - props to him having the balls not to sell the naming rights to PBS.

[HairOnFire]

Ah why must we crap all over Mikey?

Great idea. And likely a huge local revenue opportunity for Mikey! Instead of a "dunking booth," why not a "crapping booth"? The line outside the "port-a-Mikey" would stretch for miles.

This is definately not what I meant when I brought up the "poop-o-healing" idea.

Back on thread, the writer was giving Mikey props for voting with conviction. Of all of the small market owners he was one of two who felt strongly enough to vote against a bad agreement. One of two who wasn't afraid to fight again another day when leverage had returned to the owners. One of two who wasn't willing to say yes to an agreement that allowed fiscally irresponsible owners to continue in their quest to buy a championship by throwing ever larger amounts of bad money after good.