Mikey fed up?

[Kazkal]

POSTED 11:21 p.m. EST, January 28, 2007

BROWN "FED UP" WITH BAD BOYS

Bengals president Mike Brown claims that he's "fed up" with the misbehavior of his players. And in a not-so-subtle slap (in our opinion) at the draft record of the team under coach Marvin Lewis, Brown suggests that changes are coming to the manner in which the Bengals select new players.

"There may be some gifted athletes we won't pick that we might have picked a year ago," Brown told the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Last year, the team selected eight "gifted athletes" on draft day. Since then, four have been arrested.

And the organization hardly can claim ignorance. Several of the guys that the team has acquired over the past couple of years have histories of misbehavior (and/or alleged misbehavior). Days after the 2006 season ended, the Bengals signed linebacker Jason Berryman, who missed the 2004 college season . . . because he was in jail.

As one league source told us last April 30 after most of the Bengals' draft picks had been made: "What the f--- are they doing? [Frostee] Rucker and [A.J.] Nicholson? Give me a break. They are sabotaging the organization by picking bad players like [Odell] Thurman, [Chris] Henry, and those two."

Last week, quarterback Carson Palmer sounded off about the situation after cornerback Johnathan Joseph, the team's first-round pick in 2006, was busted for marijuana possession.

Although, as Brown recognizes, the team's options for dealing with a player who has been arrested are limited, this reality makes it even more important for good decisions to be made before a player is drafted or signed. And it's all the more reason, in our view, that the responsibility for the team's current predicament should fall squarely at the feet of Lewis.

[Stripes]

Is that what the naysayers want, then? Mike Browns' draft room influence to increase?

I have reason to think that's a horrible idea.

[Spor_tees]

Paul Brown was the first coach to come up with a pre-draft test to measure a players intelligence that is now used in the combine as the Wonderlic test. Can Mikey come up with his own test to measure the possibilities of a player getting arrested in the future? How about the derelict test?

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Paul Brown was the first coach to come up with a pre-draft test to measure a players intelligence that is now used in the combine as the Wonderlic test. Can Mikey come up with his own test to measure the possibilities of a player getting arrested in the future? How about the derelict test?

Well, most of it's easy: if you've been arrested, suspended, or kicked off the team/school, you're likely to do it again. That would account for Henry, Thurman, Rucker, Brooks, and Nicholson, though not JJ, Deltha, Steinbach, and Askew.

[HoosierCat]

Is that what the naysayers want, then? Mike Browns' draft room influence to increase?

According to Marvin, it's Mikey who has the soft spot for problem children, not him. Lewis is on record as saying he wouldn't take such guys because, who needs the headaches. This promises less of Mikey's "genius" on draft day, not more.

Just for reference, see: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AjVS...n&type=lgns

Particularly:

"Will the Bengals draft differently now? "I think it will affect the franchise's approach to the draft," says Lewis, who talks to Brown daily. "It hasn't affected mine; why waste the man hours on high-maintenance guys? But you have to understand Mike Brown. He wants to win in the worst way, and he is from an era that believes kids deserve an opportunity to right their lives and he has confidence I can handle that."

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Brown loves those "best bang for the buck" picks - which usually end up being guys who slide down in the draft due to their lack of commitment to the game, professionalism, maturity and unstable background, but have high ceilings due to physical gifts.

Marvin is just as responsible for picking guys like Thurman and Henry, Nicholson and Rucker.

Brown, from what I understand, still heavily influences the 1st round picks - none of which lately have been questionable as far as character goes.

I agree the Bengals' as a whole need to spend more $ on scouting and player development, but Marvin needs to push harder for the things he needs - such as more scouts and the infamous bubble facility.

The indoor practice dome and scouting department short-comings are nothing more than a result of a cheap owner who chooses not to spread his $ into investments outside of football to create more revenue streams for his family, and thus allow him to beef up his support staff at PBS.

We're not talking about huge sums of money here relatively speaking - it would not affect his bottom line much, and the long term results you get from such investments surely outweigh the initial setbacks involved financially.

This is still about a stubborn old man who won't let go of some things, and has to be convinced by his step daughter to operate in the modern era bit by bit.

Every game sells out now and ticket prices have gone up every year, in addition to the salary cap and TV money - where is that $ going Mr. Brown? How much profit do you really need ultimately? Your family is more than taken care of for a very long time, beyond their life times.

[HairOnFire]

If Brown wasn't so willing to give troubled players a chance this franchise would have different all-time leaders in rushing and receiving. (Dillon & Pickens) It also wouldn't currently have the services of Chad Johnson....probably the most popular Bengal player on the roster.

BTW, am I the only one who laughed after reading Mikey's broadside? With just one word the man left himself plenty of wiggle room, ehhh?

"There may be some gifted athletes we won't pick that we might have picked a year ago," Brown told the Cincinnati Enquirer.

[membengal]

Is that what the naysayers want, then? Mike Browns' draft room influence to increase?

According to Marvin, it's Mikey who has the soft spot for problem children, not him. Lewis is on record as saying he wouldn't take such guys because, who needs the headaches. This promises less of Mikey's "genius" on draft day, not more.

Just for reference, see: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AjVS...n&type=lgns

Particularly:

"Will the Bengals draft differently now? "I think it will affect the franchise's approach to the draft," says Lewis, who talks to Brown daily. "It hasn't affected mine; why waste the man hours on high-maintenance guys? But you have to understand Mike Brown. He wants to win in the worst way, and he is from an era that believes kids deserve an opportunity to right their lives and he has confidence I can handle that."

Thanks hoosier, beat me to it.

Was that a PFT piece of s**t you are quoting Kazkal? If so, you need to label it as such. And, if so, it would explain why the piece is so off. It's not a dig at ML, but rather a dig at Brown himself...

[HoosierCat]

If Brown wasn't so willing to give troubled players a chance this franchise would have different all-time leaders in rushing and receiving. (Dillon & Pickens) It also wouldn't currently have the services of Chad Johnson....probably the most popular Bengal player on the roster.

Probably. OTOH, so what? What did the Bengals ever win with Dillon? Or Pickens? We haven't won anything yet with Chad, either.

You're absolutely right that the Bengals's habit of taking character risks predates Marvins arrival. And all those choices have gotten us...what? One winning season and one playoff loss in 15 years?

I don't see how changing that strategy is necessarily a bad idea.

[HairOnFire]

If Brown wasn't so willing to give troubled players a chance this franchise would have different all-time leaders in rushing and receiving. (Dillon & Pickens) It also wouldn't currently have the services of Chad Johnson....probably the most popular Bengal player on the roster.

Probably. OTOH, so what? What did the Bengals ever win with Dillon? Or Pickens? We haven't won anything yet with Chad, either.

Isn't it funny how everytime I provide an example of a player with questionable character performing at elite levels you quickly proclaim..."So what?"

Over and over and over again.

Am I to conclude that a players level of performance is only relevant if he's never arrested? And if arrested, nothing else matters?

[HoosierCat]

Isn't it funny how everytime I provide an example of a player with questionable character performing at elite levels you quickly proclaim..."So what?"

Almost as funny as you never answering the question.

Am I to conclude that a players level of performance is only relevant if he's never arrested?

You can conclude that I'm fairly uninterested in the individual performances of players, bad character ones or otherwise, except as they relate to how the team performs. After all, isn't it you who keep telling me that the point of drafting all these bad character guys is to win more games, even at the cost of having to use another pick on a position in a year or two because the guy has drunk or smoked his way into the CFL? And didn't you just point out that we've been drafting this way for a long time? So...where are all the Lombardi trophies?

[HairOnFire]

You can conclude that I'm fairly uninterested in the individual performances of players, bad character ones or otherwise, except as they relate to how the team performs.

That sounds good on the surface but it ignores the fact that the Bengals have drafted plenty of church mice over the years and the won/loss record for those types of players is the same as that achieved by the nogoodniks.

For example, when judged individually...Chris Henry did make the single play needed to get the Bengals into the playoffs this season. But that team accomplishment disn't happen due to the failures of the special teams unit that missed a chip shot FGA.

Is Henry at fault for the failings of a team unit that he isn't a part of?

Is the repeated failure of the kicking unit over the last half of the season irrelevant in any conversation about how much character matters simply because doing so absolves a bunch of church mice of blame? And if so, why would you do that if fairly distributing blame is your intent? Why ignore examples of team failure that don't neatly fit into the stereotype? And last, did I just answer my own questions?

You bet I did.

Quite frankly, maybe team performance isn't the best way to judge the performance of an individual player.

Go figure, huh?

Isn't it funny how everytime I provide an example of a player with questionable character performing at elite levels you quickly proclaim..."So what?"

Almost as funny as you never answering the question.

I don't answer "So what?" questions.

It's beneath me.

[HoosierCat]

Is the repeated failure of the kicking unit over the last half of the season irrelevant in any conversation about how much character matters simply because doing so absolves a bunch of church mice of blame?

I have yet to see anyone argue that we should keep a guy who isn't performing on the field because hes a "good character" guy. But that's beside the point. I'll repeat the question I asked before:

After all, isn't it you who keep telling me that the point of drafting all these bad character guys is to win more games, even at the cost of having to use another pick on a position in a year or two because the guy has drunk or smoked his way into the CFL? And didn't you just point out that we've been drafting this way for a long time? So...where are all the Lombardi trophies?

[kybengalsfan]

Okay, guys, I don't like the city of Cincinnati to be more embrassed by our plight with the bad boys, yet I couldn't resist passing this along. Got it forwarded to me today on the Net:

Subject: FW: Bengal's Out of Playoffs - Police on Alert

This is great-and true!

Bengals Out of Playoffs - Police on Alert

1. What do you call a drug ring in Cincinnati?

A huddle.

2. Four Cincinnati Bengals in a car, who's driving?

The police.

3. Why can't Chris Henry get into a huddle on the field anymore?

It is a parole violation for him to associate with known felons.

4. The Cincinnati newspapers reported yesterday that Paul Brown Stadium is

going to take out the artificial turf because the Bengals "play better

on grass."

5. Coach Marvin Lewis has adopted a new "Honor System" for his players -

"Yes your Honor, No your Honor".

6.(updated with breaking news) The Bengals had an 8 9 and 5 season this

year:

8 9 arrests (literally), 5 convictions.

7. The Bengals knew they had to do something for their defense, but they

couldn't get the defensive coordinator they really wanted:

Johnny Cochran

8. How do the Bengals spend their first week at mini-camp?

Studying the Miranda Rights.

[HairOnFire]

So...where are all the Lombardi trophies?

How long ago did the Bengals win the AFCN championship? (One year.)

How long ago did the Bengals last qualify for for the playoffs? (One year.)

How long ago were the so called experts mentioning the Bengals in the same breath with other Super Bowl contenders? (One year.)

And perhaps most importantly, how quickly did frustrated Bengal fans throw Marvin Lewis under the bus after hitting the first bump in the road? (One heartbeat.)

[HoosierCat]

So...where are all the Lombardi trophies?

How long ago did the Bengals win the AFCN championship? (One year.)

How long ago did the Bengals last qualify for for the playoffs? (One year.)

How long ago were the so called experts mentioning the Bengals in the same breath with other Super Bowl contenders? (One year.)

And perhaps most importantly, how quickly did frustrated Bengal fans throw Marvin Lewis under the bus after hitting the first bump in the road? (One heartbeat.)

And how long since the Bengals began drafting without regards to character (since at least 1992 -- Carl Pickens -- right?)

One winning season and one playoff loss in 14 years. But ignoring character is he path to victory.

4. The Cincinnati newspapers reported yesterday that Paul Brown Stadium is

going to take out the artificial turf because the Bengals "play better

on grass."

:lmao:

[jditty47]

why should the city of cincinnati be embarrassed by all of the arrests? their law enforcement is shining on a national display!

[Kazkal]

Dam strait Jditty!