Show of hands of those who are still in support

[agreen_112]

A lot of negativity around here lately and rightfully so, we're bad right now, really bad. There's a lot to work on, but I believe we can turn this thing around and get back into the playoff hunt (weakest schedule in the last few years IMO). I'm curious as to who is still in support of the Marvin Lewis's, the Chad Johnson's, the OC and DC's, the O-lineman's, Defense, and mostly the Bengals as a TEAM? I still think Marvin's our man, CJ's our man, the O-line will gel, the D will stop someone, and that the Bengals will make the playoffs.

I'm not happy (along with everyone else) with the way things are looking right now, but I don't believe firing Marv or trading Chad is the answer. The main thing I'm mostly pissed off about is the play calling on both offense and defense.

[James_Brooks21]

A lot of negativity around here lately and rightfully so, we're bad right now, really bad. There's a lot to work on, but I believe we can turn this thing around and get back into the playoff hunt (weakest schedule in the last few years IMO). I'm curious as to who is still in support of the Marvin Lewis's, the Chad Johnson's, the OC and DC's, the O-lineman's, Defense, and mostly the Bengals as a TEAM? I still think Marvin's our man, CJ's our man, the O-line will gel, the D will stop someone, and that the Bengals will make the playoffs.

I'm not happy (along with everyone else) with the way things are looking right now, but I don't believe firing Marv or trading Chad is the answer. The main thing I'm mostly pissed off about is the play calling on both offense and defense.

The thing is I will always support the Bengals but it is clear that Marvin has lost this team. 1-7 in the last 8 games and we got lucky with that one win against Baltimore that game was headed for overtime if not for a bad call by a ref. Marvin is the captain of this sinking vessel and everybody pretty knows that the Captain is responsible for the whole ship no matter if he is working in that area or not. You can point to the coordinatiors but once again those are Marving chosing guys, Marvin has had a lot of leadway that the other coaches did not have. I'm pretty sure that everybody in here know's that Marvin is picking those players in the draft and he was the one who was instrumental in the hiring of the defensive coordinator. Marvin game management is bush league, terrible game managing decisions not one impact defensive player after five years of being here. Please don't say David Pollack was going to be a game changer that's a joke. Where not turning anything around, maybe five more wins this year is all I'm seeing counting this weeks game against the Jets. The Chiefs have two people on offense that belong in the NFL and we let those two score all the touchdowns against us, Tony was running free all day against us how could you leave him so wide open I called the first touchdown play to him before the huddle was broken. How professional coaches and players don't know that they are going to him at the goal line is a mystery to itself.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

You can support the team without being blind to its problems. As Brooks said, 1-7 in the last 8 isn't what you want.

I agree in general that the team could improve - injuries have killed the LB and O-line units - but it's still very disheartening to see the reaction to losing on the part of certain players. Some people give up in the face of adversity, others don't. This season could give the coaching staff a very good opportunity to tell who's who.

[Bengals1]

[kayaker0678]

I will always support the bengals. But I cant be blind where i will hold my allegiance. My allegiance is to the organization not to one player or coach.

[Stripes]

Marvin delivered the playoff birth we all craved so much. I simply don't buy into the dramatic statements that "he has lost control!". This team has plenty of problems, but a core of talent and head coach aren't included. Somewhere along the line, something went sorely wrong.

Did the players silently revolt and destroy Marvin's credibility in the locker room? Maybe you could look to the string of arrests to answer this question. Losing Odell and Henry has certainly hurt the football team. Does that signify that the locker room is complete turmoil? I don't believe so.

Was it the hiring of Chuck Bresnehan? I don't believe that made any difference for better or for worse.

Was it the loss of Eric Steinbach, Kevin Kaesviharn, Brian Simmons, Marcus Wilkins, and Tory James this offseason? I definitely think those losses played a part, but they don't tell the whole story at all.

Was it the first '06 Cleveland game and the snowball effect of absurd injuries we've seen since? I point my finger there first, whether people want to hear that quite valid "excuse" or not. Just keep in mind that Robert freaking Geathers had to start at WSLB yesterday.

What else is there? Do we revert to the predictable and juvenile blame game centered around Mike Brown's wallet?

[711chad]

im still in support

[cincy9275]

been here since 88 nuff said.

[HoosierCat]

Was it the loss of Eric Steinbach, Kevin Kaesviharn, Brian Simmons, Marcus Wilkins, and Tory James this offseason? I definitely think those losses played a part, but they don't tell the whole story at all.

Was it the first '06 Cleveland game and the snowball effect of absurd injuries we've seen since? I point my finger there first, whether people want to hear that quite valid "excuse" or not. Just keep in mind that Robert freaking Geathers had to start at WSLB yesterday.

The two issues are intertwined. Go back to the 2005 playoff team, from which we are only 21 regular season games removed, barely one and a quarter season. Versus that group we are down six starters: Braham, Steinbach, Pollack, Odell, Simmons and James. We are also down another three or four situational starters, guys like Henry, Stewart, C. Perry and K2.

What did we do to replace these guys, to stay as good or get better? Not a lot. We did put high draft picks toward replacing James and C. Perry with Hall and Irons, and threw out a third for Brooks...but the rest of the holes got filled in by backups, projects, rookies, UDFAs and waiver wire guys.

Then, on top of that, the injuries hit, so we go from Simmons-Odell-Pollack to Landon-Brooks-Jeanty to Landon-Brooks-Miller to Landon-Schlegal-Jones...or something like that, it's hard to keep track, at LB. Our o-line was supposed to be Willie-Bobbie-Bluto-Bear-Levi, instead its Bear-Bobbie-Step-Kooistra-Whit (or, again, something like that). Injuries derailed Irons as the new change of pace back and Tab as the No. 3 wideout (tho frankly he wasn't looking good).

It's the roster equivalent of a perfect storm: they made a bunch of personnel calls (many of which, as I've said before, were perfectly justifiable calls), and then have injuries hit exactly in the weak areas those calls created.

[Bengals44]

Will always be in support no matter what, those who switch teams are not real fans in my opinion...

[Keller]

I still support the team but it's really killing my confidence in the league's officials to see so many obvious calls go against us just as we start to show signs of getting things going.

To me it seems to have started last year when Justin Smith hugged Gradkowski and gently placed him on the turf. How Chatman's catch wasn't given to him yesterday is beyond me, and pretty much everyone else in the world that saw it. Hasselbeck's reception of the blocked pass, taking 4 steps while in posession of the ball ruled an incomplete pass? I'm not saying that we would have won those games, but I think there's a greater chance that we're 2-3 or even 3-2 right now if both calls go our way.

I just don't get it, I know we're really good at beating ourselves, but do we really need any more help from the refs?

[damiancasey]

No question. I'll always support the Bengals. Even if sometimes they make me want to go club baby seals.

[jonahdsage]

i believe this thread can best be answered by saying "who dey," and "i hate the steelers." Go Bengals!

[kybengalsfan]

Been a fan since they were a team, when I was in SE Asia. I'll stay a fan, but I wish we could get past the replacement team we saw yesterday that had Bengals uniforms. At present, we stink, plain and simple. No heart, and I think Marvin needs to get a grip on some of these guys.

[Bengals1]

Been with 'em since the mid-'70s, not going anywhere else.

Let's face it people, we're Bengals fans, we used to this. Or at least, we ought to be.

[volcom69]

Yea im still with them, but heres the thing u say bengals 1 "We ought to be used to it" thats just it im tired of being used to it im tired of this team always going out there and u never know what team ur going to get. I agree this team if full of injuries which im sure is why they dont look that good, but im still not sold on the job Marvin is doing here and the fact im not sure every player is with him. I will always root and support the bengals, but i will never get used to losing i dont care who the coach is at some point the have to learn to play like a team that wants to win.

[NYBengalfan]

I am definitely still in support and going by their schedule, I still think that they can make the playoffs and turn this around.

As a matter of fact, I want to call out all of the "Blind Homers". We are needed right now.

[HairOnFire]

Was it the first '06 Cleveland game and the snowball effect of absurd injuries we've seen since? I point my finger there first, whether people want to hear that quite valid "excuse" or not. Just keep in mind that Robert freaking Geathers had to start at WSLB yesterday.

What else is there? Do we revert to the predictable and juvenile blame game centered around Mike Brown's wallet?

Did the Mike Brown rants ever really go away?

As for the so-called injury excuse, anyone who downplays its impact is choosing to embrace ignorance. That may sound harsh, but there's no nice way to put it.

Being frustrated isn't valid justification for being stupid.

BTW, I was listening to a Los Angeles based sports talkshow after the Bills loss on Monday night and the subject turned to which NFL teams had been hit hardest by injuries. Three teams were named by the two presumably unbiased hosts. Those teams were St.Louis, Cincinnati, and Buffalo....with the first two teams once being considered potential playoff teams. One of the hosts then pointed out how hard and well the Bills had just played, prompting his partner to remind him that the game was nationally televised, the Bills had lost, and the combined won/loss record of those three teams was 2-12.

One week later the combined record of those teams has fallen to 2-14.

[BengalByTheBay]

I still support the team but it's really killing my confidence in the league's officials to see so many obvious calls go against us just as we start to show signs of getting things going.

To me it seems to have started last year when Justin Smith hugged Gradkowski and gently placed him on the turf. How Chatman's catch wasn't given to him yesterday is beyond me, and pretty much everyone else in the world that saw it. Hasselbeck's reception of the blocked pass, taking 4 steps while in posession of the ball ruled an incomplete pass? I'm not saying that we would have won those games, but I think there's a greater chance that we're 2-3 or even 3-2 right now if both calls go our way.

I just don't get it, I know we're really good at beating ourselves, but do we really need any more help from the refs?

I didn't see the Chatman play yesterday -- so, I can't opine on that. I complained loudly about the Hasselback call -- that was total BS and the non-reviewable compounded the mistake.

However, my thinking on that subject is that, while there is a conspiracy of sorts, it is simply that ref's don't have a hard time making bad calls against bad teams on the road. The worse the Bengals' record gets (and by implication the worse the Bengals get), the more likely we will be victimized by the zebras -- especially on the road. It's simple human nature that the refs. will feel less constrained to reverse bad calls against a bad team. I think subconsciously refs. assume that any play made by Tom Brady or Peyton Manning is a good play and we just are not going to get the benefit of the doubt there. I think it happens to other teams too -- and usually it's bad teams on the road. I've given this a lot of thought because I have a hard time believing that the NFL calls all the refs. and says "hey, make bad calls against the Bengals." I just don't see that level of conspiracy. I am very ready to believe, however, that the league won't get too upset about even REALLY bad calls going against a team that is simply not that loved by the public and that is in the midst of a bad season. Now, it is totally legitimate to argue that the season gets worse when these game-changing calls consistently go against a team. Agreed, it is a chicken-and-the-egg circumstance to some degree, but I still think it's only basic human nature to worry less about making bad calls against a team that is not going to cause any particular ruckus.

[Casey]

I love the Bengals and they've been my team since I was old enough to follow football so I would never give up on them. But that doesn't mean I can't be frustrated by what I see on the field and the decisions that are made. I want them to win so badly, it's just painful to watch sometimes, but that doesn't mean I will quit supporting them. I was there before Marvin and this crew got here and I will still be there long after they are gone.

[maanster]

one game at a time. beat the jets and move on to the steelers. if we can find a way to beat them it could turn things around. we have six home games left win them and get 2 or 3 on the road??? (bills, 49ers dolphins) you never know.

[BengalszoneBilly]

been here since 88 nuff said.

Been here since '68. Been behind 'em through the darkness that was the '90's. I was bitching about the poor coaching and Mike Brown then as I am now. IMHO blame has to always start at the top.

[Kazkal]

"raises hand"?

[gregstephens]

A lot of negativity around here lately and rightfully so, we're bad right now, really bad. There's a lot to work on, but I believe we can turn this thing around and get back into the playoff hunt (weakest schedule in the last few years IMO). I'm curious as to who is still in support of the Marvin Lewis's, the Chad Johnson's, the OC and DC's, the O-lineman's, Defense, and mostly the Bengals as a TEAM? I still think Marvin's our man, CJ's our man, the O-line will gel, the D will stop someone, and that the Bengals will make the playoffs.

I'm not happy (along with everyone else) with the way things are looking right now, but I don't believe firing Marv or trading Chad is the answer. The main thing I'm mostly pissed off about is the play calling on both offense and defense.

We are not a playoff team this year...period. However, I still support the boys. Always have, always will.

[chandon]

been here since 88 nuff said.

Been here since '68. Been behind 'em through the darkness that was the '90's. I was bitching about the poor coaching and Mike Brown then as I am now. IMHO blame has to always start at the top.

I'm with you 100%. Doesn't matter if it's a footbaal team or a company, if they are not performing then it's down to the management right at the top. There needs to be some serious, decisive action taken and it starts with MB and ML.

I am a relative newbie as a Bengals fan compared with you gentlemen...only about 3 years...but I will stick with them because I have seen how they can play and it's exciting and entertaining. I get just a frustrated though, and my frustration is aimed at the coaching staff and the management. They are the only people who can turn this around, but like the players who have to want to play...they have to want to turn it around too!

Chandon