What changes would you make?

[Ickey44]

I was just interested to hear some of the things you guys would do if you guys were in Mikey's shoes. What would you do differently?

[gregstephens]

I was just interested to hear some of the things you guys would do if you guys were in Mikey's shoes. What would you do differently?

I think one of the biggest things for me is a scouting department. Greater minds than mine differ on how well the Bengals do or don't do each year in the draft and at signing FAs, but I think it'd be interesting to see if there'd be any appreciable difference with an actual scouting department.

Also, I'd crack open the wallet for proven OCs and DCs. Maybe we're seeing that this year with Zim. Time will tell. We definitely need a new OC though. I still believe we have enough tools on offense if someone could figure out new and different ways of using those tools.

[agreen_112]

More scouts

Hire a GM

I would not have let Steinbach go. Big Willie would be gone... I'm not saying I don't like Wil, I'm just saying that I'd rather take Steiny over Willie.

[TJJackson]

hide Mikey's 1993 Taurus keys so he can't drive into work anymore

hire a GM (Casserly is available? maybe?) and a player personnel guy

complete change of medical staff

double the scouting staff

show Bedinghaus the door

find Brown's son a new position on the janitorial staff

find Brown's daughter a new position at the ticket window

hire a staff of nannies to keep players like Shirley accompanied 24 hours a day

implement plan to limit consumption of alcohol w/forfeiture of season tickets possible

[cincyhokie]

Fire myself

[gregstephens]

Fire myself

...And all my descendants, in-laws and all former Hamilton County Commissioners that may or may not have improperly used their then-office to screw the taxpayers in exchange for a cushy job where nobody knows what they do, including them.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

double the scouting staff

C'mon TJ, we need more than 2 scouts.

[gregstephens]

double the scouting staff

C'mon TJ, we need more than 2 scouts.

I'm glad you said that. I thought he was saying 2 times zero equals zero.

[Ickey44]

hide Mikey's 1993 Taurus keys so he can't drive into work anymore

hire a GM (Casserly is available? maybe?) and a player personnel guy

complete change of medical staff

double the scouting staff

show Bedinghaus the door

find Brown's son a new position on the janitorial staff

find Brown's daughter a new position at the ticket window

hire a staff of nannies to keep players like Shirley accompanied 24 hours a day

implement plan to limit consumption of alcohol w/forfeiture of season tickets possible

Does he really drive a 1993 Taurus? LMAO, that's hilarious.

I agree with most of those, but who's Bedinghaus? And why should it be our job to babysit Shirley 24/7? He's a grown man, he should know right from wrong by now.

I especially like the idea of limiting alcohol consumption at the games, people get WAY too out of hand at the games. They drink for hours before the game, during the game, and often times, after the game. Then they get behind the wheel and drive home. I'm surprised we haven't had more accidents like the one where the guy got ran over a few years ago...

[gregstephens]

hide Mikey's 1993 Taurus keys so he can't drive into work anymore

hire a GM (Casserly is available? maybe?) and a player personnel guy

complete change of medical staff

double the scouting staff

show Bedinghaus the door

find Brown's son a new position on the janitorial staff

find Brown's daughter a new position at the ticket window

hire a staff of nannies to keep players like Shirley accompanied 24 hours a day

implement plan to limit consumption of alcohol w/forfeiture of season tickets possible

Does he really drive a 1993 Taurus? LMAO, that's hilarious.

I agree with most of those, but who's Bedinghaus? And why should it be our job to babysit Shirley 24/7? He's a grown man, he should know right from wrong by now.

I especially like the idea of limiting alcohol consumption at the games, people get WAY too out of hand at the games. They drink for hours before the game, during the game, and often times, after the game. Then they get behind the wheel and drive home. I'm surprised we haven't had more accidents like the one where the guy got ran over a few years ago...

Bedinghaus is one of the former Hamilton County, Ohio, commissioners that I may or may not have been referring to a few posts above. How long you lived in Florence? You have the same basic news outlets we do. I'm surprised you hadn't heard of him.

[Thurmanation]

Chad for Patrick Willis and a 2nd

[BengalPimp]

I would not have let Steinbach go. Big Willie would be gone... I'm not saying I don't like Wil, I'm just saying that I'd rather take Steiny over Willie.

Are you serious? I actually thought that was a pretty good decision. Steinbach is a good GUARD. But, you CAN'T get in the habit of paying GUARDS $7 million per year, especially when you have 3 other quality guards fighting for time (Bobbie Williams, Andrew Whitworth, Stacey Andrews).

Yeah, you'd make a great GM, lets pay a guard(who can only play tackle in a pinch, but not for an extended period of time) more than any other offensive lineman, including the Tackles, who basically hold our QB's health in their hands.

Memo to agreen....you can take an average/mediocre tackle and plug him in at guard, and he'll do well. That's why teams draft TACKLES in the first round, because its the most IMPORTANT position on the OL, and if they can't end up playing there, the team knows they can always move him to guard.

[BengalPimp]

Oh Yeah, and it was Steinbach giving up on that play vs. Kimo, that resulted in Carson's knee injury.

[gregstephens]

Oh Yeah, and it was Steinbach giving up on that play vs. Kimo, that resulted in Carson's knee injury.

Dude...you had to pick open the scab, didn't you? By the way, he absol-friggin'-lutely did.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

I would not have let Steinbach go. Big Willie would be gone... I'm not saying I don't like Wil, I'm just saying that I'd rather take Steiny over Willie.

Are you serious? I actually thought that was a pretty good decision. Steinbach is a good GUARD. But, you CAN'T get in the habit of paying GUARDS $7 million per year, especially when you have 3 other quality guards fighting for time (Bobbie Williams, Andrew Whitworth, Stacey Andrews).

Yeah, you'd make a great GM, lets pay a guard(who can only play tackle in a pinch, but not for an extended period of time) more than any other offensive lineman, including the Tackles, who basically hold our QB's health in their hands.

Memo to agreen....you can take an average/mediocre tackle and plug him in at guard, and he'll do well. That's why teams draft TACKLES in the first round, because its the most IMPORTANT position on the OL, and if they can't end up playing there, the team knows they can always move him to guard.

My head may explode. Who is the last converted OT-to-Guard here in Cincy who's ever made a Pro Bowl? The 80's maybe?

Whitworth is not nearly as good of a guard as he is a tackle, neither is Andrews. Both are 6'7" - and don't have the bend and leverage nor the quickness as a result, to get out on LB's and play on the interior in an ideal fashion. The pathetic running game last year, and general offensive malaise, can in large part be attributed to this, along with the below average talent and poor development of Guy-chick by a very overrated Paul Alexander.

Steinbach played Tackle AND could play center in a pinch.

To keep an old player on his last leg when you had a perfectly capable replacement in Whitworth on the cheap for a few years, and let a young, solid lineman go, who could play LT or Center if needed, was just plain stupid and typical of the Bengals' putrid operating philosophy.

Why even bother drafting a 2nd round o-lineman if you're only going to sign him for 3 years and let him go as soon as he does what you expected? Your personnel GM should be predicting these contracts and making the tough decisions. The Bengals' don't do this.

Sorry I really just don't know what you are talking about above, you are wrong on Whitworth and Andrews - both were drafted as natural tackles, not guards. They are guards now, out of position, because the Bengals' made the idiotic decision of signing both Levi and Willie - one is practically handicapped and severely degraded, and the other one is always hurt, wants out, and has a degenerative type of knee condition they should've known about, if they didn't.

[HAPPYJAQ]

I believe the Bengals made the right move in letting Steinbach go. He is a great player, but not at 7 million per year. He got a contract nearly the same as Steve Hutchinson, and Steinbach is not even close to Hutchinson in ability. The Bengals have wanted to be more physical at the point of attack and Steinbach was more of a finesse guard, who excelled in pulling and traps. Whitworth has played very well, as his replacement. Part of the reason that Steinbach was in the first place was based on the fact that he was NFL ready coming out at the a position that the Bengals needed to find a starter. Also, at the time that Willie signed his extension, he was coming off of consecutive All-Pro selections and was still playing at a very high level.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

I believe the Bengals made the right move in letting Steinbach go. He is a great player, but not at 7 million per year. He got a contract nearly the same as Steve Hutchinson, and Steinbach is not even close to Hutchinson in ability. The Bengals have wanted to be more physical at the point of attack and Steinbach was more of a finesse guard, who excelled in pulling and traps. Whitworth has played very well, as his replacement. Part of the reason that Steinbach was in the first place was based on the fact that he was NFL ready coming out at the a position that the Bengals needed to find a starter. Also, at the time that Willie signed his extension, he was coming off of consecutive All-Pro selections and was still playing at a very high level.

I will not relent to you guys on this, if you have to pay a Safety or a Guard $7 million a year, then you do it, replace fat burger or Levi with Whitworth, and pay Steinbach, lock up a younger, proven player for 3-4 years and then make a decision on Whitworth when he's up for renewal, when he's no longer cheap. This is what all teams do, that have a good personnel GM. They aren't stuck in an antiquated state of thinking that over-values Qb's, WR's, Rb's, OT's and DE's in their cap system so severly, that they are often left scrambling and reaching just to fill roles on defense and special teams, and on the o-line, every year.

[redsbengalsbucks]

I would have taken the trade offered by Miami for 85 and still only drafted two WR's. With the extra picks I would have drafted the best DE available and the best Cornerback/safety available at the respective draft slots. Next seasons pick would just be icing on the cake.

I would be looking for the best available OC to replace the very predictable hack that is in the position currently and looking for the best young GM talent out there to put in place for the future.

I would direct this new GM to find a way to sign TJ for a three year contract and extend Jonathan Joseph's contract during this season.

The draft picks should be a priority to get signed and into camp on day 1!!

Willie and Levi both need to be examined by third party medical specialists and depending on the results dealt with accordingly. If they are unable to contirbute release them if they are healthy and can win playing time thru competition they would be more than welcome.

Finally, I would be scouring the free agent and waiver wire to find a replacement Center, with the current starter the O-line will not be better than average even at his best play.

[Sandwedge]

I was just interested to hear some of the things you guys would do if you guys were in Mikey's shoes. What would you do differently?

That is really a good question... I would probably hire a GM first... I honestly don't think MB is as cheap as most think.. He pays his good players well and the rest get payed what they should... Back to hiring a GM, I'd pretty much let him have carte blanche.. Mike is a great businessman, but not so good as a football mind.. Other than that I can't think of anything at the moment...

[BengalPimp]

This is what all teams do, that have a good personnel GM. They aren't stuck in an antiquated state of thinking that over-values Qb's, WR's, Rb's, OT's and DE's in their cap system so severly, that they are often left scrambling and reaching just to fill roles on defense and special teams, and on the o-line, every year.

LMAO....are you high? Over-Value QB's, WR's, RB's, OT's, and DE's? Those are arguably THE most important positions. So you're saying they should value kickers, punters, safeties, and guards more?

I think you may have gotten into Chris Henry or Odell's secret stash.....

[BengalszoneBilly]

Mike is a great businessman, but not so good as a football mind.

Doesn't that strike you as strange? The son of Paul Brown not having an inkling about the inner workings of football as his father had? It makes my head hurt thinking about these implications. I blame it on Mike's higher education. He focuses too much on the little details, every little dime. He can't help it...it's the lawyer in him. He's a smart man over thinking a simple game IMHO. I honestly don't see any other explanation.

I'm sure ShulaSteakhouse will soon enlighten me here though...

[Sandwedge]

Mike is a great businessman, but not so good as a football mind.

Doesn't that strike you as strange? The son of Paul Brown not having an inkling about the inner workings of football as his father had? It makes my head hurt thinking about these implications. I blame it on Mike's higher education. He focuses too much on the little details, every little dime. He can't help it...it's the lawyer in him. He's a smart man over thinking a simple game IMHO. I honestly don't see any other explanation.

I'm sure ShulaSteakhouse will soon enlighten me here though...

I think he's way to analytical... Almost like an accountant for the gov't... Almost IRS-ish... Sorry I don't mean to offend anyone .. Everytime I think of MB I think of a Les Nessman looking dude, roling his change up for safe keeping...

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Memo to agreen....you can take an average/mediocre tackle and plug him in at guard, and he'll do well. That's why teams draft TACKLES in the first round, because its the most IMPORTANT position on the OL, and if they can't end up playing there, the team knows they can always move him to guard.

That's the old thinking. Teams now are starting to realize that LG is about as important as RT - possibly moreso if you're a run-first team.

Hutchinson is worth every dime he gets and more. Look at Shaun Alexander's career before/after he left. Also consider how anybody who touches the ball in Minny looks like an All-Pro.

I'm not saying Steinbach was that good, but the position is worth consideration if you have a good LG. In the end, if we could have had Whitworth at RT and Steinbach at G, we might not have had to franchise Andrews. I'm hoping Willie finds the fountain of youth, but right now that looks like dead money.

[Ickey44]

Unfortunately, I agree. Willie was what, 33, when they resigned him? I would've chosen Steinbach, too. Willie was great, but I think he's at the end of his rope.

[Defender]

This is what all teams do, that have a good personnel GM. They aren't stuck in an antiquated state of thinking that over-values Qb's, WR's, Rb's, OT's and DE's in their cap system so severly, that they are often left scrambling and reaching just to fill roles on defense and special teams, and on the o-line, every year.

LMAO....are you high? Over-Value QB's, WR's, RB's, OT's, and DE's? Those are arguably THE most important positions. So you're saying they should value kickers, punters, safeties, and guards more?

I think what Shula is saying is that the Bengals place too high a premium on skill position players (despite OT and DE not being considered a skill position) and that football is won in the trenches. Under Andy Reid, the Eagles have taken an O-lineman or D-lineman in one of the first two rounds in each of the past six drafts, and it would be shorter to name the years they haven't been to the playoffs.

One of my changes would be to adopt that same philosophy. Draft the best slobber-knockin' fatty w/o character concerns in one (or both) of the first two rounds every year. Now, since I just took Shula's side on something, I need to go take a rape-shower.