walzav29 Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 The Bengals have sucked the majority of my life, and every year I have real hope that the Bengals could do it. That was before this season. I can't generate any hope. I think it was the 1 winning season out of 18 years. Could be that I'm watching teams fire their coaches after having far more successful seasons than the Bengals have in 18 years. Does anyone else feel this way? It seems that I will have to find a a silver lining in this black cloud, but I'm just not feeling it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skyline Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 Nah, you're crazy. Everyone around here is optimistic. Haven't you noticed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cincyhokie Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 I'm with you. This season has drained all of my optimism. Probably because we have seen the extent of what this organization can do. 1 winning season with a very very talented offense. Somehow, even with all of that talent from 2005 we couldn't get another winning season in the next 3. Glaring holes in the O-line, the O-coordinator, the defense....all go ignored for the last 3 years.We have truly seen the full blown incompetence of this organization because we have seen what they do with a losing product AND a winning one. We've seen the full potential.....and it sucks.******But if anyone is feeling optimistic and wants to buy my season tickets in the north endzone sec. 122, let me know****** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esiason#7 Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 I guess what keeps me going is that teams routinely go 4-12 one year and then 12-4 the next year. You see it all the time in the NFL,... although it happens rarely with the Bengals. But I remember the strike year of 1987 when our Bengals went 4-11, and everyone wanted Sam Wyche fired. Next year, we went all the way to the Superbowl. So it can happen, even to the Bengals, it just hasn't happened in a long time. I mean the 2005 season was nice, but we had been building towards that with a couple of 8-8 seasons prior to it. I'm not saying that the Bengals will have winning record next year, but I guess what I'm saying is it wouldn't shock me if they did go to the playoffs. Thats the beauty of the NFL. It happens all the time...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinc1129 Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 Every year it's the same for me...optimistic in the off season, only it have it crushed when reality sets in. That my friends, is the life of a Bengals fan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cincy9275 Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 what reasons are there to be optimistic? i mean really this team is so bad in so many ways, it's very hard to find a reason to be optimistic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cincyhokie Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 I guess what keeps me going is that teams routinely go 4-12 one year and then 12-4 the next year. You see it all the time in the NFL,... although it happens rarely with the Bengals. But I remember the strike year of 1987 when our Bengals went 4-11, and everyone wanted Sam Wyche fired. Next year, we went all the way to the Superbowl. So it can happen, even to the Bengals, it just hasn't happened in a long time. I mean the 2005 season was nice, but we had been building towards that with a couple of 8-8 seasons prior to it. I'm not saying that the Bengals will have winning record next year, but I guess what I'm saying is it wouldn't shock me if they did go to the playoffs. Thats the beauty of the NFL. It happens all the time......It happens all of the time with organizations that have a plan...with organizations that don't rely on luck....with organizations that strive to be the best, not strive to be competitive....When you consistently try to be the best, you are good some to most of the time....when you strive to be competitive you suck almost all of the time. The NFL paridy rewards teams that are well run and that strive to win. It lets teams that fumble around and are afraid of change fall by the wayside (Bengals, Browns, Lions, Cardinals until these past couple of years, Raiders). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esiason#7 Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 I guess what keeps me going is that teams routinely go 4-12 one year and then 12-4 the next year. You see it all the time in the NFL,... although it happens rarely with the Bengals. But I remember the strike year of 1987 when our Bengals went 4-11, and everyone wanted Sam Wyche fired. Next year, we went all the way to the Superbowl. So it can happen, even to the Bengals, it just hasn't happened in a long time. I mean the 2005 season was nice, but we had been building towards that with a couple of 8-8 seasons prior to it. I'm not saying that the Bengals will have winning record next year, but I guess what I'm saying is it wouldn't shock me if they did go to the playoffs. Thats the beauty of the NFL. It happens all the time......It happens all of the time with organizations that have a plan...with organizations that don't rely on luck....with organizations that strive to be the best, not strive to be competitive....When you consistently try to be the best, you are good some to most of the time....when you strive to be competitive you suck almost all of the time. The NFL paridy rewards teams that are well run and that strive to win. It lets teams that fumble around and are afraid of change fall by the wayside (Bengals, Browns, Lions, Cardinals until these past couple of years, Raiders). I agree 100%. Like I said, I wasn't saying I think the Bengals will make the playoffs, I was just saying it wouldn't shock me if they did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cincyhokie Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 I agree 100%. Like I said, I wasn't saying I think the Bengals will make the playoffs, I was just saying it wouldn't shock me if they did.I hear ya. For me, it would shock me if this team made the playoffs in the next 3 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BengalszoneBilly Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 what reasons are there to be optimistic?Here's three for you...#1: The defense seemed to find a groove at the end of 2008.#2: Carson will be back in the saddle.#3: The 2009 NFL Draft. Granted this may be the weakest link considering the Bengals record as of late, but I hold the hope of even the blind squirrel finding a nut once in a while! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearcat1975 Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 Don't worry.If you are optimistic about the Bengals, then you are either a new fan, not paying attention, or in complete denial.Consider the Steelers: Arguably the best overall team in football this year. Perennial playoff contender. They are young too. They could keep the same lineup for 5 years and do nothing but improve. Consider the Ravens: Flacco will only get better. Ray Lewis is getting old but still has a few years. Newsome knows how to draft D and the Ravens know how to coach up D once they get there.Consider the Bengals: They were 0-4 with Palmer this season, but somehow him coming back "solves all of their problems." In other words, 4-11-1 with no plans for change. Even if the Bengals hit jackpot in the draft, it wouldn't matter. One of Mike Brown's many other handicaps to his own franchise would do those players in. Medical Staff, Training Staff, Coaches, Facilities, Malaise and eventual decline in effort from playing for a team with an owner committed to profits and not winning, etc etc.Plus, even if the Bengals hit the jackpot and somehow make the playoffs. They will still be behind the 8-Ball. Why? No Playoff Experience. Nerves. Choke. Brad St. Louis anyone? Marvin Lewis came in with heaps of optimism, a big shovel, and zero head coaching experience. His efforts, combined with a fair amount of good luck, brought the Bengals out of the lost decade tailspin and allowed them to be a blip on the NFL radar for a brief moment.But even the best begin to falter when stretched too thin and subjected to Mike Brown's aforementioned handicaps. Even the best begin to decline and either grow restless (Chad) or apathetic (deer in the headlights).Mike Brown holding hostage the "hometown sentiment" of every Cincinnati sports fan used to make me mad. Back in the 90's I was one of those local yokels clammering for change, flying banners, ban the games, etc etc. But now? So many facts about the franchise and the NFL in general have come to light since then. And the fact is, there is zero incentive for Mike Brown to commit anything beyond the bare minimum of resources to this franchise. Until that changes, nothing else will change. Don't worry. If you find it hard to think the Bengals are headed to the playoff next season, then it just means you are paying attention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clackwoods Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 what reasons are there to be optimistic? i mean really this team is so bad in so many ways, it's very hard to find a reason to be optimistic.All it takes is one or two players to get in and change the face of an organiztion. Through bad luck and the draft and incompetence in our front office we haven't found that person. If we can get a Ray Lewis type guy that comes in and makes us a winning organization we will be solid for a while.The thing that makes me optimistic about this coming season is the fact that our defense is much improved and that was without our number 1 pick. The offense that carried us in 2005 still features at least one of the WR's and the Franchise QB. We just need a FA center and a good Tackle and another RB to go with Cedrick and we will be solid again. With a solid O and a young, great defense we will be playing in the playoffs in no time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HairOnFire Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 Optimism? I'd say my levels of that sweet substance closely match the fortunes of the team. For example, it's fair to say I've bottomed out hard quite recently....and while things seem to have improved a bit....I'm still trying to determine if things are really on the rise...or if we're just bouncing. Or put another way, I've finally shed the last tatters of whatever hopes I had for a once rising Bengal team that is no more. Dead, dead, dead. Dead, dead, dead. Time to embrace once again the tasks of rebuilding of a team that never ever stops rebuilding. But please, this time...keep it simple. Let those other guys build elaborate clockwork offenses. Defense. Then more defense. And a running game. Always a running game. But that's it. Because everything else is gravy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregCook Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 Optimism? I'd say my levels of that sweet substance closely match the fortunes of the team. For example, it's fair to say I've bottomed out hard quite recently....and while things seem to have improved a bit....I'm still trying to determine if things are really on the rise...or if we're just bouncing. Or put another way, I've finally shed the last tatters of whatever hopes I had for a once rising Bengal team that is no more. Dead, dead, dead. Dead, dead, dead. Time to embrace once again the tasks of rebuilding of a team that never ever stops rebuilding. But please, this time...keep it simple. Let those other guys build elaborate clockwork offenses. Defense. Then more defense. And a running game. Always a running game. But that's it. Because everything else is gravy.Nope on the optimism.Dead Cat Bounce is how I looked at the Bengals month of December. Sure they had a very hard schedule, we all knew that going into the spring but getting killed so much? Not expected. Losing every game against a good opponent? Not expected. Course that Philly game was the one game where the Bengal defense showed it was for real against a good team, for that one game.11-5 in 2005 shows they did it once, it could happen again during Mike Brown's ownership. Once in almost 20 years isn't reason for optimism, ever.I think Cincy Bengal fans are closet dope addicts subconsciously. We put ourselves thru withdrawal(constant losing) just so when we do shoot up, I mean win in the playoffs, the high will be suicidally very high. Throw in some optimism with absolutely no basis in reality and your typical Bengal fan is as detached from reality as most addicts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kazkal Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 Not over till the fat lady sings "shoves a sock in shirlys mouth" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierCat Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 No, I don't find it hard to be optimistic. The defense improved despite injury and a lack of talent. Some young guys and reserves on the offense -- Collins, Livings, James Johnson, Caldwell -- showed they could play. As to the rest, hey, we aren't even to February yet, much less March FA or the April draft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArmyBengal Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 I'm a fan so I'm always optimistic. If you aren't optimistic, why bother ?? I mean I go into every offseason thinking there is at least a chance the Bengals will improve. That's optimism, so no I'm not having a hard time with it at all, it's this way every season. I still say losing both Thurman and Pollack threw this defense into a huge hole that they are just now clawing their way out of. We got Rivers last year and brought in both Zimmer and Fitzgerald to coach. With another good defensive draft, I honestly don't think it's difficult to say our defense will continue to improve. That and being able to address the o-line will help both the running game and Carson. Optimism ?? Yes, quite easily. And with all of that optimism, I'm thinking 8-8... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derekshank Posted January 25, 2009 Report Share Posted January 25, 2009 I guess it depends on what you mean by optimistic. I don't expect the Bengals to be a contender for another couple of years. That said, I do feel like they are at least headed in a good direction in rebuild mode.Yeah... the Bengals were in rebuild mode for 15 years, but for some reason for the first time in the Marvin era, this felt like a Marvin team. All the distractions about trouble with the law are in the past. The bad luck in the early years of the draft (Perry, Pollack, Thurman) will get easier to hurdle with every passing year. Who knows? If Marvin and Zimmer get that defense playing good ball, and the O-Line is addressed, maybe this could be a good team sooner than expected. But in my mind, Best case scenario would still be 2010. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kazkal Posted January 25, 2009 Report Share Posted January 25, 2009 So once again I couldn't sleep so I made a new sig gogo paint Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsemen Posted January 25, 2009 Report Share Posted January 25, 2009 I'm unable to feel optimistic right now walzav. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonf45uk Posted January 27, 2009 Report Share Posted January 27, 2009 i feel suprisingly optimistic. The defence toughened up last year, the running game can't get any worse(surely), carson will hopefully get a full season.......and the Cardinals made it to the Superbowl!!!Anyway, there's always next year....jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAPPYJAQ Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 I think that this offseaon has the potential to be one of the most interesting offseasons in Bengals history. T.J. and Shayne Graham, both key players to recent success, are both UFA's. The Bengals will have to decide on both, in addition to trying to reach deals with other key free agents like Crocker, Benson, Jeanty and Brandon Johnson. Giauchic is also an UFA, as is Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Bengals have cap room, but it is unlikely to be able to resign any of these players. In the last few seasons, Mike has shown that he is willing to at least attempt to acquire impact players and it will interesting to see if he values his own players more than other UFAs from other teams.The Bengals have a young, improving defense and the line played better the 2nd half of the season. They also play the AFC West and NFC North next season, so the schedule should be easier than playing the loaded NFC East and AFC South. Carson is still one of the top 5 or QB's in the game and we should have 4 picks in the top 105 or so, with a 3rd round compensatory pick, hopefully. Depending on what's done in free agency, as far as keeping key players, the Bengals should be at least a .500 team next season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwillycuse Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 Im so optimistic, I have decided not to renew my season tickets.I couldn't even give away tickets at the end of the year. I wonder if we will be getting some blackouts next year.Keeping Brat after finishing dead last in offense is ridiculous IMO. Regardless of who was behind center. And if that is an excuse then that backup should not be on the team.I want changes before i drop down $2000 again. At least I know seats will be available. Then I can pick them up on Stubhub for $5 whenever I want to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArmyBengal Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 Funny, I couldn't see justifying spending that kind of money either on season tickets. That being said, I'm still optimistic for this upcoming season. For the time being... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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