What have you learned this season?

[HairOnFire]

Yes, yes, yes.

Of course you were right.

About that thing you said.

Whatever it was.

Back then.

And yeah, I know....nobody listened to you then.

Those idiots.

Those bastards.

(((sniff)))

But gentle reader, I now ask you NOT what are those things you will you pat yourself on the back for, but rather....what have you LEARNED this season?

What little bit of cherished opinion did you once believe in that you now openly question OR even reject? Big stuff or small, doesn't matter. What grand concepts or silly pieces of fluffery have you reconsidered based upon the season that was.

And yes, I realize for this thing to work I must go first.

Fellow Zoners, in the very last game of the season that was I finally understood some of the criticism directed at Marvin in regards to instant replay challenges.

Seriously, I get it now. Nothing more needs to be said.

In fact, I apologize for the lateness of my enlightenment.

So, who want's to go next?

[BengalByTheBay]

I learned that there is truth to the popular wisdom that Shayne chokes under pressure. As he has now proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that he can miss short, well-snapped, well-held field goals in cold, but otherwise uninhibiting weather. Maybe I'm just dense, but that is something I have learned.

[JoePong]

We found our center of the future with Kyle Cook.

The revamped O-Line with a new player at just about every position performed well and should only get better with some experience and continuity.

Jeremi Johnson can still play.

TJ made a mistake by going to Seattle.

Bernard Scott can be a big weapon at this level, no matter where he played college ball, and the bengals need to find a way to utilize him on offense.

Carson Palmer needs weapons at the WR position. Contrary to what some people said, WRs are not a dime a dozen and Palmer can't take any WR and make them great.

We had a very good draft with a whole bunch of guys who can contribute to a winning team.

People who were calling J Joseph a bust were being pretty ridiculous.

Carson Palmer was reincarnated and came back as Trent Dilfer.

[Spor_tees]

I learned a few things:

I was wrong to get mad at all the TV analyst that said Carson Palmer was not an elite QB. He has some good games, but when he has a bad game, he has a BAD game. You just can't be an elite QB in the NFL and do things like that.

Shayne Graham might just be Mike Vanderjact 2.0.

The Bengals need more team speed. A LOT more team speed. In fact A LOT might not even be big enough word for that.

The offensive line did much better than expected, and Kyle Cook might be just as mean as the rest of the lineman said he was coming out of training camp.

No matter what approach the offense takes they will never utilize a TE.

Brain Leonard gives the most effort of anyone on the team. They need to use him more often.

[HoosierCat]

Whitworth to LT actually worked. I had my doubts.

Collins to RT didn't.

L. Coles is done.

[cincyhokie]

I learned:

Marvin can be a motivator, he is a good coach, and he actually can succeed in incorporating an "identity" for this team.

This team can play from behind and it's got alot of heart and fight.

We have a much better coaching staff than I had realized. Led by Zimmer and Fitz.

[walzav29]

I learned that the Bengals can't rest their starters before the playoffs. They play to their level of competition. Marvin is still learning how to be a head coach. Cedric is the best RB on the team. They need deep threats at WR. You can't just turn it off and turn it on. They can't expect to be on the big stage and continue to choke any time they are on it.

[cincyhokie]

I learned that the Bengals can't rest their starters before the playoffs. They play to their level of competition. Marvin is still learning how to be a head coach. Cedric is the best RB on the team. They need deep threats at WR. You can't just turn it off and turn it on. They can't expect to be on the big stage and continue to choke any time they are on it.

You have to say they did something on the "big stage" this year that they have never done. Pittsburgh and Baltimore, twice. Add in the Green Bay game where nobody gave them a chance.

If the big stage is strickly the playoffs, they haven't been there enough to be considered to continually choke. Taking into account their first game was lost the moment Palmer was hurt.

[cincyhokie]

Oh and I forgot the most important thing...

I learned that the more I realize I don't know everything, I'm more capable I am to learn something.

I said 6-10. I was wrong about alot. I'm glad I was.

[ArmyBengal]

What I learned this season:

#1. I finally get that regardless of how I feel about bringing in "questionable" players, it's going to happen and it may turn out better than I thought possible. I bashed the Foschi signing when it happened, but I think he turned out as the 4th best receiver on the team and a 3rd of his receptions went for 1st downs. That doesn't make him a starter 100% of the time, but he didn't hurt our situation this season.

#2. Carson can't make WR's better just because. Come to think of it, I now think the line of thought that ANY quarterback can actually make a WR better is more on the WR having he physical ability and intelligence to digest the particular offensive scheme he's operating within and has MUCH less to do with whomever the QB happens to be.

#3. Sometimes losing "one" player actually can hurt BADLY, when I've always thought that should never be the case. When Peko went down, our run defense went along with it. Yeah, Crocker didn't help that cause, but Peko was HUGE in that aspect. The same can be said of the Steelers this season with Troy as well. I think it goes to show how good of a player Peko really is, when I wasn't sold on him either to start the season. Don't ask me why...

If I were to think harder, I'm sure I could come up with more, but long winded posts suck more times than not...

[kingwilly]

We found our center of the future with Kyle Cook.

The revamped O-Line with a new player at just about every position performed well and should only get better with some experience and continuity.

Jeremi Johnson can still play.

TJ made a mistake by going to Seattle.

Bernard Scott can be a big weapon at this level, no matter where he played college ball, and the bengals need to find a way to utilize him on offense.

Carson Palmer needs weapons at the WR position. Contrary to what some people said, WRs are not a dime a dozen and Palmer can't take any WR and make them great.

We had a very good draft with a whole bunch of guys who can contribute to a winning team.

People who were calling J Joseph a bust were being pretty ridiculous.

Carson Palmer was reincarnated and came back as Trent Dilfer.

I learned, and may this be an example for the rest of you, that if you are a general tool and blow goats long enough, you can salvage yourself and contribute meaningful, thoughtful posts, as we now see with Pong.

Spot on, Pong, spot on.

[cincyhokie]

We found our center of the future with Kyle Cook.

The revamped O-Line with a new player at just about every position performed well and should only get better with some experience and continuity.

Jeremi Johnson can still play.

TJ made a mistake by going to Seattle.

Bernard Scott can be a big weapon at this level, no matter where he played college ball, and the bengals need to find a way to utilize him on offense.

Carson Palmer needs weapons at the WR position. Contrary to what some people said, WRs are not a dime a dozen and Palmer can't take any WR and make them great.

We had a very good draft with a whole bunch of guys who can contribute to a winning team.

People who were calling J Joseph a bust were being pretty ridiculous.

Carson Palmer was reincarnated and came back as Trent Dilfer.

I learned, and may this be an example for the rest of you, that if you are a general tool and blow goats long enough, you can salvage yourself and contribute meaningful, thoughtful posts, as we now see with Pong.

Spot on, Pong, spot on.

Alot of Joe's insight is pretty accurate. His delivery pisses people off. Ahem, except for the whole "Palmer sucks" thing.

[volcom69]

Things i learned this season:

1- The o-line was very suprising to me and thought they played very good, and will only get better.

2- I thought Palmer was a great QB, but now i am wondering what is wrong with him, my how things change.

3- The defense was amazing, had a great year, but ended very bad. It was sad to see how bad they played in this last game. Please re-sign Zim!

4- Benson is amazing, and this team has some great RBs

5- I still question Marvin Lewis as a coach, and i wonder if he will ever be able to win the big game. He needs to learn clock managment.

6- I think the most thing i learned this year is there is no I in team. I feel this team was very close to one another and leaned on each other when things went bad. I think this is why they had a great year, they learned to play like a team, and if there was one thing i would be proud of it is this! With all these horrible things that happend this year they could have quit, but they didnt they came toghter to help each other out!

[BengalPimp]

A Few things that i learned......

I learned that Robert Geathers is absolutely NOT a Pass Rusher. His 10.5 Sacks in 2006 were a fluke, as evidenced by the TOTAL of 9.5 sacks he has had the past 3 SEASONS.

I also learned that Antwan Odom was not a "bust" free-agent signing, after a sub-par 1st season with the Bengals. Man did they miss his pressure.

I learned that Rey Maualuga was very important to our run Defense. While he may not have made evry tackle himself, he did do a great job as a Rookie taking on and shedding blockers, thus freeing up others to make the tackles. Very good run defender as a rookie.

Lastly, I learned (I actually already knew, but it was reaffirmed) that being a fan clouds your judgement, and sets unrealistic expectations. Honestly, to have lost the amount of players we have and make it as far as we did is quite amazing. No Reggie Kelly, Ben Utecht, Antwan Odom, Chris Henry, Roy Williams, David Jones, Rey Maualuga, Pat Sims, Chase Coffman( yes he didnt do anything, but he's better than Coats) and those were the season-ending ones..we lost many others players for stretches as well. We lost 3 TE's...how does that happen?

[HairOnFire]

And to think how many of you laughed at me when I described Joe as...."occasionally brilliant, needlessly negative, and mildly retarded."

I nailed it.

[kingwilly]

And to think how many of you laughed at me when I described Joe as...."occasionally brilliant, needlessly negative, and mildly retarded."

I nailed it.

PongSavant

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

And to think how many of you laughed at me when I described Joe as...."occasionally brilliant, needlessly negative, and mildly retarded."

I nailed it.

You got two out of three. I'll leave it as an exercise to the reader to pick which two.

[Stripes]

I learned that despite all of their maddening negativity born more of a personality disorder than anything real, Bengals fans are at least capable of filling the stadium quickly for a playoff game and making some noise.

[Pidge]

It hit me - and this isn't to excuse Carson from his lengthy bouts of poor play play at times this yr - that Carson is already on the downward slope of his career. Sure, when he gets healthy (avoiding injury etc) he's got a good 6 or 7 yrs left. Maybe a little less with his injury record but damn, hurry the f**k up and get the Offense sorted out and let's make a real run at this thing at least once.

Before we have a forced change at QB which is pretty much a crapshoot. We have one of the better QBs in the league - a league where good QBs are a rare species. Let's not conintue to piss the yrs away.

I love the running game and if this was college I'd be stoked about it but a good running game alone isn't going to cut it in the nuffle.

Also, feeling very neutral about Marv as well. Good motivator but comes up short in other areas.

[redsbengalsbucks]

I learned that not drafting a C early last draft wasnt a bad idea. Ced is a beast. Palmer is not an elite QB. Coles lost alot in one offseason. Henry's death seemed to take alot of heart out of this team. Jerimi Johnson can still play, if he is in shape. Simpson has wasted his chances to become a WR for the Bengals. Rey is going to be good. Rivers has alot of B. Simmons in him. Hall can become one of the best CB's in the NFL, Joseph isnt far behind. Dhani is a smart MLB, but is getting old. ROY is fragile. Crocker and Peko are the heart of the run defense. Bernard Scott is what I thought he could be. Quan Cosby looks like a good hands WR. Caldwell is inconsistent. J.P. Foshci is a TE, Coats isnt. Andre Smith looked good after a long wait. Marvin Lewis is not a good judge of when to challengs a play. Graham is not a clutch kicker. Brad St. Loius is a head case.

And most important of all THE BENGALS ARE THE BEST TEAM IN THE AFCN. WHO-DEY!!!!

[ArmyBengal]

And most important of all THE BENGALS ARE THE BEST TEAM IN THE AFCN. WHO-DEY!!!!

Of course that dismissing the fact the Ravens are still in the playoffs, we aren't, and you go by year end final standings...

[redsbengalsbucks]

And most important of all THE BENGALS ARE THE BEST TEAM IN THE AFCN. WHO-DEY!!!!

Of course that dismissing the fact the Ravens are still in the playoffs, we aren't, and you go by year end final standings...

No, I will stand by my statement. The Bengals beat the Ravens twice to earn the bragging rights to the division for a year. Even if the Ravens pull off a SB win they are still the second place team in the division.

[HairOnFire]

I learned that despite all of their maddening negativity born more of a personality disorder than anything real, Bengals fans are at least capable of filling the stadium quickly for a playoff game and making some noise.

I wasn't going to mention this, but since you brought it up....

To my amazement I learned I could forgive my fellow Bengal fans for booing what many of us still consider to be a suprising overachieving playoff team. In fact, I found it was remarkably easy to forgive each of you miserable bastards due to two suprising factors.

First, while many Bengal fans can be accurately described as a miserable self-loathing bunch....(wait for it)....I do realize now how difficult it can be when watching star players flat out embarrass themselves in the manner that Palmer, The Ocho, and The Opie managed to do. Those types of miserable performances take our depression a step beyond normal losing into the realm of the weak willed choker.....feeding our own feelings of self-loathing.

Thus, we boo ourselves.

But mostly I forgave my fellow Bengal fan because Patriot fans gave me little choice in the matter. After all, ten minutes into that teams playoff game with the Ravens that crowd saw fit to boo the so-called Team of the Decade off the field.

So, in closing, while I still wish you bastards hadn't sent my beloved Bengals into the postseason reeling from a loud chorus of boos...(voice trails off)

Note: As I wrote the above it became increasingly clear that I haven't fully forgiven my fellow Bengal fan. In fact, it now seems obvious that by indulging my inner apologist I've actually gotten back in touch with my inner anger.

So, in retrospect I guess there's nothing left to do but shut this one down immediately while hoping the now discredited and blatantly insincere apology posted at the top of this post is blindly accepted as the olive branch it was originally intended to be.

[gregstephens]

I will limit my lessons for discussion purposes, and not as a sign that I didn't learn a lot, because I did.

#1--I learned my lesson about Shayne-o-matic. Hair and I wasted a lot of energy debating the whole idea of long term deal versus franchise tagging him. I even wrote on my little short-lived blog-o-matic that we should strive to keep Opie. I don't remember why Hair and I debated it or who was saying what, although I vaguely recall it having something to do with whether the team would franchise him two seasons in a row. Regardless of my past positions, I've now learned he needs to go. Period. Nothing else to say. There will be no Opie apologetics from me.

#2--I learned that TJ Doushmadzadeh was a true cancer and, despite the very inconsistent play of this team, the Bengals are indeed better off without him.

#3--I learned that Mike Zimmer is indeed a very good DC and that we have a good defensive foundation that can only mature and grow and hold this team defensively for a long time to come.

#4--I learned that this year's offense was as bad as a whole as any I've seen in the past. Ced excepted, of course, this offense is poorly coached, poorly planned and poorly executed. Still living in 2005, this one hit me the hardest of all.

[HairOnFire]

I don't remember why Hair and I debated it or who was saying what, although I vaguely recall it having something to do with whether the team would franchise him two seasons in a row. Regardless of my past positions, I've now learned he needs to go. Period. Nothing else to say. There will be no Opie apologetics from me.

My point then and now was simple enough. That being, franchise tagging a player two years in a row typically results in the team drastically overpaying for his services. However, Opie is a kicker. Normal rules no longer apply. And because Opie repeatedly turned down the Bengals long-term proposals the Bengals were unable to secure his services for what they believed to be a fair market price. Furthermore, Opie was said to be reluctant to sign a true long-term deal...demanding instead a 3-year deal that would have allowed him to test the market again in a few years. Now here's the rub again. By franchise tagging Opie the Bengals were not only able to secure his services for less than he was asking, but also...less than his speculated fair market value. And they could have done the exact same thing again this offseason, thereby locking up his services at below market value for a period only one year shorter than the long-term deal Opie was seeking.

To me, a strong Opie supporter, the choice was simple enough. Overpay for three or four years or use the restrictive tag and underpay for one or two.

Sadly, many Bengal fans, Greg and I included, learned painfully there was a 3rd option we should have considered more closely. That being, let Opie go without a fight.

(((heavy sigh)))