What have you learned this season?

[BengalByTheBay]

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)))

Oddly, it turns out to have been a lose-lose situation as I doubt Shayne's agent has teams lined up on hold right about now. Hopefully, he will get another chance and, more hopefully, that will be with a different team.

[Ickey44]

I bet Shayne wishes he signed that deal now.

[Ickey44]

I learned that even if the Bengals are winning games that there are still fans who can never see the positive in anything this team does and they always find at least one thing to bitch about.

I also learned that pisses me off to no end.

[HairOnFire]

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)))

Oddly, it turns out to have been a lose-lose situation as I doubt Shayne's agent has teams lined up on hold right about now. Hopefully, he will get another chance and, more hopefully, that will be with a different team.

It was absolutely a no-win for both sides. The Bengals retained a popular player and saved money while doing it, but ultimately lost. And Opie not only didn't get what he wanted....his entire career, past and future, is in jeopardy.

But couldn't the same no-win rant be said in retrospect regarding TJ and the Bengals?

[BengalPimp]

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)))

Oddly, it turns out to have been a lose-lose situation as I doubt Shayne's agent has teams lined up on hold right about now. Hopefully, he will get another chance and, more hopefully, that will be with a different team.

Even more hopefully, it will be against a team we face in a big game...he owes us some big misses on the other end to even things out!

[jjakq27]

I wonder what will happen in Indy next year? Stover is still getting the job done and Vinitieri is still on the team. It'd be nice to nab one of those two. Love to have Stover so he could stick it to the Ravens twice a year.

[COB]

I bet Shayne wishes he signed that deal now.

Maybe he added to the pressure/choke factor by forcing the tag, thus making those kicks in the playoff games the ultimate audition for the next deal he planned on getting.

[jjakq27]

But couldn't the same no-win rant be said in retrospect regarding TJ and the Bengals?

I haven't heard too many people saying "if we only had TJ". Yeah things would have been better offensively but I take many of the comments about the locker room improvements as a direct shot at him.

[HairOnFire]

I haven't heard too many people saying "if we only had TJ".

Fair enough.

Then again, how many people can you now hear talking about the desperate pressing need for a new WR?

Just saying...

[membengal]

I've learned they need a guy like TJ. But not TJ. Part of the leap forward was divesting from attitudes like his, unfortunately, it came at an on-field cost in the end.

I've learned they have solved their C issues. I trust Cook, and think he will only get better from here.

I've learned that they are not there yet on the edge defensively when it comes to line-play. Losing Odom hurt, badly, but was disappointed in not getting more consistent pressure from Geathers as the year unwound.

I've learned that the team can be built safely around Benson. Just a hard-nosed runner with a burst that makes him dangerous.

I've learned that Carson's mental issues stemming from the ACL tear appear to now be chronic. We are way past the time when "happy feet" should have stopped being a problem, but he remains too unwilling (unable?) to step into throws with pressure. They either need to make the line pass block better, or get CP to get over the mental hurdle, but another year like this will be in the offing and frustrating from a passing game perspective if they do not address it this time around.

I learned that Chris Henry (or the threat that he represented) was far more crucial to the passing game than mere numbers might have let on. Score one for Mike Brown on that.

[jjakq27]

The Hard Knocks "jinx" didn't affect the team this year. In fact the whole experience might have helped to solidify the team. I think I have a new found appreciation for the difficulty in running and coaching a football team. It ain't as easy as it looks.

Cedric Benson is the real deal. Good man with a lot left on the tires.

Carson has officially crossed over into the "your open to honest criticism just like everyone else" phase. It is a little unnerving to see him struggle at times but then look so calm at others. The speed at which plays are called in and ultimately run needs to be fixed. Too many delay of game penalties killed the team at inopportune moments as did the false starts.

In defense of Carson, I compared our WR corps to team like Minnesota, Indy and New Orleans in the playoffs and it isn't even close. Time to address that issue big time.

The team finished 1-3 after the death of Chris Henry. I heard Cris Carter talking about the death of teammate Korey Stringer and how it ruined their entire season that year. This unfortunate event should be considered a big factor in the late season demise of the team. However, I doubt very much that we could have beaten SD or Indy if we had beaten the Jets.

Mike Zimmer have moved this defense forward by light years. A continued emphasis on getting pressure on the QB is essential. Getting more talent on the D-line can only help.

I am tired of drafting guys because of "more upside". I think this staff is in love with their ability or desire to be teachers. Get guys that are game ready now. You don't have two or three years to develop guys. Look at Stacy Andrews. What do you have to show for him? Zip. Yes Jerome Simpson might have had all the physical stats but somebody overestimated their ability to bring this guy up to the NFL level of play when you could have had DeSean Jackson . The lifespan of a player is so short sometimes that you may never get any value out of a player especially when they are a high pick like Simpson. You usually don't have the luxury of unlimited time and money.

I will give Chase Coffman a free pass for the year. He must have done a good job of hiding his injury but he took a big chance at getting cut. Hopefully he comes back healthy after his surgery and can become the productive TE we have needed since the days of Rodney Holman.

The talking heads were just waiting for the team to finally fail so they could say "I told you so". And they did. Making the playoffs did gain us a measure of respect though.

Sweeping the Steelers and Ravens was the high point of the season for me.

I think the Jets became more of what we wanted to be than we did.

People will get used to winning ugly by running and playing defense. It's a different mindset for fans of this franchise. A win is a win period. Style points don't count.

[w8th]

I've learned that while a certain WR from a I-AA school can't develop enough to see the field in his second season, a WR from a Division III school can not only play in his second season, he's one of the primary reasons his team made the Super Bowl.

[BengalszoneBilly]

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.

Then don't be too shocked when Stallworth from the Browns shows his face in town. We all know it could very well happen now that Cleveland has cut him.

[HAPPYJAQ]

Well, let's see...

#1. Carson Palmer - Is it the shoulder, the offensive line, or something internally, but he's not the player that he once was, whether we choose to believe it or not. That said, he's still a more than capable starting QB for the Bengals.

#2. The Ocho - After a horrid offseason or two, he regained the ability to once again be a receiver that will give most defenses trouble. Ironically, his game is now more Housh than Chad Johnson.

#3. Coles - Great teammate, but can't be trusted. He's also most likely in decline, so an equally sub-par season production wise, might be in order for '10. Love what he does in the running game, and hate what he does in actually catching the football. Another reactionary UFA signing bites the dust, at the reported tune of around 12 million for last season.

#4. Mike Brown/FO - Mr. Maligned himself quietly orchestrated a great draft and productive offseason. After all that's been said, he's still not afraid to take chances of players that other teams won't touch, and it's paid off (for the most part). Imagine the season had he traded Chad, bypassed Rey and Scott, or not offered Tank or Roy? Let the Odell Thurman return talk begin, but I think he'll stay away from Stallworth...unless he wants the MADD faithful at PBS.

#5. Shayne Graham - It's finally been determine that his past choke jobs were not isolated incidents, and rather the norm in high-pressure situations. Some team will like to have him as their kicker, I just hope his kicked his last football in stripes.

#6. Marvin - An outstanding head football coach in his own right. Granted, still some questionable decision-making on occassion, but nobody has done more with less in the face of more obstacles than Marvin. It's amazing he was able to hold this team together with two deaths within the Bengal family this year, and he's done a masterful job transitioning this team to a ball-control offense that relies on a strong defense. We're lucky to have him.

#7. Cedric Benson - One of the top power RBs in the game, proved that his mild success in '08 was not a fluke. Further validation can be attained in comparing the Chris Perry era to the last season-and-a-half with Ced starting, with essentially the same starting O-line.

#8. J-Jo/Hall - Easily the best Bengals CB duo in two decades. Signing both and extending Ced should be the top priorities over the next year, even at the risk of signing few or even no high-profile UFAs from other teams. Zimmer has said himself that the defense's success will be determined by the play at CB. If I had to choose one, I'd go with Joseph. In a larger market, he'd be mentioned with the likes Darrelle Revis or the dude in Oakland as being amongst the best in the game.

#9. Dhani Jones versus BengalsNation - Still puzzled at why folks around here don't think he's important to the defense, and just assume that Rey would be better or even a draft pick. He's been THE difference in the defense's improvement, especially since moving to the middle. He might not be Ray Lewis, but he sure as hell isn't Anthony Schlegal or Caleb Miller. Jones is one of the most consistent players we've had on a week-to-week basis on defense in a long time.

#10. BengalsNation versus BengalsNation - It's almost depressing that most Bengals fans can't simply enjoy a winning season in which the team made the Playoffs, without optimism for future years. It's almost like we're USED to losing and anything other than a 5-11 season and a top 10 draft pick will not do. There's a reason that Mike is entertaining the idea of getting out of the 'Nati. Let's hope that Marvin sticks around and the drafts continue to be strong, regardless of where we pick.

[jjakq27]

Wow, very well said.

[cincy5885]

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?

Last year I said we shouldn't get rid of Marvin people weren't happy that we kept him but I had faith

"In Marvin We Trust"

-Mike Zimmer is God and we will only get better as a defense

-Is Carson are future

-Andre, Simpson, Quan, or none of the above

-Do the Bengals have a good role model (Maualuga arrested)

-Mike Browns risk finally paid off (Benson)

-Is it possible for our draft picks not to get injured or be a bust Kenny Irons 2007 Kieth Rivers 2008 and Andre Smith 2009

-We still can't win a playoff game