Words from Bill Polian - Discuss

[membengal]

Alex Marvez‏@alexmarvez

Bill Polian says #Bengals have done the best job of any team this offseason in the draft/free agency. "The winners of the offseason."

[membengal]

And some other words...

Mike McCartney ‏ @MikeMcCartney7

Does anybody in the #NFL have a better young nucleus than the#Bengals? So much hope when you draft well.

[volcom69]

While I mostly agree, this still a pretty young team and hope they learn from there mistakes from last year. One thing that worries me or hope does not happen is they let comments like these or others get in there heads, and they think there the greatest. Last time this team had great things said about them they won 4 games. I love the team they building and they have a ton of potential, and I can't wait. Let's just see how they handle success!

[membengal]

I frankly never understand this worry. I dont see whitworth et al not working as hard because people are saying nice things about the team. Non-issue.

[BengalszoneBilly]

And some other words...

Mike McCartney ‏ @MikeMcCartney7

Does anybody in the #NFL have a better young nucleus than the#Bengals? So much hope when you draft well.

To quote the character "Red" from the movie "Shawshank Redemption", "Let me tell you something my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane".

Welcome to the asylum.

[derekshank]

And some other words...

Mike McCartney ‏ @MikeMcCartney7

Does anybody in the #NFL have a better young nucleus than the#Bengals? So much hope when you draft well.

To quote the character "Red" from the movie "Shawshank Redemption", "Let me tell you something my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane".

Welcome to the asylum.

Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.

[BengalszoneBilly]

And some other words...

Mike McCartney ‏ @MikeMcCartney7

Does anybody in the #NFL have a better young nucleus than the#Bengals? So much hope when you draft well.

To quote the character "Red" from the movie "Shawshank Redemption", "Let me tell you something my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane".

Welcome to the asylum.

Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.

Good comeback.

[membengal]

While I always like a good Shawshank exchange, I am guessing that the pessimists on the board have no reason to discuss what Polian said? Are we too run down as a fanbase to acknowledge that the Bengals might really be killing this off-season?

What I found interesting in particular from Polian was, despite the bitching about free agency from some, he included Cincy's work in that area along with the draft as the bases for his statement.

[ArmyBengal]

What I found interesting in particular from Polian was, despite the bitching about free agency from some, he included Cincy's work in that area along with the draft as the bases for his statement.

I've moved on from my thoughts they could have done more in free agency.

My thought there was always adding one starter in FA would have freed up the draft. That didn't happen.

However, where I am now is waiting to see if they take some of that and take care of the guys coming due in order to make that less of a burden moving forward. As Derek said, that can happen at any time (May, June, etc...) but if they go through the process and are no better off with the guys who have contracts coming due, I will be no more happy than I was watching them miss out on starters in FA.

As of this time, I am thinking things are well...

[HoosierCat]

Are we too run down as a fanbase to acknowledge that the Bengals might really be killing this off-season?

Not at all. Comments like Polian's are good to hear. But the Bengals have "won the offseason" before only to crash and burn when the games get played. Hopefully this time around all the improvements on paper transfer to the field.

[membengal]

Name me the last offseason, by neutral observers claims, they "won".

note I am not making the argument that doing well now ensures a successful campaign, I am instead simply enjoying an offseason of supreme competence, and filing it under heading "it cant hurt".

Btw , this offseason of awesome started with keeping the staff mostly intact.

[ArmyBengal]

Btw , this offseason of awesome started with keeping the staff mostly intact.

Couldn't agree more. Not losing Jay Gruden is going to be HUGE for them this season.

If they have further success, that will be a more challenging task come 2013 I think.

Zimmer is also going to get a shot sooner or later.

In regards to the offseason and draft. I will again say that I am very happy with things.

I also won't worry about if and when we start to resign players.

We can deal with that if and when it happens.

[HoosierCat]

Name me the last offseason, by neutral observers claims, they "won".

Well, shoot, how about 2010? Prisco gave the draft a B+, Clayton & Schefter both picked the Bengals to win the divison, Mort predicted a Bengals/Packers Super Bowl and NFL.com's Pat Kirwan predicted we'd win it.

[derekshank]

Name me the last offseason, by neutral observers claims, they "won".

Well, shoot, how about 2010? Prisco gave the draft a B+, Clayton & Schefter both picked the Bengals to win the divison, Mort predicted a Bengals/Packers Super Bowl and NFL.com's Pat Kirwan predicted we'd win it.

I'm not sure anyone has ever said that the Bengals have "won the offseason." In 2010, there were high expectations because Cincinnati had just swept the AFC North and gone to the playoffs despite a comical number of injuries... and then they added T.O. and PacMan Jones. The Bengals made headlines, and expectations were high... but that's a lot different than the type of praise they are currently getting.

In reality, the Jets "won the offseason" in 2010. They went out and got LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Cromartie, Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards, and Jason Taylor. Perhaps that's your point... and it's a good one. Who was the last team that "won the offseason" and managed to live up to those expectations? The Eagles "dream team" certainly failed.

On the other hand... the Bengals are not getting publicity for going out and signing big name free agents like they did in 2010 (and the method most teams use to "win the offseason"), so I can't help but feel a bit differently this time. It seems like the Bengals are building this team the right way. It seems like there is reason to have hope - not for just 2012 - but for the foreseeable future. If the Bengals have "won the offseason" the way Polian suggests, it's not because they are going all in for 2012. It's because the media is starting to notice that the Bengals roster is starting to look downright scary... and they are doing it without mortgaging the future.

So, while I can appreciate your caution (and any Bengal fan alive is aware of the reasons to heed the advice), I will admit that this feels a bit different. So forgive me if for the immediate present, I have chosen hope over caution.

[membengal]

What derek said. 2010 doesnt fit hoosier.

[HoosierCat]

Actually, I'd say derek only highlights the strong parallel. He's quite right that the 2010 Bengals had "high expectations because Cincinnati had just swept the AFC North and gone to the playoffs despite a comical number of injuries." Expectations for the '12 squad are just as high after another playoff appearance following a tragi-comical offseason in which there was a leaguewide lockout and their starting QB quit. In both years, their draft was praised. Conversely, neither the 2010 nor the 2012 teams got high marks in free agency. The 2010 team made the dubious decision to sign the injured Antonio Bryant and then, after he couldn't go, the even more eye-raising decision to bring in TO (Pacman was the 2010 version of Burfict, at least as far as the "there they go again" crowd was concerned.) This year's team had the most cap space in the league, yet made no big signings.

By the time the 2010 season was approaching, we were drowning in a flood of expectations. I expect 2012 will be the same. Hopefully, the results are different.

[kingwilly]

despite the draft and FA's so far,they need/needed a veteran WR. I would like a more physical guy, in the mold of a Boldin or Marshall but I don't see a guy out there who fits the bill.

Perhaps the TE they drafted can fit the bill in this offense? That, or they can use BJGE to catch the ball similar to Ray Rice.

Should Sanu and Jones ramp up quickly, maybe we will be pleasantly surprised?

[membengal]

I won't be surprised. I expect what you are looking for was just drafted.

[walzav29]

What do we think is the difference between this team and the 2010 team? Obviously it's totally different, but I'm wondering what qualities do we think this team will have the other didn't?

[princeton]

What do we think is the difference between this team and the 2010 team? Obviously it's totally different, but I'm wondering what qualities do we think this team will have the other didn't?

the Diva Team thought that it'd be easy because they'd done well the previous year, plus they were Divas. not a lot of offseason work. during the season, Carson went mental because he was faced by not just one but two Chads. maybe his wife went a little Chad on him as well.

the Diva-less 2012 team got its nose bloodied and pants soiled by Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Houston in 2011. This is a team that will work hard in offseason, intent to gain revenge. Also, no divas. One can complain about deep arm, but Dalton is mentally tough.

Defense should be more physical in 2012 than in 2010. Looks like there'll be more depth too. I also like that Geno made Pro Bowl but Dunlap did NOT in 2011... the DE has something to prove. Can't wait.

sure would like to have the 2010 cornerbacks though.

[ArmyBengal]

Difference between 2010 and now ??

That is easy, the quitter mentality left the building.

It's not that I dislike Palmer either, because he was always my favorite player when he was here and I would defend him even when he played poorly, but his head wasn't in the game and he just quit on an entire team. It doesn't matter what was going on here with the Bengals, you just don't do sh*t like that.

They got rid of him and the rebuild was epic.

Dalton, Green, Atkins, Gresham, and a group of others that fit has been awesome.

Add them having another solid draft of players that fit and consistency in the coaching staff.

There is more reason to be optimistic this season than that one.

Anything short of "at least" a playoff victory and I will chalk up the 2012 season as a poor one.

Seriously...

[HoosierCat]

Difference between 2010 and now ??

Just to be clear, I'm not making any argument that 2012 = 2010. My point was just that this is hardly the first offseason in which you could find pundits slobbering over (or crapping on) the Bengals and their chances in the fall.

In 2005, we supposedly had a super awesome draft thanks to the selection of Odell Thurman. We were going to win the AFC North in 2007. Our draft allegedly would make us a playoff team in 2009. And of course before last season, the Bengals were a 3-13 team.

By all means, enjoy the props being handed out to the team. It's always more fun to read about how the Bengals will kick azz versus how much they suck. But we won't know if the pundits are right until September.

[skyline]

What makes me more excited about this team is that you can see them setting themselves up for long-term success.

In the past, I always felt like we had a window. Especially when we brought in TO...it had the distinct smell of a "Super Bowl or Bust" type of season with no real long-term planning in mind. This year, I feel like we're seeing the start of something much more resiliant and long-lasting.

Here's hoping I'm not wrong!

[ArmyBengal]

Difference between 2010 and now ??

Just to be clear, I'm not making any argument that 2012 = 2010.

Oh, I gotcha there Hoosier, I was more pointing that at the portion of WalZav's comment.

In regards to your point Hoosier, yeah I agree, there have been times where the ANALysts have called the Bengals out as both doing well in the draft and calling for them to be super-uber-awesome the following season only to see it come crashing down hard.

I like the long term thinking we are starting to see here.

VERY MUCH !!!

[bwillycuse]

All I know is the urge to buy season tickets is very strong right now. I WANT to see this team play.

Maybe 2 2game packs. But those seats are terrible.

But for the team - Keep building depth and PLEASE, PLEASE retain the players you want to keep. Hopefully - there is an internal plan to make these guys want to stay. If Cincy can somehow be a place people want to play. Then the sky is the limit.

It feels like the team is being built properly.

Next step is get the stadium rockin.