Football and Bengals getting boring? It's not just me?

[cincyhokie]

Mods, feel free to delete if you need to...but after seeing this pop up on the playoffs thread, I wanted to address this further.

WTF is going on?  I used to be OBSESSED with football, the Bengals, college football, etc.

Not so much anymore.  

At first I was thinking it was being a dad, and then I thought it was because I started my own business, but now I'm at a loss.  

I think I need football viagra or something.  I honesty don't give that much of a shit anymore.  I watched the SB in and out last night.  Didn't even watch an entire quarter at a time.

What's everyone else's experiences been like these past couple of years?

[volcom69]

Well it's not really been years for me, really just started this year. It might be because my kids are getting older, my daughter hates football, my son is still to young to know what's going on, all he wants is Disney Junior lol.

I really think it started last year during that playoff loss, when I watched Hill fumble away a win. A defense that couldn't stop themselves from being a bunch of idiots. At that point I realized Marvin has no control over this team, they will go nowhere under this guy.

The offseason I didn't care what happened, but they didn't do shit to improve on either side of the ball, gave the OC job to a guy who has no clue, and they lost everyone who could of helped this team.

For years now I have watched this team become NOTHING! It was fun watching them become something, as soon as that happened, it's like they just stopped. Nothing has changed, I feel like I'm watching the same team for 5 years make somewhere, but the results are still the same!

So until something changes on this team, i don't see the excitement in it. Just maybe my mood will change, but I guess time will tell.

[AMPHAR]

NFL is over exposed and cost too damn much.

1. Cost.  Absurd.  People have the money but the product hasn't ramped up to meet the price point.   All in on attending a season is like a week in an all inclusive tropical resort.   I love Bengals, but it isn't that.

2. There's no need to sit and watch.  You can find out everything that happened and in greater detail in short time after the game concludes.

3. Coverage/Broadcast.  Too much Football politics.  I'm tired of the fake outrage over players like Burfict etc.  A lot of shows have gone the way of political channels it seems people yell at each other all the time or put up dumb fake arguments.    I rather have someone spend more time with the all-22 and diagram a zone.

4. Length and Flow of the game.  Every single TV network employs a rules expert to tell the viewer what's going on.  They aren't even right all the time.  That's a huge problem.  If a viewer doesn't understand the game they will move on.

 

Also my main contention to the NFL is through the Bengals and they are as stale as shit right now.  So that might play a role in my dissatisfaction.

 

 

[HoosierCat]

It's not just you, hokie. I don't doubt some of it is just life coming at you with a lot of new stuff, but it's not the whole story.

My $0.02: Cent one, too much same old same old. Setting the Bengals aside, is there anyone outside of Boston who isn't sick of the Pats? Anyone anywhere who isn't a Pitt fan who isn't sick of the Steelers? Sure, a couple other teams like the Packers or Seahawks pop up here and there, but they mostly end up playing the part of the Washington Generals, like Atlanta did last night.

Cent two, overexposure. You can get as many as 6 pro games and roughly 1.3 squazillion college games from Thursday to Monday night.

Bonus cent: sponsorships/advertising. The whole game is nothing but a big frigging ad now. It's starting to look like the fashions from "Idiocracy."

[cincyhokie]

Ratings were down 12% this year (Or maybe that was MNF).  Anyway, I know it was down significantly.  Roger said it was because of Hillary and Donald's election season.

Serious.

[volcom69]

Yea it's amazing what one is paying for the ticket anymore just to see there game one day a week. I think I saw it's like 300 dollars or something, that is outrages. 

I cancelled my sports package with the Redzone because my cable bill alone is crazy high! It's amazing anymore what they charge just to watch TV!

I enjoy it here as to why I keep coming back, but I've really stopped caring about sports in general. I used to love watching all sports, but I find myself watching more movies, or playing video games in my spare time. 

[volcom69]

2 minutes ago, cincyhokie said:

Ratings were down 12% this year (Or maybe that was MNF).  Anyway, I know it was down significantly.  Roger said it was because of Hillary and Donald's election season.

Serious.

Oh and I'm fucking sick of politics in sports anymore! I go on Twitter to get football news, and all I get is how much they hate Trump. I don't give a shit, give me sports news damnit!

[cincyhokie]

And like Hoosier said in the other thread.  I find this message board more interesting than the team itself.

[cincyhokie]

http://www.recode.net/2017/2/4/14508632/nfl-tv-ratings-down-moffettnathanson

[Passepartout]

Really why they keep Marvin Lewis though he is a playoff choker is beyond me?! Nice guy though.

[ArmyBengal]

Sure, I have other things going on.  Increased work responsibility, kids extracurriculars, unending honey do list for the house, so on and so on.
That's where sports (especially football) came into play.  It has always been my escape from all the regular things going on.
My time to just veg out on the couch and act like an idiot cheering for or screaming at my team.

Thing is, this team no longer makes me want to cheer or scream.  It makes me want to disengage.
Marvin is the epitome of boring and stale.  While he may be a great guy, it's seriously time to try something, anything that's new.
I also feel there is a great lack of accountability within the organization.  Coaches and players just muddle about regardless of what happens.
Blow playoff games ??  Get into trouble ??  Level of play fall off ??  Making more than that level indicates ??  Poor game management ??
No problem.  Just keep chomping at the bit.  Hold no one accountable, make no changes, and hand out extensions.

My son being a young fan of football probably keeps me in it more than anything else at this point.  He's too young to understand all the nonsense.
Maybe that's part of it.  We are all getting older and have a greater understanding.  While I'm not a football executive, I do understand leadership and business.
What I see from the Bengals is a lack of leadership, focusing mainly on the business aspect and ensuring their profitability over winning it all.

That isn't anything worth jumping up and down and screaming about.
BORING...

[HoosierCat]

4 hours ago, ArmyBengal said:

Marvin is the epitome of boring and stale.  While he may be a great guy, it's seriously time to try something, anything that's new.

On that note...

Quote

Feb. 7 (UPI) -- Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay might have confidence in coach Chuck Pagano, but outsiders are giving him no chance to keep his job.

According to MyTopSportsbooks.com, Pagano has 10-9 odds at being the first NFL head coach to be fired this season. Pagano's Colts have gone 8-8 in consecutive seasons and are 3-3 in the playoffs during his five-year tenure.

Following Pagano on the list of coaches expected to be canned first are Chicago Bears coach John Fox [7-2], New York Jets' Todd Bowles [5-1], Cincinnati Bengals' Marvin Lewis [9-1], and Houston Texans' Bill O'Brien [15-1]. O'Brien's Texans won the AFC South, ahead of Pagano's Colts.

Sucker bet. I wonder what odds I can get on "Marvin Lewis will not be fired in 2017 no matter what."

[COB]

While Mike and Katie might find that the easiest route is just to retain Marvin year after year, and keep cashing those profit sharing checks from the NFL, it is killing fan interest in their team.   I agree with all of the above-listed reasons for the malaise.  

The playoff game we handed to Pittsburgh last year can't be underestimated, in my opinion.  It was in some ways the last straw.  I have no hope whatsoever that a Marvin led team will ever do anything significant.  We waited years, many years, for that moment.  To finally win a playoff game, and to do it against our hated rival - our patience was finally being rewarded.  And then to have it taken away by of all things lack of discipline in a couple hot-headed players, when for years one of Marvin's major weaknesses as a coach has been his proclivity to bring in hotheads and then fail to instill discipline.  Honestly, not to sound over dramatic about it, but something really died inside me with that loss.  I'm still into the Bengals, but in a much milder way than in the past.  They seriously need to revitalize the whole operation starting with the head coach.  

[ArmyBengal]

I can say that I absolutely feel that way COB !!!

I remember when AJ caught that pass to put the Bengals up.  I went ape shit crazy in the living room all by myself.
If there were a camera catching that moment in time, I would be part of the worlds most viral video.
Seriously, it was a ridiculous display of joy fueled by so many years of losing.  Damn near brought me to tears.
We were finally going to win a playoff game.  And against the Steelers ??  Priceless !!!

Then it happened.  Hill fumbles, the Burfict and Pacman stupidity and yet another loss.  I was crushed.
All that joy, the release of so much pent up frustration with the team, etc. just gone.  I hated everything about the Bengals at that point in time.
I cannot honestly say I've gotten over it.  Now to see the team not do ANYTHING since that point except take a step back ??
Yeah, really hard to find anything of great value within this organization.  In what universe does that much fuckupery get rewarded ??

In being very honest, I still hate this team.  I have no reason to continue following this abortion of a sports franchise.
Ugh...

 

[HoosierCat]

2 hours ago, COB said:

And then to have it taken away by of all things lack of discipline in a couple hot-headed players, when for years one of Marvin's major weaknesses as a coach has been his proclivity to bring in hotheads and then fail to instill discipline. 

The only thing I'd argue with in this statement is "his proclivity to bring in hotheads". That proclivity has far deeper roots than Marvin. Under the ground rules by which Mike Brown has always operated, it's a feature, not a bug, of the system.

Since the Bengals have decided they aren't going to play the same game, financially speaking, as much of the rest of the league, their only alternative is to look for talent on the cheap. You've already pointed out one consequence of this: a tendency to churn & burn rookie contracts versus signing big-money second deals. The constant presence of knuckleheads is another. Dillon, Pickens, Scott, Ocho Bozo, Odell, Henry, Burfict, and Pacman, along with any number of lesser names like Tremain Mack, Matthais Askew and AJ Nicholson, the list goes on and on. Since they won't pay for talent, they have to take talented knuckleheads and try to "redeem" them.

And it never f**king works. And to Marvin's credit, he did once attempt to separate from one of these knuckleheads, Henry, only to have Mike publicly lop off his nuts by re-signing him a few days later.

I agree that Marvin is way too forgiving. Just look at Pacman's comments about how he's like his dad. But that's just reflective of the whole organization, which despite claims to the contrary from the FO not so long ago, remains the NFL version of Fr. Flanagan's Home for Wayward Boys.

[volcom69]

I feel like back before Marvin, sure I rooted for this team, but if they lost oh well no big deal.

They bring Marvin in and things changed my mindset of this team went through the roof. It was back, my love for this team has returned. 

They went 8-8 it was so freaking fantastic, couldn't remember the last time they won 8 games. So for yours it was fantastic, I finally saw a team that competed, they were no longer the bungals! 

For 14 seasons I have put up with so many ups and downs with this team. Honestly I'm just drained! I'm tired of Marvin, I'm tired of Mike, I'm tired of there sorry excuse of free agency. I have tried for years to excited about free agency, for they only to sign nobody who will make a difference. 

Im back to the point where I'm going to root for this team to win like crazy on Sunday's, and if they lose oh well not the end of the world.

Also how the hell is Paul Alexander here for 24 years! That is freaking crazy, I don't understand how these guys keep there jobs!

Sorry Bengals you just don't excite me anymore! Make some changes, and I'll be excited about this team again

[Stripes]

I think it's the predictability that's boring.  The NFL is supposed to pride itself on parity, but the AFC especially is extremely repetitive.

And a seasoned Bengals fan is never going to be surprised by anything this team has done in recent memory.

[ArmyBengal]

2 hours ago, volcom69 said:

Also how the hell is Paul Alexander here for 24 years! That is freaking crazy, I don't understand how these guys keep there jobs!

To quote myself in an earlier post:
"Just keep chomping at the bit.  Hold no one accountable, make no changes, and hand out extensions."

[cincyhokie]

What does this team offer for fans in 2017?  What is there to look forward to?  To be curious about?  To be excited in the slightest bit?

Anyone?  

This FO is addicted to the norm.  To holding serve.  They've hit the middle of the mountain and are too scared to climb further because of the potential of falling down to the bottom.  Paralyzed by where they've been.  

So the view is shit.  They're stuck in place out of fear and can't move upward.  But hey, at least they're looking down on the other half of the league and that's better than being at the bottom, right?

[HoosierCat]

I guess I'm morbidly curious to see who breaks first. By which I mean, who is the next star player to go Dillon/Chad/Palmer/TKO etc. when they finally get Bengalized? 

Is it Andy, who (like Palmer I suspect) finally tires of getting hammered flat 50 times a season because of garbage oline play?

Is it AJ, who finally realizes his prime years are going to waste and demands a trade, like Chad?

Is it Eifert, when he realizes he doesn't want to climb into the boat AJ did?

Is it Zeitler, who rips the team for a BS offer after leaving? Or maybe Dre, same scenario? Or maybe both?

I feel it coming. Just curious where.

[ArmyBengal]

Agree with you on that one Hoosier and I've had the same thoughts.
On one hand I like seeing AJ make comments about what he feels the team needs to do, but that could also be concerning.
He has three more seasons under contract, but what if the team doesn't do what he thinks they should and continue losing ??

I wouldn't be surprised one bit.  Zeitler ??  Dre ??  Yeah, I can certainly see them wanting to test the market.
They know the Bengals have money to spend and a low ball offer would probably (and should) piss them off.

There are almost 10 team that have over 50 million in cap space.
Of those, 4 are over 60 million, 1 over 80 million, and the Browns with over 90 million.
Anyone thinking Hue would love to have either Zeitler or Dre to improve that team ??

Not saying they would want to go to Cleveland, but the same could be said for almost any of those teams with money to burn.

[AMPHAR]

Any current player from 2011-2016 Bengal era that would attempt to claim Bengalization is a 100% complete turd, point blank. 

What?  Dalton, AJ, Z, Eifert or whoever had nothing to do with LOSING in the playoffs or looking like goofs on primetime over multiple seasons? 

IF Dalton is only getting hammered 50 times a season and gets pissed.  He doesn't need to be cashing NFL QB checks because getting hit 50 times a season would make him one of the least hit QBs in the league, lol. 

 

Might as well let Sanu blame the Falcons Superbowl loss on the Bengals too.     

 

  

[ArmyBengal]

Based on the record and going to playoffs in each of the seasons, minus 2016 ??  Sure.
Based on the same things we as fans discuss on this board ??  Not really.
If we can see that things need to change, I'm fairly certain they can come to a similar determination.

While I don't think it happens this season, another season of losing could certainly open things up a bit.
Again, with AJ stating plainly what he felt the team needed to do, I think his tune could change should that not happen.
He directly pointed to Atlanta talking about how they went out and got pieces and stated the Bengals need to do the same thing.

[AMPHAR]

1 hour ago, ArmyBengal said:

Based on the record and going to playoffs in each of the seasons, minus 2016 ??  Sure.
Based on the same things we as fans discuss on this board ??  Not really.
If we can see that things need to change, I'm fairly certain they can come to a similar determination.

While I don't think it happens this season, another season of losing could certainly open things up a bit.
Again, with AJ stating plainly what he felt the team needed to do, I think his tune could change should that not happen.
He directly pointed to Atlanta talking about how they went out and got pieces and stated the Bengals need to do the same thing.

It wouldn't be justifiable.    If we are honest with ourselves about the changes we want to occur there is no guarantee that even IF we get those changes the next level is achieved.   The life of the fan is completely different than the life of a participant.     We can demand changes with no fear of being accountable for what transpires.

All of these players own the failure just as much as the Management and coaches.   Just because a disgruntled player may shoot an arrow in the back of target we are commonly frustrated with doesn't make their reasoning just.

Even in the case of AJ Green.   He would have little room to deflect blame over not being in a Superbowl by now.  He's had numerous key fumbles and bad plays that have harmed their playoff positioning and advancement.  

We fans can't talk about wanting more accountability and leadership and accept Dillon behavior.  No way.   

   

 

 

[HoosierCat]

1 hour ago, ArmyBengal said:

Based on the record and going to playoffs in each of the seasons, minus 2016 ??  Sure.
Based on the same things we as fans discuss on this board ??  Not really.
If we can see that things need to change, I'm fairly certain they can come to a similar determination.

Yup. Wins and losses are a symptom of Bengalization, not the cause. The cause is all the stuff we talk about: the lack of accountability, the (ahem) frugality, the "one of these years it'll just happen" plan to win, etc. Sooner or later every Bengal player has to come to terms with that. Some accept it, do their jobs (some more, some less), cash their checks and life goes on. And some break. It just feels to me like one of the breaks is coming.