Tired of the negative talk

[WeWin]

I'm so tired of the negative talk on the radio.. I wish they would just wait until 3 or 4 games to say how bad we are going to be..What do you think..Is it just me?? :player:

[membengal]

I'm so tired of the negative talk on the radio.. I wish they would just wait until 3 or 4 games to say how bad we are going to be..What do you think..Is it just me??  :player:

Nope, not just you, it gets old. I log in at work to listen to 1360 and see what people are talking about and am surprised by how negative folks can be. Maybe that is one of the things that sportstalk radio in Cincy has become since I moved away (back in 1996)(but don't worry, thanks to DirecTV I have seen EVERY game since I moved away, no blackout restrictions down this way of course).

Here is my optimistic take:

I think the Bengals are beginning a period of years that reminds me of the Boomer years. The 1984 - 1986 teams were around .500 (although '86 was a slightly better year) and played exciting football, characterized by a high octane offense at times and uneven defense.

1987 I have erased from my memory. It never happened.

Then in 1988 it culminated in the goodness that was a Super Bowl run.

Basically, from 1984 - 1990, they were around .500, with some better years and played exciting football. This team's golden era, if it has had one.

I think we are beginning a cycle like that again underl Marvin, only I am hoping for more highs because I believe Marvin to be a better detail coach for the long term. I think .500 this year likely, but something a little below or above that highly possible. But I also think this team's trend is up, and that is why I am so pumped. I never felt during the 1984-1990 years that the Bengals had no chance to win a game, I always knew they had a shot each game. I feel that way again. Last year reminded me what that was like. I expect they will be right in it again and be in the playoff hunt this year too. And it will only get better.

There. That's my take. If the pessimists want to attack, go for it. But, for me, the clouds have lifted.

[BengalszoneBilly]

I'm so tired of the negative talk on the radio.. I wish they would just wait until 3 or 4 games to say how bad we are going to be..What do you think..Is it just me?? :player:

That's why we haven't heard from Barbarian here lately! He must be hosting the negatively slanted Sports Talk radio WeWin here is complaining about!!

[Kirkendall]

I'm so tired of the negative talk on the radio.. I wish they would just wait until 3 or 4 games to say how bad we are going to be..What do you think..Is it just me?? :player:

Nah, I'm glad both sides are expressed; it's the task of enjoying both sides of any argument. I'd be foolish to think this team is great, but I'd also be foolish to think this team is bad. Personally, I believe this team is right in the middle, hence the negative talk as well as the positive. Then again, I'm sure you hear negative talk with teams with traditional winning records as well.

[HoosierCat]

Chin up, We Win! The list of positives about the Bengals is as long as the Mississippi!

For example, let's think of the bums who are no longer head coach: Dave Shula, Bruce Coslet & Dick LeBeau. Heck, LeBeau's gone to lend his "wisdom" to the Tin Men!

Oh, the joys of yet another season where I don't have to hear four words: "Al Roberts" and "directional kicking."

And how about having a strength and conditioning coach who doesn't lock the weight room so players can't work out???

James Francis is still gone! So is Corey Dillon! ARTRELL IS GONE!!! WOO-HOO!!! (insert woop-woop-woop-woop-woop-woop-woop-everybody-dance-now music here!). No more bums like Brewer or Rod "screen door" Jones.

And no more rotating door at QB!!! OH THANK YOU BLACK JESUS MARVIN LEWIS!!! No more Klingler-O-Donnel-Blake-Akili-Mitchell-Gus Fugging Frerotte-Kitna CRAPOLA!!! We have a QB! THE BENGALS HAVE A QB!!! Do you realize they are now breaking out snow shovels in hell?

Oh me oh my, there are so many things to celebrate. And with less than 2 hours to go until the season gets underway...well...all together now:

GO BENGALS!!!!! :player:

[bengals4ever]

Anybody pick up on the comment on the game last night from one of the announcer about how Dillon got so many yards in the last 8 years on a bad Cincinnati team? The team was not so bad last year. They need to go back and look at the games last year. We would have been better playing Johnson all year last year than having the cancer Dillon around! Plus our fans wouldn't have gotten pelted with equipment in the stands after the games!

GO BENGALS!

[TippCityRick]

I'm with you, B4E. Madden needs to park his bus at the retirement center.

Yes there is negative talk, but talk radio lives on negative talk. The vast majority of people I've talked to are cauciously optomistic. I'm going 8-8 this year due to the Dline. The offense will be fine, but we will have trouble with the run eventually down the line.

[Tampa Bengal]

Yeah I agree there is a lot of negative talk going around. I hoped that the record would have a lot of people take notice that the Bengals are close to contending and that they shouldn't be over looked but I think most people think "Same old Bengals" This year they have to have a winning record. If they plan to gain any kind of respect around the NFL. I think they have an offense that can do that but the defense still scares me. I hope they got better with the few guys they added.

[HoosierCat]

I think they have an offense that can do that but the defense still scares me. I hope they got better with the few guys they added.

Same here. Oddly enough, I was encouraged by last night's Pats/Colts game. Certainly, our D isnt likely to be anything to write home about, but was anybody impressed with either the Colts or the Pats D's last night? James just ran all over the Patriots. If he'd held onto the ball the game would have been a Colts blowout. On the other side, Brady basically completed passes at will.

In short, I wasn't impressed by either team's D at all -- and both these teams are supposed to be playoff contenders, even Super Bowl favs. Maybe we've been kinda hard on the Bengals D?

[BengalszoneBilly]

For each negative sports talk show comment, and each dismissal by Madden, and for every assinine remark made by Micheal (I can't yell loud loud enough when I talk!) Irvin about the Bengals, there are just as many positive ones to counter them...maybe even more!

Out here in Arizona when people see me in my Bengals shirt, hat...whatever, they no longer just bust out laughing and ask incredulously "You like the BENGALS!?!"

Last season's 8-8 record from the previous years 2-14 made people realize Marvin's got the club going in a positive direction. They've heard about Palmer starting this season instead of Kitna and ask if he's going to be the difference in the team!

There have been several articles in several publications picking the Bengals as a team on the rise, so yes...the has been some negativity. Hell, even New England hears their share. You just can't let it wear you down!

[The Brew Man]

I think the negativity is a product of people covering thier asses. If the Bengals go out and roll into the playoffs, everyone is happy. If they are mediocre, then all the so-called experts say "i told you so". Its also due to over analysis. The more you analyze these guys, the easier it is to find holes. But everyone has them. Should be fun to analyze a "official game" after this sunday.

[redsfan2]

What you're hearing is the result of a lost decade as far as football goes in Cincinnati, and it's going to take more than one .500 season to make people change their minds.

I think there's a lot of folks out there who think the way Joisey does and are scared to death to say so because they've been burned so many times in the past. It's like coach Lewis says tho .... the best way to get rid of the loser image is to win games.

If you think its bad now, wait till the first loss .... whenever that'll be. People are going to be screaming for Kitna ( just like they did for Palmer last year ), and the national media is going to all over us like fleas on a dog.

We're on the right track. It'll take a while to get there, but at least we've started. Don't get too down when things are going bad .... and don't get too hyped when they go good. We're going to have our share of both till the team can get the consistency that they'll need to go deep into the post season.

Winning record this year ............... play offs next year ........ DEEP into the play offs the following year. Lewis gets his new contract .... and we're on the way to perennial winner. Timetable might be a little off .... But it Will Happen !

[membengal]

I hear you redsfan2. I was there for the losing too.

But, that's why I am reaching back a bit father (explained in my post above), we are entering a new age, and it's time to put the old ways behind us. It's OK to hope again. I have had to learn to believe again, but now it's time to allow myself to embrace hope again. And I have. It's pretty liberating.

[Tampa Bengal]

Out here in Arizona when people see me in my Bengals shirt, hat...whatever, they no longer just bust out laughing and ask incredulously "You like the BENGALS!?!"

O.K. First question what the hell do people in Arizona have to laugh at ?

Yeah the Bengals have had their streak of being terrible but, the Cards are just plain sorry. Always have been and always will be.

[BengalszoneBilly]

Out here in Arizona when people see me in my Bengals shirt, hat...whatever, they no longer just bust out laughing and ask incredulously "You like the BENGALS!?!"

O.K. First question what the hell do people in Arizona have to laugh at ?

Yeah the Bengals have had their streak of being terrible but, the Cards are just plain sorry. Always have been and always will be.

That's funny you bring that up Tampa!

I've lived here in Arizona since '88, the Cards first year not in St. Louis due to Bidwell moving his team west for greater profits and to improve the teams fortunes. During that debut season (they were actually the Phoenix Cardinals originally) you couldn't swing a dead cat without hitting someone wearing some piece of Cardinals team wear! The desert had turned a bright red!

Unfortunately for the people of Arizona, they didn't suspect the level of incompetence that controlled the organization. A man who can look at all the blunders, boneheaded moves, and the idiocy of countless drafts and player transactions of Mike Browns history while running the Bengals organization, and can actually laugh and say, "I can top that you rookie!!" That's right...he's the one and only Mr. Bill Bidwell!

Bill Bidwell makes Mike Brown look like Jerry freakin' Jones! The Cardinal team has been sooo consistently bad since it's arrival, that it's rare to see a person wearing their jerseys anymore! Even when they have a home game, the visiting teams jerseys outnumber the Cards 2 to 1 in the stands!!

God forbid when the Cowboy's come to Arizona to play. Just by looking at the crowd you would swear you were at THEIR home in freakin Dallas with all the blue and silver jerseys in the stands! So don't feel too bad Bengal fans...times have been bad, but someone DOES have it worse!

***I'm withholding any comment on Dennis Greens chances with the team until after this season is over.

[BengalBax]

Until this team makes the playoffs, which won't be this year, the media and general fans of the NFL will continue to assault the Bengals.

My God people we haven't been to the playoffs since 90 and have only had 2 .500 seasons in that span, the rest were all losing records! What do you expect.

Beat the Jets on Sunday and we get respect. Sadly it won't happen.

Case closed.

[redsfan2]

Until this team makes the playoffs, which won't be this year, the media and general fans of the NFL will continue to assault the Bengals.

My God people we haven't been to the playoffs since 90 and have only had 2 .500 seasons in that span, the rest were all losing records! What do you expect.

Beat the Jets on Sunday and we get respect. Sadly it won't happen.

Case closed.

the Jets were a 6 and 10 team last year. We were 8 and 8 ...... not great, but better by 2 games. They are favored by 4 1/2 and most everybody is picking them to win by 10.

The point I'm making is that we're getting no respect going into this game .... and if we do win it we won't get any respect from that either. We didn't get but minimal props last year when we knocked off 3 divisional leaders ... one of which was undefeated. This year ( admittedly in pre season ) we hand the Patriots their collective asses and in return get told that they threw the game to set us up.

This game is a no win situation for us. If we lose then everyone says ... what'd you expect ? It's the Bengals. If we win we'll hear about all the Jets injuries and how they've got new personnel that the players have to adjust to.

We'll finally get some respect After we put together a couple of winning seasons. Til then we're just going to have to put up with the Michaels and Irvins because we pretty much earned it. Plus that it'll be fun rubbing their noses in it every time we win one we've got no chance to win.

[Staticx682004]

For one we are going to have to find a way to win on the road.Ny is a hard place to win.We are going to have to start the season fast to get any respect this year...

[wookie]

Last year I went through a similar experience that Billy went through in Arizona. I couldn't go anywhere in my Bengals jersey without someone making a comment about how much better the team was, and that I should be happy that I didn't have to be ashamed to wear it in public anymore.

The team was gaining some respect due to their performance last year, but at the beginning of this season they are back to being the Bungles. Last year is forgotten, they are still showing promise but the jokes and comments will persist until they have a Tampa Bay type turn around and actually win a Super Bowl.

As far as being 4 1/2 point underdogs to start the season, that is in no way a slap in the face. In a game between 2 relatively even-matched teams the home team will automatically get 3 points, so the odds makers are really only tacking on 1 1/2 points on the Bengals. 2 years ago the Jets would be a 10 point favorite, at the least.

Bengals football has been too bad for too long for the media to abandon the jokes and negative comments. Its frustrating as a fan cause we can see the difference and we have been waiting for this for too long. But, for some of these people its ingrained in their mind to associate the Bengals with losing, just like they associate the Yankees with winning. You're not going to change that without some major accomplishment.

We as fans know that day is coming, and soon. :player:

[jditty47]

all my friends still mess with me cuz im a diehard bengal fan. I like it though, it defines me.