This shows how scared we are.

[walzav29]

Taking the beating us Bengal fans have over the years, it is no wonder we are all throwing in the towel. We have to be the only bunch of fans that are feakin' out over a preseason game. It's because we think it's the same old story again, but who knows? Maybe they have some killer plays in the closet and it will be unleashed week 1. Anyone who has stood by these guys for the last 15 years has a right to be paranoid, but we have to just keep in the preseason state of mind. 13 days from right now it will be the 4th quarter. Let's hope we're smiling.

[Bengal_Brad]

It is pretty scary isn't it? I've been a fan for 19-years. Had season tics during the worst times. I'm not even as paranoid as some here are. What will be curious is if we do have a great season how many of these fair weather fans will say they never gave up hope or had doubts. If so, maybe they should be reminded. Or better yet, have their own website and message board. I know the perfect link:

http://www.spainbax.lamefans.com/fair_weather

[Tampa Bengal]

I'm not going to panic. It was only a preseason game, sure starters were playing but I can't say they were going all out. Sure it would have been better to see a little more pressure from the defense but I don't know if they were going full speed or not. Who's to say that all the bad press doesn't kick them in to full gear next time. If we get killed by the Browns then I'll worry.

[MacD BengalFan]

Panic? No, not anyone on this message board. We are harden Bengal fans that never panic in the face of advesity.

Puuuullllleeeeaaassssseeeee! I just wonder how many people sprained their ankle jumping off the Bengal bandwagon because of ONE BAD PRE-SEASON GAME!!! I think Spain broke both ankles on his jump. It does not count in the finally tally at the end of the season. Mavin Lewis has already declared that they did not come out Flat. That is an excuse. He delared it as being bad and complacent. Plan and simple. He took responsiblity for his lack of coaching and will not let it happen again. I would not be surprised to see a diffent team against Indy and for the rest of the season. While I am a guarded optimist, I think this team will not have another bad game for quite some time.

[AMC]

I will never panic in pre-season....these games are worthless unless you are a player barely making a team on special teams....

[Spain]

Ok, guys reality is reality!

1. Our division is the toughest in football! 10-6 might not make the playoffs, There is no wild card.

2. If we start slow we are not going to make the playoffs. At this point in the preseason the D is way ahead of the O. UP till game three of the regular season does the advantage pass over to the O. If our D is getting spanked its because they are behind on the learning curve. We are screwed when these Os get up to speed! This might be a result of two rookie LBs.

3. Are offense should be hitting all cylinders now. Every starter returned. The reason alot of people were giving us a lot of Pub was this. They should have hit the ground running, but they didnt. With Willie coming back it might change but he is Rusty! This apears to be a Gamble Marvin took. Rest the Guys, Then we are healthy for the season against getting the team clicking on all cylinders. It looks like Marvin might have lost!

Thats why were not going to the playoffs this year!

I will repeat the only thing that scares me are STDs

[rizzy]

Thats why were not going to the playoffs this year!

Get off it spain. We have not played one regular season game yet. There is a big mind set change when you go from a pre season game to a regular season game. We will be in the playoffs this year.

[MacD BengalFan]

Thats why were not going to the playoffs this year!

Get off it spain. We have not played one regular season game yet. There is a big mind set change when you go from a pre season game to a regular season game. We will be in the playoffs this year.

I think Spain forgot who is coaching the Bengals. He must be seeing David Shula on the sideline instead of Marvin. Do the they look alike?

[Spain]

No our division, go RaRa but 9-7 dont cut it here!

[ShulaSteakhouse]

The Bengals are going to go to the SuperBowl this season!

(there you can't call me a fair weather fan or whatever)

The same few people who are calling for 5-11 records will still be here if they go to the playoffs and happy, just as you eternal "all is happy and well forever and ever with our man love for Marvin" sunshine boys will be, if they DO go 5-11.

Fan Rule #1 as a Bengals fan: You are allowed to be skeptical - if nothing else you have earned it :player:

[andybren]

There's nothing wrong with a little skepticism, but that's not what Spain is spouting off about. Skepticism is based in REASON, and to the best of my knowledge, Spain has never subscribed to that thought process. For one thing, he seems to be suggesting that the offense's strength is in returning all 11 starters, that we're screwed because they're not in mid-season form, but that Willie Anderson, 1 player out of 11, might be the difference. That Marvin is gambling by not playing the first string all four quarters. Okay. Whatever.

My point is the obvious...it is still preseason. There has never been any corrolation, with any team, in any season, between a successful pre-season and a successful post-season. I also recall a certain NFL 'dynasty' losing an early REGULAR SEASON game to a certain Dick LeBeau-coached team from a southwestern city in the state of Ohio, in the season which eventually led to their first Super Bowl win. Despite all the talk of the importance of a quick start, we could start the regular season 1-4 or 2-3 and still make the playoffs. Even if that includes losing to the Browns.

Something else to consider of our sputtering offense (though I'm sure it's been mentioned elsewhere)...Marvin and Brat are not calling game plans that are designed to win games. There are more important things in the preseason. Why else would they insist upon running Rudi up the middle against Washington, over and over again, when it clearly wasn't working. Carson, TJ, et al. may not be looking sharp, but were these regular season games, the coaches and team as a whole would be doing things much, much differently in quarters 2-4.

And 'real fans' would not be throwing in the towel.

[Chucktkd]

But the team plays the games and they believe in Marvin.

[skyline]

Taking the beating us Bengal fans have over the years, it is no wonder we are all throwing in the towel.

Throwing in the towel???

Hardly.

[Spain]

You guys dont get it, I like, shula said would love to go to the playoffs but I cant lie to myself and say this team is going to get us there. We are a year off. How can i say this clearer. If it walks like a duck and acts like a duck its a freakin duck. This team cant do it in this division!

[walzav29]

This is supposed to be the year. We've been saying next year for 15 years.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

I think Spain's a little more "Skeptical" than most of us - which is fine and there's reason to think they are another year away - even though we've been saying that forever.

But yeah I don't think we're "throwing in the towel" by any means. I am still hopeful, just concerned this defense isn't going to be good enough yet.

[andybren]

I guess maybe I missed the point where the division changed dramatically from the one that we played in the last two years.

We don't need to be a defensive juggernaut to make the playoffs. We only need to win 1 or 2 more games than we did before. And if adding Pollack and Thurman don't make that difference, it stands to reason that Carson playing an entire year of quality ball can. This theory may not be enough reason to a flight to Detroit, but it certainly gives me a very conservative reason not to 'throw in the towel'.

But then if you guys get some kind of extra juice when your team proves you wrong, then who am I rain on your parade. Or should I say, shine light on your rained-out parade.

Personally, I prefer to have hope.

[BengalszoneBilly]

Fan Rule #1 as a Bengals fan: You are allowed to be skeptical - if nothing else you have earned it  :player:

14 years of no playoffs will fine tune your skepti-nometer!

See how easily it pegs!

[Jonboat]

Man, we just need to relax it's just preseason!! I'm not saying there's not some questions & concerns but this is the time to get it fixed & every team has questions. Just look @ last years preseason we killed NE, hell they played their starters most of the game! I think @ the end of preseason last year we were @ the top of the league vs. the run , where was we @ the end of the season vs. the run? I thought CP looked better & would've had better # if it wasn't for some drops but it looked to me all those drops were good throws. It seems to me the drops are mostly coming from the starters & it could be just lack of focus maybe because they're not fighting for a job & they know the games don't count. Don't forget in that game also how many Penalties (4-5) did Stacy Andrews, who has very little NFL experience, had putting us into bad situations. We've played both Superbowl teams, a stout Wash. D, next the Colts a pretty tough schedule but great experience & we'll be better for it in the long run. HANG IN THERE & DONT GIVE UP YET!!! GO BENGALS!!! Jonboat

[MacD BengalFan]

I think Spain's a little more "Skeptical" than most of us - which is fine and there's reason to think they are another year away - even though we've been saying that forever.

But yeah I don't think we're "throwing in the towel" by any means. I am still hopeful, just concerned this defense isn't going to be good enough yet.

Yes, Spain is a little more then Skeptical. He has actually thrown in the towel, cancelled his NFL Ticket, and thrown his stipes into the trash can based on 1 pre-season game. I can understand being skepical considering the past 14 years of futility. But I still believe this team can get to the playoffs as the season (not pre-season) is 16 games long and anything can happen. Everyone has got to remember, and most of us do except for those few with short term memory, that pre-season is not a true barometer of what the season will be like.

[Ox]

Yes, Spain is a little more then Skeptical. He has actually thrown in the towel, cancelled his NFL Ticket, and thrown his stipes into the trash can based on 1 pre-season game.

Please, oh please let him.

[Spain]

First of all you can enjoy my posts through a one and 15 season, second I cant get ticket! Third they are not where they need to be to win this division! It aint going to happen unless simon comes!

Billy that was hillarious!

[MacD BengalFan]

First of all you can enjoy my posts through a one and 15 season,

OMG!!! Now you have proclaimed this season the worst in franchise history!!! I guess I had better cancel my NFL Ticket and burn my stripes as there is now no reason to watch. All hope is now lost.

[Spain]

No I think we will go 10-6 ! It just wont be enough in our division to get in! We are cursed I swear!

[MacD BengalFan]

No I think we will go 10-6 ! It just wont be enough in our division to get in! We are cursed I swear!

Ok, you say we are cursed? Uh, how do you figure when you predict the first winning season in 15 years? Plus, that record will get them in the playoffs because the Ravens are not as good as everyone thinks and the Steelers have some offensive issues. I would say they are cursed if they go 4-12 after so much expectation, which has been the history of this franchise during this recent suffrage. I believe they will make the playoffs and contend for the division title ending this non-sense.