WAKE UP

[NJ29]

Some of the threads on here...

Brat must go!

Tough years ahead for Bengals?

CHAD v. MARVIN

I want to see John Thorton gone.

Next year we're dead.

Carson's injury hurts us, and we lost a playoff game to a division rival that we hate. A so called "fight" occured, that has been denied.

WAKE.

THE HELL.

UP.

We are a playoff team. We lose one playoff game and Palmer goes down, but should be back for training camp. Chad might have gotten in a scuffle, but he's an extremely passionate guy, and it's gonnna happen. There is no way that Chad is on the way out. Chad is a Bengal. Period. And even if Chad does leave, we will be fine. I honestly believe that. The negativity in this place drives me nuts. Look ahead, dang it. If we sign a few guys here and there we can become a complete team that can challenge for a Super Bowl. Have some optimism.

This stuff, right here, is why other fans call us bandwagoners. This is a team on the rise, not on the way down.

I just had to get that off of my chest.

[Stripes]

Well said and well taken, Rover!

Who Dey indeed!

[kingwilly]

Ahem...the Jag's are a playoff team. So are the Giants and TB. Anyone feeling good about those teams right now?

I think what has people most upset is that it was all right there to be had. It only took one completion for Pitt to look like they were gonna get slaughtered. The follwing course of events could not have been any further from the direction this team was heading.

This team is definatley on the rise, but this feels to me like when Kenyon martin broke his ankel headin into the NCAA. Empty. Hollow. Sad.

let everyone vent for a bit, purge the frustration...no bandwagoners here.

[buck3y3d]

Most people on hear are not negative, but suggesting ideas to make us better.

I personally think Zampese would be an upgrade from Brat, and many other people are offering suggestions as well.

No person that posts on a message board is a fair weather fan. Why would they take the time if they didn't care?

[Kirkendall]

I personally think Zampese would be an upgrade from Brat, and many other people are offering suggestions as well.

I'm not attacking you or anything, but I've heard that a lot from fans and radio commentary. But no one has said why...

[cincy90]

I honestly don't see any reason to be pessimistic (besides the fact that I had to take sh*t from pittsburgh queers yet again in our home stadium). Carson will be ready for next season. Pollack showed why we drafted him in the first round against the squealers. We pick up a couple of DT's and a safety in the draft and free agency. We'll patch up a few holes, and be ready to go. Marvin has drafted better than anybody in the NFL since he's been here in my opinion.

Keep the faith... I really don't see why you wouldn't

[jjakq27]

Rover I can understand your frustration about people's disposition right now. It is easy to fall into this kind of mind set. I also get aggravated by the glass half empty way of thinking that happens around here. You will also notice that many of these threads are started by the same people.

There is a Patriots site that I frequent, and after the Super Bowl, I checked it out to see what people had to say. Keep in mind they just won for the third time in four years. There were people bitching about the fact that they didn't win by more or things that the announcers said during the game or Charlie Weis leaving, among others. They just won the Super Bowl and people were still looking for things to be unhappy about.

Don't let it get you down. Palmer may not be back for the start of the season but I like to look at it as a long term thing not just next year. Hopefully they will focus on adding some missing pieces to the defense so we might be able to win a game 17-10 or 17-14 next year.

Also I edited the title of the Chad thread for polical correctness. "Chad V. Marvin" did sound a little harsh.

[NJ29]

Rover I can understand your frustration about people's disposition right now. It is easy to fall into this kind of mind set. I also get aggravated by the glass half empty way of thinking that happens around here. You will also notice that many of these threads are started by the same people.

I know who you're talking about, but I won't say.

[richmond_mat]

Whah whah

this is nothing, you should have been here when Dillon was still a Bengal.

[NJ29]

I thought that it would be appropriate to dig this thread back up.

We have improved in the secondary and on the defensive line, added a Top 10 caliber player in the supplemental draft, and we found a way to get Landon Johnson on the field.

There is just as much right as there is wrong.

[HairOnFire]

Reliable sources have told me that the sky is indeed falling.

But the shouting within my own head says that they're wrong.

Who-Dey.

[MacD BengalFan]

With all of the screaming about "charactor issues", I get the feeling everyone here thinks the Bengals will be lucky to win 2 games this season because some "draft picks" who have not even been signed, are in some trouble with the law and this will doom the team. Well, it appears that Odell got himself suspended for 4 games this season and Chris Henry "might" get suspended as well, pending the outcome of his weapons trial that is upcoming. I believe the team has enough depth at these positions to overcome this problem and enough character within themselves that this will not be a distraction. Dan Lebatard of the Miami Hearld was on PTI today and stated that with all the troubles the Bengals have had this off season, he believes they are closer to a SUPER BOWL. I believe this to, not because Bengals have had so much off season trouble, but because they have enough depth to compensate for this kind of situation.

To put it mildly, the Sky Is Not Falling as most of those posting here have implied.

[ArmyBengal]

Hey, how about we just write this year off completely and not be concerned how we finish ?? As a matter of fact, maybe we can suck so bad, we get the #1 pick and then everyone comes back with their heads screwed on correctly, we play the easiest schedule ever (look at next years schedule) and win the Superbowl ?? Great idea...

Better yet, how about everyone taking a breath, realize things are never as bad as they seem, and we win the superbowl THIS F*CKING YEAR !!!

Seriously, Madieu is back, we got Jackson and S. Adams, Pollack has a full season in camp and all are pretty healthy. Things are still pretty bright as far as I can see and will get better...

WHODEY !!!

[ShulaSteakhouse]

1. Brat is not the problem, his offense excels and has, and key skills players are all locked up long term

2. I would argue Marvin's assistants and scouts have saved his a$$

3. If you want to be a cheerleader, fine, just don't call out others because you want them to be also. There's way too much rah-rah mindless crap here and not enough honest opinions - seemingly a pattern amongst internet Bengals' fans.

All I know is we won't see Henry or Thurman for a while - when another high round pick could be contributing in other weak areas instead of missing 4-6 games a year.

[Spor_tees]

Wow Shula and one other guy on here are about the only people that agree with me! WooHoo!

One winning season out of a coach in 3 years and people think he all knowing and deserves a key to the city! Marvin has done some good things for this team, but putting his ego ahead of what is also good for the reputation of the city could lead to a disasterous ending. Success can go just as fast as it has come. Will you all be saying Marvin is such a great coach if this season ends with a 7-9 record?

And yes, once again, Marvin is a defensive coach and has NOTHING to do with the offense. Bobbie B. has been there and he is waht turned that unit around. It might not have taken so long if the Bengals wouldn't have stuck with Kitna, but now we have Carson and don't have to worry about that.

[San Antonio Bengal]

There's a reason why I hardly ever post in the Bengals forum during the offseason. Have some confidence in your team for a change! This team is playoff caliber, but it seems some are still living in the dismal decade. Saying that things haven't worked out as planned is an understatement, but I don't think that losing Odell for 4 games and Henry for however many is going to make that much of a difference. We have too much other talent to suddenly fall flat on our face because of this. Sure, we're a better team with those guys in the lineup, but not having them is no death sentence. Yeesh. Time to go back to video games.

[derekshank]

Most of the complaining this off-season has been about the character issues. While that is a problem... it is primarily a problem that gets over-hyped in the off-season. Had most of these things been occuring in week 6, they would have received nothing more than a day's worth of comments. During the season there is so much more to think about, and a guy being accused of something that isn't going to get him jail-time is nothing more than a blip on the radar.

As for the on-field issues... like Odell's suspension, and Carson's injury... well, those are concerns that will continue to be discussed when the season starts. But when I look at this team when it comes to on-field play, I have a lot more reasons to expect a Super Bowl this year than I did last year at this time. And that is exciting, no matter how you spin it.

[ArmyBengal]

Good job on berating Marvin Lewis by the way... The guy has only turned the team around and brought a Division Championship back to the City... Lets beat the sh*t out of him and hang him in the middle of Fountain Square because we might think his ego is to big. Get a freaking clue... I hear Pittsburgh is in need of some more fair weathered fans !!!

WHODEY !!!

[Spor_tees]

How is it fair weather to say it is a bit ridiculous to crown Marvin the savior of the city of Cincinnati when he has had all of one winning season in his 3 years as a coach. Shouldn't we wait til he does a little bit more before building a statue in front of the stadium in his honor? Man, with this logic, the people in Denver should be sacrificing their babies to Mike Shanahan for what he has done! That guy has had 6 non-losing seasons in a row, only one of which was a non-winning season going 8-8. So maybe I'll hold off a year or 2 on the Kool-aid til I see if Marvin can hold the ship together and not sink like the Titanic.

If expecting more than one winning season out of a coach before I reference him as a God is Fair weather, then I guess you should call Al Roker because there is a front moving through the Tri-State.

[TJJackson]

ArmyBengal - he's made good decisions, and he gets the credit for all that. No problem. He has done everything you said and more. He got the credit and deserved it.

That said, his decisions to draft all these drunken and/or gun waving and/or wife beating and/or ganja-toking sacks of crap are ALSO credited to him. Just as he gets the credit when good things happen, he is going to take in the teeth when bad things happen. And so he deserves every bit of this as well. I was very happy with what he did in 2005 - save possibly for releasing my main man Reggie, even tho I understood the move - and now I am very, very angry with the moves he has made since and the fact that his risks are blowing up in his face.

I also realize these are fully grown men who he probably wants to treat as mature adults. Well, some of them need a personal chaperone. Sorry, but it is true.

I saw where someone in another thread tried to put a good spin on the loss of Odell for 4 games - "hey, we just found a way to get Landon on the field!" What an absolutely and pathetically stupid thing to say. Any reasonable fan wants Landon there as a TOP quality **backup**, so we can insert him when someone gets injured rather than inserting Caleb Miller. A little depth goes a long way over the course of a long and difficult (particularly 2006, wow, what a schedule) season.

[HairOnFire]

And yes, once again, Marvin is a defensive coach and has NOTHING to do with the offense.

Marvin is the head coach. He's heavily involved in building the team, determining the long-term plan as far as who stays and who goes across the entire roster, and he's said to be very involved in determining the offensive gameplan from week to week. In fact, prior to sky falling the greatest criticism he's gotten has dealt with how much responsibility he's given to his defensive coaches due to his involvement in other team matters.

Frankly, the debate about character has been interesting but it's increasing clear that most of you guys spazzed out after Thurman's suspension was announced.

So emotional. So over-the-top.

[HoTbOy]

MLewis has done a wonderful job in turning things around for da Bengals, there is no doubt about that, but when things go like they are going now with these questionable picks he does have to take blame for that also...they have to have more info on these people than we do, so taking them falls on him...I do believe that he thought he would not have a problem with any of them after talking to them...nowadays you have to get a background check when you apply for certain types of jobs, for those of you who say the character thing is getting overblown, if you owned your own company, how many ex-convicts would you hire...

[ArmyBengal]

How is it fair weather to say it is a bit ridiculous to crown Marvin the savior of the city of Cincinnati when he has had all of one winning season in his 3 years as a coach. Shouldn't we wait til he does a little bit more before building a statue in front of the stadium in his honor? Man, with this logic, the people in Denver should be sacrificing their babies to Mike Shanahan for what he has done! That guy has had 6 non-losing seasons in a row, only one of which was a non-winning season going 8-8. So maybe I'll hold off a year or 2 on the Kool-aid til I see if Marvin can hold the ship together and not sink like the Titanic.

If expecting more than one winning season out of a coach before I reference him as a God is Fair weather, then I guess you should call Al Roker because there is a front moving through the Tri-State.

I never asked you to reference him as a God, however he deserves the credit of bringing 3 non losing seasons to the city, the last of which netted a Division Championship. Maybe you forgot what it was like to be a Bengal fan before Marvin, so the success we have had seems very little in your eyes. No one is asking for a statue either... I could care less about what Denver does and I personally think Shanahan is a f*cking idiot of a coach... Who cares ??

As for all the bad things that are going on right now, which I think are greatly blown out of proportion (except for the bandwagoners of course) Marvin is not the only person making decisions for the Bengal organization and is taking risks to make his team better. While I don't like how some of those risks have turned out, I'm not going to place total blame on Marvin either. He has his fair share, but he has done great things here and will continue doing great things...

Oh yeah, when that front blows through, go fly a kite !!!

WHODEY !!!

[HairOnFire]

... for those of you who say the character thing is getting overblown, if you owned your own company, how many ex-convicts would you hire...

That depends on what type of company I owned. Do I own a veterinary hospital? Do I own a factory that makes industrial widgets? Or perhaps I own a diner that sells loose-meat sandwiches?

Ex-Buckeye and Viking RB Robert Smith was just on ESPNradio's "The Huddle Show" and was twice asked what his opinion was in regards to the Bengals most recent addition of yet another character risk. His response was pretty telling. He claimed that due to the demographic that NFL teams must select talent from that no team in the NFL can afford to be without multiple players who have obvious character flaws, and in some examples...a criminal past. He also added that casual fans would be shocked to learn that many of the most questionable character risks on any teams roster are players who have been lucky enough to avoid arrest or rumor. In addition, he said the Bengals not only hadn't done anything wrong, but hadn't done anything unusual. According to Smith each player acquisition has to be looked at individually, and if a player blows up then the team is smart to engage in damage control by casting that player off as quickly as possible, but he closed by claiming that no team interested in winning can afford to simply stop taking risks on players with checkered pasts.

As you might guess I sat at my desk nodding my head in complete agreement with everything Robert Smith had said. However, it should be noted that both show hosts, John Clayton and some gal named Dana, disagreed loudly.....as you might expect. After all, "Dana Somebody" was a gal, and John Clayton is a tiny elf who reports on the NFL from his mothers basement.

[San Antonio Bengal]

As for all the bad things that are going on right now, which I think are greatly blown out of proportion (except for the bandwagoners of course) Marvin is not the only person making decisions for the Bengal organization and is taking risks to make his team better. While I don't like how some of those risks have turned out, I'm not going to place total blame on Marvin either. He has his fair share, but he has done great things here and will continue doing great things...

Exactly. Much of the management of a team is filled with calculated risks. Odell should have been a first round selection, but because of his problems at Georgia he fell to the second round. Now, imagine that you're in the second round of the draft and there's first round talent still on the board, but that talent comes with a history of some off field issues. Is selecting this guy worth the potential risk? Anyone who knows the draft knows that no team has all of their picks work out whether it be for off the field issues or injury or not being able to adapt to the pro game or whatever else. Even making a conservative selection will sometimes backfire, so why not roll the dice a couple times? Of course, I'd have a big problem with the Bengals selections if every guy selected had some sort of big risk, but looking back over the drafts in the Coach Lewis era, there really haven't been that many. It just worked out that all of them got in the news at the same time. And with nothing else in the news other than Barbaro's condition and MLB trades, it's gotten blown way out of proportion.