Bengals--Are they now officially the worst in the league??

[StickerMann]

I'm sure many will make a case for Carolina, seeing as how they are now 1-9 and the Beagles did beat them before they decided to give up for the season.

 

Other "contenders" would seem to be San Francisco, Minnesota, Detroit and Denver; but looking at the remaining schedule its hard to make a case for Cincy going better than 3-13 or 4-12 at best??

 

Despite the high pre-season expectations, they've managed to morph into the "Bungals" of old; under the direction of the worst GM/Pres. (I hesitate to even use the terms here) in the league.

 

So will they take their customary seat at the rear of the socialist NFL bus again??

[cooperstown]

Certainly in the bottom 3.

 

I don't put nearly as much blame on Mike Brown these days. He's not going to win GM of the Year any time soon, but he's done a reasonable job the past few seasons. We wanted a coach that wasn't an empty suit ala Dave Shula and would have the majority say in personnel decisions and he did so. We wanted him to get more involved in acquiring meaningful free agents and he's done so. We wanted them to be smarter in the draft and, by and large, they've drafted well. He's gotten most of the draft picks in camp at a reasonable time and re-signed key (or at least what everyone thought was key) personnel. Yes, he still deserves some blame for fathering 20 years of futility and instilling such a losing mindset in the organization, but I put the current state of the Bengals on an inept coaching staff that failed to develop several high draft picks and failed to get this team to the next level. Brown is ultimately responsible for hiring this staff, but I only blame him if he keeps them around after this season. As a head coach, Marvin Lewis makes a fine defensive coordinator. As an offensive coordinator, Bob Bratkowski makes a fine parking lot attendant. Not sure who the Bengals' linebackers coach is, but Rivers' and Maualuga's inconsistency and failure to progress, speaks volumes.

[stick1]

No Carolina is in a leauge of their own.

[The Scribe]

From the threads I remember, people on here have been pleased with their draft the last two years. And Brown has added Owens and Benson the last two years. I agree. I dont think you can lay this at the feet of Brown.

[Jim Schue]

Certainly in the bottom 3.

 

I don't put nearly as much blame on Mike Brown these days. He's not going to win GM of the Year any time soon, but he's done a reasonable job the past few seasons. We wanted a coach that wasn't an empty suit ala Dave Shula and would have the majority say in personnel decisions and he did so. We wanted him to get more involved in acquiring meaningful free agents and he's done so. We wanted them to be smarter in the draft and, by and large, they've drafted well. He's gotten most of the draft picks in camp at a reasonable time and re-signed key (or at least what everyone thought was key) personnel. Yes, he still deserves some blame for fathering 20 years of futility and instilling such a losing mindset in the organization, but I put the current state of the Bengals on an inept coaching staff that failed to develop several high draft picks and failed to get this team to the next level. Brown is ultimately responsible for hiring this staff, but I only blame him if he keeps them around after this season. As a head coach, Marvin Lewis makes a fine defensive coordinator. As an offensive coordinator, Bob Bratkowski makes a fine parking lot attendant. Not sure who the Bengals' linebackers coach is, but Rivers' and Maualuga's inconsistency and failure to progress, speaks volumes.

 

Are you related to Mike Brown? Because I have a strong feeling that's his actual mindset about his entire tenure.

 

And the beat goes on ...

[cooperstown]

Are you related to Mike Brown? Because I have a strong feeling that's his actual mindset.

 

And the beat goes on ...

 

It was hardly a ringing endorsement of Brown, but he's made some changes in how he does business and I think it's worth giving him credit for that. There was a time when Brown was the sole reason for the Bengals' ineptitude. Such is not the case anymore. Marvin Lewis owns the lion's share of the blame for the current state of the Bengals. It would be very hard to make a case that the Bengals' don't have the talent to be a much, much better team that what they are. But you seem to be an expert, but all means enlighten us . . . .

[sweet16]

Considering what was expected of them this year, I would say they are at the bottom right now.

[Jim Schue]

It was hardly a ringing endorsement of Brown, but he's made some changes in how he does business and I think it's worth giving him credit for that. There was a time when Brown was the sole reason for the Bengals' ineptitude. Such is not the case anymore. Marvin Lewis owns the lion's share of the blame for the current state of the Bengals. It would be very hard to make a case that the Bengals' don't have the talent to be a much, much better team that what they are. But you seem to be an expert, but all means enlighten us . . . .

 

Anything short of Mike Brown giving up control of FB operations and hiring a proper GM and scouting operation should be seen as a failure on his part. The culture is still the same, and that's why the Bengals suck. But at least they're consistent -- about two years out of 10 they have a decent team.

[cooperstown]

Anything short of Mike Brown giving up control of FB operations and hiring a proper GM and scouting operation should be seen as a failure on his part. The culture is still the same, and that's why the Bengals suck. But at least they're consistent -- about two years out of 10 they have a decent team.

 

I don't disagree with your first line at all. I disagree in part with your second line. The Bengals still have an overall losing culture- it doesn't evaporate quickly after several decades firmly entrenched in that mindset - but their current losses on the field have more to do with game mismanagement and poor coaching than Brown. They have plenty of talent on this team. They were picked by many football people far smarter than you and I to win this division and possibly compete for the conference. The fact that they are essentially at the polar opposite of those predictions speaks more to Marvin Lewis and his staff than anything else. He has been, in a word, a failure as a head coach.

[History]

I don't disagree with your first line at all. I disagree in part with your second line. The Bengals still have an overall losing culture- it doesn't evaporate quickly after several decades firmly entrenched in that mindset - but their current losses on the field have more to do with game mismanagement and poor coaching than Brown. They have plenty of talent on this team. They were picked by many football people far smarter than you and I to win this division and possibly compete for the conference. The fact that they are essentially at the polar opposite of those predictions speaks more to Marvin Lewis and his staff than anything else. He has been, in a word, a failure as a head coach.

 

You are right and given far too much time in his position. He needs to go and so does Bobby B. and Zimmer (sorry folks). Carson can go too. Time to start over.

[bugatti]

Carolina sucks terribly. The Bengals are talented at some positions, but you cannot overcome organizational incompetency or a slew of knuckleheads on one team. They are not the worst, but they are on the second tier just above Carolina.

[howwelookin]

Yes.

[Pancake]

I see a QB being drafted high come April for the Bengals...

[CincySportsFan]

The sad thing is that I read something that said if Marvin is gone as head coach, one of the likely replacements would be John Fox, Carolina's head man. And this is to take nothing away from what Fox has done at Carolina...it just made me think "Great, the Bengals go and find the coach with a worse losing record than theirs to be the next head coach."

[malachicrunch]

I see a QB being drafted high come April for the Bengals...

I would agree except for Palmer's contract. A #1 QB will demand a big contract. I don't know if the Bengals would be able to have those two salaries for one position.