As a casual USC fan, I was scared to death the Seahawks would draft Mays last year... I had no desire from him to be a Seahawk.

 

I pretty much did backflips when they took Earl Thomas.

I was praying the Cowboys would take him. I like him a lot!

^ Dude, you seriously need to take a breath. I've never seen anyone get so worked up about nothing. You're a Bengals fan - good for you. I was a fan longer than you've been alive, but simply have grown tired of the continued disappointments and cheapness through the past years. And yes, there were several quality safety FA's available this year - Mikell, Manning, Landry, Weddle, Harper, Sensabaugh, etc... Some re-signed with their own team, some moved on. Yep, the Bengals may likely have to overpay someone to get them to come to the mecca of football ineptitude. That's what happens when you've become the laughingstock of pro sports. Too bad. Brown is sitting on a bunch of extra cash. Spend it! Next year, he'll be forced to do so. Shame it took new league rules to make Brown spend money to try to improve his own team. No need to respond with some War and Peace-length post about all the wonderful things on the Bengals' horizon, or how every move the Bengals make is sheer genius, or how we should be thrilled simply because we have an NFL team here.

 

I never once said it was this great pickup. I never once said there there is great things on the horizon. If anything I have said a few times, dating back to last year that this franchise could be getting back to the dark days of the 90's if people got their wish and Palmer was gone. I think they have some talent especially on offense, however QB is a huge question mark. I mean some of the teams on the 90's had talent on offense with Pickens, Scott, etc. However they never really had a good QB. The Bengals had a QB who could help win games for them, and now he is gone like people wanted. So trust me I definitely am not saying great things are on their way. I have no clue what will happen, it depends on how Dalton ends up being. If he ends up not doing as well as they hope over the next couple of years, this team could be back to the 90's.

 

My thing is what is the point in talking about how another bad move from the Bengals. You know this franchise operates, that is not going to change so why complain about it? If you hate it so much, it's simple find a new team because they are not going to change. They are not going to spend a bunch of money, and even if they try to, most likely those really good players still wouldn't come here. It is what it is here, so it's either deal with it or move on. Trust me I know all the faults of how this team is run, however I have accepted that because there is nothing I can do to change it. Maybe you should learn to accept that too, or as I said just find a new team.

Mo Egger really had some good stuff to say today on the radio about all this stuff. When it came to people who all want to complain and just be unhappy all the time before the season even starts, and people like him who want to try to be opptimistic to have something to enjoy before the season starts. Just because we don't sit here and complain about any little thing about the Bengals and what they do, doesn't mean we are happy with the way the Bengals do things. It just is the way things are. However every year it is a start of a new season, so there is no reason to not try to believe a little bit. Then if and most likely when things get bad, then can complain then.

I never once said it was this great pickup. I never once said there there is great things on the horizon. If anything I have said a few times, dating back to last year that this franchise could be getting back to the dark days of the 90's if people got their wish and Palmer was gone. I think they have some talent especially on offense, however QB is a huge question mark. I mean some of the teams on the 90's had talent on offense with Pickens, Scott, etc. However they never really had a good QB. The Bengals had a QB who could help win games for them, and now he is gone like people wanted. So trust me I definitely am not saying great things are on their way. I have no clue what will happen, it depends on how Dalton ends up being. If he ends up not doing as well as they hope over the next couple of years, this team could be back to the 90's.

 

My thing is what is the point in talking about how another bad move from the Bengals. You know this franchise operates, that is not going to change so why complain about it? If you hate it so much, it's simple find a new team because they are not going to change. They are not going to spend a bunch of money, and even if they try to, most likely those really good players still wouldn't come here. It is what it is here, so it's either deal with it or move on. Trust me I know all the faults of how this team is run, however I have accepted that because there is nothing I can do to change it. Maybe you should learn to accept that too, or as I said just find a new team.

 

Dude-I appreciate your defense of the Bengals and Carson Palmer, but the fact is Carson and you and I have all won the same amount of playoff games-none. He was not an elite NFL quarterback period. Mike Brown is the worst owner in the NFL, and I do hope the team moves...people would find a much better way to spend their money. Marvin Lewis has been emasculated as a coach. He once had promise, but once Mike Brown brought back Chris Henry despite Marvin not wanting him too, I lost all respect for Coach Lewis once he decided to stay after that.

 

The best thing I will say about Palmer is that he finally had his fill once Lewis was retained and said I am out. I do respect him for that-big time, but that is much different than saying he was a great quarterback or leader on the field.

I never once said it was this great pickup. I never once said there there is great things on the horizon. If anything I have said a few times, dating back to last year that this franchise could be getting back to the dark days of the 90's if people got their wish and Palmer was gone. I think they have some talent especially on offense, however QB is a huge question mark. I mean some of the teams on the 90's had talent on offense with Pickens, Scott, etc. However they never really had a good QB. The Bengals had a QB who could help win games for them, and now he is gone like people wanted. So trust me I definitely am not saying great things are on their way. I have no clue what will happen, it depends on how Dalton ends up being. If he ends up not doing as well as they hope over the next couple of years, this team could be back to the 90's.

 

My thing is what is the point in talking about how another bad move from the Bengals. You know this franchise operates, that is not going to change so why complain about it? If you hate it so much, it's simple find a new team because they are not going to change. They are not going to spend a bunch of money, and even if they try to, most likely those really good players still wouldn't come here. It is what it is here, so it's either deal with it or move on. Trust me I know all the faults of how this team is run, however I have accepted that because there is nothing I can do to change it. Maybe you should learn to accept that too, or as I said just find a new team.

 

Not exactly sure this team has really ever left the 90's. They were slightly more successful in the 2000's. Big deal. In the 90's, their average record was 5-11. In the 2000's, their average record was 7-9. Over the last four years, their average record is 6-10. Every once in a great while - including in the 90's - there is a small blip of success. Yipee.

 

I complain about them on this site because the site is designed to express your individual opinions, thoughts, ideas, praises, and criticisms. If we all are limited to expressing the same views, it would be a pretty boring site. Hopefully my criticisms aren't hurting Mike Brown's feelings, as I would feel terrible about that.

 

 

I have chosen not to accept the putridity and ineptitude that are the Cincinnati Bengals year in and year out. I still watch them and still half-heartedly root for them. If you have bought in to accepting the inferior product they produce, so be it. Your choice. Of course, that is the very thing Mike Brown seeks from you.

Dude-I appreciate your defense of the Bengals and Carson Palmer, but the fact is Carson and you and I have all won the same amount of playoff games-none. He was not an elite NFL quarterback period. Mike Brown is the worst owner in the NFL, and I do hope the team moves...people would find a much better way to spend their money. Marvin Lewis has been emasculated as a coach. He once had promise, but once Mike Brown brought back Chris Henry despite Marvin not wanting him too, I lost all respect for Coach Lewis once he decided to stay after that.

 

The best thing I will say about Palmer is that he finally had his fill once Lewis was retained and said I am out. I do respect him for that-big time, but that is much different than saying he was a great quarterback or leader on the field.

 

People go completely against theirselves when they say stuff like this. People like to talk about how bad Mike Brown is, and how he is cheap and won't go out and get good top football players here. People talk about how they don't have enough scouts and suck when it comes to the draft. People talk about how the coaching here is not good with Marvin. Yet people still believe that Carson should have been able to overcome all that, and won playoff games. IMO it's a pretty big accomplishment to have even got us to two playoff games, which he is 0-1 in. We never will know how the Steelers game would have, but say they did win and then lost the next game. Would have one win have changed how you viewed him? Or what about two wins that year, and then lost? Think about how silly that argument is that you will make one game basically change what you would say about him. Or what about the fact in 2004 they went 8 and 8. 2006 the year after his knee injury he did everything in his power to get them in the playoffs, but special teams decided they wanted to suck. We have had only one really bad year with Carson as the starter and that was last year. Then even last year we were in every game with a chance to win in the final 3 minutes of the game. Which is my point, yes he is not Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, etc. Yet he is a QB that you could do well with despite all the problems in this organization, despite seeing two top 5 defenses every year 4 times a year. He knew how to beat those teams, which a lot of QB's around the league struggle to do.

 

My only reason for why people are so down on Palmer is because so many thought he would end up being one of the greats likes Peyton, Brady, etc. or close to it. Once he ended up not being like that, they were unhappy so decided well we don't want him anymore. Completely ignore the fact that even though he ended up not being as good as we hoped he would be. He was still not a bad QB to have, especially with all the stuff he had to deal with. Yet for some reason people wanted him gone, and trusted this franchise to find someone better? Wow

Not exactly sure this team has really ever left the 90's. They were slightly more successful in the 2000's. Big deal. In the 90's, their average record was 5-11. In the 2000's, their average record was 7-9. Over the last four years, their average record is 6-10. Every once in a great while - including in the 90's - there is a small blip of success. Yipee.

 

I complain about them on this site because the site is designed to express your individual opinions, thoughts, ideas, praises, and criticisms. If we all are limited to expressing the same views, it would be a pretty boring site. Hopefully my criticisms aren't hurting Mike Brown's feelings, as I would feel terrible about that.

 

 

I have chosen not to accept the putridity and ineptitude that are the Cincinnati Bengals year in and year out. I still watch them and still half-heartedly root for them. If you have bought in to accepting the inferior product they produce, so be it. Your choice. Of course, that is the very thing Mike Brown seeks from you.

 

If you include 2000-2002 you are right. I should have said the 90 and early 2000's. When Palmer was starting this team went 8-8, 11-5 division champs, 8-8 (special teams cost playoffs two straight games.), 7-9, 0-2 (before Carson got hurt), 10-6, 4-12. I believe the Bengals record during that time was one game below .500 when Carson Started. So no we had a QB that got us out of the dark days, we had a QB that could have won playoff games with. I believe 2005 we would have, but we will never know that. 2006 he did everything he could to get them in the playoffs, with what should have been game winning drives in the last two games. Yet special teams decides to choke. So Carson put the Bengals in position to make the playoffs 3 times during his 6 years starting, 7 if you want to count the 3 games he played in 2008. Doing this while playing under this horrible owner everyone talks about, doing this while playing in a division with the Ravens and Steelers who have top 5 defenses every year. This team with him was not in the dark days anymore, it wasn't sunny either. Cloudy with a chance of sunlight on some years, and chance to have done that again if he was still here. Now if Dalton doesn't pan out, we really could be looking at the dark days of the 90's and early 2000's or even worst. I was saying that last season when everyone was wanting Carson gone, before he left on his own. So trust me I don't buy into everything the Bengals and Mike Brown do. If I did I would still being saying they have a good chance, even without Carson. However I am also not going to throw the players under the bus before the season even starts. Chances are it will be a very bad year, however no one knows anything until the season starts. So yes I will hold on to the little bit of hope that maybe they can shock people, especially with the easy early schedule. Am I saying they definitely will not at all, however there is no reason not to hold on to a little hope that maybe just maybe they can at least make it somewhat exciting.

 

Which by the way I am going to watch every game that is at least on tv, and still go to one or two Bengal games like I do every year. Us fans are not going tobe able to stop how Mike Brown does things. So I am not going to worry about him making money off me, because we won't be able to change him. I am going to go there tailgate, cheer on my team and have a good time with good friends no matter what they do.

^ While you make some good points, I think your belief that Carson was going to have some sort of good to great year this season, and lead them to the playoffs is unwarranted. He had become a shell of what he was 5 and 6 years ago. My belief is that he would have been a disaster this coming season. We will never know though.

^ While you make some good points, I think your belief that Carson was going to have some sort of good to great year this season, and lead them to the playoffs is unwarranted. He had become a shell of what he was 5 and 6 years ago. My belief is that he would have been a disaster this coming season. We will never know though.

 

Many people bring up that he wasn't the same since the knee injury. Which I don't buy, he looked pretty darn good in 2006. Now I will admit he hasn't looked the same since his arm injury though. With that said even though he wasn't going to be an elite QB, he was a QB they could win games with, and a guy who could lead them down at end of games to help win games. IMO his career could have ended going a lot like a Matt Hasselback guy, a guy who can win with and could make plays when needed. I just know last year while playing with young receivers against two top five defenses, teams who were trying to win division titles he had two very good games. He all of a sudden was being more accurate again, and looked to be having fun out there, and looked to be more of a leader when talking to the young receivers. Maybe they just caught lightning in a bottle for those last two games, but with those guys plus AJ Green and a West Coast that probably fit him even better now. I feel like he could have done well, especially with an early season schedule. Because if they got off to a good start, and got confidence then who knows. But as you said we will never know. I just really hope Dalton works out, even if it is not this year. If it does not, then it is going to bad as bad as the 90's and possibly worst.

Which by the way I am going to watch every game that is at least on tv, and still go to one or two Bengal games like I do every year. Us fans are not going tobe able to stop how Mike Brown does things. So I am not going to worry about him making money off me, because we won't be able to change him. I am going to go there tailgate, cheer on my team and have a good time with good friends no matter what they do.

 

I'll buy this. The only thing that I would add is that for me personally, I am still going to gripe and moan about the pitiful way Brown runs his team. That, too, is our right as "fans".

I'll buy this. The only thing that I would add is that for me personally, I am still going to gripe and moan about the pitiful way Brown runs his team. That, too, is our right as "fans".

 

That is true. Trust me I am like the rest of you, I would LOVE if they actually spent money to get top players here. However I know they won't, and even the few times they have tried those players just use the Bengals as leverage to get better deals elsewhere because they don't want to be here. I wish things would change, but I know they won't. So I hope that the Bengals get lucky every now and then and happen to do well despite how the team is run. I realize it is only a small chance, but every year before the season starts I will hold onto that small chance. Then if and most likely when things go bad, I will be right there with you all about just being completely disappointed with them. I just know Mike Brown is not going to change, so I won't let that stop me from being a fan and having a good time at a couple of games.

That is true. Trust me I am like the rest of you, I would LOVE if they actually spent money to get top players here. However I know they won't, and even the few times they have tried those players just use the Bengals as leverage to get better deals elsewhere because they don't want to be here. I wish things would change, but I know they won't. So I hope that the Bengals get lucky every now and then and happen to do well despite how the team is run. I realize it is only a small chance, but every year before the season starts I will hold onto that small chance. Then if and most likely when things go bad, I will be right there with you all about just being completely disappointed with them. I just know Mike Brown is not going to change, so I won't let that stop me from being a fan and having a good time at a couple of games.

 

I went around and around with another BGP member a few seasons ago about this same exact thing. I think he must have some sort of an epiphany since then, as he walked away, and is now stating he wished the team would pack up and go. I myself had season tickets in the late 80's. Now talk about having fun. I guess I was spoiled watching those teams, and just don't think it's a big blast to spend ton's of money and waste entire Sunday afternoons watching bad football. I do really wish something would change and we had championship caliber football in Cincinnati.

 

I went around and around with another BGP member a few seasons ago about this same exact thing. I think he must have some sort of an epiphany since then, as he walked away, and is now stating he wished the team would pack up and go. I myself had season tickets in the late 80's. Now talk about having fun. I guess I was spoiled watching those teams, and just don't think it's a big blast to spend ton's of money and waste entire Sunday afternoons watching bad football. I do really wish something would change and we had championship caliber football in Cincinnati.

 

You can call me out by name.

You can call me out by name.

 

OK. HT, got to admit some of what he is saying about going for the fun sounds sort of familiar. Maybe you can elaborate on what was the gamechanger for you regarding attending Bengals games.

OK. HT, got to admit some of what he is saying about going for the fun sounds sort of familiar. Maybe you can elaborate on what was the gamechanger for you regarding attending Bengals games.

 

Pretty much most of what you said. I did have and still would have fun at games but it's just not worth it anymore to line the pockets of Mike Brown while he laughs at us by putting the teams he does on the field. He doesn't even try. If they sucked every year but he tried and had a scout team like every other team in the NFL then I would still have my tickets. Getting married also played a small role into not renewing my tickets but it was mainly about Mike Brown. Others are taking notice as well. Game tomorrow night isn't going to be on TV just like most home games this year. Hopefully people are starting to get it. I got tired of wasting my whole day on a team that never had a chance to be anything more than average.