Keeping it Fair - Mike Brown Successes (?)

As we chronicle the failures past and present of Mike Brown, it is only fair that we give him credit for the occasional good decision he makes.  Though this blog often reads as a one long anti-Brown tirade, the harsh treatment we give Mike Brown is not borne of a personal vendetta.  It follows entirely from rational analysis.  So in that spirit, let's rationally dole out some praise for the decisions he has made that went right.

1. Drafting Carson Palmer

2. Constructing a Top Offensive Line

3. Calling Chad's Bluff

4. Fighting for Structural Parity & League Competitive Balance

In 17 years that's all I can come up with.  Four.  So let's break them down, one by one...

First, drafting Carson Palmer.  Obviously, this is one of the best draft picks any franchise had in recent memory.  A solid QB alone can make an otherwise bad team competitive and mask so many problems (including, say, a terrible front office) that without one you are all but screwed (unless you have something like the 2001 Ravens defense).  Rewind the clock to 2003 and we have the number 1 pick...given that drafting QBs is such a crapshoot, I would have been trying to trade that pick to someone else and taken my chances in later rounds on a QB.  But Mike Brown stuck to his guns (when doesn't he?) and it was the right call.  Of course, he had tried and failed many other times so I suppose he was bound to get it right eventually.  And, no one should ever forget Akili Smith, but not because of how bad he was, but because of what we turned down to take him (basically the Saints entire draft).  Also, would Carson have developed as well if Marvin Lewis hadn't benched him his first season to study under Kitna?  Probably, but maybe not, so perhaps not all credit goes to Mike Brown.

Second, Constructing a Top Offense Line.  Carson certainly looks human this preseason now that the offensive line is playing way below expectations.  No QB can overcome bad blocking.  The past 5/6 years (until this season) the Bengals offensive line was either quietly or openly acknowledged as one of the best in the league.  Draft picks Willie Anderson, Levi Jones, and Eric Steinbach were a big reason.  Of course, ever since Richie Braham has stopped playing the performance of the unit has been notably worse.  And he wasn't drafted by the Bengals, but rather by the Cardinals, so perhaps stumbling into him was a little bit of luck as well.  Regardless, Brown consistently focuses on drafting offensive line depth so he gets points for that.

Third, Calling Chad's Bluff.  As little as a couple months ago, I figured Chad would never again be a productive Bengal (though I still think the potential for disaster is out there), either he would sulk/sit out or he would be traded for 10 cents on the dollar.  However, Mikey stood pat and now Chad appears to be ready to suit up like a professional and kick ass as usual (injury aside).  Of course, that is Mike's only strategy for dealing with players making a public stink about their situation, so I don't want to give him too much credit.  Also, would you rather have had the Redskins 1st and 3rd round picks (with the 3rd pick potentially becoming another 1st) or Chad?

Fourth, Fighting for Structural Parity & League Competitive Balance.  This is where Mikey's stubbornness truly pays off.  Without question he and a few other owners do all they can to make sure the NFL doesn't become like the MLB with a few teams controlling an enormous edge over the rest of the league.  Of course, the additional money siphoned from big market to small market teams goes directly into Mike's pocket, so he's not exactly fighting from a selfless standpoint.

So.  There it is.  All the good in 17 years Mike Brown has produced.  Of course, given the innumerable decisions he must make as the chief executive of a professional football franchise, the laws of a probability dictate that something positive must emerge intermittently from the pile of excrement he usually produces.  If you can add more to the list, please comment below.

Comments

[KY UK KY]

At least your narrow mind can recognize that not all Brown's decisions are bad ones. Brown wants to win and he's making some savy moves that may not be PC to do so. It would be a political disaster if Marvin was thrown under the bus for making shrewd but unpopular business moves like bringing Chris Henry back. Mike Brown is like the Batman of Cincinnati: he is what the city needs him to be, and right now, THE NASTY needs him to be the bad guy, doing whatever it takes to make a last ditch run at WINNING some football games. The best part about it is he doesn't give a DAMN how loud throngs of sobbing reporters and bleeding heart liberals whine about the teams "lack of character". He throws HIMSELF under the bus for the good of this sleepy old river town. God bless him. WIN. W-I-N.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: the supposed dissention between Mike Brown and Marvin Lewis is so overblown. Marvin Lewis is notoriously standoffish with the press. He withholds information from them whenever he can and he looks down on them as morons, once telling them they basically know nothing about football. ESPN AGREES:

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis denied an ESPN report by Chris Mortensen that the team is shopping tailback Rudi Johnson in search of a receiver.

Morning take: Lewis also denied interest in Chris Henry and that the team was offered two first-round picks for Chad Johnson. So we know the drill.

[Sleeping With Bieniemy]

KY UK KY - your comment would be wise if it wasn't retarded. But it is. Sorry. You are a retard. Seek medical help.

[Andrew Simon]

KY UK KY - what the hell do liberals have to do with re-signing Chris Henry? At no point in your incoherent, rambling response was there anything that could even be considered a rational thought. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

Back to the topic at hand - I liked it when Mike re-signed Boomer for the 97 season.

[KY UK KY]

You simpletons cannot understand the business side of football as myself, Mike and Marvin do. Therefore you are doomed to a season of wallowing in your own self pitty, only to scramble back to the bandwagon ("i've been a fan all along, i swear") when Carson starts JACKING UP THE DEEP ROCK with LASER ROCKET-LIKE ACCURACY to C HEN / CJ / TJ.

Repent now and thou shall be saved.

[Paul Katz]

Pitty? How do you spell a four letter word wrong and then claim to understand the business side of football? I will give you props for the Batman analogy. The mental image of mike brown swooping around in a tight fitting suit sent me overboard momentarily.

[Paul Katz]

Oh, and why did you change your name from KY6 to KY UK KY?

[Josh Hart]

KU UK KY: You just made my eyes bleed. You do realize that the Bengals have NEVER won a playoff game under Mike Brown's reign, right? Just because he stumbled upon FOUR good things in the past 17 or 18 years doesn't exactly win him a gold star in my book. The guy is widely known as the worst owner in football and has turned a once proud franchise into the laughing stock of the NFL. "he's the Batman of Cincinnati"??? Now my ears are bleeding! Listen, if you just want to hop on a blog and ramble about topics you very clearly know nothing about, or even care enough to check your facts, go to Cincy Jungle. I'm sure they'd love to have you. You guys can suck each other off like little kids eating creamsickles on a hot summer day.