Manifesto Demand #3: Indoor Training Facilities
Among the major keys to the Bengals being an amateur organization in a league of professional ones is the lack of first rate indoor training facilities. Most teams that have cities that undergo extreme cold, heat or precipitation have these. And by most I mean everyone but the Bengals.
This Manifesto Demand comes at no small price tag. Many NFL facilities top out at around $30 - $60 million. For example, check out this slick feature on the New York Jets new facilities.
Of course, those that spend those large amounts often use the facility as their team headquarters for all front and back office functions. For examples see Baltimore (in the photo above), Cleveland and Seattle. As we all know (I hope), the taxpayers picked up that tab when the Bengals requested that their offices be built inside Paul Brown Stadium. Thus, the Bengals do not need to ante up as much to build something that qualifies as adequate.
Hell, Massillon High did it for about $4 million. Surely a monopoly organization that has enjoyed continuous profitability for its entire existence (with a few exceptions perhaps) can find the money if a high school can.
Facilities matter. They allow for more focused practicing when the weather is terrible. They help attract and retain top notch players. They would make our franchise less of a joke to the rest of the NFL. Do not take this manifesto demand lightly, comrades.
Please oh puhlease tell me what in the hell a indoor practice facility means towards making the team on the field play better? Why do people keep insisting on this? It has nothing to do with nothing. You play as you practice and you practice how you play. Except for the two games against Domed teams this year -- the only game we played in the regular season in a dome was at Indy. PERIOD! So you are talking about a boondoggle that makes PBS stadium make sense! You want the Bengals to build a pricey-assed TRAINING facility to simulate one or two games a year? Are you nuts? Please give me the logic that makes it sensible and USEFUL to build such a facility? Truth is -- you can't! Jeezal Pete!
Here's a clue... Do some mathematics and find out what is the highest altitude that Carson Palmer has thrown a ball in a game. I would bet that it is under 65 ft. Go find a warehouse up in Pisgah somewhere and have them lay out some field turf (all temporary so it can be rolled up and the building owner can rent out the buidling for other things) and tell the punter that he can go practice up at Fuji Elevators if he wants... then have them practice there if you REALLY need to have an indoor facility.
Folks, this isn't college football where a potential recruit can be bamboozled by 'fantastic' training facilities in order to secure his signing with the school. This is pro-football and these guys know that they don't have control (for the most part) over who drafts them and subsequently where they will go to play. As to those that are free Agents or possible trade bait, do you honestly think that they care about if they have an indoor facility? If you do -- and you think that they do, then the answer is probably that as an owner you wouldn't want that kind of cancer on your team to begin with -- if they are that shallow that such facilities are the hinge point to whether or not they sign a contract...
I once joined the Marine Corps many years ago... I joined it out of my motivation to serve my country (amongst other things), I didn't give one 'whit' that because I opted for the Corps that I wouldn't get the hotel style rooms in Tech School as compared to my Air Force bretheren. Man you guys just aren't dealing with reality are you?
Posted by: WC | January 05, 2009 at 05:36 PM
Wow, had a bad day WC.....or could WC really be MB? The point is is that all of the other cold weather teams have these facilities for a reason and if you don't think that a free agent is looking at stuff like that, you're wrong. Also, do you think that maybe, just maybe the Bengals ridiculous IR least may be in part due to their lousy practice facilities?
Posted by: PAl | January 05, 2009 at 07:12 PM
Sorry, meant IR LIST
Posted by: PAl | January 05, 2009 at 07:20 PM
WC is right. Why simulate play on a surface and in artificial conditions when they play there game in unpredictable weather. Its like preparing for perfect weather all the time. And WC thanks for serving.
Posted by: Matt | January 05, 2009 at 09:32 PM
Practicing in miserable conditions can help but it only goes so far. Much of practice involves strategy and prepping for the specific gameplan of your opponent. Paying attention and learning that is much easier if you can be focused entirely on that instead of staying warm and dry. It's human nature to let factors like that affect you, to claim otherwise is ignorant.
Posted by: Sleeping With Bieniemy | January 05, 2009 at 09:56 PM
Hypothetical here...
It's Decemember. It has snowed for three days straight with more to come. One day left before flying to San Diego.
All that practice time in the snow should help...
Posted by: Remember Rembert | January 05, 2009 at 10:11 PM
December that is.
Posted by: Remember Rembert | January 05, 2009 at 10:12 PM
WC maybe you have never played football in a cold climate or think professional football players are like marines (which is the furthest thing from the truth). Let me address the first point here. I played football, all the way through college, in a cold as hell by the end of the year climate. An indoor facility is not just about preparing for dome teams. Practicing in cold weather can lead to additional injuries and additional players who become sick. It would be easy for a player to pull a muscle or do something else while practicing in sub-zero temperatures. Maybe Mikey's excuse about all the players on IR would be moot if they practiced inside?
Ohio State plays is one dome every other year and they still have an indoor facility. Yes Massillon has a facility but they also have a long tradition of winning (or they have more than one winning season in 18).
Secondly people become Marines for the same reasons you did. People become NFL players for very different reason so don't confuse the two. When was the last time Carson risked his life by dropping back in the pocket (oh wait, that would be every time)?
Posted by: BMOC | January 06, 2009 at 12:47 AM
In the interest of time (which most of you have far too much of) UC is building a facility as we speak. The Bengals will likely rent/lease use of the facility....simple and cheap solution for Mikey Boy.
Feel free to continue to insult each other from behind your computer....it's mildly entertaining.
Posted by: ABrooks | January 06, 2009 at 07:53 AM
ABrooks, So, when you say "feel free to cotinue to insult each other blah,blah,blah..." as you are doing, are you entertaining yourself? Build up your low self esteem on another blog.
Posted by: PAl | January 06, 2009 at 10:09 AM
Does this blog really need another person posting the obvious? No it doesn't...maybe you should find another blog. See you there!
Posted by: Abrooks | January 06, 2009 at 11:13 AM
Keep it cordial guys, everybody is entitled to their own opinions. On that note, make sure your opinion is informed and don't use curses or insults to articulate it.
ABrooks, point taken about UC but that still means the Bengals are renters and not owners. There will always be limitations and it cannot be used as a way to attract free agents. Who says UC will be so generous anyway (perhaps they have already discussed this but I have not read anything about it)?
Posted by: Sleeping With Bieniemy | January 06, 2009 at 05:45 PM
Totally agree with this Manifesto and anyone who think otherwise is a complete idiot. Seriously, if you disagree with the fact the Bengals' need one, you don't know anything about football, have never played it above HS and don't know what you're talking about. Marvin has lobbied for one as well, he's coached for other successful franchises, are you people smarter than him when it comes to what attracts players, keeps them healther, gives them an off-season environment to practice in and use, and allows for more productive practices during bad weather?
Wake up Bungal fans and quit being such morons.
Posted by: WhoSmack | January 07, 2009 at 10:48 AM
Whosmack you need to quit being such an asshole. Just because people have different opinions than you doesnt mean they are morons. I would expect this comin from a steelers fan not a cincinatti fan.
Posted by: Jake | January 07, 2009 at 04:34 PM
"cincinnati"
Posted by: Jake | January 07, 2009 at 11:45 PM
How many teams south of Cincinnati have indoor practice facilities?
Oh, just don't build one over the current practice fields, would ruin my view of the riverfront!
Posted by: Comrade Chaplain | January 08, 2009 at 02:34 PM