Project Mayhem in Football Outsiders 2009 Almanac

Fellow Comrade Rob Weintraub was (un)fortunately tasked with writing the Bengals section in the Football Outsiders 2009 Almanac.  If you are not reading Football Outsiders daily, start (after checking out WDR, of course).   They are working to apply Sabermetric-type models to football to be better able to measure various aspects of football and more effectively rate players.  Needless to say, Mike Brown isn't impressed.

In their 2009 Alamanac, currently available in PDF for $12 and on Amazon at the end of the month for $20, Weintraub references the frustration of Bengals fans after years of disappointment.  The whole book is worth the $20, but here is the section which discusses WDR:

The frustration in Cincy has turned to action, at least on the part of the bloggers at WhoDey Revolution. The Website dreamed up “Project Mayhem,” one stage of which entailed erecting several billboards around the Queen City reading “Dear Bengals: Hire a G.M. Love, Your Fans.” Fans activist and sedentary alike were even more outraged when the Cincinnati Enquirer revealed Brown has been giving himself “General Manager Bonuses” of several million dollars over the years. Not even the megabucks doled out to those financial wizards at A.I.G. who crashed the world economy engendered such fury. Bengals fans are keenly aware of the clock ticking away on Palmer’s career. Each failed season is another wasted year with an elite quarterback at the helm. While projected to finish out of the playoffs yet again, a wild card run isn’t beyond comprehension. The striking power of 2006 is gone. If Cincy can compete successfully with defense and running, even Mike Brown might catch some slack.

Comments

[Danno]

Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't 2005 our "Striking" season?

2006 was post-Kimo, and full of lackluster, right?

[CurseofBoJackson]

I remember being pretty excited, and also remember that the season was looking pretty good till the last three....... You know. They 'struck' plenty until it matterd most.

[BB]

How has the fact that the steelers starting qb has been raping chicks not been a post on here yet? I mean seriously best news ever.

[Wyatt]

BB,

I think because it's still kinda shady - this chick is accusing everyone under the sun of being involved in some massive conspiracy against her. No matter how awesome "Rapistburger" would be as a deregatory nickname, I'm willing to give the douche the benefit of the doubt here. Plus, even if there was a widely-circulated video of the assault, and a video of Roger Goodell watching it, a Steelers player isn't going to be punished by a friend of the Rooney family, even if (especially if?) he happens to be the commissioner.

Although I will admit that if you go the nfl.com and check out their article about the situation, Rothlisburger does look like a rapist in that picture. Best case scenario he's found liable, has to pony up the dough, gets a suspension, and the ever-hot Missy Peregrym breaks up with him. Worst case scenario? I'm hoping Missy's single.

[Mockenrue]

Nice to know Football Outsiders hopes we can "compete successfully." Maybe that's merely unfortunate wording, but isn't that part of the problem? Just competing?