Guest Post: An Outsider's Perspective On The Bengals

As with anything you care maybe a little bit too much about, you always risk losing perspective on that very thing.  Forest for the trees and all that.  Here at WDR, we like to check ourselves from time to time to make sure all our ranting about Mike Brown is not misguided by listening to those in the broader NFL world.  A friend, former Eagles front office employee and born/raised Patriots fan sent us the following observations on Mike Brown and the Bengals.  In preview, yep, turns out he's still the worst.  Please read on though, what follows is a very articulate, exceptionally clear, well-reasoned, and evidence based piece on Mikey Boy.

Also, check out the great breakdown of Livings by Blesterov below-SwB

As an outsider to the bizarro football ecosystem of Cincinnati, it's hard not to sympathize with Bengals fans. It's even harder to fathom Mike Brown's motivation.

At first, it seems that Bengals' robber baron wants to operate the franchise to maximize profit regardless of how it affects his reputation or the on-field product. Although the Bengals' payroll averaged 17.7/32 from 2000-2009 (I use payroll because its a more accurate reflection of money spent than cap hit), in the year without salary cap (2010) they ranked 28/32, and now without an individual team salary floor they are currently slated to be somewhere between $40-50M under the cap. One could argue that the Bengals didn't aggressively spend in 2010 because they were reigning AFC North champions and anticipated a return of the salary cap in 2011. Similarly, free agency in 2011 is far from over, and the Bengals could end up considerably closer to the cap. Either way, when the spending restrictions of the old CBA were in place the Bengals were more spendthrift than average, and during the two seasons without those rules they have spent even less relative to other teams. Add in the lack of investment in training facilities and team personnel that caused contract disputes with Marvin Lewis, and the refusal to hire a GM, and it's easy to see how Brown has earned this characterization.

But Brown isn't Mr. Burns, staffing his plant with incompetents and uncaring about how the surrounding town is impacted by his penny-pinching practices solely in the name of monetary gain. If he were, why wouldn't he sell the naming rights to Paul Brown Stadium? That would reap huge revenues that wouldn't need to be shared with the rest of the league. Or why won't he release Carson Palmer when it is clear by this point that the demoralized quarterback will only serve as a salary cap albatross when he unretires?

The reason is unclear. Does Brown view himself as some bastion of the old guard, where protecting his father's name on the stadium and not releasing his QB from his contract purgatory are uncompromisable principles? Does he view modern scouting systems and upgraded facilities as passing fads that are ultimately secondary to winning because his father didn't need them to achieve his success? These would each be viable narratives if they weren't deeply flawed. What is so important about the contractual agreement, the word of Palmer to Brown when teams can unilaterally cut players and terminate their contracts when they want? Why would Brown be so opposed to modernizing his facilities and personnel practices out of allegiance to his father when Paul Brown was one of the great innovators in scouting and player development in the early NFL?

Ultimately there is only so much to be gained from guessing at Brown's psychology. He might just be a hypocritical curmudgeon. But it would seem that something would have to give between the potential driving factors behind his ownership decisions: profit and "principles". Especially in the wake of Johnathan Joseph's departure for the Texans when the Bengals clearly have more than enough resources to make a competing offer, it appears that Brown's principles in not upgrading his facilities, personnel, or freeing his hostage signal-caller have resulted in a higher-than-average price tag for players to don orange and black. If that is true, then the Bengals are likely looking at one of two potential scenarios.

1. Brown stands by his principles, pays above-market prices for a few free agents to come to the team to bring it over the salary floor. The Bengals become a collection of newly drafted players serving their time, players who have already served time and are not good enough to be given a second chance by the Eagles, and a few veterans who are looking to cash out.
2. Brown compromises his principles, making significant investment in team infrastructure, personnel, and player negotiations. The asking price for free agents declines over time, and the Bengals start to resemble other NFL franchises.

My own suspicion, assuming the individual team salary floor kicks in starting in 2013, is that Brown recognizes his team is a wreck right now, wants to gut it and take home as much profit during the next two years. In 2013, after he has stood his ground with Palmer, he will reevaluate how much spending is necessary.

In other words, the former.

Comments

[Danno]

A very nice perspective, but I do disagree with then endgame. There is no way Mike ever recognizes the mess he runs... even after all the profit. We are stuck with him till he steps down, dies, or the Bengals leave.

[Sleeping With Bieniemy]

@Danno - I think that's what the author of the post intended. The "former" references scenario number 1 listed above. Basically, Mike Brown continues to hold by his misguided and conflicting principles and we have shitty teams until he passes on.

[Dan R.]

Always nice to see others in the league, not just in Cincinnati, recognize what we're working with. I think the Leitch article on Vick, wherein he intimates that the NFL/Goodell basically told Vick he couldn't sign with Cincinnati - is another example of a vote of no confidence.

Even Reedy subtly acknowledges that: "Off field, this team would not have been equipped for the scrutiny and to provide the tools for Vick to have an successful transition and comeback." He says that's because we already had T.Ocho, Pacman, Matt Jones, etc. here, but who's the dumpster-diver responsible for that? Ultimately though, the real reason he couldn't sign with us is that the league understood the P.R. ramifications and what was at stake, which meant they couldn't let him sign with an unprofessionally run organization they couldn't trust to handle Vick with competence.

[Savannah Dumpster Rental]

It is my honor and privileged to found and read your post. It made me learn a lot of different ideas. Keep up the good work.

[Danno]

@Sleeping Ah, F, you are right. Misread. My bad. Been dissecting technical docs all day and had a slip. lol. Either way, thought, still good to see that others outside the team see this franchise is a calamity. The stuff with Goodell today shows me that even he recognizes how terrible this place is, but is unwilling to do anything about it.

_Dan

[blesterov]

I think Mike Brown is easy to comprehend once you realize he is similar to a conservative fundamentalist. It doesn't matter what religion they are part of, fundamentalists are pretty similar in their behavior patterns and belief models. For instance, the muslim world was much more advanced than Europe during a time in history. They were innovative in mathematics, science, and medicine. Now that portions of their culture have become entrenched with fundamentalists, their society is known archaic beliefs.

Christian fundamentalist in this country are no different. For instance, there was a recent article that scientific study of human DNA has now proven that it was impossible for Adam and Eve to ever exist. Even though there is solid logic sitting in front of them with enough evidence for them to understand their belief model is flawed, fundamentalists (christian, muslim, and jewish) will refute this new model and stand by their "principles". It is as if one generation promotes innovation, and the future generation clings to those laurels and becomes fundamentalists to honor the prior generation's efforts.

I see Mike Brown as being no different to these fundamentalists. His father pushed innovation in the sport, and was one of the top minds in the game. Mike solely received his status from his father's efforts. I believe, you could pitch Mike Brown the latest and most advanced model for providing a high quality scouting department, provide evidence that it would improve the team's record, and show a solid return on his investment; he would still turn it down every time since it was not the way the prior generation conducted business. "Good teams are built in the draft" was once the mantra in the NFL, and that is now the fundamentalist belief, excluding the possibilities of all other options.

[Wyatt]

And, for the most part, good teams ARE still built in the draft (see: 2010 Green Bay Packers), but, as blesterov said, in order to draft successfully and build a good team, it requires a competent scouting department that is part of a player personnel department that actually has a clue as to how they want to build their team. Had Mike Brown hired a competent, non-puppet GM when he hired Marvin, I think you'd see a much different Bengals team in 2011, because that GM would've overruled Marvin's desires to go run-first when the Bengals had one of the top three quarterbacks in the league and two Pro Bowl wide receivers. That GM would've invested picks and free agent money on the offensive line to make sure that quarterback didn't get hurt (likely irreparably), and, most of all, that GM would've gotten a legitimate medical staff no later than spring 2006 (assuming that catastrophic injury to Carson couldn't have been avoided, which is a logical assumption since the Bengals actually had a good line back then), which would've precluded a lot of the issues we've seen since (Antonio Bryant, anyone?).

[JM]

I'm watching the eagles-steelers.

I believe that Pittsburgh has 3 quarterbacks better than any current Bengals QB. I also think that there fourth quarter, pre season, o-line is better than our starting group.

How the fuck does that happen?

[wch]

This can ALL be summed up by saying, 'You keep coming back!' He can't be that bad of a businessman because you keep coming back. Now as to a capable football mind? That's another story.

However, it does crack me up when people start raggin' on him being a bad owner etc. bad businessman etc. He took over a franchise worth about $70 mil and now its estimated worth is closer to $1bil than it is to $500 mil. Still a profit that he turns (and makes for himself etc.) Thus, he can't be too bad.

[Tiger Burning]

This article by Freeman at CBS is pretty good, though it makes me feel sorry for Lewis.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/15448061/bengals-were-bad-but-palmergate-sent-them-reeling

[ChiBengal]

@WCH - No one on here really cares any more what you think. Stop wasting your time trying to defend Mike Brown... Yes, the man is a terrible NFL OWNER!!!! Mikey Boy Brown is not the CEO of JP MORGAN or GE, hes the owner of an NFL Team and turning a profit is NOT the ultimate goal or objective of running an NFL Franchise.

Go find another blog to criticize; we are sick of your non-sense. Go one yourself!

[Rich]

I noticed the other day that the lease on the stadium expires in Jun of 2026 - a mere 15 years away. Chances are that MB will either be retired or dead. That'll be an opportunity. But until then I wonder if the city would be willing to divorce the bengals. I doubt it. But this just isn't right.

[HangingMBinEffigy]

Maybe this time all the whodey morons will figure out it's more fun not spending Sunday watching the Bengals get pummeled. That's what I hope for in 2011, eight blackouts

[JM]

It's going to be interesting to see how Gruden manages the 3-4 blitzes that the jets will most likely be running all night. I watched the Jets-Texans Monday night and there was aggressive blitzing by the Jets. It seemed like the only way the Texans were slowing it down was screen passes.

I'm thinking Dalton is going to be spending a bit of time on his ass. Hopefully he doesn't unleash a bunch of wild passes near Revis or Cromartie.

This will give us an idea of how well Gruden play calls against, and how well this O-line can pick up complicated defenses. I'm thinking they'll do poorly at both. If they show poorly for the entire preseason the stink of it will lead to an awful attendance in game one. MGB is doing it to himself.

[GetRidofMikeBrown]

What makes anyone think Gruden is any good?
UFL?

He's David Shula part deux. I know let's hire the family member of someone who is a proven talent, because hey that's worked so well for us in the past.

[West TX Bengal Fan]

@Blesterov -- You have hit the culture of Mike Brown and his decision tree with a bulls-eye. There is a family hero worship for how "daddy dun it."

One thing that is commonly overlooked by many -- even MB haters -- is that Paul Brown wasn't overly successful in Cincinnati as a football person. Sure, they made two Super Bowls in the 80's. But PB had an overall losing record as a coach never winning a playoff game before he retired. And he failed to retain Bill Walsh, who -- after PB tried and failed to blackball him from coaching jobs elsewhere -- went to SF where he became one of the great NFL coaches and GMs of all time.

Like Shula, Landry, Halas and the other NFL coaching greats, Paul Brown and his methods became obsolete toward the end of his run. Unlike the Dolphins, Cowboys & Bears franchises, the Bengals have retained worshipers of the ancient culture (i.e., the fundamentalists) and now are living in an NFL version of the stone age.

[GetRidofMikeBrown]

@West TX Bengal Fan: Yes!

Even Paul Brown was well past his prime. People forget the draft busts of the pre-Mike Brown era, the absolutely terrible choices of coaches (heck even Sam Wyche had done nothing to really deserve the job, he was 3-8 at Indiana U the previous year -- is that really the qualifications for NFL head coach? Homer Rice was 4-18 at Rice University!)

Also people forget that the problem with players being "criminal element" even pre-dates Mike Brown, there was at least one terrible gang rape scandal.

[JM]

Am I the only one who can envision a scenario where Pryor is drafted by MFB, and Tressel is hired to take the reigns? It is about the only thing that could happen to put asses in seats.

I'm not a big ten fan. I am not a Buckeye fan. However, that scenario doesn't bother me.

[GetRidofMikeBrown]

@JM: how could it be any worse than the record breaking ass-whoopin' this team is set up to take this year? Of course if fans are fooled by an Ohio State related publicity stunt, then we have no hope.

[Wyatt]

Tressel's biggest advantage is negated in the pros, because all the players get paid.

[blesterov]

@JM & others, I hope that MFB does not pull the trigger with Pryor - a big waste of a time and effort. Again this is will show us who is in charge in the front office - Marvin or MFB.

The Tressel story line does make way too much sense for it to not to become a possibility. MFB has proven time and again that he loves the fallen hero story line (as if he believes it is an allegory of himself), and Tressel is a classic case. It would be intriguing. However I don't know if Tressel would make a good NFL coach since, like Spurrier, his skill set is more geared for the college game. He would also have to give up play calling duties on offense - something I don't know if he would be willing to give up.

I have always liked Tressel and found him to be a great speaker when I was involved in coaching clinics that he attended. He is a hell of a lot better than John Copper, who was a drunken fool. It is too bad he crossed the line from coach to preacher, which in the end made him look like a hypocrite and led to his demise. Regardless I think you are right in that it would generate one hell of a smoke screen to build false excitement and bring fans back into the stands after this season of fail.

[ChiBengal]

Now I totally could be wrong and havent really paid to much attention to the Bungles 'football ops dept' (if you can even call it that) in years But as of the summer of 2006 when I worked as an equipment intern John Cooper was still an acting scout within the Bungles organization and it certainly would not surprise me in the slightest bit to see Tressel hired on by the redeemer, MB.

[imitation rolex watch]

I usually love to recognize anything with regards to our brand-new pals, along with nothing at all with regards to our previous versions.

[UGG Boots]

When children go to bed that night, they hang up their stockings, and on Christmas morning they wake to find them full of presents. Of course, it's really their parents who fill the stockings..