Bengals BOGO Fever

After waking up from the post-Christmas haze on Monday morning, the Bengals ticket office was innundated with season ticket holders lining the plaza at PBS and jamming the phone lines.  Their purpose?  To take advantage of a buy one, get one free ticket offer (no limit) to pack the cobweb filled upper decks of PBS for Sunday's win and in season finale against Baltimore.  The pro-shop is even cutting the prices of Bengals replica jerseys - from $80 to $50.  Profit is only now $45 per jersey, instead of $75.  (Don't expect a Valentine's Day present next year, Mrs. Brown)

Here's WDR's question - where was this ticket offer 6 weeks ago? 

Following the Pittsburgh game, the Bengals had four games left:  Cleveland, Houston, Arizona and Baltimore.  Ticket numbers ranged from low 40's for Houston, Arizona and Baltimore and high 40's for Cleveland.  The family KNEW that selling that many tickets at full price (cheapest ticket is $65) would at the very least a miracle, if not impossible.  Not to mention that three games fell directly around the holidays (Sunday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and New Years Day).  Plus the weather would likely be crappy outside. Despite the fact the Bengals won a huge game in Tennessee to move to 6-2, very few tickets were sold over the next few days - a telling sign.

They could have, and should have, done some kind of promotion earlier.  Instead, it was typical Bengals - only reactionary, keeping their head in the sand...not looking ahead and attacking the problem head on.  They did offer a family four-pack for the Indianapolis game - where you received $65 in stadium bucks for buying 4 tickets - but Season Ticket Holders were rightfully not thrilled about being screwed once again.  No ticket deals with the lockout looming, no deals once the lockout ended, and next to nothing the entire season - where there have already been 6 blackouts. 

Do you think the Reds would ever sit back and do nothing?

At the end of the day, they have almost no incentive to offer ticket deals to the most loyal fans in the NFL.  Scrooge McDuck-like TV revenue and the NFL's socialist ways take care of that.  The eyes of the league are now on the Bengals, however, and we wouldn't be surprised if there was a little nudge from Commissoner Goodell's office to make an effort to fill the stands on Sunday.

Will the Bengals sellout?  What seemed impossible last week is certainly a possibility now.  They will need four more days like today to come close.  The biggest single week of ticket sales for a specific game likely came before the Kansas City game in November 2003. 

It's hard not to like the players on the field for the 2011 edition of the Cincinnati Bengals.  However, ownership still makes it very hard to financially support this organization - a fact supported by acres of empty seats for 6 of the 7 home games this season.

One thing I hope the distinguished local media, Ken Broo, and the nation realize is this:

The reason the Bengals are not already sold out for a playoff-clinching game is not because of the economy, not because Cincinnati doesn't like football, or because we get too drunk on New Year's Eve.  It's solely because the Brown family and their ownership has beaten us down - and 2011 was finally the first full season where we collectively stood up and said:  NO MORE.  More than 120,000 people over six games were no longer financially supporting an ownership that had delivered exactly zero playoff wins in two decades, not to mention a century's worth of embarassment.  This was despite a young team in playoff contention.

Make no mistake, it is their fault that PBS might not sell out this game. 

Only one question remains:

Will Bengals fans bail them out?

Comments

[Kevin Jones]

It'd be nice to see the game on my HD tv instead of a crappy internet stream, but i'd almost like to see it blacked out again just to drive home the fact that people refuse to give Mike Brown money. During the game Sunday the announcers ripped Cincy fans for not being at the game, before Billick wound up saying some people were angry at ownership. No dicks, we're not bad fans it's ALL on ownership. People bend over backwards to spend money they don't have (which is why the economy is in the crapper) and if they felt ownership deserved any more of their hard earned cash they'd do it whether they had it to spend or not.

[#DoNotOccupyPaulBrownStadium]

DO NOT GO!
Don't get suckered in, folks. Until Mike Brown is gone, nothing's gonna change.

[HofSchnitzelMitSchweinbraunow]

I see that "Fagin" Brown
has made his slave orphans (Bengals players)
beg Cincinnatians to attend the last game....for shame

hell nope,
if you have hope,
then DON'T GO TO PBS!!!!

[Dan R.]

They may sell out, they may not. The bigger question to me is whether, when addressing the situation, the national media (i.e. ESPN, the CBS crew) pins the problem on the fans or the Brown family. Seems we need more signs at the stadium or other means of drawing attention to the real source of the problem.

[TigerJ@w]

The SHEEP are lining up for the slaughter again! Mike Brown Style! If anyone does not think for a minute that this move was a direct slap in the face of the public taxpayers than I do not what to tell you. Build him a Rent Free stadium since Jan 2009 and what does he do, give the season ticket holders an option to buy more tickets. This is not to keep the Ravens fans out like many SHEEP are saying it is trying to get back at the fans who do not come to the games. Ok, if they do not win, and do not make it into the playoffs, then what will their motto and excuses be for MFB's 22nd year running this circus. We are only 2 players away, we are young, we can build a winner with what we have, we had injuries, etc.... I bet he even extends Mediocre Marv's contract and the SHEEP will rejoice! lol Ridiculous! and the beat goes on...... PATHETIC!

[TigerJ@w]

and oh btw, the schedule will not be as easy next year, but don't let me say this because the SHEEP will come back and say the Steelers and Ravens had the same schedule, well, they had better records too so what does this say? Plus, they continually win every year while the Bengals have a winning season 3 out 21 years. What I love that nobody is talking about is over the last 8 games the Bengals have 3 wins and 4 losses and if they lose on Sunday it will be 5 losses out of 8, but I am sure this will be overlooked by the SHEEP. Yep, good ole Marv needs to be extended for starting out 6 and 2 and ending up with a losing record over the last 8 games. Can he have his team put on the Big Boy Pads this Sunday is the question.

[Whysoserious]

Guess I should start Baaa Baaa ing, think I'd rather be a "sheep" and enjoy the fact that we are a win away from the playoffs then sit in my mom's basement a throw fits like other people on here. Is your life that sad that you have to go on a message board and slam people for rooting for their team?!? I still swear they could win the Super Bowl this year, repeat next year and people like Tiger Jaw would say "well a real team would three peat so they suck"

[ChiBengal]

Why do you troll this website then 'whysoserious'? If you are enjoying their "success" this season then go troll Bengals.com and stay away from this site...

[LaraWest24]

Cars and houses are not very cheap and not everyone can buy it. However, business loans was invented to help people in such kind of situations.

[Whysoserious]

Didn't realize that if you root for the bengals you shouldn't come to this site. Isn't this site supposed to be for Bengal fans??

[Sweetness D]

Well said Jason Buck. If Bengals fans think MB is doing them a favor then they are sorely mistaken. Bengals fans just can't win. Before the season started the media was saying, "why aren't Bengals fans boycotting?" (an article from the blowhard Rick Reilly comes to mind). Now we are bad fans for "not supporting a playoff contender".

Most outside of Cincy do not truly understand how much MB and family have crapped all over this city.

[Comrade Amur]

I've been a full participant in the boycott this year – no attendance of the games, no new gear, no $ into the Brown's pockets.

But I'm also behind the fans who want to go to support the players this Sunday. This team deserves it. It's not their fault they got drafted into our mess of an ownership situation. In my mind the more people who show up on Sunday the better – it can help demonstrate how many fans would be at every game if the Browns change their ways and pursue sustainable success.

Here's an idea: How about a Project Mayhem to equip fans with signs saying something like "I'm here for the Bengals, not the Browns!"

[blesterov]

I am happy with the team's efforts and front office's hinting at an ability to build a foundation that may allow for a better team in the coming years, but this is not a playoff team. It is just media hype to think otherwise.

They sure as hell are not going to beat the Ravens this weekend, and I don't think it will even be close due to their deficiencies in the secondary. If they make it in from the Jets and other teams losing (which is a good possibility) then they will be a one and done team. They would play the Texans while the Western division winner (most likely the Chargers) will play the Steelers. The Bengals are not good enough to handle a suffocating defense yet to be able to be considered a playoff team, nor have they been able to execute for two halves in a game. If they make the necessary upgrades in the coming offseason, then we will be able to talk playoffs.

Fans should not buy tickets for this game! Yes, the players deserve support, but their salaries are not based on the stadium attendance. Filling a seat only adds to Mike Brown's income. Until he is ready to show that he is willing to make the right investments in this team, the fan base should continue to boycott.

[ChiBengal]

Per PFT. Lippincott has retired as the Director of Football Operations... but nothing is mentioned if there will be a replacement or not...

[Whysoserious]

Blesterov did you watch the last time the bengaks played the ravens?!? If it wasn't for the bad call on the Gresham TD the Bengals would have won the game. Dalton struggled a little in that game but has been tested just as hard recently and looked better. What basis do you have to say that there is absolutely no chance for the bengals yo win this game other than just hate talk?!?

[sexonthebreech]

Blesterov, couldn't agree more. Is there a bigger fraud this year in the NFL than the Bengals? I continue to be shocked by ESPN, etc. analysts who praise the team and predict we'll beat Baltimore to get in the playoffs. I do give this group credit for taking care of the garbage teams on their schedule, but when you get down to it, they really had to squeeze out wins against those terrible teams (think Cleveland Browns - 1st game got a cheap TD w/ the Browns asleep on D, and eeked out a nailbiter AT HOME). The only "quality wins" they have are 49ers (early), Bills, and Titans.

The most interesting question in my mind, is if the weak schedule has opened the door for another 6 year stretch of Carson-like slurping of Dalton. No doubt he has been solid and even impressive by rookie standards by taking care of business against crap teams so we know he is at least average... but are we getting are hopes up prematurely? Next year when the competition gets tougher, will we put our Carson blinders on and blame every INT on the WR? 80% of the post '05 failures of this team was poor front office decisions, but I would say 20% was not being able to honestly and seriously evaluate the poor QB play and shedding that blame onto the most productive members of the offense (Chad, and last year TO).

In the end this year will be a '05 or '09 like blip on the radar... Dalton and AJ seems pretty similar to Carson and Chad's promise back in '05 and we all know where that got us. Plus I think '05 Carson and Chad are miles ahead of '11 Dalton and AJ... maybe Dalton and AJ can get to '05 Carson and Chad level in a few years, but in no way can we look at this and say "we're back".

[sexonthebreech]

Whysoserious,
I think the "if it wasn't for Gresham TD call we would've won" is a pretty big exaggeration... that TD didn't even give us the lead! Blesterov is right on that we don't have a chance... look at our season vs. good teams... losing by 7-10 points doesn't count in the standings... you can whine "but, but, we ALMOST beat them" all you want, but that is the exact mentality that allows the Brown family to rape this city year after year. "Hey everyone, shell out some more money for 2012 season tickets, we finished 9-7 in 2011 and ALMOST made the playoffs (I could've put in an offer for Jonathon Joseph in the offseason to push us from Competitive to Contender, but I only shoot for Competitive because that is all it takes to trick you fools). Also while you are at it fire some more cops, firefighters, and teachers to buy me a new scoreboard (and down the road you are on the hook for "holographic replay system") LOL! nice work Bobby B"

Whysoserious, everyone on this site is "so serious" because of dumbasses like you that are too stupid to realize the Brown family is destroying this city, and dumbasses like you keep coming back for more with an ear to ear Hines Ward shit-eating grin. Cincinnati is better off with the Bengals in LA.

[#DoNotOccupyPaulBrownStadium]

@sexonthebeach: They LOST to the 49ers at home.
Beating the Bills? Bills were later exposed as huge frauds. Hence not a big deal.
Beating the Titans? That was a quality win over a mediocre opponent. The best game of the year so far.

If the Bengals lose Sunday that will make 13 or 14 straight losses to playoff teams depending on if Denver makes the playoffs (14 if Denver makes the playoffs).
14 straight losses to playoff teams. That's almost a whole season of games... and the best they can do is 1-12 (if Denver loses out).

That's what's giving you sheep koolaid clubbers hope? 1-12 against good teams?

[#DoNotOccupyPaulBrownStadium]

@ChiBengal: New WDR demand: Next time hire a guy to run your football operations who isn't coming from a high school.
LOL.

[JM]

A sellout this Sunday could backfire badly for the Browns. They sell out, people get to see the games at home for free. All good if you win.

But they are likely to lose. And if the second Pittsburgh game is any indication, and they lose badly, you'll have fans in the stands say "why did I bother, should have known, another letdown". And fans at home who won't have any reason to buy into next year. Which is what this is all about, putting rear ends in seats next year.

If they win or lose close it's good, but if they lose and lose bad it's going to ripple through a fanbase psyche that is already too apathetic to continue support. It will only solidify the resentment that may be starting to thaw a little.

Go bengals fans. The best thing for the players and fans is to not sell out and lose this game horribly. Showing the weaknesses of this young but talented "contender". Can't you already imagine the letter to season ticket holders in the offseason? Boasting with words like "young" "close" "contenders" "playoffs" "1 of only a few teams to reach the playoffs 2 out of the last 3 years"?

Don't give in now. Don't pay him off and allow him to promote his young playoff team. Show him that if he wants to get game day stadium money, he needs to hire a GM, and change.

Local advertising dollars are tanking too. How valuable are local advertising deals that don't get broadcasted to locals 7 out of 8 games.

Hold the line. Don't pay him off now.

[Whysoserious]

So I guess the steelers should have just closed up shop and gone home after getting slaughtered by Baltimore in week 2. Seriously though why claim you root for this team if all you do is say how much they suck. Why not find a new team to follow. They are 9-6 have a shot at the playoffs, (division games are always a toss up no matter the division) and theyll play a team in Houston they can beat. Why not come out of your moms nadent stop obsessing over your crappy life and enjoy this while we can??

[me]

@Whysoserious

I still swear they could win the Super Bowl this year, repeat next year and people like Tiger Jaw would say "well a real team would three peat so they suck"

You are still brain dead. This team has not won a Superbowl. It hasn't been to a Superbowl since Andy Dalton was in diapers. If you were born the day the Bengals won their last playoff game, you'd be legally allowed to drink in a few more days.

Quit with your moronic Super Bowl scenario. It is as stupid as you are. And if Wesley or whoever stands up for you again, I'll slap him down again.

The fact is that the Bengals have accomplished nothing. They have the cheapest owner in sports. They had the easiest schedule in football. They'll finish a smidge over .500 and you are ready to give oral services to the whole team.

When this team wins a playoff game, I will give them credit for turning things around. That ain't a real lofty goal. Every year six teams win a game. This means the average team by luck should do this once every five years. The Bengals have gone twenty (soon to be twenty-one) without doing so.

You can be happy being a clueless sheep, but I cannot. If you don't want your bubble burst, stay on bengals.com, listen to Hobson and buy your Mike Brown bobble doll. But stay off this site if you don't want to hear the truth.

[#DoNotOccupyPaulBrownStadium]

@Whysoserious: "enjoy this while we can"

Winning 9 games against the league's doormats mostly in close fashion? Including on Sunday by the end zone grass tackling the opposing team's completely uncovered wide receiver? I guess you're easily pleased. Or smoking crack. Either way Mike Brown loves you. All the way to the bank.

[Santa Brown]

Ho Ho Ho,

I see Whysoserious is one of the "good" little boys. Sit on my lap here and we'll talk about what Santa Brown has for you in his sack.

You have been such a good boy going to my games and watching my team on television. I will give you SEASON TICKETS next year for face value AND throw in a candy cane -- I got them 90% off now that Christmas is over. You deserve it you cute little sheep.

And I know I can count on you to cheer for my team next year when we have some setbacks as people figure out our new offense and we play a slightly harder schedule. With our 9-7 season, fans should be happy for another five years.

I know you will be there on the sidelines cheering in the 4th quarter when the Steelers are beating the he!! out of us again. You are my favorite little boy and you are on the top of my present list. If your last name was "Brown" I'd let you join our crack scouting team or fill our operations vacancy. But great-grandniece Jamie turns six tomorrow and I promised her that job. Tough luck, sheep.

Ho! Ho! Ho! MERRRRRRRRY CHRISTMAS!

[guttersnake]

Dear blesterov & SWB... please moderate this site with the level-headed objectiveness which I have come to love for the past several years. The Tea Party Nay-Sayers are getting out of control... not because they are wrong. But because if you follow their arguments and their never-ending cynicism; in the end, whether MFB repents or does not, The Bengals will never be good. Ever. And that is a bit much... even for me.

me - "stay off this site if you don't want the hear the truth."

Okay, because its clear that none of us are going to the game, lets just stop kicking that poor horse and look at two huge events that have happened in the front office this week. Follow me: Earlier this week, Mike Brown dropped 200 Million Dollars and bought out all the other minority share holders of The Bengals. The Family now owns the team - lock, stock and stripes. No more meetings, no more red tape. The next day, our incredible Two-for-One deal hits, just in time for the Play-offs... Two days later, Jim Lippincott "steps down" as Director of Football Operations, which has serious ties to the meager scouting department. Yes, all this is covered in a very sugar-coated manner on bengals.com, but it reeks of being fired.

I'm not getting involved 'go / no go' debate. I'm in North Carolina and I'd love to see this team win. Period. However, no one is going to tell me that its as simple as a 'same ol' same ol' public relationship ploy or stunt to get paid. As blesterov pointed out, the risk / reward is too great and even if they do sell-out, the number of tickets they would sell would still not exceed the Steelers game in terms of revenue.

So to recap: 200 Million out of pocket to gain total control. The best ticket deal, well, maybe ever, with little ability to gain a profit. Then you fire your friend and co-conspirator of 22 years. ....I feel like that dude in Super Troopers. (...I'm freaking out, man....)

[Todd]

Most of the stories I see on sites like ESPN and other national sports outlets do in fact blame the Brown family for the blackouts. I have yet to see anything on the internet about these games (I can't watch them, I live in Japan) that blames fans. Usually they feature quotes from players who really want a full stadium and then the article writer mentions "but it's been difficult for fans to support this organization after several years of this ownership."

[JM]

Has WDR started removing comments? Weird.

[Doc Scratch]

Hehe, you misers amuse me. I get you're afraid to watch it all be taken away from you but enjoy this season while you still can. It's nearly done, and, win or loss, we're still going down with a winning season when many expected us to be the worst in the NFL or thereabouts. We'll see where this goes--this offseason will be the most telling of if the Bengals will continue their success--but, for now, there's no reason to cry sheep because people are listening to the players, rather than the Browns.

[Hofbraunow]

In the name of all that is decent and wholesome
do not give that greedy bastard your hard-earned money on Sunday...

If you can't do it in the name of all that is decent and wholesome,
then please vote with your wallet,
and continue to tell the Brown profit machine to fuck off.

Do not waste anymore money on keeping up with the Browndashians.

I call for all Bengals fans, to post your oath on the open thread, in blood
(better yet save it; just use HP black #15 etc.,
then go give a pint and get a few bucks)

[Whysoserious]

So let me get this credo right even if the bengaks are surprisingly good we're supposed to root against them and boycott games. Even if it's the second time in 3 years they make the playoffs and look to be building a string nucleus. Hold off sorry "me" and others they only win 9 games because everyone else stunk just like when they swept the division or was because the steelers took a year off not that the bengals may have been good.

So just when would you root for this team? When they add a GM? St Louis, KC, Buffalo, Detroit, and Cleveland have them hasn't done crap for them lately. I'm not saying MB should be GM just that it's not some magic fix. Could they use more scouts sure but again not a be all end all fix, NE has scouts and look at how Chad is working out for them at 6 mill.

Though ppl don't believe me I agree with this site but to a point. I can't stand the absolutely pessimistic Bengal fan that no matter what can't be happy. I remember in 09 when they were sweeping the division one wrong play or one missed tackle and these fans would tell you how they were worst team
in the league. Sorry but if you sweep pitt and balt you can't be the worst team.

[Get_Serious]

The game is a sell out. Have fun sitting at home WDR faithful. If you did not try to get a ticket for this game, i'm sorry, you are not a real fan. Doesn't get any bigger and better than this. The moves made over the past year and the team's record should be applauded - these are absolutes. Failure to accept this is purely stubborn.

Even based on your own philosophy here at WDR - how do you promote change if you don't reinforce "good behavior" but instead blindly boo every single thing the team does? A lot of good things have been done this year including 1) very strong draft (again), 2) retention of Marvin (he's on WDRs side), 3) the best trade in franchise and possibly league history.

Sure things can still be improved, but none of this works if you don't give credit where due for the team doing things right for once.

[me]

Thanks,

I've read this thread and several others and it is now more crystal clear than it ever has in the past. Mike Brown will not change. he has complete control. A body in motion stays in motion until an external force acts on it.

Hamilton County has ensured that Mike will be profitable until he dies. Too many guarantees in the contract.

The fans are not in much of a position to do much. Boycotts only have a marginal effect on him. The Hamilton County deal ensured this. And even if the fans could do something, you have folks like Whysoserious who are ready to kiss Mike's butt at every turn. He goes back to the "glory days" of '09 or a 9-7 finish against weak competition. My standards are pretty low: "ONE playoff win". But this is not a low enough standard for sheep like him.

The reality is the fans deserve this team. By rooting for and supporting the Bengals, we've got what we deserve.

As for me, I am done with the Bengals. I will take one more post to slap whysoserious, then I am done. This is a painful choice as I've watched this team since 1977. But it is time to cut ties. Nothing is changing, nothing will change. You'll all be back next year crying about a 6-10 finish.

[me]

"Hold off sorry "me" and others they only win 9 games because everyone else stunk just like when they swept the division or was because the steelers took a year off not that the bengals may have been good. "

Wow. Going back a couple years for the one time we swept the division? Cherry picking a data point does not substantiate a trend. We're about to get swept by the big two again this year. do you not know the difference between one data point and a trend line? Seriously? ZERO wins in the playoffs in 20.9 years is a trend. One season is a data point.

"So just when would you root for this team?"

I've already said that I will say this team has turned things around, when the Bengals win ONE playoff game. This is not a huge hurdle. Six teams do it every year. This averages to once every five years. The bengals aven't done it for 21 years.

"Could they use more scouts sure but again not a be all end all fix, NE has scouts and look at how Chad is working out for them at 6 mill. "

And this might be the dumbest statment you have made. Go look at New England. They hit more often than they miss... by far. They took a chance on one player and it did not work out. Yet year after year they make right choices CONSISTENTLY. Go look at the Bengals' ten-year track record and tell me it is even remotely close to New England.

"Sorry but if you sweep pitt and balt you can't be the worst team.

They didn't sweep Pitt or Baltimore. What league are you looking at? And I have never said they are the worst team. They are at best average and with Mike's track record that average will be short lived.

[Whysoserious]

Uh me they swept the division in 09 or were you not watching the bengals "that long ago" a whole big two seasons ago. Never said it was a trend but again you proved my point you choose to ignore anything good they do and only focus on the terrible, hence why you can't envision the very real possibility they beat the Ravens which sorry if you have even watched a down of the NFL you have to know can happen and they can meet your so called standard by beating Houston in the playoffs.

Dont let the door hit you on the ass on the way out I'm about as sad to see you go as I an to see lipponcott go since you both seem to have the same IQ

[me]

And now folks, I am out. I might check in next season. I might not. But at this point I will no longer call myself a Bengals fan. I can't bring myself to root for another team (casually the Packers... gotta love a team owned by the community and not a billionaire. I'm done with the whole NFL thing.

For those fans keeping up the faith and trying to effect change, I salute you. You are loyal. I think the loyalty is misplaced, but I respect it. To the Mike Brown butt kissers: I hope you swallow a turd.

So long and thanks for all the fish!

[Whysoserious]

I'm still trying to figure out the logic that if I root for the bengals this year i must love mike brown?!? I hate MB but I like the team I didn't realize that to "root" for my favorite football team means I have to talk trash about them, constantly say they suck, and take absolutely no pleasure if they have a winning season.

I think Me is really lipponcott and is just mad he got fired

[TigerJ@w]

LOL at the serious TWINS, ACTIVATE! Enjoy the circus! Just because they say it is a sell out does not mean people will show up. MFB had to pay out $1M to get this game sold out and shown on tv. First time he has done something for the community in 20 plus years, but guess what, he knows he will make this up in parking fees, concessions, etc... He does not care about winning. This is nothing more than the local companies sending a memo to his office saying they will not reup next year. I am sure this one of the things that happened due to the games not selling out. You SHEEP will always be clueless and they guy who goes by ME, I commend you for what you have stated on here to these SHEEP! Nicely Done!

[Wyatt]

@me: Shame you're leaving just as your "Bengals have only drafted one Pro Bowler under Marvin" argument becomes inaccurate. Nonetheless, I wish you the best.

@whysoserious: Make your points and leave it at that. Don't resort to name calling, or you just end up looking like the rest of the mud-slingers around here.

@JM: Good to see you. Yeah, they remove some comments, though I've been unable to determine a reason or rhyme for it all, as I've had posts removed that were far less offensive than a lot of what is allowed to remain.

[blesterov]

@ me. I would love it if you stayed around, I find your comments hilarious. I am like you in that I un-officially became a Packers fan last year (before they won the Super Bowl). I was considering buying their stock, but once I found out it doesn't pay a dividend I realized it is just brilliant marketing ploy to raise more capital. Regardless, I love cheering for a team with no ego-maniac in charge.

@ whysoserious. I cannot tell if you are spam or Katie Blackburn. If spam, congrats you definitely passed the Turing test. Regardless, get your head out of your ass.

As I stated above, the Bengals will lose this game. I even put money on the Ravens giving up two points. I also took the Chiefs straight up over the Broncos. The Bengals will not be able to cover Smith again. Dunlap back in the lineup helps, and if they had Leon Hall, this game would be too close to call. But our OL (specifically LG) cannot handle their pressures (look for blitzes coming over Livings again this week) nor will they be able to provide lanes for Benson on a consistent basis.

Greene a pro-bowler with Dalton, Witt, Atkins, and Gresham as alternates makes a lot of sense, but the Peko thing just doesn't. I hope that doesn't stop them from drafting a much needed DT with one of their high picks.

[Whysoserious]

I think Peko suffers from Justin Smith disease. He contributes more than the casual fan realizes but doesn't put up the madden stats. How many of us would like to have smith back know after begging them to let him go?

Blesterov lol I wish I was Katie I would love her paycheck and bonuses. No I'm just a Bengal fan who realizes that MB may suck but there are positive things going on with this team and sorry I can't be typical cincinnati sports fan and not enjoy life unless I'm complaining about something

[blesterov]

I don't want Smith back, I prefer Michael Johnson for a couple of reasons. First, Smith was not good in our system. Second, he gambled too much and did not do his assignment. He was the reason Steelers RB's would make big gains on screens or sweeps. Have you noticed since he left, we don't give up big gains around LT?

It is comments like these why I gave constructive criticism and said to get your head out of your ass. You are welcome to join in on the conversations, but please do your research and not provide idealistic talking points. Like you, I see a lot of good things out of this years team, but this is clearly not a playoff team - yet. Read the "He has arisen" post several weeks back, and you will see that some of us recognize something may be happening in PBS that is different than years before. But they are a year or two away from them being a playoff team.

[Whysoserious]

I did read your post, it's ppl like me and tiger jaw that were more the brunt of my comments. When I watched smith I saw the RB taking advantage of our weak DT. I do agree smith was used incorrectly. I also however remember most ppl wanting him gone b/c of his sack numbers. Think what you want about my comments but I'd put my football knowledge up against anyone

[Hofbraunow]

Holy shit, where does anybody get
that anyone here
doesn't want the Bengals to win [indeed, to win it all] ?

I'm glad and excited that the Bengals are still in the running this season.
I'm glad and excited that their season is not over yet.

But why don't more fans realize,
that this is no time to start caving and giving money to Brown/PBS?

The stadium deal was a mistake.
We've paid enough. We've paid more than enough. In some ways we're still paying, with no choice in the matter.

The one choice we do have, is whether or not to spend money on PBS tickets (including PBS merchandise and concessions).

I like the players/team too this year,
but I also want real change,
i.e. real, sustained, long-term improvement, don't you?

It will never happen, as long as the Brown mediocrity is rewarded.

[mark]

Kevin Dougherty on OTL says fans are tired of the ownership, spot on.

[TigerJ@w]

Even Greg Doyel knows who the problem is and it is not the fans... pay attention serious twins....

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/16625802

[blesterov]

@ Hofbraunow: +1

@ whysoserious: watch this game of the week from 2005 for an excellent example of what the problem with Justin Smith was. He would constantly improvise which at times killed the defensive play calling - which was already subpar since it was Chuck "10 yard cushion" Bresh making the calls. This was typical throughout his tenure here in Cincy, and has been removed since Michael Johnson took over his spot.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/124334/game-of-the-week-2005-colts-at-bengals?team=cincinnati-bengals&show=3825#s-p2-so-i0

[Steroids for Sale]

They sure as hell are not going to beat the Ravens this weekend, and I don't think it will even be close due to their deficiencies in the secondary. If they make it in from the Jets and other teams losing (which is a good possibility) then they will be a one and done team. They would play the Texans while the Western division winner (most likely the Chargers) will play the Steelers. The Bengals are not good enough to handle a suffocating defense yet to be able to be considered a playoff team, nor have they been able to execute for two halves in a game. If they make the necessary upgrades in the coming offseason, then we will be able to talk playoffs.

[justin bieber shoes]

It is rediculous to even suggest that. It is not fair to take the actions and ideas of group of people.

[charmingdate fraud]

Nice to be here and see your post!