WhoDeyRevolution

John Thornton's Real Thoughts on Bob Bratkowski

This afternoon, current free agent John Thornton let the world know his real thoughts on Bengals Offensive Coordinator Bob Bratkowski. 

Former Cincinnati Post and 1530HOMER journalist C. Trent Rosencrans said this on his Twitter account:  "Sporting News ranks Bob Bratkowski in Top 10 offensive coordinators. Interwebs crash. http://today.sportingnews.com/sportingnewstoday/20090603/?pg=25&pm=1&u1=friend

@JohnThornton's reply: @ctrent is that recent??? :) jk

Thornton played in Cincinnati from 2003-2008.  Bratkowski's Bengals offense in 2008 was ranked dead last in the league. 

Mr. Thornton - Welcome to the Revolution.

Sporting News: Bratkowski Not On Hot Seat in 2009

The Sporting News produces an excellent on-line newsletter that gets delivered to your inbox every morning.  That being said, yesterday morning's edition made me want to throw up.

In this piece by Clifton Brown, Bengals Offensive Coordinator Bob Bratkowski is NOT listed as one of the six coordinators on the hot seat for 2009.  Now maybe Brown is smart enough to know that here in Cincinnati, we don't hold our coaches accountable for small things like play on the field and offensive performance (dead last in 2008).  But I still think this is absolutely a make or break year for Sideshow Bob.

With Carson Palmer at full strength, the addition of Laveranues Coles, and the celebrated drafting of Andre Smith and Jonathan Luigs, Bratkowski is out of excuses in 2009. 

Even going back to 2007, the offense started to look stale and predictable...especially towards the end of the season.  Once again, Bratkowski avoided the firing line and he has another chance to work with a great quarterback.  He's shown his uncanny knack for negative creativity when he has to work with a backup like Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Bratkowski is commonly known as the biggest 'yes' man in the organization and the only person on the staff that agreed (or failed to strongly disagree) with bringing back Chris Henry.  He has long been a favorite of Mike Brown...despite Marvin Lewis's opinions on who should be offensive coordinator.

Feel free to respond in the comments, but if the offense has another dismal year (this time with the full arsenal at his disposal), Bratkowski has to go.

Quotes you Will Never Hear from the Bengals - Shovel Pass Edition

Per PFT:

Cornerback Rhonde Barber told The Tampa Tribune that losing Monte Kiffen could be good for the Bucs' defense. 

“I have a great fondness for Monte,” Barber said. “He did a lot of great things for our defense for 12 years. But 12 years of the same thing - people start figuring you out.”

Bob Bratkowski was not available for comment.

Our Prayers Answered?

I'm starting to like this new beat writer for the Enquirer.

Joe Reedy is reporting (via the Baltimore Sun) that Marvin Lewis might dump Bob Bratkowski and bring back Hue Jackson as offensive coordinator. 

As Reedy mentions, Jackson is widely credited as being a mentor to Housh and especially Chad Johnson.  From our point of view, anything is better than the predictability of Sideshow Bob and his lack of creativity for several seasons now. 

Plus, we all know Chad loves HUE!!

Pat Bowlen's Words are Music to WDR's Ears

I know this is a few days old, but we still want to recognize an event that occurred on December 31st, 2008. 

Comrade Jacob brought this to our attention, and we here at WDR salute the words of Broncos CEO Pat Bowlen.  After firing Mike Shanahan, the man who brought him the only two Super Bowl titles in the franchise's history explains that despite their history and the fact that Shanahan is a good man, it was in the best interest for both parties to simply move on. 

As Comrade Jacob commented: "Here is a successful owner explaining why he fired a successful coach. His reasons are spoken in a foreign language to Mike Brown. Of course for our organization 8 and 8 would get you a contract extension, not fired.  I'm sure Mike Brown would consider Pat Bowlen's statements to be very expensive."

You can check out the video right here...and pray that someday the Bengals will have this determination and drive to deliver a sustained winner to the city of Cincinnati.

Quote of the day - Coach Bob Bratkowski

In an article published today by Geoff Hobson's hero, Mark Curnutte, I found a particular quote to be rather peculiar.  Coach Bratkowski said the following regarding his role in an offense that hasn't scored a touchdown in 11 quarters:

"As a coach you just play it out and what happens at the end of the year happens. There's nothing I can do about it. We're working 80-hour weeks. You don't have time to sit around and contemplate a lot of things. And there are other issues going on in my life and my family's lives that are much are more important than sitting around worrying about that sort of thing."

I just have a couple issues with this comment. First of all Bob, you don't just play it out.  You plan for success.  You find weak spots in the opposing defense and you exploit them. And you have several backup plans for when the opposing defense figures out what you are doing.  You make adjustments on the fly. These are all things that you don't do, but that are in the job description for an offensive coordinator. 

Second of all, there IS something you can do about it.  You are solely responsible for the offensive game plan of the Cincinnati Bengals.  Therefore, you have quite a bit of power, and tons of responsibility for the product on the field.  And the product right now is about as quality as a Ford Pinto.  And guess what...  The sell-out streak was predicated on two things, winning football games, and an electrifying offense.  Both of those things are absent this year, which means sell-outs are bound to cease at some point next year. In a rational world you would be out of a job after this year... But no one ever said Mike was a rational dictator.

Marvin Lewis to Rosie O'Donnell: "Those Pants Don't Make You Look Fat"

Don't worry Bengals fans - everything is going to be all right.  Marvin Lewis said so!  In his post-game press conference after yesterday's pathetic 34-3 loss, after rattling off the same excuses he uses every week (too many injuries, have to execute, one play here or there and it would have been a different outcome), Marvin let Bengals fans know that next year will be different. 

WDR Hero Paul Daugherty asked Marvin: "Could you go through another season like this?''  Marvin responded: "Our football team won't go through another season like this...Nor will our fans. Believe me.''

Marvin, we believe you!  We don't even need to hear any more details!  The Bengals organization has built up so much trust with Bengals fans over the last memorable 18 seasons  - no need to make any drastic changes.  Things are going so well!

Marvin, we all know that Mike Brown doesn't pay coaches not to coach, so after six years of coaching, zero playoff wins and a double digit loss season with two more years on your contract - don't plan on going anywhere!  You have the player's respect.  Don't worry about Ocho Sleepo.

Dishing Out Some Blame Beyond Jerk #1 and a Profanity Laced Tirade

This article is prefaced with two thoughts.  First, I am largely incapable of humor as this season is not funny (Thank you Mike Brown for ripping out any remaining joy).  It is therefore time for some analysis.  Secondly, everything wrong with this football team starts at the top, with Jerk #1, mostly for not having an adequate scouting department and not having a competent General Manager to get the appropriate personnel to fit a designed offensive or defensive scheme. 

That being said, two thoughts on our coaching staff have occurred to me this season and are most demonstrable by examining two football teams, the New England Patriots and the New York Giants. 

Mike Nolan Fired; Marvin Keeps Chopping Wood

49ers Head Coach Mike Nolan was fired yesterday after the team started 2-5.  The team had lost 4 straight and the defense, Nolan's "specialty" had let up 196 points this season, most in the league (the Bengals are the worst offensive team in the league, averaging 225 yards and 14 points a game).

49ers General Manager Scot McCloughan commented on the firing, "...my first obligation is always to do what is in the best interest of our fans and the entire 49ers organization." 

Notice any difference between the 49ers situation and the Bengals?  How about the fact that San Fran has a General Manager?  It is for this reason that WDR is not convinced that firing Marvin Lewis is a good idea.   Don't forget that if they fire Marvin, guess who gets to decide who replaces him?  Not a GM who understands football, but Mikey Brown, Katie "Pittsburgh Apologist and Daddy's Suit Hand-Me Down Wearer" Blackburn and Troy "Children's Dream Crusher" Blackburn. And do you trust them to hire someone who can make some changes? 

However, at 0-7 and headed for a historic defeated season, I guess something needs to change.

Stupid Bengals Fan who is Detached from Reality: The Bengals should hire Bill Cowher!

Baghdad Hob

Henceforth on WDR, Bengals.com writer Geoff Hobson will be known as Baghdad Hob.  His disinformation efforts and general attempts at bending facts are reminiscent of everyone's favorite Iraqi Information Mister, Baghdad Bob.  Remember him?  He was the guy who claimed American soldiers were no where near Baghdad when they were right behind him during the original invasion in 2003.  I liked him.

What Baghdad Bob did was keep the Proletariat in the dark.  Where foolish Iraqis thought he'd be objective, foolish Bengal fans feel the same way about Baghdad Hob.  Neither of them realize that the job of both is to distort the facts and spin, spin, spin.  In the past, when the Bengals didn't make my eyes bleed, Hobson's efforts didn't show.  Now, he is putting lipstick on a pitbull, or something.  Hence, Baghdad Hob.  Because it rhymes, you see.

Baghdad Hob's latest effort, which talks about an offense that I cannot even describe as inept for fear of offending the word "inept," somehow praises Officer Barbrady Bob Bratkowski.  It's so offensive, I feel like I need to break it down FJM style.  Continue on after the jump to watch me take on Baghdad Hob.