Upcoming FAs - who do you want?

[*Go Cards*]

(03-07-2023, 01:24 PM)Sled21 Wrote: Teddy would also bring in the Louisville crowd. Paired with the quarter of a million the Bengals just gave Louisville to put a turf field on 9th street war zone, they could really expand the fanbase here. I sure wish Louisville would be moved into the home market like Lexington. There are literally no Colts fans here. There's more Ravens fans than Colts, and if Lamar leaves that will die off as well. 

Agree 100% and have been saying this for years about how it would immediately grow the Bengals fan base bringing in a Louisville player. The city is merely 90 miles away with a floating NFL fan base looking for a team. 

You're right as well that the Raven fan base is only because of Lamar and they will follow him if he leaves. It actually used to be a Bengals town in the 70's and 80's but the Bengals did nothing to keep them and then Nashville and Indy got teams and there were suddenly choices. They jumped on Tennessee momentarily until Manning came to Indy and held their interest until retirement. Then Lamar went to Baltimore and voila they jumped ship again and now it's a Ravens town. 

Thought it would happen the year Cincinnati native Eric Wood was coming out of Louisville and the Bengals needed OL help. Yet the let another golden opportunity slip by. Of course maybe they would have if he slipped to 2nd round but of course Buffalo had different plans and wisely snatched him up in 1st.
 
There is still enough OG Bengals fans to raise the ship back up if the Bengals would make an effort. To their credit the move they just made giving money for the park and field could be a nice foundation to build upon though. 

So not giving up hope that Louisville once again becomes a Bengals town