01-01-2016, 12:28 PM
(01-01-2016, 01:38 AM)TexasorBusted Wrote: I went through the 90's and remember the classic top draft picks of David Klingler, Dan Wilkenson, Ki-Jana Carter and Akili Smith. I missed Super Bowl XVI and XXIII. I was too young to remember. The first season I truly followed the Bengals was in 1990. I remember the Bengals beating up the Oilers and the Bo Jackson injury game the week after. I didn't know that would be the last playoff win I would see in my lifetime.
Marvin Lewis is an institution. He changed the Bengals organization for the better. The Bengals were the "purgatory" for NFL football players. I remember a game in the 90's that was a home game in Week 17. The Tampa Bay Bucs beat the crap out of the Bengals. After the game, I saw Carl Pickens yucking it up with Bucs' players as though they were going to a Christmas party afterwords. I will NEVER like Pickens because of that. That's where the Bengals were.
Does Marvin Lewis suck in the playoffs? Yes, the Bengals have to "out talent" Marvin's weaknesses. Do I want to win a playoff game and make a Super Bowl run? Absolutely. Do I want to get rid of Marvin Lewis? No freaking way, Marvin Lewis at least has enough influence on the roster, drafts and player development to make this team a potential winner. Do I want an upgrade at Head Coach? Absolutely, but who is willing to work with Mike Brown?
I fear that we will have to wait until Katie gets full control before we will see a true upgrade in Head Coach. Part of being a Bengals fan is to realize that they will disappoint as long as Mike Brown is around. I knew this going into being a fan. I always have hope and cheer for my Bengals, but I don't burn my jerseys if they disappoint or fail. This is the best season for Marvin Lewis, so I will keep hoping for a future playoff run.
I agree completely with your assessment.
The only thing that Mikey really fears is change. He tried it early in his tenure as owner, primarily IMHO, because he "knew" that he knew what he was doing because he inherited his football knowledge from his father. The succession of HCs that he hired and fired after Wyche taught him that if he found the "right person" he keep them for years. And that's exactly what he has done.
But I remain an eternal optimist. I can only hope that Mikey bumps ML "upstairs" to take over the football side of the business and promotes Hue to HC. But we all have to remember that the Bengals are a "family business" ... and promoting an "outsider" into the inner circle is a difficult pill to swallow in that context.
