Sustainability vs. Win Now

[*Nately120*]

(04-29-2016, 11:47 PM)Hammerstripes Wrote: There's only one major problem with this thread:

For the most part, if you are depending on a rookie to step in and play a large role, you're asking for trouble. Sure, there are guys that come in and play well in their rookie years, but for the most part they are not truly ready to step in and start.

If you are talking about "win now," the draft really isn't the place to have that kind of discussion.

What makes us win now, then? All through free agency we hear how crappy teams are the ones trying to change their fortunes with free agents and now it's the draft and we are hearing that crappy teams are trying to change their fortunes through the draft.

As much as I'd like to believe the Bengals are fine as they are, the fact that every team currently with a mere 2 year playoff streak has a victory but us makes me wonder if we can simply continue this slow and steady process.

Since we started our 5 year streak the Seahawks, Cardinals, Chiefs, panthers, Broncos, Colts, Steelers, and Redskins have all gone from beneath us in some regard to as far or further than us in the playoffs.

Why don't other teams need to make the playoffs 6 times to do something? What's the secret? Some of those teams drafted impact rookies (a few super high picks we don't get, obviously) and some hit on free agents or made trades. I don't think any of them turned the corner by drafting 2 backup linemen, though.

Anywho, not bitter, just wondering why our wise off seasons haven't been bearing playoff fruit!