03-30-2017, 10:09 AM
I'm conflicted. I still want us to move on from Pacman and let our young draft picks own this position group. It goes without saying that his actions are embarrassing and the Bengals are too tolerant of shenanigans. However, there is an aspect of the comments from Brown that I can appreciate.
When the Bengals hang on to troubled players with no explanation it's the most maddening thing in the world. I actually prefer that now we know the reason guys like Pacman stay around so long with us. It's not because Mike doesn't care about character, or that he values winning over everything else, or even that troubled players are "cheaper". It just comes down to the simple fact that Mike Brown is an exceedingly empathetic person. Honestly, it's rare to see the type of empathy he has from a highly successful business man.
I don't think that excuses the ridiculousness we've had to endure as fans, but I prefer Mike's empathetic honesty over Marvin's feigned ignorance saying things like "besides his language, what did he do?" and (regarding Burfict) "I don't feel the need to tell him to play any different".
I still wish to see Pacman go. We are plenty talented at the position without him, and it might give him the real wake up call he needs. But regardless of that I have a new appreciation for Mike Brown as a person. I still think he's too tolerant, but if he's got a big heart for people I'm not sure that's gonna change anytime soon. And I don't think he should be demonized for it.
When the Bengals hang on to troubled players with no explanation it's the most maddening thing in the world. I actually prefer that now we know the reason guys like Pacman stay around so long with us. It's not because Mike doesn't care about character, or that he values winning over everything else, or even that troubled players are "cheaper". It just comes down to the simple fact that Mike Brown is an exceedingly empathetic person. Honestly, it's rare to see the type of empathy he has from a highly successful business man.
I don't think that excuses the ridiculousness we've had to endure as fans, but I prefer Mike's empathetic honesty over Marvin's feigned ignorance saying things like "besides his language, what did he do?" and (regarding Burfict) "I don't feel the need to tell him to play any different".
I still wish to see Pacman go. We are plenty talented at the position without him, and it might give him the real wake up call he needs. But regardless of that I have a new appreciation for Mike Brown as a person. I still think he's too tolerant, but if he's got a big heart for people I'm not sure that's gonna change anytime soon. And I don't think he should be demonized for it.
