I am Loving the Speed

[masterpanthera_t]

(06-13-2017, 09:48 PM)Pat5775 Wrote: I wouldn't worry about a bandwagon forming around this team. Even if we win a playoff game or two this year we'll still have the stigma of being a "thug" team and be seen as the villains... At least for awhile longer.

Mixon will have the woman beater stigma follow him for the rest of his life (like Michael Vick and his dog killing). People still think Vontaze is dirty (even though he had one personal foul all year last season) and with Pacman Mothaf****n' Jones still around....

Nationwide, we get no respect because of all the negative publicity. We win consistently for the next few years (especially January) then people will start to change their tune. Winning cures all, but the winning has to be long term and in critical scenarios. That's what draws the low self-esteemed, weak minded, small d***ed Bandwagoners aboard.

Bottom line, there won't be another Bengal Bandwagon for at least a few more years.

For the most part I've never understood the "thug" team stigma, and how that label was applied to Burfict.  Sure, there were stupid plays like twisting Newton's ankles and the groin punch.  They were completely stupid things which thankfully didn't have serious consequences.  I could see that as a young player not understanding how to draw attention to himself in all the unnecessary ways.  Any talk of hurting Bell, in my opinion was a gross overexaggeration, especially relative to the blind eye by the media to the same type of antics from the Steelers against the Bengals and other teams.  But I do wish Burfict would be smarter about understanding what type of microscope he is under and how stupid and dangerous plays like lunging at Bennett's knees would hurt his cause.  

As far as Jones, the less said the better.  I wish he was cut already.  

But having said all that, if the Bengals win a Super Bowl, and become regular contenders, the media will be singing praises, and "thuggery" will turn into "tough, hard-nosed winning football".  And pretty soon, the bandwagon will be ready to burst from all the jumpers.