Coach versus Culture

[BengalChris]

(12-27-2017, 10:48 PM)Whatever Wrote: If I thought MB was giving Marvin marching orders on who to play, I would think he would push him to play his 1st round picks.  That's why I don't read a lot into that.

The Bengals FA model changed under Marvin.  The Bengals weren't massive FA spenders previously, but they brought in a fair number of "name" FA pre Marvin and in the early years of the Marvin era.  Neil O'Donnell, Barry Foster, Ashley Ambrose, Richmond Webb, Bobbie Williams, Kevin Hardy, Tory James, John Thornton, Antonio Bryant, Jon Kitna, Gus Frerrotte, and Laverneous Coles were all pretty big name signings.  Heck, Warren Sapp has a grudge because we had agreed to terms, then by Marvin's own admission, he nixed the deal because he didn't think he was worth it.  

You gotta realize that those names you listed are over a 25 year period, and only a few had anything left in the tank. Ashley Ambrose is still one of my favorite FA signings by the Bengals, but that was 20 years ago. Bobbie Williams was another.

Gus Frerrotte, O'Donnell and Kitna were all bottom rung QBs when we signed them. Coles was nothing more than a stop gap and Antonio Bryant never played a down.

But look at all the top shelf free agents the Bengals have passed on. Tons and tons of them. People are talking up the Jags this year, but just this last off-season they signed CB A.J. Bouye and DT/DE Calais Campbell to go with their young defense. Wow!


Mike Brown sends Reggie Nelson packing in favor of Williams who isn't nearly as good and he paid Williams more than Nelson got going to the Raiders. That was the off-season after Nelson led the league in interceptions.


Mike Brown is a moron, he has failed the team, the city and fans, and himself.