I am Loving the Speed

[3wt]

(06-15-2017, 07:18 PM)Pat5775 Wrote: Yep. I agree 100% with everything you said. The "thug" label to Burfict is unwarranted and really stems from the dumb hit on Brown in the playoffs, even though he's only had one personal foul since then. You ask any casual football fan what they know or think about Vontaze Burfict and +90% of them will call him something like "dirty", "thug", "miscreant", etc. it's not fair but it is what it is. I doubt he'll ever shed that label but people will be more tolerant and conveniently forget if he gets a ring on his finger (see: Ray Lewis). 

Pacman is the only true "thug" on this team. The dude should have been cut on principle months ago but, as we found out, Pacman is very special friend to Mike Brown   Pacman is here until he retires or is given an extended jail sentence (my money is on the latter). 

Winning cures all. I believe that above all else. Look at the Steelers, Ravens, hell even look the Patriots: the media didn't say a thing about their off the field issues (or on the field issues) when they were winning Super Bowls. I'm certain if we win a super bowl the Bengal bandwagon will erupt. But sadly I don't see that happening with Marv Lewis in charge. That's the main reason why I don't see us getting a major bandwagon following for a few years or more. But as soon as we win it all, expect these boards to blow up with new members who swear they are "lifelong fans"'

With us it will take more than 1 Superbowl win to get rid of our bad boy image.

It's a sticky label that we don't deserve.  We've had no more thugs on our teams than a lot of other teams.  Every team in the NFL had their bad boys, they just get the "boys will be boys" treatment, where the Bengals get the scarlet "T".

The press, draft sites (Walter Football being notorious) and even other teams share this perception.  But Dallas and Pittsburgh - and even the Patriots have all had every bit as many thugs and problem children as us.

We'll have to become a dynasty to shed that image.