ML Article

[Shake n Blake]

(03-27-2018, 03:39 PM)fredtoast Wrote: It could be argued that 11-5 is over achieving with with this front office.

95% of our talent is drafted and developed by our coaches.  All of the trades and free agent signings were for second class bargains.  Luckily our coaches were able to get special production from some of them (Adam Jones, Reggie Nelson, Terrance Newman)

You left out scouted by Tobin, who some claim is our de facto GM. 

Quote:The team offered a hint this week that Tobin's role is growing beyond player personnel executive after he reportedly turned down opportunities in January to interview for the general manager openings of the Lions and Titans.
...
"I have some role. So do our coaches," Mike Brown explained, via Geoff Hobson of the team's official website. "Duke has become the focal point for everyone. He keeps it on track. I would say today the responsibility is largely his. He puts it all together."

As for lacking talent and the team overachieving, from the same article:

Quote:Ravens coach John Harbaugh has hailed Cincinnati as the most talented outfit in the league. Hall of Fame executive Bill Polian recently praised the Bengals' 2015 roster as the NFL's best "from top to bottom."

Former Eagles and Browns president Joe Banner stated Monday that Tobin "has not received the credit he deserves" for directing the NFL's fourth-best record over the past half-decade.

Mike is a hindrance to Marv in that he's slow to react (understatement) and usually frugal in FA. This makes it hard to win consistently. That said, when we've had the talent to go 11-5, you can't use talent as excuse for losing in the same situations over and over again. If we're beating teams like Seattle, New England and Green Bay in regular season 1PM games, we shouldn't be getting owned by 9-7 Chargers and Jets teams in the playoffs...at PBS no less.

Or having a 7-21 (or whatever it is now) record against the Steelers. Or whatever the record is in prime time. 

Boy, Tobin wasn't lying about that loyalty though:

Quote:"I'm a loyal guy. Loyalty matters. Ownership here is loyal to its employees and employees ought to mimic that loyalty,"

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000637749/article/duke-tobins-star-rising-in-bengals-front-office