(04-19-2018, 11:32 AM)Sled21 Wrote: I'm calling complete BS on this article. Least trustworthy??? Mike Brown and the Bengals are widely known for honoring contracts. If the agents don't like this organization, it's because they can't get one over on them.....

(04-19-2018, 10:23 AM)wcu Wrote: USA Today did a poll of NFL agents asking them to rate clubs on various subjects. They rated the Bengals as the worst prepared team for contract negotiations and Mike Brown as the 4th least trustworthy GM. Pretty sad, though not entirely surprising.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2018/04/19/nfl-agent-poll-bruce-allen-redskins-bill-belichick-demaurice-smith/528741002/

(04-19-2018, 01:19 PM)Okeana Wrote: lol the source of this is a bit self serving imo.  I do kinda agree tho because we don't have a GM this makes the team a bit unique.  without even looking at the article I can bet they say similar things about greenbay

(04-19-2018, 01:33 PM)wcu Wrote: I suspect that the least trustworthy stigma arises from the negotiations process rather than honoring a signed agreement. Can’t you see Mike trying to pull a fast one?  Also, if they’re that unprepared, perhaps honest mistakes are made that come off as untrustworthy behavior.

(04-19-2018, 10:51 AM)depthchart Wrote: I would imagine that Mike Brown treats contract negotiations like a Poker Game until documents are actually signed.

The Agents better be on their toes because Mike likely draws negotiations out to gain as much information and leverage as possible, (which makes him seem unprepared) to the agents. It is a feeling out process and they are negotiating with a guy that likely has become an expert at getting others to show some of their cards while hinting at showing some of his. (making him seem untrustworthy)

Mike probably feels that negotiations are the time for both sides to try to gain their advantage and nothing is promised until documents are finalized & signed.

Probably not a pleasant experience for the Agents to battle with Mike for more of his cash.

(04-19-2018, 12:37 PM)PhilHos Wrote: My thoughts exactly. I can understand the thoughts on front office preparation, but one of the least trustworthy?  WTF?

(04-19-2018, 11:56 AM)depthchart Wrote: Maybe...

I just don't see Mike Brown as being an "unprepared" person when it comes to committing his Money Long Term.

He strikes me as being a guy that would be very systematic and thorough heading into negotiations that involves his money.

He may give the appearance of being unprepared to stall the negotiations or buy some time or to obtain more information from the Agents.

I also doubt that he flat out lies to the Agents making him untrustworthy.

He likely qualifies his statements with words like "may" or "may be able to do this" and the Agents hear what they want to hear making it an absolute in the Agents mind. Then the Agent feels betrayed.

Mike nailed the City of Cincinnati pretty good on the stadium deal and I would bet that he is a sly negotiator.

I could be wrong, however, and Mike could be like the old Mr Magoo cartoon character that was blind and would walk onto building construction sites, get high up on the various beams of the building then step onto a swinging beam just before falling and get taken safely back to the ground unharmed. Maybe Mike is a completely unprepared and clueless negotiator who's word can't be trusted and he Mr Magoo's his way into the good deals he makes.  

(04-19-2018, 03:51 PM)oncemoreuntothejimbreech Wrote: If Mike Brown "nailed" Bob Bedinghaus during a business deal, why would Mike hire the guy who negotiated one of the worst business deals for Hamilton County to be the Bengals' director of business development? Was it because Mike admired what a shitty job Bedinghaus did when Mike "nailed" him?

Last year after drafting Mixon, Mike released a statement claiming Mixon "pleaded guilty in court, and accepted the consequences."

That's not true. Mixon entered an Alford plea which means he acknowledged the video evidence of him punching the woman in the face fracturing facial bones which required hours of reconstructive maxillofacial surgery was enough to result in his conviction while he maintained his innocence.". In other words, Mixon's plea claimed he didn't do it.

Mike Brown's statement is a blatant attempt to put a positive PR spin on yet another of his questionable draft picks with character concerns. Or it is evidence he is uninformed (unprepared) regarding the background of the players he is drafting.

If Mike is willing to lie to his fan base and Hamilton County, why wouldn't he lie to agents?  And with the new CBA essentially slotting players contracts, why would he need to drag out the negotiations on a deal which is basically done once the player before and after the Bengals' pick sign their deals?

(04-19-2018, 04:19 PM)depthchart Wrote: The Alford plea appears to be Legal mumbo jumbo that covers all the bases including what Mike Brown said.

"An Alford plea (also called a Kennedy plea in West Virginia, an Alford guilty plea, and the Alford doctrine) in United States law is a guilty plea in criminal court, whereby a defendant in a criminal case does not admit to the criminal act and asserts innocence."

Mike doesn't just negotiate rookie slotted contracts and they have only been around a few years.

(04-19-2018, 05:00 PM)oncemoreuntothejimbreech Wrote: Where did Mike's statement include any mention of an Alford plea deal?

Mike also threatened to move the team because they weren't profitable, yet paid $200 million in cash for outstanding Bengals shares to buy out the other owners.  Imagine a business with $200 million in petty cash, but inexplicably losing money.  Mike Brown is unequivocally a liar.

(04-19-2018, 11:32 AM)Sled21 Wrote: I'm calling complete BS on this article. Least trustworthy??? Mike Brown and the Bengals are widely known for honoring contracts. If the agents don't like this organization, it's because they can't get one over on them.....

(04-19-2018, 11:46 AM)grampahol Wrote: Agents are really little more than  used car salesmen when you get right down to it .  

(04-19-2018, 11:56 AM)depthchart Wrote: Maybe...

I just don't see Mike Brown as being an "unprepared" person when it comes to committing his Money Long Term.

He strikes me as being a guy that would be very systematic and thorough heading into negotiations that involves his money.

He may give the appearance of being unprepared to stall the negotiations or buy some time or to obtain more information from the Agents.

I also doubt that he flat out lies to the Agents making him untrustworthy.

(04-19-2018, 12:03 PM)fredtoast Wrote: I don't care how the agents rate our front office.  

That is like asking criminals who is their favorite police officer.

(04-19-2018, 02:04 PM)Nately120 Wrote: Do they operationally define what trustworthy means in regards to this poll?  My best guess is that it's hard to trust a guy like Mike Brown because he's completely untouchable so it's less about honor/honesty and more about him just being able to shrug things off and say "No deal" because he knows he's not going to fire himself if it was the wrong move.

(04-19-2018, 03:51 PM)oncemoreuntothejimbreech Wrote: Last year after drafting Mixon, Mike released a statement claiming Mixon "pleaded guilty in court, and accepted the consequences."

That's not true. Mixon entered an Alford plea which means he acknowledged the video evidence of him punching the woman in the face fracturing facial bones which required hours of reconstructive maxillofacial surgery was enough to result in his conviction while he maintained his innocence.". In other words, Mixon's plea claimed he didn't do it.

Mike Brown's statement is a blatant attempt to put a positive PR spin on yet another of his questionable draft picks with character concerns. Or it is evidence he is uninformed (unprepared) regarding the background of the players he is drafting.