(08-07-2017, 12:59 PM)Big Boss Wrote: I think 8-8 is the ceiling, personally.  Want more than anything to be proven wrong, but we have a young team so there will be growing pains.  Plus, until proven otherwise the offensive line remains a concern.  If Dalton has no time in the pocket or the o-line is unable to open running lanes for Gio/Hill/Mixon, then all those fancy new weapons on offense don't mean a whole lot.

(08-07-2017, 05:16 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: I think it is a player's game and the accountability is mostly on the players. I look back at the playoff losses and it was players that failed to step up in a big way or made crucial mistakes, not coaching that cost us wins in my opinion.

(08-07-2017, 04:47 PM)McC Wrote: No way are we worse than last year.  

(08-07-2017, 05:21 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: I was not questioning his opinion or anyone that has gloom and doom. I was questioning his entire first post. Rad it and tell me why I am wrong questioning him acting like he was trying to be fair and not judgmental. He later gave a positive post, but first post seemed like mind was made up (bad year) based on his words, not anyone else;s or past history.  I highlighted in bold what i was referring to if you would like to check it.

(08-07-2017, 07:12 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: Gotcha. I went back and read it over. But it still seems to me that going from doom and gloom to tempering expectations is still more moving toward the positive than negative. 

I'm certainly tempering my expectations because i haven't seen where a Marv lead team can win in the playoffs, and that more than the regular season is what keeps me tempering. 

I'm sure the doom and gloom label has been applied to me once or twice...or more...over the last few months because i don't believe a Marv team can win in the playoffs. To me, that's not doom and gloom. It's just reality up to this point. I'm still gonna be watching and cheering. The sad reality is, those cheers aren't going to be at the level they've been at in years past because until they can get over the hump, i'm not going to be satisfied with just a good regular season. 

I'll be happy to shout my lungs out, for any current player or coach, and enjoy it as much as any fan, as soon as they get over that hump. I'm just not ready to erase 27/14 and start at full power with the same people that have produced the 27/14. 

(08-07-2017, 07:23 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: No doubt this team can rip your heart like what happened when Jeremy Hill fumbled a playoff win away in seconds. I have the same concerns as you and many have as well. I guess the difference is the great thing about a new year is in essence the old year is erased (especially when it was bad).

I am an optimist who does not want to miss one moment of a great journey. So, I choose to go all in every year. If it does the norm of the franchise and no playoffs or a playoff win I will be disappointed for a short time, but then put my life in perspective and move on to college basketball, work, church or family (not in that order).

But if they surprise and do something special, I will have enjoyed the entire ride if I jump on board early, not just the end of the ride if I did not.

(08-07-2017, 07:41 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: Life in perspective doesn't even apply where i'm concerned. I'll get over a bad Sunday afternoon game shortly after it's over, simply because i'm not going to be a sulking prick around my family. 

Old year erased always applied to me when, actually before, training camp arrived in the past. 

But, if it makes any difference in appearance, i can still have doubts/reservations while enjoying the ride as it's happening. And i do just that.

Maybe i just don't explain my position well enough. I will be there every game, enjoying the ride and getting over the bad after it happens. I will still jump out of my seat when big plays happen and high five everyone around me. But i won't predict, look forward to, talk about how player X is going to rock this year or "hope" (i hate that word so much when it comes to the Bengals) any more. The expectations is what takes the hit. I just refuse to believe or participate in the hype. And that's exactly what Marv and Co. have earned over the 27/14 era.

My new fan-stance is 'i'll believe it when you show me'. But i'll be there from the beginning to see if it happens. Not just at the end.

(08-07-2017, 07:23 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: No doubt this team can rip your heart like what happened when Jeremy Hill fumbled a playoff win away in seconds. I have the same concerns as you and many have as well. I guess the difference is the great thing about a new year is in essence the old year is erased (especially when it was bad).

I am an optimist who does not want to miss one moment of a great journey. So, I choose to go all in every year. If it does the norm of the franchise and no playoffs or a playoff win I will be disappointed for a short time, but then put my life in perspective and move on to college basketball, work, church or family (not in that order).

But if they surprise and do something special, I will have enjoyed the entire ride if I jump on board early, not just the end of the ride if I did not.

(08-07-2017, 01:23 PM)McC Wrote: 13-3, lose in the AFCCG, win it all next year.  A lot of people who have already made their minds up on the OLine will have a lot of egg on their faces but to hear them talk, they had been on board right from the start.

And all the national blowhards who have predicted six wins will say nothing and go on being blowhards and predict five wins for next year.

(08-07-2017, 11:29 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: Very well said, and this is exactly how I feel. I'll watch every game I can and I'll still cheer like mad when they score or win...I just know what to expect in the end based on a mountain of evidence. Mike/Marv/Alexander and co are among the most tenured in their positions in the NFL.

I know the Patriots are a likely SB candidate. I know the Browns are going to suck. I know the Bengals' ceiling is likely as a swift first round playoff exit. I'm past "hope" with this crew. There's just too many years and too much evidence to fool myself.

I respect that others may feel differently, and I used to get that preseason optimism myself. This is just where I'm at with this group in 2017.

(08-08-2017, 01:48 PM)OrangeLacroix Wrote: This is hilarious.