(02-12-2020, 01:47 PM)PhilHos Wrote: Hell, partner with Gold star (only because they're the official sponsor; prefer Skyline myself) to open a practice facility/fast food restaurant paid for by Gold Star. You can have one side of the building be the restaurant and then have a glass wall where patrons can watch the Bengals practice. Heck, Mike can even charge Gold Star for the privilege (after having GS pay for the construction, of course) and make him some money in the process. 

(02-12-2020, 01:51 PM)XenoMorph Wrote: biggest issue is where.... not a ton of real estate near the stadium

(02-11-2020, 03:59 PM)Wes Mantooth Wrote: Cue the chorus of telling me I'm beating a dead horse...

Yes, it's been discussed and brought up numerous times throughout the years. But still the Bengals sit without one. It remains a relevant gripe and continues to deserve ridicule.

The Mike and Marvin press conference, where Marvin was "keen" on it, and Mike said he thought it would get done after getting through the CBA, was TEN years ago. TEN!!! A full decade... Still nothing.

I'm not sure some here realize just what an embarrassment this is. And how it affects perception in the league, from free agents, in-house players, and rookies.

Right from the get go, a player arrives to this team and already knows it's less than. He's reminded every walk-through in the rain and sub 40 temperatures. He's reminded in 90+ degree days in August and early Sept.

Joe Burrow is joining a team that practices like a high school team. Almost all of these guys are coming from programs where they practiced indoors. Here, it's 10th grade again getting drizzled on, standing around waiting for reps when it's 35 degrees.

I think it's time for the league to step in here and force the issue. Them, or I'm hoping the NFLPA puts into their CBA demands that it must be done. It's not fair for 1/32 of the league to suffer such an outdated and bs approach.

Fwiw, UC is already looking to build a new, better indoor facility. They funded their bubble with 13 mil of alumni donations. And, not even a decade later, theyre looking to add an additional structure to modernize their facility. They play in the American Athletic Conference by the way.

So welcome to Cincinnati, Joe Burrow. Where we practice like it's 1975. And that goes for all the rookies and free agents too. Don't believe all that negative stuff you hear about us either. Just ignore the weather and take a salt tablet. Remember your food pyramid too.

/ENDRANT

(02-12-2020, 02:44 PM)ochocincos Wrote: 1.) You know that the FO (and a percentage of fans) believe that practicing in the same environment you will play in helps make you tougher and better prepare you for game day.
2.) And given that no team in the division has an indoor stadium, they don't see the need to practice indoors on a typical basis when it gets to frigid temps and weather.

(02-12-2020, 03:10 PM)Wes Mantooth Wrote: What about rain and storms? When a storm rolls in, and we have to stop practice and go inside, does that help us "better prepare"?

(02-12-2020, 03:24 PM)fredtoast Wrote:   Almost all the drills and walk throughs can be done inside with no problem.  You seem to think it is impossible for them to do anything inside.

(02-12-2020, 03:10 PM)Wes Mantooth Wrote: 1.) I'm well aware of that. I've made my position pretty clear on that thought process. I think it's outdated and stupid. So do the other NFL teams, all major college programs, and even hundreds of high schools.

2.) You do know division games account for only 38% of our games, right? We have 10 games (62%) outside of the division. And those other 3 division oppenents, with outdoor stadiums, all have indoor facilities. 

Practicing outside when the wind chill is 10 degrees, and AJ Green is complaining of his toes being numb, and Andy Dalton is sick, before a road playoff game in Houston's dome, isn't helping you better prepare for your enviornment.

Do you honestly believe all of these teams build these facilities for nothing other than to waste millions of dollars?  Do you think we're tougher than Pit, Bal, Green Bay, Chicago because we're better prepared for the elements?

What about rain and storms? When a storm rolls in, and we have to stop practice and go inside, does that help us "better prepare"?

This logic is pure nonsense. It belongs stuffed in a closet full of moth balls, surrounded by a black and white TV, Worther's Originals, and cans of lead paint.

(02-11-2020, 05:09 PM)fredtoast Wrote: Not near as big of an issue as you keep claiming it to be.

I have never once heard it mentioned by any free agent or Bengal player that we fail to re-sign.

(02-12-2020, 05:55 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: Whitworth once complained about it, saying "it was hard to get timing down and practice plays while you can't get traction in slippery conditions". I've listed the link to that countless times in these discussions in the past, but it's getting harder to find the old link.

(02-12-2020, 02:19 PM)Wes Mantooth Wrote: Andrew Whitworth comments on practicing indoors:

Inclement weather led quarterback Andy Dalton to miss practice the week of the wildcard playoff game against Houston last year, and the lack of an indoor facility remains a sore spot with some players.Offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth said Wednesday’s seven-mile trip to Clifton was a productive one.

“It’s nice to go inside and throw the football and run the football and make cuts and do all of those things without having to worry about falling down in the ice and the wind,” Whitworth said. “You’re trying to work on looks and everything, it’s hard to get the speed of the looks when everybody’s worried about their footing and the conditions we’re in.“You want to stay off the ground this late in the year, and it’s kind of hard to do when it’s wet and nasty outside,” he continued. “It’s better to be dry and inside. It’s good for us to go in there and get a sweat in and fly around.

(02-12-2020, 06:15 PM)Wes Mantooth Wrote: This one?

(02-12-2020, 06:19 PM)fredtoast Wrote: Sounds like Whit is fine with the UC facility.

(02-12-2020, 06:15 PM)Wes Mantooth Wrote: This one?

(02-12-2020, 06:19 PM)fredtoast Wrote: Sounds like Whit is fine with the UC facility.

(02-12-2020, 06:39 PM)Wes Mantooth Wrote: Sure does. Sounds like he'd like to use it more than twice a year too.

Maybe we should get one???

(02-12-2020, 06:12 PM)Destro Wrote: Considering we are the worst team in the league, again and have not won a playoff game in modern history, I don't put a lot of stock in the Bengals doing anything the right way. Anyone know all the teams that have facilities? Do they tend to play better than the Bengals?

(02-12-2020, 03:58 PM)Wes Mantooth Wrote: Imagine a full practice, with all it's regular participants and attendees, then imagine moving them to this space, and be able to conduct routine drills and walkthroughs...

(02-12-2020, 02:44 PM)ochocincos Wrote: You know that the FO (and a percentage of fans) believe that practicing in the same environment you will play in helps make you tougher and better prepare you for game day.
And given that no team in the division has an indoor stadium, they don't see the need to practice indoors on a typical basis when it gets to frigid temps and weather.