(12-29-2018, 06:16 PM)THE Bigzoman Wrote: Sorry.

I meant what were the differences between Mike and Paul?

You argued that Mike ran the organization differently from Paul, so it's possible that Katie will run things differently from Mike.

What were the differences?

(12-29-2018, 09:49 AM)HarleyDog Wrote: Great article. There are plenty of fans that are just fed up. I hate to see others feeling the way I do, but at the same time, it helps knowing I don’t feel it alone. We’ve been to 2 SB’s. How the heck did we end up here. NFL films should do NFL life episode with Bengals fans.

(12-29-2018, 01:43 AM)fredtoast Wrote: The only difference between Robert Kraft and Mike Brown is that Kraft is much better at his job than Brown.

(12-29-2018, 01:43 AM)fredtoast Wrote: Robert Kraft does not give a shit about pleasing his fan base.  He has repeatedly unpset them by trading/releasing fan favorite players because he felt they were getting too old or expensive.

The only difference between Robert Kraft and Mike Brown is that Kraft is much better at his job than Brown.

Bengal fans need to stop acting like Mike Brown's incompetence is actually a personal attack on them.  He doesn't hate Bengal fans.  He is not evil,  mean, or heartless.  He just is not good at his job.

(12-29-2018, 02:43 PM)fredtoast Wrote: No it doesn't.

"While we have had many good steps along the way, this 50th season reminds me that we have more steps that we want to take. My passion is to bring Cincinnati a much-deserved NFL championship"

(12-29-2018, 06:49 PM)Bengalholic Wrote: So, here's the issue with that - he knows that 'his way' has never produced a single playoff win, yet he continues to do things 'his way' regardless...which means not firing coaches, valuing comp picks over free agents, not hiring a real GM, not investing more in the modernization and development of the scouting department, etc, etc, etc. 

He has to be painfully aware that his ways haven't worked. He has to be painfully aware that Marvin isn't a big stage coach. he has to be painfully aware that he is not a competent GM. He has to be painfully aware that they haven't won a playoff game in 28 years.

What has he done about it? Which meaningful changes has he made in a dedicated effort to win? The answer is that he has done next to nothing. He's refused to look for another coach that might give the team a better chance. He's refused to hire a real GM or veteran football person to run things. He's refused to go after a top free agent once in awhile. Basically, he's refused to do anything that would require real effort on his part, or that would signal that he's actually passionate about winning.

I agree with those that say that Mike 'wants to win' or 'would like to win'. It's human nature to prefer winning over losing and even Mike isn't immune to that. The problem is that he's not driven or motivated to do what it takes to make it happen. It's like an obese guy would would prefer to be skinny, but continues to eat Little Debbies and McDonalds all day, every day...instead of actually doing something about it.

Mike may very well wish he could win a playoff game, but sitting in his office and daydreaming about it won't make it happen. 


I disagree. While Mike may 'want' to win...I don't think he truly 'cares' about it, or at least not in the same way most owners do. If he truly cared, he would at least attempt to change things up, including his own approach. I mean, does he care enough about winning to hire a real GM, or to fire Marvin, or to sign a couple upper tier FA's?

We now have 28 years of evidence to evaluate how much Mike 'cares about winning'. The evidence isn't looking good brother. 

(12-29-2018, 05:51 PM)THE Bigzoman Wrote: The Bengals are what happens when  someone with a enormous ego and vendetta garner a bunch of financial capital, and what happens when said ego and capital carry over into the next generation.

The saddest thing will be when things carry over into the third generation with Katie. There's no reason to think she'll be any different from Mike. She's been his right hand in running the organization for decades.

What will make Katie worse than Mike is that her keeping the status quo will be overshadowed by the fact that she's the first female owner in the NFL.  Assuming she's just another extension of Mike--and again, I don't see any reason to think otherwise--It will be harder to criticize her because every joke and grievance will be met with accusations of sexism and misogyny.

It'll happen. Book it.

(12-29-2018, 08:15 PM)McC Wrote: Actually, Mike does run the show like Paul did.  Problem is, Paul's way stopped working 30 years ago.  

(12-29-2018, 02:46 PM)fredtoast Wrote: Here is a point many of you are missing.  Over the past few years the Bengals have out performed many teams that have GMs.

I don't think Mike Brown is competent at all, but you can't say he does not care about winning just because he does not hire a GM.  The absolute worst teams in the league all have GMs.

(12-29-2018, 01:43 AM)fredtoast Wrote: Robert Kraft does not give a shit about pleasing his fan base.  He has repeatedly unpset them by trading/releasing fan favorite players because he felt they were getting too old or expensive.

The only difference between Robert Kraft and Mike Brown is that Kraft is much better at his job than Brown.

Bengal fans need to stop acting like Mike Brown's incompetence is actually a personal attack on them.  He doesn't hate Bengal fans.  He is not evil,  mean, or heartless.  He just is not good at his job.

(12-29-2018, 10:47 AM)McC Wrote: The overwhelming evidence screams like hell he does.

IF he cared about winning, he would admit how wrong his way is.

IF he cared about winning, he would replace himself and all his little family minions.

IF he cared about winning, he would have a GM with qualifications beyond being born.

IF he cared about winning, he would  replace his current HC tomorrow.

Don't even try that he cares about winning bullshit because the entire world knows that is just not true.

(12-30-2018, 11:12 AM)rfaulk34 Wrote: She wouldn't even be close to being the first female owner in the NFL. 

(12-30-2018, 12:39 PM)Hoofhearted Wrote: He has to care about winning, but he doesn’t care about winning it all. That’s a clear distinction we have to make I think.

(12-29-2018, 06:12 PM)N_B Wrote: Not sure we know enough about Katie to say

(12-30-2018, 03:34 PM)bjf123 Wrote: Years ago, I worked with someone who knew Katie and played soccer with her. Said she’s ultra competitive and hates to lose. I also worked with someone who was in a box at PBS next to the owner’s box. He said Mike Brown’s expression didn’t change, regardless of what was going on on the field. With Katie, you could clearly tell what was going on. If the team was playing bad, she was mad and yelling like most fans.

I’m hoping she uses that competitiveness to make big changes when she takes over, after years of seeing Daddy’s way just doesn’t work.


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(12-30-2018, 11:38 AM)Pat5775 Wrote: Well, Paul knew football, Mike doesn’t. Paul made winning a priority, Mike hasn’t. Paul was a winner, Mike is a loser. I could go on

Their management styles may be similar, but there is no way in hell Paul would have let things be this bad for this long.

(12-30-2018, 04:46 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: "I will say in 31 years here, I’ve never seen a fan base more poised to jump ship."

Looks like Doc is perceptive. I've never felt closer to jumping ship, and I know many others feel the same.