(Yesterday, 10:41 PM)NUGDUKWE Wrote: You know when we won the afc championship a couple years ago Mike Brown got the microphone after the game and said something to the effect of "this could be any other team here". Which in that moment I thought it was a very humble thing to say. But not long after I thought it showed Mike Browns cluelessness. We were there because of Burrow, Chase, some solid draft picks and because of couple of free agency periods where we hit some very solid players. His statement made it sound as though luck was the biggest factor that we found ourselves there. But it wasn't. We stand here with the most important piece in Burrow and skill players like Chase that only enhance the effect Burrow has on our team. I don't think Mike Brown and or the FO understand what we have here. Sure it's something to sell tickets but it's not a chance for a superbowl or a dynasty. We could make the moves to push us over the top yet we sit still and drag our feet. I'm not sure we are seeing the end of the Bengals but it very well could be the end of Burrow era unfolding before our eyes. Not sure how many fans that will take with them but it's not a good situation.

(Yesterday, 10:49 PM)Bengalstripes9 Wrote: I’m of the opinion that luck had a lot to do with it.

To get the number one pick when Burrow enters the draft was very lucky.

For Higgins to make it to us in the 2nd round was incredibly lucky as well.

For Chase to make it to us at pick 5 in his draft when he is the best player out of the entire class is also incredibly lucky.

If they could draft better outside of those top picks they could have had the same success as the Chiefs.

(Yesterday, 10:58 PM)reuben.ahmed Wrote: The playoff run was lucky too. A lot of balls bounced our way.

(Yesterday, 10:00 PM)samhain Wrote: I think the Denver game after Christmas was one of the best I've ever attended.  It was the only game worth the price of the ticket this year.  Driving home, it felt like the team re-emphasized what they were truly capable of being to the fans and everyone else watching.  We saw an elite offense and a group of players with the character to fight to the bitter end.  I've watched that Hard Knocks episode 2 dozen times and it never gets old.  Makes me want to run through a wall every single time.

For me and likely many other fans, it re-ingnited hope for what the Burrow era can and should be.  It made the disappointing season seem like a bump in the road to something that was going to be inevitably better.  

What worries me now is that I think this positivity is largely gone.  The reasonable expectation of urgency has been shot down.  The process of maintaining and enhancing the roster has been excruciating since the beginning of August.  

It doesn't feel like the people that own this team are driven to win.  People talk in a derogatory way about "winning the offseason" and how it doesn't equate to success in the regular season.  That shouldn't cause people to lose sight of what's happening here.  This is literally the best chance this organization will ever have to win a title.  They may never have a quarterback of this caliber again in our lifetimes.  Maybe ever.  They've already gotten him beat to shit.  Now they want to drag feet and let them wither on the vine.

Two things could be happening IMO.  They either no longer have the resources to compete in modern personnel aquistion or they lack the logistical ability.  If it's not one of those, then they really just don't give a shit about winning.  Take your pick, but what's happening here is something more than just MB being stubborn or a lack of scouts.  It's a deer in the headlights failure.  it's paralysis when agility is needed.  

I hope I'm wrong, but I think what we are seeing is bigger than one disappointing offseason.  They might have maxed out their abilities as a franchise.  I have a real fear that we are seeing the beginning of the end of the Cincinnati Bengals.

(11 hours ago)Gdale_Bengal Wrote: This organization is driven to put a competitive team on the field and that’s about it. Roll all that cap space over, save money. Look like they care sometimes.

But this team is built to be middling and that’s it.