Apple Needs to STFU

[MileHighGrowler]

(01-24-2023, 03:47 PM)jj22 Wrote: Well we have to circle the wagon around Eli now as ALL of the fanbases have turned on the Bengals in the social media world. Literally every last one of them.... If your on Twitter specifically, Bengals could use some backing, they are taking shot after shot between Eli and the video of players calling Arrowhead - Burrowhead.

That's going to be the new reality for the Bengals going forward.  Last year they were a Cinderella story.  Not so much this year.  Most fans don't pay attention to early season rankings, most fans don't care about the coin toss.  They see a team going back the AFCCG and will start crapping on the team, calling them out for being arrogant and any other action that makes them feel superior.  Last year it was fun, contagious energy.  This year, they're being treated like winners (i.e. sour grapes by other teams' fans) and are under the microscope for everything.  By and large, this team is very classy, which we all love, but Eli is a talker and people are going to call him out for it. 

On Sunday morning, I was reading a local NextDoor post here with someone posting how she was a fan of an NFC team not in the playoffs, but rooting for the Bills because "of the wonderful way they've handled this Hamlin situation" and there were many responses in agreement.  No one mentioned Cincinnati and their handling of the situation. No one cares.  They were seen by many as the team "who had their chance last year and blew it, now it's Buffalo's turn."  

I know it's a total shift in perception, and we're used to being the sad underdog, the team that's afraid to kick the sleeping bear and fly under the radar.  But that's not who this team is any more, and if they keep winning, they won't be again for a long time.  People will come after the team and the fans, the same as they've done to the Pats, Chiefs, Cowboys, etc over the years.  So I say whatever motivates the guys going on the field to play their best is fine by me.  I don't feel that my personal identity is compromised someone because a guy who plays for the team I cheer for is trolling.