02-13-2017, 10:49 AM
(02-12-2017, 02:19 PM)SHRacerX Wrote: So, Jerry Jones made his money in oil, and the Brown family made their money because their father purchased the team way back in the late 60s. A coach, that put together his resources and purchased his own team.
Jerry Jones, Arthur Blank, and many other owners have other businesses that made them billionaires...that is not what we have here. Jerry wanted a stadium that said "my penis is bigger than yours!" and is a showplace for much more than just his team. He can afford that, the Browns can't. I will point out that when you all make the Browns out to be money-grubbing parasites that they haven't taken a dime in naming rights, where they could likely get a pretty penny, instead honoring their father, Paul Brown.
As far as "spending significantly less than his peers" goes, can you supply that factual information? I think he spends close to the salary cap, and honors the contracts of his players (right or wrong, you could argue either way) more than maybe any owner in the NFL.
Calling them cheap, and blaming them for the stadium tax, blah, blah, blah...is just parroting what the older generation has dumped on the Brown family for a while now. They are angry because they see other teams winning championships and the Bengals continue to struggle. I get it. But their anger is misplaced. The ownership has done a very good job creating a system that has made them competitive for what was five straight playoff appearances. I think they will be back in the thick of it next year. I want more, too, but I am not going to spew hatred on the ownership because they haven't won a Super Bowl.
Mike Brown owns an asset which, according to Forbes, is valued at $1.7 billion. Because of revenue sharing and television contracts negotiated by the league, he is guaranteed a profit. He can afford anything he wants.
As for being cheap, you're really going to try to argue that Mike Brown is not the definition of the word? Some examples of his "frugality". The man takes business meetings at Wendy's. Prospective free agents are flown into town in coach seating. Television cables are available for rent during training camp. Thin, "cheap" towels that are not big enough to wrap around players in the locker room. Gatorade consumption is monitored. They are the only northern team who does not have an indoor practice facility. Many colleges and even some high schools have facilities which the Bengals do not. The man is beyond cheap.
