05-03-2017, 02:41 PM
(05-03-2017, 11:25 AM)THE PISTONS Wrote: It's not just Pacman. Or Mixon. Or drafting Burfict.
It's signing Benson with all his issues. Drafting Henry. Waiving and re-signing him. Bringing Tank Johnson in.
While the current Bengals get pointed to...it's more a lifetime achievement award for the Bengals that they're considered a team of thugs.
Like I said, Henry gave us that reputation way back in 2006. But I don't think signing a couple players like Tank Johnson and Cedric Benson here and there justifies keeping that reputation. Plenty of teams sign/draft guys like that all the time. The Cowboys were the first team to sign Tank after his gun charges and 8 game suspension. They were also the first team to sign Pacman after his scrip club incident. They've also signed Greg Hardy and drafted Randy Gregory etc etc.
I think they get more of a pass though. As do other teams. I think it all should come down to how these players behave once you take that risk...also how you respond if the player starts breaking laws...because ALL teams take risky players. There are no 53 man rosters full of saints.
I think it comes down to 2 players...Chris Henry in 2006 and Pacman Jones now. If those 2 were never Bengals, I don't think the reputation is nearly as bad as it is. Signing players like Tank and Benson barely caused a ripple. Fwiw...I also think Mike Brown's cheap reputation plays a lot into it. That man is just not well liked, and it's not just here on the boards.
The training, nutrition, medicine, fitness, playbooks and rules evolve. The athlete does not.
