1979 SI Article - 'Everything's gone wrong in Cincinnati'

[Bengalholic]

This SI article - from 38 years ago - looks a lot like some of the things we are still talking about in 2017... complaints about the front office and drafting, issues with the head coach and players not being accountable, various injuries, a RB wanting more carries. etc. 

Just found it a very interesting read, and a little too familiar.

https://www.si.com/vault/1979/11/05/824130/the-bengals-bungles-everythings-gone-wrong-in-cincinnati-and-paul-brown-is-getting-all-the-blame

[Interceptor]

Yeah, but the thing is, they beat the Steelers authoritatively back then.

[Bengalholic]

(12-21-2017, 06:30 PM)Interceptor Wrote: Yeah, but the thing is, they beat the Steelers authoritatively back then.

They were 6-14 against the Steelers in the 70's, but they did play well at home, 6-4.

[*PhilHos*]

I didn't know they had the internet back in 1979.

[Shake n Blake]

How do you find this stuff?

I always wondered if things were similar with old Paul running the show and it looks like they were...In some ways. But they did make a pair of SB's. Maybe Mike is a lot like Paul and just didn't adjust well to the FA era.

[McC]

(12-21-2017, 06:12 PM)Bengalholic Wrote: This article - from 38 years ago - looks a lot like some of the things we are still talking about in 2017... complaints about the front office and drafting, issues with the head coach and players not being accountable, various injuries, a RB wanting more carries. etc. 

Just found it a very interesting read, and a little too familiar.

https://www.si.com/vault/1979/11/05/824130/the-bengals-bungles-everythings-gone-wrong-in-cincinnati-and-paul-brown-is-getting-all-the-blame

And then 2 years later they were in the SB.

[Pat5775]

Wow... It's uncanny. Thanks for sharing! And as McC said, they made the super bowl only two years later... We can only hope

Also of note, "Around Cincinnati there is a feeling that the Bengals wasted many of those nine first-round picks on players of the sort the Brown clan prefers, that is, neither flamboyant nor disruptive." That mantra has done a complete 180.

[Atomic Orange]

Its the same damn movie.

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(12-21-2017, 06:41 PM)PhilHos Wrote: I didn't know they had the internet back in 1979.

I mean, how else would they get porn, music, and do shopping?

[McC]

(12-21-2017, 07:57 PM)Pat5775 Wrote: Wow... It's uncanny. Thanks for sharing! And as McC said, they made the super bowl only two years later... We can only hope

Also of note, "Around Cincinnati there is a feeling that the Bengals wasted many of those nine first-round picks on players of the sort the Brown clan prefers, that is, neither flamboyant nor disruptive." That mantra has done a complete 180.

Look at what changed after '79 that made the leap possible.

The OLine got way better by adding Munoz and Montoya.  This magically made the QB and the whole offense better.

The passive HC was replaced with the fiery tough guy.

They hired Hank Bullough to run the defense.

Mike--

This is your 1979.  Whatcha gonna do about it?  You gonna rise up like Daddy did?  Have you even got rise up in you?

[Bengalholic]

(12-21-2017, 08:54 PM)McC Wrote: Look at what changed after '79 that made the leap possible.

The OLine got way better by adding Munoz and Montoya.  This magically made the QB and the whole offense better.

The passive HC was replaced with the fiery tough guy.

They hired Hank Bullough to run the defense.

Mike--

This is your 1979.  Whatcha gonna do about it?  You gonna rise up like Daddy did?  Have you even got rise up in you?

:andy:

[bengalsfansince93]

Not sure where the hell you found that but thank you! Unfortunately I think they treat the players the same way today.

[*Wyche'sWarrior*]

(12-21-2017, 08:54 PM)McC Wrote: Look at what changed after '79 that made the leap possible.

The OLine got way better by adding Munoz and Montoya.  This magically made the QB and the whole offense better.

The passive HC was replaced with the fiery tough guy.

They hired Hank Bullough to run the defense.

Mike--

This is your 1979.  Whatcha gonna do about it?  You gonna rise up like Daddy did?  Have you even got rise up in you?

This is exactly right, Paul finally saw the writing on the wall and did something about it.  I'll give credit due, in that Mike brought in Marvin and changed the culture.  He failed there by sticking with Marvin way past his expiration date.  He needs to make a splash hire, and also come into the 21st century regarding FA.

[masonbengals fan]

(12-21-2017, 08:54 PM)McC Wrote: Look at what changed after '79 that made the leap possible.

The OLine got way better by adding Munoz and Montoya.  This magically made the QB and the whole offense better.

The passive HC was replaced with the fiery tough guy.

They hired Hank Bullough to run the defense.

Mike--

This is your 1979.  Whatcha gonna do about it?  You gonna rise up like Daddy did?  Have you even got rise up in you?

[THE PISTONS]

(12-22-2017, 11:10 AM)Wyche Wrote: This is exactly right, Paul finally saw the writing on the wall and did something about it.  I'll give credit due, in that Mike brought in Marvin and changed the culture.  He failed there by sticking with Marvin way past his expiration date.  He needs to make a splash hire, and also come into the 21st century regarding FA.

I think that adequately sums it up. Basically Brown runs the Bengals close to the way his dad did...just modern free agency threw a huge wrinkle into the mix.

5 playoff wins in 50 years isn't great by any means.