Bengals: Kings of What Might Have Been

[Be Weary of Query]

Pain Rankings: No. 6, the Cincinnati Bengals - NFL.com

They miss anything?

 

[cincygrad]

I think that pretty much covers it...... I might add the 2006 collapse, though I don't think that team would have done anything in the playoffs. I would also mention injuries to Eric Thomas, Ickey Woods, Joe Walter and Tim Krumrie as potential reasons why the late 80s team started decaying so fast.

One thing that gets mentioned in the article, but not discussed too often in Cincinnati was Paul Brown's asshole behavior toward Bill Walsh. You can see where Mike Brown gets some of the misplaced loyalty/bad decision making. Brown hired Tiger Johnson, probably because he was a yes man and more of an 'old-fashioned' coach, while ignoring the genius of a guy on his staff because he was different. Had Bill Walsh taken over that team, things could have been much different.

 

[Cincyfan78]

I think that pretty much covers it...... I might add the 2006 collapse, though I don't think that team would have done anything in the playoffs. I would also mention injuries to Eric Thomas, Ickey Woods, Joe Walter and Tim Krumrie as potential reasons why the late 80s team started decaying so fast.

One thing that gets mentioned in the article, but not discussed too often in Cincinnati was Paul Brown's asshole behavior toward Bill Walsh. You can see where Mike Brown gets some of the misplaced loyalty/bad decision making. Brown hired Tiger Johnson, probably because he was a yes man and more of an 'old-fashioned' coach, while ignoring the genius of a guy on his staff because he was different. Had Bill Walsh taken over that team, things could have been much different.

There's no doubt that Paul Brown had serious trust issues within his organization after what happened in Cleveland. Mike Brown talks about how it shaped his father all the time in articles talking about the start of the franchise. Something that, obviously, Mike picked up as well. What he failed to learn, though, was that you can rely on other people without giving up your position.

You can still be in control and have a good support group around you. People who employ 'yes' men, or don't have anyone else to help them rarely succeed and Mike Brown is living proof of that as an owner through the 90's when he failed to adapt to the changing NFL, free agency, and more analytics being installed throughout the game.

Oddly enough, thank goodness for Marvin was able to come in here and make changes, and get them to stick. Yeah, it took a while (and this has nothing to do with his actual ability/inability to coach), but you have to wonder where this franchise would be if Marvin hadn't been able to make those changes and have that kind of a relationship with Brown for him to finally listen after so many coaches and so many years.

 

[DanBengalfan]

arrogance makes people short sited.

fo sho ma bro