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vancelot23
Active Member
It's not easy being a Bengals fan. For 20+ years, we've been the laughingstock of not only the football world, but the sporting world in general. Losing has beget losing, and it has become a badge of honor to still be a fan. Even the few good seasons leave us with guarded optimism at best for the next season. In 2005, we made the playoffs, but proceeded to lose right away, after losing Carson Palmer to a serious knee injury, so going into 2006, I was concerned, not excited. In 2009, we swept the division and made the playoffs again, but again went one and out, and going into 2010 with a 1st place schedule, and few changes, I was wary of repeating.
Fast forward to this offseason. We drafted the guy who I felt was the best player in the draft with our first pick, and a QB with our second pick. Andy Dalton has been better than almost anybody thought, and has been the best pure QB in the draft, while AJ Green has a whole highlight reel worth of catches in 9 games, and might already be a top 10 WR. In one draft, we drafted the guy who should start at QB for the next 10 years, barring injury, and potential top 5 receiver. When was the last time a team got that in one draft? Now, 9 games into the season, we're in a virtual 3-way tie for first in the AFC North, and have exceeded every expectation, and the future actually looks bright. Consider these sources of my giddiness:
Dalton and Green look like a top combo for years to come.
Whitworth is a top T and Andre Smith is starting to look like the guy we wanted when we took him.
Dunlap is proving that year one wasn't a fluke, and Michael Johnson has made a leap that I didn't know if he was capable of making.
Peko and Atkins are a top DT duo, with Atkins looking like a guy who will make some pro bowls. He's blowing up pockets on a regular basis, and creating as much havoc as any DT in the league.
The D-line rotation is getting consistent pressure and staying fresh with 8 guys contributing.
Rey Mauluga has made a solid transition to MLB, and Thomas Howard might be our best FA acquisition in years.
Our special teams is actually a threat, with Tate getting some good returns and Nugent being money.
We have some holes, notably at RB, S, and G, but we have two 1st round draft picks next year, and a chance to address them.
Now, we've got half a season to play, and could very well wind up 8-8 with a tough schedule the rest of the way, but that's not the point. We're playing well, and playing well with youth and excitement. We're playing like a team that believes it should win every week. And we're playing like a team that has a very nice future. For the first time in over 20 years, I find myself excited for next season and beyond. For the first time in 20 years, I find myself actually expecting to make the playoffs consistently in the next few years. And for the first time in 20 years, I find myself banking on getting some playoff tickets soon. Can I get a WHO DEY!?
Fast forward to this offseason. We drafted the guy who I felt was the best player in the draft with our first pick, and a QB with our second pick. Andy Dalton has been better than almost anybody thought, and has been the best pure QB in the draft, while AJ Green has a whole highlight reel worth of catches in 9 games, and might already be a top 10 WR. In one draft, we drafted the guy who should start at QB for the next 10 years, barring injury, and potential top 5 receiver. When was the last time a team got that in one draft? Now, 9 games into the season, we're in a virtual 3-way tie for first in the AFC North, and have exceeded every expectation, and the future actually looks bright. Consider these sources of my giddiness:
Dalton and Green look like a top combo for years to come.
Whitworth is a top T and Andre Smith is starting to look like the guy we wanted when we took him.
Dunlap is proving that year one wasn't a fluke, and Michael Johnson has made a leap that I didn't know if he was capable of making.
Peko and Atkins are a top DT duo, with Atkins looking like a guy who will make some pro bowls. He's blowing up pockets on a regular basis, and creating as much havoc as any DT in the league.
The D-line rotation is getting consistent pressure and staying fresh with 8 guys contributing.
Rey Mauluga has made a solid transition to MLB, and Thomas Howard might be our best FA acquisition in years.
Our special teams is actually a threat, with Tate getting some good returns and Nugent being money.
We have some holes, notably at RB, S, and G, but we have two 1st round draft picks next year, and a chance to address them.
Now, we've got half a season to play, and could very well wind up 8-8 with a tough schedule the rest of the way, but that's not the point. We're playing well, and playing well with youth and excitement. We're playing like a team that believes it should win every week. And we're playing like a team that has a very nice future. For the first time in over 20 years, I find myself excited for next season and beyond. For the first time in 20 years, I find myself actually expecting to make the playoffs consistently in the next few years. And for the first time in 20 years, I find myself banking on getting some playoff tickets soon. Can I get a WHO DEY!?
