Cincy Jungle
The older I get, the more aware I’m becoming of the Cincinnati Bengals’ organizational failure.
I have older friends, coworkers, family, etc, who have told me for the last few years about the historical blunders from this organization. I have always been a fan and I always will be a fan, but again, being a fan doesn’t put blinders on you to not be aware of the obvious mistakes and failure of something, in this case, an organization.
To date, there are plenty of years and drafts when I’m ecstatic for the upcoming season, and I find myself defending them and making excuses, but this season has triggered something inside of me.
The earliest teams I actually remember watching had players like Carson Palmer, Rudi Johnson, Chad Johnson (Ochocinco), TJ Houshmandzadeh, Leon Hall, and so on. But with this team, I was a little kid, so I simply watched as a fan. Then it was the team of Andy Dalton and AJ Green that I began to actually understand certain aspects of the team and organization.
It wasn’t until Joe Burrow came that I really understood everything about the team and organization. This is when things really started clicking for me. Again, I will always be a fan, but you start listening to analysts and fans, and even some former players, and you begin thinking. Usually, year after year and draft after draft, one question arises: Why?
If the team lacked talent at this position, why wouldn’t they go draft that position or get someone in free agency?
If this player played well for us and their contract is up, why didn’t they re-sign him?
If defenses are stopping the Bengals’ offense consistently and they seem to know where they are going to be before the ball is snapped, why don’t they try something else?
If our defense isn’t playing well, and teams are scoring on them with ease, why don’t they switch something?
You begin to question everything. But year after year, they stick with the same solutions every time. Coaches and front office personnel say the same thing in each press conference.
What makes it worse is that you see other teams and organizations change personnel as needed. Then, in the past, when the Bengals have made changes, it gave fans a brief glimpse of relief and hope.
But it sinks back into the same reality eventually.
I read hundreds of posts and articles and watch dozens of videos, but Mo Egger hit the nail on the head in one of his recent posts describing a monumental organizational failure over the last few years.
In 2020, the team drafted a generational quarterback in Joe Burrow, and the next year they drafted Burrow’s former college teammate, who has also turned into a generational wide receiver in Ja’Marr Chase. Within two years of having both players, the team makes a surprising run to the Super Bowl.
Ever since then, it has been downhill.
For decades, the Bengals organization has been...
