The Playoff Bengals

[gladdenguy]

Today is the day.
Getting ready to start drinking. This is it. The biggest win of my prime as a Bengals fan. If they win, dowtown will be crazy tonight. If they lose, same old Bengals.
But I feel a win. This is gonna be a good day.
Mark Sanchez will be Brady Quinn and Bubby Brister in green.
Fatty Rex Ryan will not have much to say after I pour a beer on his fat head walking off the field.
Carson, Marvin, and Chad will get their first playoff win today.
HIP HIP ---- WHO DEY......HIP HIP --- WHO DEY
We will roll.
Our Lady of Victory...Pray for us

[xsteve1]

Who Dey! The Bengals laid down last Sunday, today will be a little payback for big talking Ryan's team.

[Muskieblue]

Whoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

[golfitup]

What's spread right now?

[Fireball]

WHO DEY!

Jets are overconfident, and the Bengals are going to kill them today. Rex and the "Sanchize" won't know what hit them.

[Kahns Krazy]

I am so anxious for today. I still can't believe they are in the playoffs. What a year.

I feel good about today's game. Cedrick is rested and hungry. Chad doesn't need a huge game, but he needs a win. I'm going to be so pumped to see our first playoff win since I was in high school.

Who dey. It's going to be cold, but I'm going to be warm inside.

Edit: I won't be inside. I will be at the game in my seat. I'm be warmed by the Bengals win.

[bobbiemcgee]

This has been one crazy year for this team. I can't get a feel for what's gonna happen today, but then it's been that way all yr. I'd love to see Carson throw for about 5 or 6 today.

[Snipe]

WHO DEY!

Man I get so excited and nervous. If we let them take an early lead I will probably feel like throwing up.

We need to take an early lead. The key today is defense and the cornerbacks. Single coverage so we can load up the box and they have to play tight. I want 3 picks baby. I want some points from my defense. I want it all, and I want it right now.

WHO DEY!

[stophorseabuse]

Poo Dey.

This was as good as it gets for Bengals football. Im 29, I don't ever expect to see a Bengals playoff win. That is sad. I don't know that I will ever see a world series, super bowl, or even ncaa championshi by one of my teams. I can hardly remember the reds in 90. I truly wish to see a final four by X in my lifetime, that is my best bet.

[waggy]

Huge miss by Graham.

[An X Fan]

A Bengal tiger doesn't change his stripes. Offense hasn't been good in over 2 months, since Slim got hurt.

[waggy]

Misdirection/bootlegs by the Jets offense have been the plays of the game.

[waggy]

Graham sucks. Loser. Dickhead.

[xavierj]

Shane Graham. Missed extra point against Denver, missed easy FG against Steelers in 06 (cost them the playoffs) missed 2 fg's today, pretty much cost them the game. How is that guy still employed. He should be cut tonight out of principle.

[Hownowbrowncow]

Maybe Graham, Bratkowski, Coats and Palmer can share a cab out of town.

[stophorseabuse]

How do the bengals, seeing all that f'n pressure in Palmers face all night, not throw a screen until less than 2 minutes left in the game. Bratkowski is just f'n awful. What was up w/ the short kickoff to start the 2nd half? The Jets have a punter who can at best hit it 40 yds in the air, we have a top line defense, but for some reason just ignore the chance to play field position football.

[Hownowbrowncow]

A Bengal tiger doesn't change his stripes. Offense hasn't been good in over 2 months, since Slim got hurt.

The offense sucked long before Henry died.

[Cheesehead]

It played out exactly like I thought it would. They limped into the playoffs and were the worst 10-6 team in the NFL. Palmer was not all that accurate, players are still dropping passes, and Graham had an off day. Well, at least Sunday will be a good day to pick up some Bengal merchandise at 50% off.

Go Pack!

[XURunner85]

Bengals were an overrated team that got lucky in a few games....and the Brown family got richer....

[XUOWNSUC]

If I were the owner, I would make Graham clean out his locker tonight. Tomorrow I would tell Lewis and Bratkowski that they will not be needed anymore. I would hire Mike Zimmer as the Head Coach and let him pick whoever he wants for the other coaches.

I'd also cut Jerome Simpson and hire 10 more scouts.

[LadyMuskie]

I absolutely think that the coaching staff needs to be cleaned out - top to bottom, and some players shouldbe packing their bags too. But, I am wholeheartedly against hiring Zimmer as the HC. The guy might make a great HC, but we've been down that road before with Coslet and then LeBeau and the results were mostly disastrous. We need to look outside the current staff to find someone who knows how to WIN!

[SlimKibbles]

Bengals were an overrated team that got lucky in a few games....and the Brown family got richer....

It was a perfect season for the Brown family: the team won enough to keep the butts in the seats and people buying merchandise, beer, you name it. And, they even got a playoff game to boot. I think Mikey Boy deserves a $1 million GM bonus for a job well done...oh, that's right, he's been giving himself that every year already. Cheers to another successful season, right, Mikey Boy?

[AdamtheFlyer]

Complete and utter self-destruction for the Bengals today in all phases.

[Cheesehead]

Let's see, Redskins go after and get Mike Shanahan, Seahawks go after and apparently get Pete Carroll. That leaves the Bengals with.....?

[BENWAR]

Let's see, Redskins go after and get Mike Shanahan, Seahawks go after and apparently get Pete Carroll. That leaves the Bengals with.....?

What's your point?

[GoMuskies]

Cheer up. The Cowboys are winning.

[Snipe]

I absolutely think that the coaching staff needs to be cleaned out - top to bottom, and some players shouldbe packing their bags too. But, I am wholeheartedly against hiring Zimmer as the HC. The guy might make a great HC, but we've been down that road before with Coslet and then LeBeau and the results were mostly disastrous. We need to look outside the current staff to find someone who knows how to WIN!

I would not be unhappy with Zimmer as our head coach at all. Why let someone else hire him away?

[Snipe]

I am sick of our offensive line leading the league in penalty yards. We have done this every year since I can remember. I want somebody fired for that. I am sick of it happening. And I want the new guy to know that if it continues to happen he gets fired after the first year.

[BENWAR]

Cheer up. The Cowboys are winning.

Thanks for the reminder.:rolleyes:

[Snipe]

Shane Graham or however you spell it is a bitch. He missed two chances today that were easy. Just hit one of them and late in the game we would be one score down.. Late in the game it would have meant something. Hit both and we would be playing to win. What a bitch. Sick of it. That guy has missed some substantial kicks. (Pittsburgh) He hits the ones that don't mean as much with great regularity. Today he missed two and they both meant a lot. It meant the game. I think he sucks. You can't miss those field goals.

I say tar and feather his ass.

[waggy]

Marvin has a done a good job. They had both Denver and Oakland beat, so they could've been 12-4. And remember, he's working for Mike Brown, there's only so much that can be done. All coachs make mistakes, but the biggest area that needed to improve and seems to have improved, is his interaction with the cincy media.

Both lines played well this year. They were competitive for control of the line of scrimmage. Really, it was injuries and lack of depth at various positions that hurt the team in the end. Things might have been different if they don't lose Henry and Maualuga (and Jeanty).

I think the organization would be crazy to get rid of Marvin - there are many players that would never even consider playing for Cincy if not for him being coach.

[xavierj]

What's your point?

Um weren't both of those guys fired from their last NFL gig. Good luck coaching for the ego maniac that is Daniel Snyder.

Pete knew it was now or never. USC is kind of down right now and the guy had some problems with the info about his grad student mistress coming out. The time is right for him, but he was not all that great an NFL coach last time around.

[Snipe]

Um weren't both of those guys fired from their last NFL gig. Good luck coaching for the ego maniac that is Daniel Snyder.

Pete knew it was now or never. USC is kind of down right now and the guy had some problems with the info about his grad student mistress coming out. The time is right for him, but he was not all that great an NFL coach last time around.

Did Charlie Weiss (sp?) really out him on his grad school mistress? That is priceless. I thought that was a joke.

[waggy]

So the Seattle NFL job is a demotion from USC...

[BlueGuy]

I'd also cut Jerome Simpson and hire 10 more scouts.

What a waste of a draft pick. How much are they paying him to sit on the bench? Does anyone believe he'll ever see the field? No shit. Cut him!

[BENWAR]

Shane Graham or however you spell it is a bitch. He missed two chances today that were easy. Just hit one of them and late in the game we would be one score down.. Late in the game it would have meant something. Hit both and we would be playing to win. What a bitch. Sick of it. That guy has missed some substantial kicks. (Pittsburgh) He hits the ones that don't mean as much with great regularity. Today he missed two and they both meant a lot. It meant the game. I think he sucks. You can't miss those field goals.

I say tar and feather his ass.

Shayne Graham has kicked his last field goal for the Bengals. We are not going to place the franchise tag on him again and we will be looking for a new kicker next year.

[BENWAR]

What a waste of a draft pick. How much are they paying him to sit on the bench? Does anyone believe he'll ever see the field? No shit. Cut him!

Jerome is a complete waste of flesh.

[D-West & PO-Z]

If I were the owner, I would make Graham clean out his locker tonight. Tomorrow I would tell Lewis and Bratkowski that they will not be needed anymore. I would hire Mike Zimmer as the Head Coach and let him pick whoever he wants for the other coaches.

I'd also cut Jerome Simpson and hire 10 more scouts.

Dont you know he might be as good as DeSean Jackson! He just hasnt been given a chance!!!

[D-West & PO-Z]

They dont call em the Bungles for nothing. The streak lives on.

[stophorseabuse]

Sad part, I think Marvin should be coach of the year each year he just gets the Bengals to the playoffs. He gives me something to do 2nd saturday in January a few times a decade.

[Fireball]

To those of you who want to get rid of Marvin, WTF do you want?

After not having a winning season or playoff appearance in a decade and a half, he has led us to TWO winning seasons and playoff appearances in 7 seasons as coach. For this franchise, that's a dynasty!

I'm pissed as hell that we lost, and Marvin may not be the greatest coach in the league, but I have no faith that Brown would be able to get someone as good as Marvin to replace him, so by all means we need to hang on to him.

Some other random thoughts.
1) Cedric was awesome today. He was a big reason we stayed in it.
2) Didn't even get a chance to be "Cardiac Cats" today. Graham made sure of that. That last drive is COMPLETELY different if the game is 24-20 instead of 24-14.
3) I don't think Carson's elbow is completely healthy. His accuracy got worse as the season dragged on. I think Marvin, Brat, and Carson knew is also. It will be interesting to see what happens next year.
4) I think Zimmer is gone. He spent two years here and his wife died. I think he wants to get the hell away from here and I don't think there's anything that Mike Brown can do about. I don't blame Zimmer either. If I were Brown, I'd offer Zimmer the moon, the Associate Head Coach position, the ability to hire his kids to come work for him, and whatever else is takes to get him to stay. I just think that Zimmer wants to go anywhere but here.
5) Need to spend #1 draft pick on a WR. With the loss of Henry, the passing game all but died. Caldwell is a decent possession guy, but Chad is getting older and he'll only be around another year or so. We need another Chris Henry, sans the drama.

I know this city is overwhelmingly negative about the Bengals right now, but I'm just not there. I'm proud of what the team accomplished, despite all they had to overcome.

1) Loss of the #1 pass rusher.
2) Loss of any decent TE on the roster.
3) Loss and death of only deep threat WR.
4) Death of Zimmer's wife.

Good season, Bengals. I'm not happy it's over, but I'm proud of the team.

WHO DEY

[Snipe]

I want Zimmer to be the head coach.

With Zimmer, I don't think we would lead the league in offensive line penalties.

That is all I want.

[Fireball]

I want Zimmer to be the head coach.

With Zimmer, I don't think we would lead the league in offensive line penalties.

That is all I want.

I don't think that the head coach has anything to do with that. IMHO, that's all the offensive line coach.

[Snipe]

To those of you who want to get rid of Marvin, WTF do you want?


I don't want the penalties. I am sick of them. We lead the NFL. Xavier High School Football can get the snap count right. Elder Football gets the snap count right. High Level high school football teams do a better job than we do day in and day out of snaping the freaking ball.

For the love of God, we can't get the ball off on a consistent basis. It drives me crazy.

[Snipe]

I don't think that the head coach has anything to do with that. IMHO, that's all the offensive line coach.

You LEAD THE NFL IN PENALTIES.

THE NFL LEADER!

You don't think the head coach has anything to do with that.

If I was the head coach, I will tell you that I would look into that yesterday.

[Fireball]

One more thought...

Everyone loves Zimmer and the defense, including me, but how can you give up 24 points to an offense led by a rookie QB on the road?

Bitch all you want about the offense, but they should have scored 20 points (if Graham hits two chip shots) against a defense that averaged about 11 points given up per game.

It wasn't our "O" that lost us the game today.

[Fireball]

You LEAD THE NFL IN PENALTIES.

THE NFL LEADER!

You don't think the head coach has anything to do with that.

If I was the head coach, I will tell you that I would look into that yesterday.

If I were the head coach, I'd be looking for a new OL coach.

OL coach deals with these players the most of anyone, so the OL coach needs to be in charge of fixing the OL penalties.

[XUOWNSUC]

It wasn't our "O" that lost us the game today.

Are you kidding me? The offense sucked. How many turnovers did they have? How many penalties did they have? How many of Palmer's passes were high? How many dropped passes did they have? How many "3 and outs" did they have that led to us punting deep in our own territory? The offense was terrible and was a huge part in the loss.

[Cincypunk.org]

One more thought...

Everyone loves Zimmer and the defense, including me, but how can you give up 24 points to an offense led by a rookie QB on the road?

Bitch all you want about the offense, but they should have scored 20 points (if Graham hits two chip shots) against a defense that averaged about 11 points given up per game.

It wasn't our "O" that lost us the game today.

When your offense can't stay on the field and the D is ravaged by injuries it kind of leadds you to that 24 points.

[X-band '01]

The schedule in 2010 will not be kind:

HOME
Baltimore
Cleveland
Pittsburgh
Buffalo
Miami
San Diego
New Orleans
Tampa Bay

AWAY
Baltimore
Cleveland
Pittsburgh
New England
NY Jets
Indianapolis
Atlanta
Carolina

But as for 2009, it was fun while it lasted.

[danaandvictory]

Is Carson Palmer even an average NFL quarterback at this stage? Is there any reason the Bengals shouldn't at least look for someone to compete for the position in the offseason?

[Fireball]

Are you kidding me? The offense sucked. How many turnovers did they have? How many penalties did they have? How many of Palmer's passes were high? How many dropped passes did they have? How many "3 and outs" did they have that led to us punting deep in our own territory? The offense was terrible and was a huge part in the loss.

...I repeat, against the #1 defense in the National Football League.

It's highly doubtful that you're going to look good against the #1 defense in the league, and yet the Bengals put up 14 points (and should have put up 20).

Again, our offense was not the reason we lost this game.

[Raoul Duke]

To those of you who want to get rid of Marvin, WTF do you want?



I want my challenge flags back.

http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/pub0009/UserImages/AI1314.jpg

[boozehound]

Is Carson Palmer even an average NFL quarterback at this stage? Is there any reason the Bengals shouldn't at least look for someone to compete for the position in the offseason?

No.

[xu drew]

marvin's not going anywhere next year, nor should he. the man might be announced soon as the NFL coach of the year. people that say he should be fired are off their rocker. if anything the team should sign him to an extension.

[drudy23]

Shane Graham. Missed extra point against Denver, missed easy FG against Steelers in 06 (cost them the playoffs) missed 2 fg's today, pretty much cost them the game. How is that guy still employed. He should be cut tonight out of principle.

He should have been cut half-way through the year.

[chico]

That was a miserable end to a year that exceeded everyone's expectations. Everyone on the offensive side of the ball - except Benson - laid an egg. Palmer couldn't throw with any accuracy and when he did the receivers couldn't hold on. I hope that Palmer's hurt because if he was 100% yesterday we may need a new guy under center. Really, I don't think he's been the same since the knee injury, and the arm troubles have only added to his decline.

The defense played a good game but the big plays killed us. The overpursuit on two of the big plays really hurt.

Shayne Graham should be cut - the guy has never made an important kick in his career. The game is on the line he chokes worse than Mama Cass.

I've never been a big Bratkowski fan - the play calling is unimaginative as predictable. He needs to go. That said, since there's no deep threat and the tight ends are awful there's not a lot you can do. Draft a deep threat or get the TE from Miami with the first pick. This team has drafted defense primarily the past several 4-5 years and it's paid off - now they need to focus on the offense.

[Snipe]

I want my challenge flags back.

http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/pub0009/UserImages/AI1314.jpg

And my timeouts. That man is a moron when you look at his challenges and time managment.

I want my challenge flags back too. They had adequate time to look at the video. It was clear they were wrong. Idiot.

[Snipe]

He should have been cut half-way through the year.

He is dead to me.

[Snipe]

The defense played a good game but the big plays killed us. The overpursuit on two of the big plays really hurt.

Shayne Graham should be cut - the guy has never made an important kick in his career. The game is on the line he chokes worse than Mama Cass.

I've never been a big Bratkowski fan - the play calling is unimaginative as predictable. He needs to go. That said, since there's no deep threat and the tight ends are awful there's not a lot you can do. Draft a deep threat or get the TE from Miami with the first pick. This team has drafted defense primarily the past several 4-5 years and it's paid off - now they need to focus on the offense.

Amen Amen AMEN!!!

Don't cut Graham though, I want a public sacrifice with some blood letting and severed heads tumbling down the ancient steps Aztec style. Lets let this guy go with class. And play soccer with his severed head. F him and the horse he rode in on. We needed those kicks. Let his death be a lesson to the next kicker.

As for Bratkowski, my soiled underpants have more imagination, even the ones with skidmarks. Let the heads rolls one by one. I want to see him on the chopping block too.

And kill the O-line coach. But before you chop his head off, throw a flag and make him move back five yards. High School teams do better than we do. Kerry F-ing Combs could do better than we do.

And Marvin Lewis is an idiot. He really is. This was a great year for him and the Bengals and I enjoyed it. I hope that he does well next year for all of us. But if Zimmer was given an offer I would rather fire Lewis and hire Zimmer than let Zimmer go. We can't afford to let him go. Lewis would be easy to replace.

I am mad as hell, and I am not going to take it anymore.

OFF WITH HIS HEAD!

[SlimKibbles]

I'd also cut Jerome Simpson and hire 10 more scouts.

C'mon, man. We all know that the Bengals have needed scouts for many years but they cost money. Mikey Boy won't spend money on scouts when he thinks he can do the job himself or just send his coaches to the Senior Bowl. And, yes, drafting Jerome Simpson over DeSean Jackson ranks right up there with the far too many draft blunders that this team has pulled off. But, that's what you get when you really don't scout college players until the senior all-star games and draft combines.

[xsteve1]

Mike Zimmer coming back as Defensive Coordinator. Awesome news for Bengal fans.

[boozehound]

This is big news. We can build on this year's solid defense and have an even better one next year.

Next up: Who will play QB? Who will kick?

[XUOWNSUC]

C'mon, man. We all know that the Bengals have needed scouts for many years but they cost money. Mikey Boy won't spend money on scouts when he thinks he can do the job himself or just send his coaches to the Senior Bowl. And, yes, drafting Jerome Simpson over DeSean Jackson ranks right up there with the far too many draft blunders that this team has pulled off. But, that's what you get when you really don't scout college players until the senior all-star games and draft combines.

Mike Brown needs to look at the Ravens' scouting department. The Ravens have one of the best scouting departments/front offices in the NFL. The Ravens have a bunch of scouts in their 20's and 30's who work a TON and get paid very little to do what they do. These scouts work so hard for so little because they hope that someday they will get noticed and "move up the ladder". Think about it - how many people in their 20s or 30s would jump at the chance to work for an NFL team? I know I would - and I wouldn't care how much I got paid. It wouldn't be expensive at all for the Brown family. I don't know why they don't do this.

[Masterofreality]

Way to go all out to play one extra week. Lose 3 of your last 4 with a scintillating win over the KC Chefs.

Disclaimer: This comes from a Cleveland Browns fan who's team did not make the playoffs. :rolleyes:

[Kahns Krazy]

This is big news. We can build on this year's solid defense and have an even better one next year.

Next up: Who will play QB? Who will kick?

I think that's a bit premature. After the departure of Brad St. Louis, Graham was 19 for 21 during the season, and one of those misses would have been the longest successful field goal in Heinz field history had he made it. The miss at Oakland and the misses in the Jets game are of some concern but not enough to cut him, unless he's looking to stay at his current salary.

[Kahns Krazy]

Mike Brown needs to look at the Ravens' scouting department. The Ravens have one of the best scouting departments/front offices in the NFL. The Ravens have a bunch of scouts in their 20's and 30's who work a TON and get paid very little to do what they do. These scouts work so hard for so little because they hope that someday they will get noticed and "move up the ladder". Think about it - how many people in their 20s or 30s would jump at the chance to work for an NFL team? I know I would - and I wouldn't care how much I got paid. It wouldn't be expensive at all for the Brown family. I don't know why they don't do this.

I think it's because Mike doesn't have a bunch of 20-30 year old relatives.

[Snipe]

Mike Zimmer coming back as Defensive Coordinator. Awesome news for Bengal fans.

Thank the Good Lord for Mike Zimmer. I want him to be head coach.

[XUOWNSUC]

Thank the Good Lord for Mike Zimmer. I want him to be head coach.

I agree. Pretty sweet that it's for three years too. That way, when Lewis gets fired next year, Zimmer will be the HC.