Willie Anderson Uses Twitter To Go Off About The Bengals

by Josh Kirkendall on Dec 3, 2010 4:28 PM EST in Analysis

On Thursday night, former Bengals offensive linemen -- and my personal favorite player since Anthony Munoz (I'm a lineman guy) -- went off on Twitter, talking about the Cincinnati Bengals because of a show on ESPN called Audibles. There's really no commentary needed by us. Just sit back, have a popcorn and enjoy the show.

I'm watching this ESPN show called Audibles. Steve Young says Bengals haven't had a strong lockerroom since Munozless than a minute ago via txtWillie Anderson
WillAnderson79

Man that pisses me off! Not at Steve but at people who wouldn't let the leaders on a lot of Bengals teams lead!less than a minute ago via txtWillie Anderson
WillAnderson79

If you're in power Coaches, owners GMs etc you have to have a structure where your players that care can lead team!less than a minute ago via txtWillie Anderson
WillAnderson79

A lot of time leaders on those teams were told to stand down and down get on certain players becuz it would mess up Chemistry!less than a minute ago via txtWillie Anderson
WillAnderson79

And in reality they only allowed those teams to be DESTROYED!less than a minute ago via txtWillie Anderson
WillAnderson79

That's why you have what you have! Year in and Year out! Nooone will publicly say anything. Give fans same ole lies!less than a minute ago via txtWillie Anderson
WillAnderson79

I'm mad becuz that hurt a lot of our careers. THe perception that all players there linked and grouped together!less than a minute ago via txtWillie Anderson
WillAnderson79

I feel sorry for Fans becuz yall believe anything you are told! Nexy year yall will really think its gon be better!less than a minute ago via txtWillie Anderson
WillAnderson79

I don't blame any players. Players do what you are allowed to do.less than a minute ago via txtWillie Anderson
WillAnderson79

I just really wish I came up in a Winning Culture. Wish the young guys there now didn't have to experience this stuff!less than a minute ago via txtWillie Anderson
WillAnderson79

Because it only gets worse! When will we wake up people! Some of yall really think getting a new coach, draft pick will help! Smdhless than a minute ago via txtWillie Anderson
WillAnderson79

Yes Willie went off! I look at the legacy we left and its crazy! Thank God I got to experience 2008!less than a minute ago via txtWillie Anderson
WillAnderson79

Guys on this team play hard! I saw it myself!less than a minute ago via txtWillie Anderson
WillAnderson79

I played with these guys. These players wanna win and be successfull. In 1 sense I can respect fans for pulling for playersless than a minute ago via txtWillie Anderson
WillAnderson79

All this becuz I heard something on ESPN that we've never had leaders! Sorry yall! I'll get phone calls now!less than a minute ago via txtWillie Anderson
WillAnderson79

Willie Anderson, people. One of my all-time favorite players. Joe Reedy follows up Anderson's Twitter rant to get more clarity.

“You have to have players in the right system and philosophy. I could never tell the Bengals how to run a business but from a player’s perspective it’s confusing,” Anderson said. “I know when former players speak out it always sounds like we’re bashing. I’m not trying to bash. If you ever ask me for a suggestion here is what it is.

“I know how hard those guys work. They’re attentive and ask questions, it has to be something else. Whatever you have there, you need to give (the players) a chance to have a system and let it work for a couple years.”

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Poor Willie

What he is saying is all true and most people can see that. Nothing will change until the culture changes, and that starts at the top.

Wonder what John Thornton has to say about playing for the Bengals after playing for the Titans organization.

by cilii_blog on Dec 3, 2010 4:44 PM EST reply actions

Well....

I look at this as a good thing for the Bengals, long-term. I think that this season, coupled with the comments of Willie, TJ and the fans discontent will start to spur some change. Willie said that he thinks things will get better when Katie and Troy run the show. I don’t know how MUCH better it will get, but it obviously couldn’t get any worse. I think the power is starting to swing a little towards Katie, actually. You all may find this to be a weird example, but recently there was an NFL “Play 60” commercial with Robert Kraft (Pats owner), some other players and then a group of Bengals including Dhani Jones, Chinedum Ndukwe (weird) and Keith Rivers. With them and through much of the commercial was Katie Blackburn (Brown), which I though was VERY strange. It may be a reach of an example, but how many times have you seen Bengals higher-ups in any commercials? For how crappy this season has gone, I’m hoping that it will bring about a long-term positive change. It’ll have to start with Katie and her having more say.

by Anthony Cosenza on Dec 3, 2010 5:06 PM EST up reply actions

Katie I believe may have too much influence from her dad.

As seen on Hard Knocks she has a tendency to be a cheap as possible when dealing with players. I think its to the point she wouldn’t think twice about watching pro bowlers walk out the door to play for other teams. However I do think she will bring in a General Manager I’m just not sure she will spend on more scouts, better practice facilities, medical staff etc… She has learned to balance the budget the way daddy has and we all know that’s not a good thing. Hopefully I’m wrong and she sincerely wants to modernize the way the team is run and ultimately that gives us the sustained success we pray for.

by JamesShively on Dec 3, 2010 5:18 PM EST up reply actions

agree and disagree

I agree that because she was spawned from Mike Brown, she could be cheap, etc. BUT, you’re kind of getting into “the chicken or the egg” argument. What I mean is, was she being cheap with Andre because that’s how she is, or because Daddy Mike told her to be that way. Also in Hard Knocks, Marvin was talking with Andre Smith’s agent, Alvin Keels, and said “I know Mike and have been around him for 7 years, he’s not going to change or budge on this”. There was also a story leaked a couple of years ago that Katie and Troy were pushing for a GM going to the 2008 or 2009 seasons. I really think it’s Mike and not Katie that is the root of all problems.

by Anthony Cosenza on Dec 3, 2010 5:39 PM EST up reply actions

I guess we're both kind of guessing.

Only way we will know is for her to take over:)

by JamesShively on Dec 3, 2010 8:43 PM EST up reply actions

hard to say them being cheap

in regards to Andre wasn’t the right thing to do.

(raises another question whether Andre was worth the gamble).

I do agree its hard to gauge whether Katie will be mike brown mkII. Personally i think being slightly removed from Paul Brown legacy and being able to see how running a good team isnt done that she’ll be more successful than her father. She may not be a world beater but i do think the organisation will be more professional and systematic with her at the helm.

by Sheffieldbengal on Dec 4, 2010 11:53 AM EST up reply actions

oh and just remembered

Katie Blackburn once recommended to her father to hire Bill Bilichick as a head coach…. so she seems to have a good eye for coaches

by Sheffieldbengal on Dec 4, 2010 11:54 AM EST up reply actions

League wide perception of the Bengals flat out has never been good.

The players all think playing in Cincinnati is kind of a taboo thing some have to do. Marvin Lewis and Mike Zimmer managed to change that for a while but we’re back to it now. Jeff Reed is a perfect example of that. He said “talk to the hand” to us and then signed with another losing ball team for league minimum.

by JamesShively on Dec 3, 2010 4:49 PM EST reply actions

But did we really want Jeff Reed

Seems he was a distraction on the Steelers… getting in trouble a lot etc.

That being said, I am not disagreeing with your comment on the league wide perception of the Bengals.

by Oregonbengalsfan on Dec 3, 2010 6:11 PM EST up reply actions

Culture of Losing

Anderson nailed on the head. Since the MB takeover, the Bengals have never constructed a culture of winning. Lewis has tried to establish some continuity on the team, give it an “identity” and build around leaders, but it’s clear that it only goes so far.

The sad reality is that many players see the Bengals as a way station on the way to another team that may give them a chance to win a championship.

by goffchile on Dec 3, 2010 5:00 PM EST reply actions

Sadly, yes...

many players see the Bengals as a way station on the way to another team that may give them a chance to win a championship.

See: Dillon, Corey.

See: Anderson, Ken

See: LeBeau, Dick

See: von Oehlhoffen, Kimo

by TheWalrus1971 on Dec 3, 2010 5:48 PM EST up reply actions

What's ironic is if Kimo had actually stayed, he would've had a legitimate shot at winning one here.

Instead, he had to destroy our chances with Palmer’s knee. What a dick!

Joe Reedy: "Supposedly Marvin could not find his flag to challenge the call. I am not kidding. #bengals"

by Doc Scratch on Dec 3, 2010 6:50 PM EST up reply actions

miss big willie

two thoughts come to mind whever big willie shows up:

1) why didn’t the bengals resign him if even for a day to allow him to retire a bengal.

2) why isn’t willie currently on the bengals payroll in some capacity?

" I for one, welcome our new Buffalo overlords. " - Whokebe

by palewook on Dec 3, 2010 5:05 PM EST reply actions

+1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

MIKE BROWN STEP DOWN!!!

by D-Day77 on Dec 3, 2010 7:56 PM EST up reply actions

thats a lot a 0's..

by 80%OFTHETIMEIMRIGHTEVERYTIME on Dec 4, 2010 9:49 AM EST up reply actions

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

by ddbumpus on Dec 4, 2010 5:57 PM EST up reply actions

I could do morem 0's but

I don’t have the time..

by WHYUS!! on Dec 4, 2010 9:29 PM EST up reply actions

Former Bengals commenting publicly

So, every once in a while, you hear Collinsworth say something…or Esiason…or Muñoz…and now Big Willie.

How would it be possible to get ALL of them into a room on TV or even radio (webcast on CincyJungle, anybody???) and let ’em just start slugging away? Once they all started feeding off each other…man, we might find out some stuff that we would have otherwise NEVER known.

The split-up of the legacy healthcare giant, Humana, started when Sam Donaldson trudged up the steps of their corporate headquarters and David Jones wasn’t adequately equipped to handle the situation. What would happen if ALL of those guys walked into Bengals Corporate and said, “Enough is enough!” on national (make that worldwide) television?

Feh…just a daydream…sorry.

by TheWalrus1971 on Dec 3, 2010 5:56 PM EST reply actions

Yup

Boomer:

Mike Brown is a nice man who is simply over his head running the team

by JamesShively on Dec 3, 2010 6:05 PM EST up reply actions

And John Thorton

by Oregonbengalsfan on Dec 3, 2010 6:13 PM EST up reply actions

I loved Willie before these comments.

I love him even more now. He wasn’t being a douche at all: he was just talking about how this team is run and how it should be fixed. He clearly understands the problems better than anyone.

"I bet that sex Bengals fan is really pissed now." -DT3428

by sexsalad on Dec 3, 2010 6:36 PM EST reply actions

Really?

I mean, I thought the lack of system was quite obvious when one considers the success of the Steelers and Patriots and then compares it to the success of the Browns, the Bengals, the Lions, etc. Good teams have systems and only take guys that fit that system. Teams like the Bengals and the Lions take the flashiest or most high-profile player or the best player in a position of most need, regardless of whether or not they would work in their system.

I mean, I’m not discrediting him, us discussing things like this does nothing whereas him going on a long twitter rampage was something of sheer beauty. That was needed. Maybe this will wake Mike Brown up.

Joe Reedy: "Supposedly Marvin could not find his flag to challenge the call. I am not kidding. #bengals"

by Doc Scratch on Dec 3, 2010 6:54 PM EST up reply actions

He wasn't talking as much about the system as he was talking about how the coaches discourage leadership.

Did you even read what he wrote?

"I bet that sex Bengals fan is really pissed now." -DT3428

by sexsalad on Dec 3, 2010 11:58 PM EST up reply actions

What were the coaches going to do if you tried to lead Willie? Cut you off from the buffet?

Lots of legit points here, but I don’t get that “coaches didn’t let us lead”. Getting told to stand down by a coach? Leaders stand up to the coach in that situation, make their point be known. They’re not dictators. If it was so bad in Cincy why would anybody care if they got released for standing up to a coach?

How will Chris Carpenter explain this to his children?

by Grizzlyfox on Dec 3, 2010 7:51 PM EST reply actions

>They're not dictators.

Clearly you haven’t heard of Brad Childress.

Joe Reedy: "Supposedly Marvin could not find his flag to challenge the call. I am not kidding. #bengals"

by Doc Scratch on Dec 3, 2010 10:59 PM EST up reply actions

GO WILLIE!!!

Willie should be a coach for the bengals

by JungleFever on Dec 3, 2010 7:56 PM EST reply actions

If Paul Alexander gets canned, I wouldn't complain if Willie Anderson became the new OLine coach.

Joe Reedy: "Supposedly Marvin could not find his flag to challenge the call. I am not kidding. #bengals"

by Doc Scratch on Dec 3, 2010 11:00 PM EST up reply actions

He is wrong though that "Bengals fans believe whatever they are told."

That ship sailed long ago. We don’t remain fans because we believe Mike Brown. We remain loyal to the team, not the owner.

by BonnieBengal on Dec 5, 2010 7:07 AM EST up reply actions

Carson Palmer

Anybody who thinks the Bengals should replace Palmer is crazy. Palmer is a great QB. Who would be better to replace Palmer with? So he’s thrown some interceptions, who dosent? It also helps if the receivers could catch the ball which they havent been very good at.

by JungleFever on Dec 3, 2010 8:08 PM EST reply actions