Here is my attempt at the typical monthly calendar of a die-hard Bengals’ fan.
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1990’s~2000’s
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JAN – Watch other teams in the playoffs
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FEB – Watch other teams in the Super Bowl
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MAR – Look forward to the draft with optimist that “this year” they will figure it out
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APR – Cringe with every draft selection. Find yourself agreeing with the draftniks as they tear apart the Bengals’ draft, as you realize yet again that the Bengals just don’t have a clue what they are doing.
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MAY – Still sick from the draft, watch a couple Reds’ games, trying to put football out of mind. Think to yourself, “Reds’ look good this year. Maybe the Bengals can do that in the fall?”
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JUN – Spend the month trying to rationalize the Bengals’ draft choices hoping that perhaps they know something the rest of the NFL doesn’t know (besides how to lose consistently).
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JUL – Sell yourself on the excuses you made in June trying to find a way to convince yourself that the draft picks weren’t as terrible as they seem.
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AUG – Go to Wilmington/G-town with optimism hoping this is the year, the year they can hit 0.500 or better. Feel good, since they look good playing against themselves in preseason scrimmages.
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SEP – Season begins. Lots of optimism. This is the year we make the playoffs!!! OK, slow start, but we’ve got a lot of football still to play.
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OCT – Ok, we aren’t 8-0, but hey, we’ve won a couple games. We’re just getting warmed up for our 2nd half of the season surge. All isn’t lost.
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NOV – Hmmm... season isn’t exactly going as I’d hoped. At least not every loss was a blowout.
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DEC – Well, we avoided going 0-16, and as least we’ll have a great draft spot in the draft next year. We can’t screw that up, again.
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Last half decade to present
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JAN – Occasionally watch the Bengals in the playoffs – huh, I like this whole “Bengals in the playoffs” thing!
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FEB – Watch other teams in the Super Bowl
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MAR – Look forward to the draft with optimist, hoping to build on a good draft last year
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APR – Draft didn’t go exactly as I was mocking, but all the picks seem pretty good. Bengals get an A or B from every draftnik. Smile that Mike Brown gives Marvin Lewis some input in the draft.
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MAY – Full of optimism. Watch a couple Reds’ games and wonder, “Reds look bad this year. I thought this Griffey guy was supposed to make them better?”
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JUN – Full of optimism. Watch a couple more Reds’ games and wonder, “Sure seems like the Reds could use a starting pitcher, or five.”
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JUL – Hoping the draft picks get signed. Looking forward to camp.
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AUG – Go to G-town with optimism hoping this is the year, the year they can make another playoff run. Rookies look good. Not a ton of injuries.
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SEP – Season begins. Lots of optimism. This is the year we make the playoffs!!! Team playing well.
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OCT – Cool, good start. Hoping they keep it up.
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NOV – Team is still playing well. I’m liking this. We’re in contention.
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DEC – Another fade at the end, but we might get in the playoffs.