+ More of the same. Michael Abromowitz, president of the TheFootballExpert.com, suggests that Roger Goodell should be tough on owners, saying that if "they don’t put competitive teams on the field, they will be forced to sell." Sounds great. Except that Goodell essentially works for the owners, and that forcing an owner to sell based on a faulty product, could be grounds for a lawsuit. It's Mike Brown, he'll sue. And based on the fact that Brown hasn't done anything illegal in the eyes of legal business practices, one would have to assume that Brown would win easily. If Goodell owned the league, it would be different. Since he doesn't, and since teams are franchised, he could little, if anything other than "suggesting" a change with the team's front office practices with virtually no meat and potatoes behind it.
In truth, Abromowitz's main point, before suggesting he own the team, is a solid/justified/preached/motivated one. This team needs to sell, which would invite an owner to upgrade the front office staff and the personal department. Brown is ignorantly lost in his ways, and we have a bad feeling he's invoking "his way" on his children, the heir to the team's fortunes.
Another wrinkle; if the team sells it must sell to a Cincinnati based personality or investment group (as Abromowitz suggests); like the Reds did with Bob Castellini. Worst case scenario could be that some potential buyer from California puts out a powerful bid, buys the team then moves it to Los Angeles, or another bigger market. We've seen the stands during these losing seasons; so have potential buyers. Think they want to run the risk of having empty seats when other markets have several times the people to buy tickets and concessions with bigger exclusive contracts? And don't think that Cincinnati would get another NFL team; not in this economy and Cincinnati's overall fall from the nation's strongest cities.
+ We're all about records. It was confirmed that the Bengals lost back-to-back games by 30 points or more for the first time in franchise history, but:
narrowly escaped setting the franchise record for the most lopsided loss, which is 37 points. Chicago defeated the Bengals 44-7 in 1986, and the Bengals lost at Baltimore to the Ravens 37-0 in Week 3 of the 2000 season.
Return of the Bungles.
Geoff Hobson introduces us to offensive lineman Andrew Crummy.
While ranking the Bengals 31st, Pete Prisco says of the Bengals in his weekly power rankings: "They've packed it in for the season. When you watch them, they just don't have any life. The offense is a disaster."
If it boils down to T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Stacy Andrews, the choice is easy. Housh!
Rashad Jeanty won the Ed Block Courage Award -- "The award honors NFL players who demonstrate commitment to the values of sportsmanship and courage."
Dave's awards are simply classic!
Chris Perry was drafted in the first round of the 2004 NFL draft -- not the 2005 draft.
The NFL is cutting 150 jobs; roughly 14% of their work force. None of whom are the players, who absorb 69% of the league's $6.5 billion of revenue.
The NFL and the NFLPA will "pay a combined $100 per month toward the Medicare costs of retired players under a new plan announced Tuesday."
Clinton Portis and Redskins head coach Jim Zorn are talking about each other through the media.
Redskins lost their Pro Bowl left tackle, Chris Samuals.
I'm actually looking forward to the Ravens / Steelers game this weekend.