Bengals debut comical team slogan for 2017 season

Adopting a new team slogan has become an annual rite of passage for the Cincinnati Bengals under Marvin Lewis.

This year, the Bengals will be featuring a theme that seems to jive with self motivation and/or being able to rely on one’s own ability to get their respective job done. That slogan is “Run On Your Own Gas,” which has been seen on clothing worn by players, as well as signs throughout team facilities.

Veteran linebacker Vinny Rey explained its meaning last month during minicamp, according to My Dayton Daily News.

“This is a team game. I think the greatest team game,” Rey said. “However, the team is made of individuals who have to give their all and do their jobs every snap. You can’t do somebody else’s job and not do your own. The best thing you can do is do your job to the best of your ability.

“So you have to run on your own gas. You’ve got to fuel your own self. You can’t depend on coach Lewis or coach (Jim) Haslett fueling you up, getting you ready to play. You’ve got to do it on your own. Be a man. Be a professional.”

This comes after “Pound The Rock” was adopted last year in hopes of reviving a running game that took a step back in 2015. These slogans tend to stress something the Bengals are hoping to focus on during the upcoming season, though the results can be mixed in terms of success.

The Bengals ranked 23rd in yards per carry (3.9 ypc) during the 2015 season, the same ranking they would finish with in 2016 (4.0 ypc).

Perhaps the Bengals now think they need to be better about having enough gas to finish close games in 2017. They had become accustomed to coming out on top more often than not in close games after losing in those types of situations more often than not in 2016.

In the 10 games that ended in a loss or tie for the Bengals, nine of those saw Cincinnati trailing by just one score at some point in the fourth quarter. Five of them saw the Bengals lead in the in the final quarter, and eight of them saw Cincinnati have the ball in the final five minutes with a chance to tie or take the lead. Having enough gas to finish those close games would make sense if that’s the meaning behind their new slogan.

While the slogan does have good intentions, it’s getting crushed on Twitter, to no surprise:

I’m sure you will add plenty of gems in the comments section...