I am absolutely sick to even be typing this article up right now. I don’t even know where to begin. I can’t quite tell if I’m more upset, frustrated, or confused with my hometown team, the Cincinnati Bengals. Since the start, this franchise has not done a single thing for me, besides put me through, what I would consider hell the last 21 years of my life. I have been so close to just throwing in the towel with this franchise, scrapping it and moving on to a team that I can at least be proud of. But, when you’re from Cincinnati, you refuse to turn your back on your hometown team. Whether it be the Cincinnati Reds, Bengals, FCC, or our beloved minor league hockey team, the Cincinnati Cyclones. There is too much pride in this city to just turn away. That’s why we stay and get our hearts broken over and over.
These feeling towards the Bengals began to fade over the past year or so. Bringing in Zac Taylor, who I think is the right fit for now was the start. As much as I supported Andy Dalton, it was a breath of fresh air sending him away. There were plenty to point fingers at, but we never were, and were never going to be contenders with Dalton at QB and Zac Taylor knew that.
Come April, we finally get OUR guy. Joey Burrow, National Champ and Heisman winner, something to actually get excited about in Cincinnati for the first time in a long time. Hate to be cliche here, but Joe is our savior. This 23 year old kid from Athens won Cincinnati over the first day he arrived. This team, this city, and in some cases, this League rallied around Burrow to succeed from the jump.
He did just that. In a class of elite quarterbacks, he was the one at the top of the list. He makes throws rookie quarterbacks don’t usually make or attempt. He controls an offense like he’s been there for years. He is THE GUY, and when you have a talent like Joe, you do whatever it takes, spend whatever you need to, in order to keep him safe and on the field. You don’t throw Michael Jordan out there as the only thing standing between Chase Young and our whole franchise.
Cincinnati’s front office has done absolutely nothing to protect OUR guy and it was just a matter of time before this was going to happen. They knew it, we knew it, hell, by the looks of Joe Burrow’s tweet after the game, he even knew it was coming. As bad as it sounds, we were all just waiting on it all season. I’m honestly grateful that I was even able to watch him play through the first 11 weeks. He made it about 10 weeks longer that I thought he would.
And now, I almost feel worse for Ryan Finley. At least Joe knew how to get rid of it quick, scramble, and take a hit (bite my tongue). Finley with little experience is going to be a circus act the remainder of the year with this O-line.
If you watched the end of the Bengals game, that energy is a representation of the whole city of Cincinnati right now. Deflated. Defeated. Lost. That is what happens when your refuse to protect your most prized possession. After losing Joe, it is pretty clear what the Bengals are going to do the rest of the season, but knowing this franchise, and the city of Cincinnati, I wouldn’t be surprised if Finley won out and we settled for the 18th pick.
Prayers and props to Joey B on an outstanding rookie season, racking in 2,485 passing yard, 12 Touchdowns, and 5 INT’s. Everything has improved besides the same O-line I’ve been watching for 20+ years. Hopefully in April we are hunting another first overall pick, if the Bengals can tank correctly.
Beyond The Banks 