Eleven Warriors

damn, he is fast

Yes and No. I understand the Browns are terrible, but A. Pittsburgh isn't in Ohio, and B. Bengals have bad fans, to the point where unless they're playing well, their games get blacked out. So if TV is about demand, give it to the best fanbase.

Sign him up

Bengals dont have bad fans.. We have bad ownership

@BENGAL & TENN - My sentiments exactly.  I've never seen a fanbase so Hell-bent on sticking it to their owner as the majority of Bengals fans are.  Can't blame them one bit, but it at least seems like he's starting to turn the corner with the past couple of drafts.

When I lived in Columbus, it seemed like the Browns got priority when they were "rebooted"; during all the time while both the Browns and the Bengals sucked.  I think that the 8-8 '04 season started changing things, though.  Even if they weren't overwhelmingly good, the Johnson-Palmer connection proved to be entertaining at the very least, and they parlayed that into a 13-3 season.  I saw a lot of bandwagoners during those few years.  Since Columbus is about 65-35 Browns, a good, exciting Bengals team got the nod over a bad Browns squad.  I think that the Bengals (very modest) recent momentum has lent them their support in Columbus' airwaves, especially with some bandwagoners--even if the Bengal faithful remain steadfast in their disapproval of Brown's leadership (as I previously mentioned, I think he's getting better).  I just recently moved to Beavercreek (Dayton suburb), and just as I remembered, it's all Cincy here.

@BENGALERNST - The misconception people have is due to the fact that the Bengals have a lot of bandwagon fans. I think a lot of those guys lost interest after the 8-8 '06 season, and then kind of rekindled that flame in '09 and last year.  Their interest continues to be rejuvenated, whilst the true Bengal faithful have carried the flag through the darkest days.  

For what it's worth, a big reason that the Browns fanbase is seen as so loyal is due, in part, to their lack of success.  With one playoff appearance and a lack of overall identity for the team, everyone who roots for Cleveland is a hardcore fan--the same way a lot of us in Cincinnati and Dayton are--they haven't accumulated bandwagoners in quite some time.  Once Cleveland gets good again (brighter days are coming, in my opinion), you'll see more Browns fans come out of the so-called "woodwork."

Take it from a Lions fan... if there is a lot of dissapointment that can happen...

@EL DUDERINO (I'm not into the whole brevity thing) - It's largely due to the fanbase's scorn for Mike Brown.  For years he fielded a team without a single thought to its competitiveness, and fans simply got sick of it.  I'd say that their attendence last season spoke volumes to what the fans truly want, and it seems like we actually had a good offseason (good aquisitions, drafting for needs not talent, etc.) perhaps partially as a result of it?  Brown has long been the worst owner in the NFL, but his last two drafts have been money; I'll grant him that.

I don't get how anyone can see Bengals fans aren't fairweather with all the blackouts before they got better. The Browns have been awful since 99 and I can't remember a time where they couldn't fill the house. The atmosphere at the stadium is insane, win or lose.

FWIW,as a bengals fan ive accepted that mike brown has never made a good decision.  the recent amazing drafts and smart roster moves (getting rid of carson for 2 good picks, letting ochocinco go, etc) are signs that his daughter clearly is taking over the reigns and is a sign of more good to come, hopefully (said with the utmost optomism but understanding that ohio pro sports teams are pitiful)

I wouldn't get too excited if I was a Bengals fan. But if you must, I would proceed with a certain level of cautious optimism. My guess though is that you're just bound to be end up disappointed. 

Bengals fans just want Mike Brown gone. He tends to do just enough at the right time to avoid a complete fan meltdown.  But the Bengals didnt get voted the worst franchise for fans, for no reason (some article released sometime last year I believe). The fan appreciation for season ticket holders last year was....a free box of stale popcorn? The team has only had 3 winning seasons in the 21 years Mike Brown has been Owner (and lost in  the first round all 3 times). Bengals fans are fans in the fact that they want the team to do well, but theres acknowledgement that won't happen until the guy is gone. One of the few ways to open Mike Brown's eyes is through money, and the fans tried to send the message by not buying seats. 

I love how a thread about a future OSU recruit turned into a discussion about the Bengals and Browns...lol

I agree Hodge :)

Buck I8 - Mike Brown is the owner of the Bengals not the coach.

And I can't believe you didn't like Romeo Crennel.

You and me both. 

@BUCK-I.8 - As Jules Winnfield so eloquently put it, "This is simply where you and I differ."  I guess in my opinion, Bengal season-ticket-holders choosing to protest the team's front office by sending the only message that said parties will understand (intheir pocketbooks) is not fair-weather fandom.  I was in Cincy on business late last year, and I remember talking to a season ticket holder who was only the slightest bit interested in attending the season finale against Baltimore because of the ridiculous incentives Brown provided to spur sales.  Such is the disdain for Brown in Cincinnati.  It's not that they don't care, it's that they know there's no way to change the status quo without action: it seems like it's working, at least we're taking baby steps.

Cincy fans know all too well what Tenn was alluding to.  It's going to take time to get a lot of the true fans to come around (i.e. financially support Brown with ticket sales); this past season serves as a strong reminder of that.  If we continue on in this direction, the fans will have something to support--I, for one, can't blame them for their previous apathy.

I guess I consider a "fair-weather" city to be like Jacksonville.  Granted, I don't know enough about them to be completely accurate, but it seems like that city is completely apathetic if their team's not in contention.  For what it's worth, I think Bengals fans would sell out Paul Brown for 5+ years of losing teams, provided we had a different owner.

As a Browns fan, I am ashamed at the way Art Modell ran Paul Brown out of Cleveland. However, it was sort of a blessing; Browns fans don't have to deal with Mike Brown. Randy Lerner is not the best owner, but he has admitted to being in over his head and went out to get Mike Holmgren to run the team.