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Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2008 > September > 30 > Entry
Bengals: ‘Redeemers R Us’
HEY, CED, WELCOME
TO THE ‘NATI, HOME
OF ‘BENGALIZATION,’
WHERE PLAYERS MUST
EARN THEIR STRIPES
BENSON WENT LOOKING
FOR A 2ND CHANCE; HE
CAME TO THE RIGHT PLACE
===LUDWIG AT LARGE would like to ask loyal readers: Do you believe the Cincinnati Bengals are doing everything in their power to win? Has management hired the right coaches, scouts and players? Fans have certainly shown good faith by selling out Paul Brown Stadium. Has the club shown good faith in return? Just curious.===
Seriously, folks, I thought the Cincinnati Bengals signing of running back Cedric Benson was a joke.
A gag.
A fun & simple prank to break the monotony of an “off” day.
That’s what Tuesdays are supposed to be — off.
Heck, Mitch Albom wrote a book — Tuesdays with Morrie — because he had Tuesdays off.
But things are different on the Cincinnati Bengals beat.
There are no days off.
Why?
Because every day is Armageddon.
So when Bengals PR director Jack Brennan called to alert me that the news release was on its way, I had to be sure he was serious. I had to be sure it was no joke.
I discovered …
He was serious and it wasn’t a joke
Yes, it is real. Benson is the newest Bengal.
A star with the Texas Longhorns, a bust with the Chicago Bears.
And two alcohol-related arrests — one in May, the other in June — led to his dismissal on Monday, June 9, 2008.
Here’s what Bears GM Jerry Angelo told the Chicago media after dropping the guillotine nearly four months ago:
“Cedric displayed a pattern of behavior we will not tolerate. You have to protect your job. Everyone in this organization is held accountable for their actions. When individual priorities overshadow team goals, we suffer the consequences as a team. Those who fail to understand the importance of ‘team’ will not play for the Chicago Bears.”
But they will play for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Odell Thurman. Chris Henry. Jason Shirley. Reagan Maui’a. Cedric Benson.
Yes, they will play for the Cincinnati Bengals.
In case you missed it, from Dec. 15, 2005, to June 18, 2007 — a span of 19 months — 10 Bengals players were arrested in a total of 15 incidents.
Please allow me to reprise this quote from Bengals president Mike Brown at the club’s annual pre-training camp luncheon on July 22, 2008, in the East Club Lounge at Paul Brown Stadium.
Brown was asked about “turning the corner” on the club’s character issue. THIS WAS AFTER THURMAN AND HENRY WERE RELEASED. HENRY WAS RE-SIGNED ON AUG. 19, 2008.
IN MIKE BROWN’S WORDS:
“The world is divided up between redeemers and non-redeemers. I happen to be a redeemer. I believe people can be made better and right. If that’s a fault, so be it. These guys misstep. They’ve paid prices for it that have been verging on ruinous. But that doesn’t mean I dislike them. Personally, I like them as people. I regret what’s happened to them, and I regret that they’re no longer here. Things just conspired to undo them.
“We don’t want that kind of behavior. We’ve tried to be more conscious of the guys we bring in than maybe we were before. We’re going forward and will try to go forward with the kind of guys we can count on, who are not just good players, but good citizens.”
Now that the Bengals have a Benson, the roster could use a Hedges.
That would make for a good laugh.
Permalink | Comments (12) | Post your comment | Categories: Bengals
Comments
By Larry
September 30, 2008 10:54 PM | Link to this
This francise is spiraling out of control.Marvin didn’t have a chance. I don’t want to beat Mike Brown down but we won’t be a successful orginazation until he gives up control. I thin he wants to win but he needs to sit back and pay the bills and let someone better qualified run the football operations. My goodness after 18 years you gotta see your way isn’t working.By Brian
September 30, 2008 10:55 PM | Link to this
If I’ve said it once I’ve said it a million times, Mike Brown has a thing for bad boys.By psychostats
September 30, 2008 11:34 PM | Link to this
Well, you can ask Marvin Lewis about his new running back at the next press conference. Then we’ll have a clear-cut case of “Benson and hedging” …. I too often wonder about Mike Brown’s personality. Nobody seems to disagree about Brown’s stubbornness, and stubborn people can be very passive-aggressive. Thus the Benson signing could be an act of spite toward his critics.By jim m.
October 1, 2008 1:48 AM | Link to this
Well Michael Vick has to be redeemed too.. I can see him being signed right out of prison.. GEESH!! I refuse to call “Mike Brown’s Bungels” with our city name any longer.. I PRAY The REDS do so well in 2009 that those season ticket holders will save their wasted dollars from going in Mike Browns pocket and he can either change or sell because I am done being a Bengal fan till that idiot family that has ruined their father/grandfathers name is gone!!! They scammed the Bengal die hard fans out of there hard earned money, while the Brown family could care less about winning and only sellouts! Let Mike take the team to Los Angeles and fail (like the Rams and Raiders) as he deserves nothing less!! I rather see a expansion team with new owners that have a direction than watch this crap for another 10 years!!By larry
October 1, 2008 6:21 AM | Link to this
and there sits shawn alexander.By Ben
October 1, 2008 7:33 AM | Link to this
Of course the Bengals haven’t operated the team in good faith. Hamilton County taxpayers give the Bengals a $440 million stadium and in return have had one winning season, numerous off-field transgressions and a lack of football expertise in the front office (what do scouts know anyway?). This is to say nothing about the many people who purchased COAs, have been season ticket holders and bought their merchandise. If the Bengals were doing everything needed to win they would radically change their player personnel department (directors of college and pro scouting, etc.), have kept pricey backups like Willie and Deltha and paid to get a high-priced free agent. But that’s not what this team does so we’re wasting our breath.By Jeff
October 1, 2008 8:11 AM | Link to this
While I agree with the Chicksters sentiments, how many realistic options did we have? Look at who they brought it - Benson and a bunch of guys I’ve never heard of.By Brian
October 1, 2008 8:22 AM | Link to this
Exactly, what other choice did the team have? Alexander? Please, he’s old, washed up. I’d rather get a young guy like Benson with some potential. You all need to relax. Football is a game, a VERY fun game, I enjoy going to every home game and watching every away game, both with friends and family. So the team stinks… so what, enjoy sports people, don’t take them too seriously.By VoHo
October 1, 2008 9:22 AM | Link to this
Here’s what Mike Brown’s “redeeming” means to the Bengals as a franchise: Paul Brown Era: 23 seasons; 171 wins and 168 losses; 7 playoff teams. Mike Brown Era: 17+ seasons; 97 wins and 179 losses; 1 playoff team. Take out the one playoff year and it’s 86 and 174. We’re being “redeemed” at a .333 winning clip. — Thanks a lot, Mike. Take a job as a social worker.By cincyanon
October 1, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this
Mike Brown is doing the most he can. It’s just that he has a 125cc football engine and he’s driving on the highway. Of course, business wise, it seems he’s driving a twin cam 88.By insaneinthemembrane
October 1, 2008 10:59 PM | Link to this
Mike Brown doesn’t give a rats %%s about winning, he’s all about seaon tickets and merchandise. That’s why you never see top talent brought in (too expensive), so he buys rejects from other teams and local prisons. Marvin will resign after this season and Brat will be named head coach, or will dick lebeau come back, or will dave shula come back, or will bruce coslet come back ….By don
October 2, 2008 6:35 PM | Link to this
Yes, Mike Brown doesn’t get it. However, those 12 players on the field, 3 time outs by the end of the 3rd qtr, jumping of sides costing an interception, and the numerous other mistakes on the field cannot all be blamed on Mike Brown. Marvin has to take some responsibilty in this mess. How about getting rid of our o line coach, offensive coordinator, and a few others. Play the damn draft choices and let them learn on the job.