Cincinnati Bengals: Focused On Preparation
The Cincinnati Bengals seem to be 100% focused on the upcoming season. Even with distractions from the AFC North rivals surrounding them.
If you have been under a rock the past two weeks, the Pittsburgh Steelers keep dwelling on the past and make a mockery of the real rivalry between themselves and the Bengals. This past week was no exception.
It started out with Vincenzo (Vince) Williams making only himself look like a fool with a tweet only he could think of:
Steelers linebacker Vince Williams takes shot at Cincinnati over Gorilla's death. The tweet was eventually deleted. pic.twitter.com/DnMRiCYhef
— AASNSports (@AASNSports) June 3, 2016
If you don’t remember, Vince Williams is the back up linebacker in Pittsburgh who more or less threatened Vontaze Burfict. As AASN Sports said in the tweet, the original tweet was eventually deleted, but has tried to justify his act in the process.
If it makes me a criminal to have a sense of humor that doesn't appeal to You, then lock me up with everyone that laughed at that tweet.
— Vince Williams (@VinnyVidiVici98) June 3, 2016
Vince Williams should probably just stop social media all together, at least, the Steelers probably should have stepped in and said NO!
It didn’t end there however. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com, after Organized Team Activities (OTA’s), Markus Wheaton and Stephon Tuitt said that the Ravens, not the Bengals, are their biggest rival. Which if you think about it, make sense, because they did lose to the 4-12 Ravens twice last season. In fact, the Steelers probably should reference themselves more than anybody.
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However, while all of these comments and tweets are going on, the Bengals have remained fairly quiet. A.J. McCarron welcomed the newest McCarron into this world with his wife, Andy Dalton continued to look incredible in OTA’s, and the wide receivers are looking as good as any unit in the NFL.
Why does this mean anything? The Bengals focus seems unbreakable and determined. They know that the 25 year playoff win drought was only a minute away from ending and it all came abruptly to a halt. They are determined to not let history repeat itself, Again!!
The news out of OTA’s for the Bengals have been focusing on Tyler Kroft with the absence of Tyler Eifert. How Cody Core, Brandon LaFell, and Tyler Boyd have been growing next to A.J. Green to pick up where Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones left off. Finally, the Cincinnati Bengals coaching staff continuing to move forward despite the coaching rotation.
Next: Bengals Are Still Favorites in AFC North
If they can enter the season with laser focus and limit the distractions, the Bengals could very well be setting themselves up to makes their sixth straight playoff appearance in a row. Week two will be the real test for distractions and preparation when they take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh.