With a New Look AFC North, One Team has not Changed

CINCINNATI, OH – FEBRUARY 05: Zac Taylor speaks to the media after being introduced as the new head coach for the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on February 5, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

With fellow AFC North foes making significant changes, Bengals fans and media were promised a “New Dey”. What they are getting is much of the same.

While the Bengals social media/ public relations team continues to push the sentiment of a new era in Cincinnati, fans are patiently waiting for any sign of real change.

The old adage “Actions speak louder than words” reigns ever true here, as Cincinnati has frustratingly continued what seems to be a team tradition under Mike Brown of unreasonably overpaying in-house free agents in order to do as little work as possible in finding real talent for a team that is starving for it. C.J, Uzomah and Preston Brown are at least decent players when healthy, and even though it can be argued that they were both overpaid, it is also reasonable that the team wanted these players back.

The most frustrating signing of the offseason for Cincinnati has been Bobby Hart. Usually, when you pay a player a lot of money to play a sport, they are good at that sport. However, Bobby Hart found a way to “earn” seven million dollars a year while being one of the most mediocre linemen in the National Football League. This sort of decision is one that costs you season ticket holders and makes fans shut off the television or close their laptop in frustration. It is an inexcusable, lazy call that is characteristic of this entire organizations mindset.

Worst of all, this is all occurring while the two traditional divisional powers in the AFC North are falling apart. The Ravens have lost 4 defensive starters in this free agency period, as well as two receivers. Pittsburgh’s downfall has been noted, and they cannot seem to stop the bleeding to their roster.

CINCINNATI, OH – FEBRUARY 05: Zac Taylor poses with Cincinnati Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin (left) and owner Mike Brown (right) after being introduced as the new head coach for the Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on February 5, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

If there was ever a year for Cincinnati to win the division, you would have to imagine it would be when Pittsburgh and Baltimore were in decline. However, the Cleveland Browns have managed to become the clear favorite to win the division next season through a series of risky moves and daring trades that have their team in prime position to compete over the next several years. John Dorsey has completely embarrassed the front office of his fellow Ohio rival, making the rest of the division look like chumps as their team’s crumble and his ascends.

I have fully reached peak frustration with this organization and its management. To be in the position they are in, given the weaknesses of the rest of the AFC North, is simply inexcusable. There is still plenty of time for Cincinnati to add talent, but given the teams track record, I doubt they are able to achieve any meaningful change.

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