Alright, a lot to cover here, but you have to let me rant for a minute.  As many of you know, I am a West Virginia Mountaineers fan.  I know this team wasn’t good enough to even make it to the Sweet Sixteen, I do.  But man, did they get screwed over by some of the most corrupt decisions in college sports history, as well as Indiana getting the short straw as well.  West Virginia was left out of March Madness, yet North Carolina, Xavier, and Texas somehow found their way in.  Baffling right?  Let’s take a look into the numbers for each of these schools and you tell me if Bubba Cunningham (Athletic Director of North Carolina/Chairman of the Committee) had anything to do with this-he did. He secured a $104,000 bonus for getting the Tarheels in the dance on top of it.  Maybe we should let Peebles High School Athletic Director be the chairman of OHSAA and get Peebles the easiest route in the dance every year, while giving him a bonus for doing so.  Works for Bubba, right?

West Virginia –  111/111 bracketologists had WVU in the dance, Wins over Gonzaga (Neutral court), Arizona (Neutral court), Kansas (at Kansas), and Iowa State, 6 Quad 1 wins, 0 Quad 3 or 4 losses, .500 in the Big 12, Defeated 4 ranked teams, 4 Big 12 road victories, 3 wins against AP Top 10 teams (most in the Big 12), 1 of only 30 teams to have 6 quad 1 victories.  And don’t give me the injury excuse.  Tucker DeVries hasn’t played since December 6^th before conference play.  Give me a break!

North Carolina – 27/111 bracketologists had them in the dance, 1-12 in Quad 1 games (Atrocious), Quad 3 loss, Beat UCLA (Only ranked team they beat), 13-7 in a very poor ACC, 13 losses…But hey, they almost beat Duke

Xavier – 30/111 bracketologists had them in the dance, 1-9 in Quad 1 games, ranked wins over Marquette and Uconn, 13-7 in the Big East. 

Texas – 50/111 bracketologists had them in the dance, 15 losses, 6-12 in conference play (WOOF), Wins over ranked opponent Mississippi State, Texas A&M, UK, Missouri.

Which resume would you want if you wanted to get in the tournament?  Do you think the Athletic Director of North Carolina should be a chair on the selection committee?  I didn’t think so.  Shame on the NCAA. 

Bags Secured for Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins

At last, our beloved duo finally has reached an agreement with Chase and Higgins including: 4 year extension for Chase, $161 million, $112 million guaranteed (Highest paid non-QB in NFL history).  Higgins signed a four year extension for $115 million and becomes the highest WR2 in NFL history.  Never say the Bengals are cheap ever again, as they just forked up the cash and added tax!  However, this shows that they waited too long.  Nail the draft Cincinnati and start paying your stars early, while reaping the benefits later.  Prices don’t go down, Brown Family!  Be happy though Bengals fans, as this is huge.  Hendrickson, you’re next if at all possible.  Defense has some major holes that need filled and I expect the draft to be majorly focused on pass rush and secondary help. 

One Week until Reds Opening Day

With just a week and some change until Reds Opening Day, the excitement is building around Cincinnati.  This city is ready for some baseball and the city desperately needs a contender this year-and I think they will get just that.  However, there are some areas of concern as of late:

• Tyler Stephenson will miss some time with an oblique strain-Massive blow to the lineup
• Jose Trevino is day to day with a thumb injury, leaving us with Wynns should Trevino also miss time
• Spencer Steer will likely miss Opening Day, but Francona is giving him every chance to try and be ready come next week

Outside of this though, the Reds are relatively healthy and look to bounce back from these injuries fast.  Cincinnati is in a much better spot than last season regarding health.  Some notable players that will not be making the Opening Day roster this year include Noelvi Marte and Will Benson.  Both have struggled, although I can see Benson joining the team within a month or so of playing time in AAA, as I think he is a true Major League batter.  If Stephenson and Steer both miss time, I expect Blake Dunn to be given a chance to make an impact quick, with Hurtubise ready to get some major league time as well.  They both have been highly impressive this Spring. 

Reds baseball is nearly here and it is the most magical time of the year!  Well unless you ask my wife, as we visited Dollywood this weekend and she got to see Dolly Parton in the parade.  I guess I owed her for the years of dragging her to RedsFest, Reds Games, and Bengals games! Seeing her happy to see Dolly was worth it and I owed her for the amount of time she has spent in line with me to talk to players season after season!

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I didn’t want to have to rant about this and it is sad that it has gotten to this point, but the mismanagement from Bengals ownership has truly sent this organization on a downward spiral.  I’d like to stand outside of Paycor Stadium and yell “The Price will only increase” until one of them understands.  If Cincinnati would’ve acted when they should have, Bates would be playing for 12 million per year, Higgins would’ve signed for 23 million per year, Chase for 35 million per year, and Hendrickson for 25 million per year.  Prices aren’t going down and after the Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby signings, these players will want even more.  Now that Duke Tobin has agreed to make Ja’Marr the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history (never ever say that before a signing), we now are looking at 40+ million for Chase. 

It’s time to get the deals done, eat the losses that are a direct result of incompetence, and change the way this organization operates.  I love the Bengals, I really do.  Paul Brown was known as one of the biggest influencers to the game of football, but his family has failed to understand how to properly handle contracts and forming a roster.  As JJ Watt stated, “Reward your players earlier and reap the benefits in the long run.”  Never allow yourself to get in these standoffs year after year with your franchise players.  With that being said, I expect a deal done with Higgins today.  If not and if this team goes into camp with multiple players unhappy with contract situations, you can nearly bank on another slow start.  Now, there has been some good news as of recent, as Cincinnati locked up Gesicki and Ford, but it’s time to take care of our star players.  Easy for me to say though when it’s not my money, right?

17 Days Away from Reds Opening Day

With just over two weeks away from meaningful baseball, the Reds are in a relatively healthy position and I truly believe this team has a chance at surprising a lot of people around the baseball world.  Hats off to Meador, Krall, and ownership for everything they’ve done to get this roster to a point of truly being able to compete.  Francona is ready to make some noise and the city needs a quality year of Reds baseball.  This truly feels like the year that it happens. 

• The Reds announced the first 4 in the rotation to begin the year: Greene, Lodolo, Martinez, and Singer.  The 5^th spot is up for grabs between Abbott (injury), Lowder (injury), Spiers, and Ashcraft.  I’d feel a whole lot better if Lowder or Abbott filled this 5^th spot in the rotation. 
• If Steer is out, I think it comes down to Hurtubise or Dunn for that final spot.  I think they’ve both played well, but Blake Dunn deserves that final spot. 
• We have a true professional that will likely debut this year or next for the Reds in Sal Stewart.  His approach is just different than our other prospects.  He gets a lot of praise around the league. He looks major league ready.
• Chase Petty could find himself on the big league roster after a stint in AAA.  He’s finally coming around and is posting some impressive numbers. 
• I want to see Chase Burns on the fast track to the big leagues.  The 22 year old could find himself in a Skenes situation this season and I hope he pitches well enough to force the hand of calling him up early on this season.  He has major league stuff already. 
• Chris Sabo is the 2025 Findlay Market Opening Day Parade Grand Marshal.  This is awesome and I am hopeful for a Votto appearance in the future. 

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By Michael Davis, Missouri University of Science and Technology

If you live in the Philadelphia or Kansas City metro areas, congratulations: The fact that your city made it to the Super Bowl translates to about $200 extra in your pocket.

That’s right – whether the Philadelphia Eagles or the Kansas City Chiefs win the big game on Feb. 9, both cities have scored an economic victory. Research shows that making the playoffs alone is enough to boost personal incomes in the region. And if your team wins, you and your city will get an even bigger boost.

This windfall isn’t coming from increased merchandise sales, as you might expect. Instead, the key driver is happiness. A successful season lifts fans’ moods, which leads – indirectly – to greater spending and productivity.

Why winning pays

I’m a macroeconomist with an interest in sports economics, and my colleague Christian End of Xavier University is a psychologist who specializes in fan behavior. Together, we published two studies combining our areas of expertise: “A Winning Proposition: The Economic Impact of Successful NFL Franchises” and “Team Success, Productivity and Economic Impact.”

In a study using data from the late 20th century and early 21st century, we found that when a team goes from zero to 11 wins – the typical number needed to make the playoffs – its home region sees an average per-person income rise by about US$200 over the year, adjusted for inflation. We also found that winning the Super Bowl was associated with a $33 bonus, again adjusted for inflation.

When you multiply $200 by the 6 million people who live in the Philadelphia metropolitan area and the 2 million in the Kansas City region, it comes out to a whole lot of money overall.

It’s about happiness, not jerseys

If you’ve ever been to a Super Bowl parade, you might assume that the income boost is linked to people spending more on team-related merchandise. But research shows that professional sports teams usually have a small impact on local incomes.

Even hosting the Super Bowl doesn’t seem to do that much: Our research shows that people are better off economically if their local team wins the Super Bowl than if their local area hosts one.

So if people aren’t spending more directly on the team, something else must be going on. Our work pointed to two possible explanations – both having to do with happiness.

First, we hypothesized that happier people tend to spend more. And when people spend more, that money is returned to the population through wages, so people’s incomes rise. The key here is that people are spending more on everything, not just things associated with the sports teams.

Since the football season usually finishes in December, it could be that happy parents who are fans of the local NFL team are spending more on Christmas gifts for their kids. With the Super Bowl stretching later into the winter, loved ones might get nicer flower bouquets and more chocolate for Valentine’s Day when the local team wins the Super Bowl.

The other possible path is through increased productivity. Psychology research has found that happier people are more productive. So as the season progresses and the home team keeps winning, it stands to reason that people in the area will go into work happy and work harder.

Previous research backs up this idea. For example, a 2011 study found that when the home team in Washington performs better, federal regulators are more productive. In places where private businesses dominate the local economy – which is to say, most of the rest of the U.S. – an increase in productivity would lead companies to be more profitable, which could lead to locals having higher earnings. Even nonfans see benefits when their neighbors are happier, spending more and working harder.

No matter how the Super Bowl turns out, both the Philadelphia and Kansas City metropolitan areas have already won, as both fans and nonfans in each region stand to benefit from higher incomes.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Michael Davis, Missouri University of Science and Technology

Read more:

• The Super Bowl’s evolution from football game to entertainment extravaganza
• Ads, food and gambling galore − 5 essential reads for the Super Bowl
• Sports gambling creates a windfall, but raises questions of integrity – here are three lessons from historic sports-betting scandals

Michael Davis does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Feature Image: People celebrate following the Philadelphia Eagles’ NFC championship win on Jan. 26, 2025. Thomas Hengge/Anadolu via Getty Images

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By Betina Cutaia Wilkinson, Wake Forest University

Back in 2012, quarterback Colin Kaepernick was one of the NFL’s most popular stars. He led the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl and was just a few plays away from winning the title and lifting the Lombardi Trophy.

But America’s focus on Kaepernick’s athletic success waned in 2016. That’s when he began to kneel before games during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” to protest the deaths of young Black men at the hands of white police officers.

They included Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, two unarmed Black men killed by police in the summer of 2016.

“To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way,” Kaepernick said in The Guardian newspaper. “There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

Kaepernick’s activism, coinciding with the reemergence of the Black Lives Matter movement, received varied responses.

Some NFL players, like Kaepernick’s then-teammate Eric Reid, imitated Kaepernick’s actions, generating a wave of anti-racist activism – not just in football but in other sports, too, like women’s basketball. Others, including several NFL executives, responded with vitriol and hate.

A recent study I conducted with colleagues Lisa Kiang and Elizabeth Seagroves examines American attitudes toward sports activism, providing insight into the stark responses to Kaepernick’s advocacy and those of other athletes.

Making sense of the varied responses

We surveyed 207 college students and 33 residents in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where I teach, to examine their views on racial justice activism among professional athletes.

We found there were three general perspectives.

One group supported the sports activism and tied it to changing the status quo. People in this group back athletes’ ability to serve as activists and role models, and they hope the protests generate meaningful sociopolitical change.

“I thought it was very necessary and good,” said one participant in the study, referring to athletes’ activism. “I think that if they can use their platform for something good, they should.”

When we asked about Kaepernick’s activism in 2016, these participants lauded him for his courage.

They felt Kaepernick’s protests, along with the Black Lives Matter movement, helped raise awareness of racial injustices in the United States.

Participants reject racial justice advocacy

Other participants in our study expressed support for athletes’ right to protest, but they rejected their racial justice advocacy.

They said athletes have the freedom to say what they think. And they tied the protests to the United States’ commitment to freedom of speech. But they disapproved of kneeling during the playing of the national anthem, labeling it as disrespectful.

“I think most of it is good. If you have a platform, you should use it,” one participant told us. “However, when misinformation is spread, it becomes bad.”

Several participants felt the conflation of the national anthem with protesting racial injustices was misleading and wrong, and this participant considered Kaepernick’s protest “misinformation.”

Kaepernick’s activism elicited similarly mixed feelings at the time. A majority of the public viewed Kaepernick’s refusal to stand as unpatriotic. Most, however, also supported his right to free speech.

In May 2018, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell barred athletes from protesting on the sidelines during the national anthem, but he gave them the option to remain in the locker room during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” if they preferred. The move came after players had protested racial inequality and police brutality for two seasons.

“We want people to be respectful of the national anthem,” Goodell said, according to ESPN. “We want people to stand – that’s all personnel – and make sure they treat this moment in a respectful fashion. That’s something we think we owe. But we were also very sensitive to give players choices.”

In June 2020, in the wake of George Floyd’s death and years into Kaepernick’s activism, Goodell apologized to players and reversed the policy, saying, “We were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier.”

But team protests varied throughout the league.

Some teams such as the Green Bay Packers and Jacksonville Jaguars, at least on one occasion, remained in their locker rooms during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Some teams acted uniformly with the exception of one or two players. Dallas Cowboys player Dontari Poe was the only person on his team to kneel during the playing of the national anthem.

The fact that not all players protested, and that teams had distinct approaches to protesting, is not surprising given the public’s varied responses to athlete activism.

Complete disapproval

A third group of participants in our study disapproved of sports activism entirely. And these participants often accompanied their criticism by saying that athletes strayed from their role as entertainers.

“I don’t think it’s good because it’s giving people a reason not to like a professional athlete when their job is to play a sport. They are not politicians and haven’t been able to prove they can make a change,” said one participant.

For example, when responding to WNBA player Skylar Diggins-Smith’s call for the imprisonment of the police officers in Louisville, Kentucky, involved in the 2020 shooting death of Breonna Taylor during a nighttime apartment raid, one participant said: “It’s not for the average citizen to call for police officers to be investigated. It’s just not OK for a professional athlete to push their agenda like that.”

Our study, much like other studies, found that people who are white, older and politically conservative are more opposed to racial justice activism in sports than their counterparts.

What does this mean?

As seen in our study, U.S. views toward sports protests are tied to the role people believe athletes should play in society.

For some, athletes can and should be role models; that includes by raising awareness of racial injustices. For others, athletes should only express their perspectives under certain conditions.

And yet other Americans believe athletes are performers whose only role should be to entertain.

Still, there’s no doubt Kaepernick’s activism changed the playing field, even if his NFL career suffered. After the 2016 season, he was never picked up by another team.

Kaepernick’s activism inspired people to attend protests and donate to political causes.

The NAACP has asked college athletes to avoid attending schools that are dismantling their diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, initiatives.

Coach Steve Kerr and All- Star Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors regularly voice their political views and draw attention to injustices.

Several sports associations – the NFL, NBA, WNBA and NWSL – have implemented social justice initiatives and councils that strive to mobilize voters and educate the electorate on political issues.

Colin Kaepernick’s activism may have ended his Super Bowl dreams, but his legacy extends far beyond the game of football.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Betina Cutaia Wilkinson, Wake Forest University

Read more:

• It’s the most American of sports, so why is the NFL looking to Melbourne for international games?
• Sports gambling creates a windfall, but raises questions of integrity – here are three lessons from historic sports-betting scandals
• Super Bowl ads: It’s getting harder for commercials to score with consumers

Betina Cutaia Wilkinson previously received funding from the Latino Center for Leadership Development.
Lisa Kiang works with Betina Wilkinson at Wake Forest University. Elizabeth Seagroves was Betina Wilkinson’s student during her time at Wake Forest University 

Feature Image: San Francisco 49ers players Eric Reid, left, and Colin Kaepernick take a knee during the national anthem before a game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 12, 2016. Daniel Gluskoter/AP Images for Panini

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Story and photos by Michael Mitchell

Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney and Councilmember Scotty Johnson presented a Resolution in City Council on January 23, 2025 to honor the Taft High School Senators 2024 Varsity Football Team. The team was recognized for finishing as Regional Division lV state semifinalist on November 22, 2024, in Monroe, defeating the Archbishop Alter High School Knights team from Kettering by a score of 26-12. Taft was first Cincinnati Public school football team to win a regional championship since 1992. Taft finished the season 12-3. Their motto, “Earned, never given,” was echoed throughout the Monroe gymnasium following the state regional victory. 

On hand to witness the City Council event were family and friends, Cincinnati Public Schools Superintendent Shauna Murphy, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Alesia Smith, Cincinnati Public Schools Athletic Director Josh Hardin, Cincinnati Public Schools Board President Dr. Kareen Moncree Moffett,  Cincinnati Public Schools Board Member Kendra Mapp, and Taft High School Principal Ceair Baggett. 

“This is amazing to receive this recognition,” Taft’s head football coach Tyler Williams said. “We’re really thankful to see all of our hard work being recognized and having the opportunity to represent our school, community and conference. We will remember all of the adversity we had to overcome and we still managed to come together week in and week out and that brought us closer together as a program which helped us accomplish winning a regional championship.”

“It’s a humbling moment to be honored by City Hall; it is truly amazing,” Taft athletic director Austin Gullett said. “This recognition is well-deserved as this team has put in a tremendous amount of hard work – efforts that many do not see behind closed doors. This team is truly special.”

Taft has earned two regional final appearances in the past four seasons with head coach Tyler Williams. He has 42 wins in his four seasons with the program.

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The Cincinnati Bengals made a late season surge. They won their final five games to put themselves in position to be in the playoffs. It came down to the final weekend where the teams hopes were pinned on several scenarios. All the scenarios had to come true. They all did with the exception of one. As a result the late season surge was too little, too late. For the second straight season Cincy will be at home watching the playoffs.

Looking back on the 9-8 season, had just one of those losses been wins the Bengals would have had their chance to be in the playoffs. You could take your pick. I think the most devastating loss had to be the week 1 loss to the New England Patriots. Despite a first year now fired head coach of a team that went 4-13, the New England Patriots came to Cincy and upset the Bengals in week #1 16-10. The loss set the tone for a devastating start to the season. One the Bengals never did recover from.

There were some historically great performances from the Bengal  stars. The Bengal threesome of Jamar Chase, Joe Burrow, and Tre Hendrickson had seasons so elite it’s the first time any team had three players   lead the league in sacks, passing and receiving and not make the playoffs. The 2024 season will go down as one of the most bizarre seasons in Bengal history. Six of the eight Bengal losses ended in nearly identical fashion. Final minutes, nail biter, either team could win type losses.

If you had to point blame for the Bengals this season, you would likely point to the defensive side of the ball. At one point in the season the Bengals scored over 30 points in three straight games and still lost. The failures of the defense  ultimately cost the Bengals a playoff spot and cost defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo  his job. Several other position coaches were let go. Bengal owner Mike Brown traditionally is a loyal owner who seldom sends coaches packing. Brown sent a message at the conclusion of this season. He held  coaches accountable for the failings of the 2024 season and sent them packing.

At the start of next season Cincy will have a new offensive line coach and a new defensive coordinator.  Several decisions will have to be made during the off season. One thing is for sure. Cincy will have to shell out big $$ for Jamar Chase. Not only will Chase command big $, the team will also have to pay if they want to keep Chase’s side kick Tee Higgins.

Stay tuned, because the off-season may be every bit as interesting as was the regular season for the Bengals.

Feature Image: File photo

The post Bengals only hope is future appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

Contributed

Local residents have only a few days left to win tickets to the Super Bowl as a part of the Super Bowl Weekend Raffle from local disability nonprofit Envision. The raffle ends Jan 9^th, 2025.

“We are sad that we won’t get a chance to see the Bengals play in New Orleans, but excited that we can send two people from our community to get the Super Bowl experience”, says Jim Steffey, CEO of Envision.

Envision was chosen out of thousands of nonprofits nationwide to be one of only 10 organizations to receive donated tickets from the NFL referee association. They have combined the tickets into a Super Bowl weekend experience package that includes a 2 bedroom VRBO stay, and a travel budget.

“For most people, this is a once in a lifetime chance to experience the Super Bowl,” says Steffey, “And then they get a chance to experience the unique food and culture of New Orleans as well. It’s an amazing opportunity.”

The 2025 Super Bowl will take place in New Orleans on February 9^th. Each raffle ticket purchased will help fund developmental disability services for children and adults in Greater Cincinnati. Tickets can be purchased by linking through the Envision website at www.envisionohio.org.

About Envision

For over six decades, Envision has been a cornerstone of the Cincinnati community, offering support, resources, and programs for individuals with developmental disabilities. Services include group homes, support for independent adults, family support, foster care, Mental Health care, CITE on site children’s services, and an adult day program. Through innovative programs and compassionate care, Envision supports and empowers families to create a brighter future.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.envisionohio.org

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At 4-8 earlier in the year, if you would’ve told me the Bengals had a chance to make the playoffs in the final week, I would’ve called you crazy.  Yes, the slow start along with the McPherson missed kicks and that 4^th down penalty vs. the Chiefs will likely keep Burrow out of the playoffs, but let’s enjoy the Broncos victory and stay positive while there is still hope.  What’s it going to take to make the playoffs?  Let’s dive in:

• On Saturday at 8:00, the Bengals must beat the Steelers.  The Steelers will likely have nothing to play for, as the Ravens will clinch the AFC North at 4:30 that day when they beat the Browns. 
• On Sunday at 4:25, the Jets must beat the Dolphins or have the game end in a tie.  Aaron Rodgers, save this season for Joe.
• On Sunday at 4:25, the Chiefs backups must beat the Broncos.  Carson Wentz is starting for Kansas City and I’d be lying if I said I was confident that the Chiefs will win this game. 

Will all of this happen this weekend?  Probably not, but there is still hope.  Burrow, Rodgers, and Wentz, we need each of you this weekend to be on your “A” Game. 

Facts and Comments

• The Bengals are 8 points shy of breaking their All-Time Franchise record in points scored.  How this team isn’t in the playoffs already is truly baffling.  Bad luck, bad coaching, bad defense, and a bad kicker will do that to a team. 
• There is only one team in history to ever play 5 primetime road games in a season in history.  The 2024 Cincinnati Bengals.
• Joe Burrow is the only quarterback in history to have 250+ pass yards and 3+ pass touchdowns in 8 straight games.  He’s the best football player on the planet.  Even if this team misses the playoffs, he is the definition of Most Valuable Player.
• There has been 22 times in NFL History where a quarterback threw for 400+ yards, 3 touchdowns, and completed 79% of their passes.  3 of those occurrences belong to Joe Burrow (more than any other quarterback in history).
• Joe Burrow is the first quarterback in Bengals history to throw for 40+ touchdowns in a season. 
• Amarius Mims continues to battle through injury.  He gave up 0 sacks to Garrett, Watt, Crosby, or Parsons this year.  He’s been astounding. 
• Ja’Marr still leads the league in receiving yards, receptions, touchdowns, yards per game, YAC, and first downs.  We are watching a Hall of Famer in his prime.  Enjoy it.
• Trey Hendrickson leads the entire league in sacks (14), tied with Myles Garrett.  With pressure from nobody else, what Trey is doing is absurd.  He is phenomenal. 
• Cade York, I’ve had enough.  At this point, we are in 4 down territory at all times on our end of the field.  Forget kicking field goals.  Those complaining of not kicking them earlier in the game got to see why York wasn’t on a team during his missed chip shot to end the game. 
• I’m tired of MVP awards being given to the quarterback on the team with the best record.  Enough with the nonsense.  This team would be miserable to watch without Joe.  He has better statistics than every other quarterback.  Give him what he deserves and give Ja’Marr offensive player of the year.

Feature Image: Matthew McAdow and son, Creed, in the stands supporting the Cincinnati Bengals. Photo provided

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     If you are a Cincinnati Bengal fan give yourself a round of applause. You’ve been through a meat grinder. Your patience has been tested, your heart has been broken, you’ve been absolutely overjoyed, and you now are at the point where you have to wait on glass and needles to see if your team will make the playoffs.

I guess it could be worse. You could be a fan of the New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, New England Patriots, or Jacksonville Jaguars.  All the aforementioned teams had very little winning in 2024 if any. All the teams will be rewarded for their losing efforts with a top pick in the 2025 draft. 

     Then you have the fans of the elite teams. Fans of the Chiefs, Bills, Lions, Eagles and Vikings. Some fans of those teams are actually plotting ways to call off work or play hookie from school to attend a possible Super Bowl parade. They all have a chance at the NFL’s highest team award. The Vince Lombardi Super Bowl Trophy.

Bengal fans are kind of in the middle of the pact. Cincy won’t have a top pick, but, sorry, we are not amongst the elite in the NFL this year. As a matter of fact, Bengal fans have to wait until week 18. That will be the final week of the NFL season to see if they even made the playoffs.  There simply has not been a season in more recent memory where fans were kept on the edge of their seat more than in 2024 in Cincinnati. Two games with Baltimore, Los Angeles, Washington and Kansas City. All went down to the final minutes. All ended up in Bengal fan disappointment with the Bengals losing. Had the team managed to win just one of the games, they would probably be solidified in the playoffs now.

The single biggest disappointment for the 2024 season will go down as the week 1 loss to the New England  Patriots. The Patriots had a brand new coach and are amongst the worst teams in the league. Somehow, the Bengals found a way to lose to the Patriots at home. Should the Bengals not make the playoffs, most fans will look back at the week 1 loss and point to the game as the one that did them in.    

     Despite the positioning, Cincy fans will get one last week of hope. One last week to dream of a magical run to the Super Bowl. A Cincinnati win, Denver loss, and Miami loss will mean a chance. Any other scenarios, fans can put the orange and black face paint away, hang up the Joe Burrow jerseys, and stop the Who Dey chants until the end of the summer of 2025.     

Feature Image: Bengals fans had something to cheer about in the home game here last Saturday as they defeated the Denver Broncos in overtime. Photo By Michael Mitchell

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After a dominating victory over the Browns on Sunday, the Bengals now find themselves right back in the playoff race, sitting at 7-8.  With a win over the Broncos this coming weekend, Cincinnati would keep the playoff hopes alive going into the final week of the season.  However, a lot needs to take place for them to get in, but it is possible.  Let’s take a look at the route to the playoffs:

• Bengals must beat the Broncos and Steelers to end the season
• Broncos must lose to the Bengals and Chiefs to end the season
• Colts have to lose 1 more game (Giants 2-13 or Jaguars 3-12) Yikes…
• Dolphins have to lose 1 more game (Browns 3-12 or Jets 4-11) I like that a little better…

If all of this happens, then the Bengals can find themselves in the final remaining Wildcard spot and Burrow can be in the playoffs where he truly deserves to be after a historical year.  Just win against the Broncos first and let’s see where things stand after this week.   

Facts and Comments

• Joe Burrow’s Superman impression was on display this weekend and he continued the heroics by setting an NFL record with 3+ passing touchdowns and 250+ passing yards in 7 straight games.  This breaks Tom Brady’s record when the Patriots went undefeated in 07’. 
• Remember when Ja’Marr said he would break every franchise record the Bengals had when he got drafted?  Well, he is doing just that, as now he has the most receiving yards in a single season in Bengals season with 2 games left.  Sheesh!  He needs 5 more receptions and 2 more touchdowns to hold the franchise triple crown.  I’d say he gets it, if I was a betting man (I am).
• We are finally seeing the Geno Stone that the Bengals paid for, as he has three straight games with an interception.  He’s been great over the last few weeks. 
• Mike Hilton spoke about Lou simplifying the defense and how it’s working.  Did Lou Anarumo mismanage this defense to begin the season? 
• I am so conflicted on signing Tee Higgins long term.  I love Tee, but he is grabbing at his ankle or leg after every tackle.  Availability is everything in this league and Tee is always less than 100 percent. 
• I’m afraid the Bengals are going to miss the playoffs by one game and it’ll be hard not to look back at the McPherson missed kicks, that 4^th down P.I. against the Chiefs, and that Patriots loss in week one. 

Do Something Reds

Free agents are dropping like flies and the Reds continue to be sitting on their hands.  Trevino and Singer are great additions, but power bats are a necessity.  Sign one already!  If Cincinnati runs out Steer, Friedl, Fraley, Benson, Stu, and Hinds in 2025, I might pull my hair out.  Anthony Santander, Teoscar Hernandez, Jurickson Profar, Alex Verdugo, and Jesse Winker remain unsigned.  Get something done, preferably with the first two on this list.  I know Krall wants to do trades rather than sign someone, as there is a premium on free agents (Look at Joc Pederson’s contract), but it’s time we pay the premium and take a risk.  Give Tito the roster and let him go to work!

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