oldschooler Posted February 13, 2016 Report Share Posted February 13, 2016 Everybody loves a winner. That’s what the general consensus tends to be. But a 2015 preseason poll of NFL fans proved something different. The New England Patriots took the top spot for most hated team in the league, per a poll conducted by Sports Illustrated. Outside of their fan base loving them, the Bengals are getting the same treatment. Becoming the most hated could turn more attention towards the Cincinnati Bengals and their defense.Since 2011, the Bengals have become a staple in the playoffs. According to Pro Football Reference, Bengals fans have witnessed the team compile a 52-27-1 record since then. Those wins put them behind only the Patriots (61), Broncos (58), Packers (56), and Seahawks (53). The Bengals are now a high-profile team.Lately, those who are not fans of the Orange and Black are calling the Bengals dirty. Most of the ire is directed at one player: Vontaze Burfict. Just the mention of his name causes a football conversation to take a turn towards biased opinions.[Photo by Thearon W. Henderson]Isn’t that what the NFL has been built on? Burfict plays for a Bengals team that was the No. 2 ranked scoring defense in the league. Per ESPN, the Bengals finished the season occupying the eleventh spot. That’s a top-tier defense. Both combatants in Super Bowl 50 had top ten defensive units. The Broncos and Panthers finished No. 1 and No. 6 respectively. Yes, defense still wins championships.What most respected and feared defenses have is character. In fact, the solid defensive units from the past had energetic and lively players that defined their makeup. Linebackers are known as a wild bunch. They’re usually the heart and soul of the defense and the main play callers. It takes a special breed to play the position. There has to be a combination of speed, intellect, and ferocity.A quick look back at a few linebackers will prove the theory. Mike Singletary, Lawrence Taylor, Ray Lewis, and Joey Porter are a few that stand out. Each player was wild and fiery. Their opponents cringed with fear. They were respected for their talent, but hated for their success.Playing defense is an ugly job. Most quarterbacks that can’t make it in the NFL are switched to receivers or cornerbacks, if they have speed. It’s usually a thankless job that only gets recognition when something goes wrong. The Bengals defense has gotten more notoriety from being good than being dirty. But the media loves a good scandal. Vontaze Burfict fits the mold.The Cincinnati Bengals defense has been crowned the “bad boys” of the NFL. That could be a good thing. When an opponent is thinking about the dominating aspects of the team they have to play, that’s a mental victory. The Steel Curtain defense of the Stealers had that effect on players. The Orange Crush of the Broncos and Purple People Eaters from Minnesota all caused anxiety.[Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images]Vontaze Burfict and his defensive teammates are doing the same in Bengals stripes. By becoming a hated team, the Bengals are making their opponents recognize them for their prowess on the field.When the Bengals lost the January 9 Wild Card Round, fans and media immediately labeled them as a bunch of classless thugs. Nothing was remembered about a defense that played almost flawless football for 58 minutes. The only images splattered across screens were Burfict’s look of disbelief and Adam Jones pleading with an official.That has effectively made fans look at the Bengals as a team on the edge. Once again, that’s a good thing. The high-powered offense will be fine. Now, the defense will be on the minds of receivers crossing the middle on deep slants.Being the most hated could turn out to be something the Bengals should embrace. Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/2785610/cin...7kXkwzBvWSu.99 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le Tigre Posted February 13, 2016 Report Share Posted February 13, 2016 Except villains always lose in the end. At least that is the way the NFL will make it so. And righteous, "hard hitting" Footbawww, will still prevail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saphead Posted February 13, 2016 Report Share Posted February 13, 2016 Good. Fuck everybody else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|High School Harry| Posted February 13, 2016 Report Share Posted February 13, 2016 We're in their heads now, boy howdy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Dub Posted February 13, 2016 Report Share Posted February 13, 2016 Amazing how they are managing to accomplish this without having played a game in over a month. Narrative much? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigboi Posted February 14, 2016 Report Share Posted February 14, 2016 If the Bengals are going to be treated like the bad boy Detroit pistons and the Oakland raiders of the 70's,then maybe they should act like them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArizonaRising Posted February 14, 2016 Report Share Posted February 14, 2016 You boys should be thrilled about this. They hate ya, cause they ain't ya. We only hate what we fear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhodeIslandFan Posted February 14, 2016 Report Share Posted February 14, 2016 Hey this guy plagiarized me. I said the exact same thing a few weeks ago. That a certain team was known as the steel curtain. The purple people eaters ect... And we should embrace it. I actually got a few thumbs up after saying it. thank you very muchSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saphead Posted February 14, 2016 Report Share Posted February 14, 2016 Ok boys & girls now is the time to do it. It's time to break out the reverse black & orange helmets. All black unis with just a hint of orange tiger stripes. Go all in. It's time to start flipping everyone the finger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluhartz Posted February 14, 2016 Report Share Posted February 14, 2016 Ok boys & girls now is the time to do it. It's time to break out the reverse black & orange helmets. All black unis with just a hint of orange tiger stripes. Go all in. It's time to start flipping everyone the finger. yes!!! You boys should be thrilled about this. They hate ya, cause they ain't ya. We only hate what we fear. I am thrilled... fuck everyone else... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Dub Posted February 14, 2016 Report Share Posted February 14, 2016 I've always liked this design better. You boys should be thrilled about this. They hate ya, cause they ain't ya. We only hate what we fear. Hey this guy plagiarized me. I said the exact same thing a few weeks ago. That a certain team was known as the steel curtain. The purple people eaters ect... And we should embrace it. I actually got a few thumbs up after saying it. thank you very much Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk But it's not the 1970's. The NFL isn't trying to promote us, they're looking for a team to crucify in the name of due diligence. I should be happy about the heart of our defense missing one quarter of the season? For a play that was only flagged because, again, Goodell is running from a class action lawsuit? That rah-rah, us vs the world stuff sounds great but the reality is that the dirty goon MF Stoolers get to cry their bitchassed crocodile tears on ESPN while some windbag wrings his hands & the NFL makes an example out of the Bengals. Yay? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhodeIslandFan Posted February 14, 2016 Report Share Posted February 14, 2016 Everything your saying is spot on but this team has been searching for a identity to latch on to. It's well know around the league that this is one badass, hard hitting group of gamers. I can live with that . It sure hell beats being called the bungalsSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Dub Posted February 14, 2016 Report Share Posted February 14, 2016 Everything your saying is spot on but this team has been searching for a identity to latch on to. It's well know around the league that this is one badass, hard hitting group of gamers. I can live with that . It sure hell beats being called the bungals True. This isn't a dirty team though, despite the smear campaign, & we're being made the whipping boy for the true cheapshot artists. That hypocrisy needs to be exposed if we're to benefit from this new identity. I hear you though, as I'd rather we lose games on bullshit calls than let some punkass shitheel team bully us. I think those days are thankfully over & that I can cheer about. Fuck what ESPN or King Roger thinks about it. Go ahead & suspend Burfict, we'll send in some other mean bastard with more to prove & less to lose. My point being, so long as there are two sets of rules this isn't a winning strategy. Doesn't mean it can't be entertaining. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|Bunghole| Posted February 14, 2016 Report Share Posted February 14, 2016 If the Bengals are going to be treated like the bad boy Detroit pistons and the Oakland raiders of the 70's,then maybe they should act like them.I agree...act like them by winning a championship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted February 15, 2016 Report Share Posted February 15, 2016 If no one hates you, you are irrelevant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le Tigre Posted February 15, 2016 Report Share Posted February 15, 2016 If the NFL hates you, you are irrelevant.FIXT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Posted February 15, 2016 Report Share Posted February 15, 2016 That is so gawddamned funny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie_B Posted February 15, 2016 Report Share Posted February 15, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Dub Posted February 15, 2016 Report Share Posted February 15, 2016 That is so gawddamned funny.I wish I could take credit for that. I've made the comparison enough times but that's a recent development AFAIK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BengalBuck Posted February 16, 2016 Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 True. This isn't a dirty team though, despite the smear campaign, & we're being made the whipping boy for the true cheapshot artists. That hypocrisy needs to be exposed if we're to benefit from this new identity. I hear you though, as I'd rather we lose games on bullshit calls than let some punkass shitheel team bully us. I think those days are thankfully over & that I can cheer about. Fuck what ESPN or King Roger thinks about it. Go ahead & suspend Burfict, we'll send in some other mean bastard with more to prove & less to lose. My point being, so long as there are two sets of rules this isn't a winning strategy. Doesn't mean it can't be entertaining. That may be one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time. Well, besides Deadpool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le Tigre Posted February 16, 2016 Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 I wish I could take credit for that. I've made the comparison enough times but that's a recent development AFAIK.I found that on a Google image search "Goodell WWE". There are others..some not so nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Posted February 16, 2016 Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le Tigre Posted February 16, 2016 Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saphead Posted February 16, 2016 Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saphead Posted February 16, 2016 Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 THIS GUY........+ THESE HELMETS........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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