I am glad that I did not grow up in Cleveland where it is often referred to as “The Factory of Sadness” but there have been some sad moments as a Bengals fan. Luckily those days are behind us and we can look to the future with Joe Burrow and crew to lead us to greatness. I wanted to take a look back though and highlight some of my top sad moments as a Bengals fan. Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival. – Sir Winston Churchill
#1 – January 22, 1989 – The Bengals lose to the San Francisco 49er’s in Super Bowl XXIII 20-16. I was young when this happened but I remember the hype and the family parties. What kid didn’t know the Ickey Shuffle? I remember the look in my parent’s eyes when the 4th quarter hit and the tide was changing. Then Joe Montana hit John Taylor for one of the greatest drives in NFL history. Heart broken.
#2 – December 4, 2005 – This was the season that we were going to return back to the Super Bowl. The team was that good and then Valdemort takes a cheap shot on Carson Palmer’s knee and he was out for the game/season/life. That was terrible but it wasn’t the most terrible. Jon Kitna was still scoring points and did enough to win that game. The defense collapsed and if you go back and watch the end of the 2nd quarter and beginning of 3rd it was Kevin Kaesviharn who got completely burned to give up points. Big Ben heaved a TD right before half time and then in the third a TD in the back of the end zone while in the red zone. KK that was on you buddy.
#3 – October 8, 2011 – “I would rather retire than play for the Cincinnati Bengals.” That cut was deep and it was made even deeper when it became official and Carson Palmer was traded to the Oakland Raiders. We went from zero to ludicrous speed with Palmer’s distaste for being an employee in Cincinnati. This is a guy the city rallied around and believed in. When you ask me who hurt me, I say Carson Palmer. At least we got a good deal for him, thanks Hue.
#4 – December 13, 2015 – Andy Dalton was having a MVP season. A lot of people conveniently forget that about Dalton for some reason. He was red hot that season and this was going to be the year that we got over the playoff hump. Then Dalton broke his thumb against the Steelers and was out for the playoffs. People really were clamoring to see what AJ McCarron was all about and even I can admit I was intrigued but you could not replace that magic in a bottle that Dalton had that season. This was an all or nothing season and again, could have been our Super Bowl year.
#5 – July 28, 2011 – In exchange for some lobster rolls the Bengals traded Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson to the New England Patriots. Chad was a fan favorite and the most fun player the Bengals have ever had. Was he outspoken, yes. Was he labeled as a cancer, yes. Was he right about Marvin Lewis, yes. It was clear when the Bengals traded Johnson the wheels were coming off….and they sure did because not long after did Palmer quit on the team. At least one of those picks turned into Marvin Jones (who we should have kept).
May we never live this pain again.