Sadly, I was made aware of the signing of Bengals Wide Receiver Housh, my beloved #84, probably the most productive player on the Bengals squad for the past 8 years, to the Seattle Seahawks today... Although I am deeply saddened by this move on behalf of the Bengals, I have to now follow my previous squandering. I said to everyone that if the Bengals let go of Housh that I would become a Steelers fan, which amazingly/ironically was my second team at a strong tie with the Colts. The second part of the deal to stay with the Bengals was to keep Housh and have to at least go 9 - 7 or above 8 - 8, how ever they can do it and if they couldn't pull it off, then I would leave to the Colts. However, after the dismissal of Housh, I am forced, yet relieved to join a team that believes in winning, and a team that loves it's fans and gives them what they want, WINS!!!
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a team that not only knows how to win, but who to hire to help win! They have a President and owner that owns, a GM that manages, scouts that bring on new players, and players that love to play, and you can clearly see this in their history... I know it seems weird for an ex-Bengals fan to cheer for their biggest rival, but I have had much intervention at work lately with a HUGE, and I mean HUGE Steelers fan, and lately, since before this years Super Bowl, he has really pushed me to like the Steelers. I even cheered for them and won $25 from their Super Bowl victory. I do have to say that this has been a long time coming now, because the Bengals have let me down too many times in the past couple of years, and sometimes you have to know when to cut your losses. As per the aforementioned, I do have a Rudi Johnson signed jersey, a Chad Johnson signed Jersey and framed picture, a David Pollack jersey signed by Shane Graham and John Thornton, and a Chad Johnson Storm jersey for sale currently, prices vary, and all profits go toward buying a new Pittsburgh Steelers Jersey...
I am sorry to have to let go of a team that for so long (24 years) I loved so much, but enough is enough. There's a point at which you have to say no more, and that point was at which you dumped Housh, your single greatest receiver on the team... I am sad to go, but I'm sure the Steelers will welcome me with open arms. I was there through the bad years, and there for the good year, but it's time to move on. What we had was amazing at times, and disheartening at others, but listen, it's not me, it's you...
Here is a copy of the letter that I sent, attention to Mike Brown:
Dear Mike Brown and Bengals Team,
I have been a fan of the Bengals since I was brought home from the hospital after birth. The first shirt I wore home was a Bengals t-shirt. However, over the last few years, I have seen a steep decrease in players ability, and I can't help but think that it has something to do with the management and ownership of the team. The management decision to not start negotiations with T.J. Houshmanzedah (sp) to remain a Bengals player not only discourages me, but angers me as well. Your team suffers from a lack of support from Cincinnati because you are not doing anything to bring in fans. You are more focused on making money and ripping off the players and fans, that you can't see that we're slowly diminishing. I may have never owned season tickets, but I went to the games, and some seasons I went to 6 or 7 games, some seasons I traveled to other states or cities to watch games. I may have purchased jerseys, but those are soon to be given to goodwill or sold for maybe a couple of dollars. Therefore, I know this letter may not mean much to you, and may not even reach you, but hopefully the outcry from the remaining fans will reach you. Maybe those that did purchase season tickets for the Bengals will rethink before they resign their ticket leases on seats. Maybe they will finally hit you where it hurts, in YOUR wallet, because we're tired of you hitting OUR wallets, and not giving us anything for our money... I must say that I am sad to have to leave to watch another team, but maybe in some strange way, you will start to see the decline in your fan base, and maybe you'll decide to step up and make some changes and smarter purchases for your fans and teams sake. I know that my leaving will surely not even make a small dent in your profits, but hopefully many fans changes will!!! In all honesty, you're a let down to Paul Brown, and I'm sure he's rolled over many times in his grave from where you've recently taken this team, but this is my letter of resignation. I hope it reaches your desk, and I hope it reaches your hands even if only to land in your gold plated waste basket. Although I'm already cheering for a new team, I hope that for Cincinnati Bengals fans, you will soon make changes to make Cincinnati a professional team, and not a professional laughing stock in the NFL... Good luck to you in the future, because if the present is anything like the future is going to be, then you'll really need it...
Sincerely,
Ryan D. Hoopes
ex-Bengals fan
and voice of concerned fans
This is a direct copy of the letter sent to Mike Brown today, March 3rd, 2009. Therefore, for your sake, I hope that will bring some change, but I wouldn't count too much on that... I know that I won't be invited to many of my friends houses now that I'm no longer a Bengals fan, and I'm sure I will lose what little readers base I have on here, but a man has to do what a man has to do... We'll see ya!
1 person thinks I really stuck it to Mike Brown in this blog...
1 comment:
I can understand your frustration and anger, but let me make one last ditch effort to help you see the light.
The Bengals DID pursue TJ, they actually made a better offer than Minnesota, but like all NFL players TJ chose to play for money. Seattle was offering the most. For years all TJ talked about was winning and how it was never about the money, it was all about winning, and yet he signed with Seattle? The 4-12 Seattle Seahawks? The team that is drafting BEFORE the Bengals?
Seattle has a worse running back, a worse quarter back, a similar offensive line, worse receivers, and a slightly better defense. All in all about the same team, as the record shows, but again TJ took the money and ran.
I am not saying that I wouldn't have, but I find it funny that everyone thinks that this is the Bengals fault. The Bengals do about 80% of stuff the wrong way, but they were pretty smart in this situation. They decided not to over pay a receiver that turns 32 in training camp for 5 years. That is a long time for a 32 year old skill position that had back problems last year.
I loved TJ, he was a fierce competitor and a monster on the field, but the Bengals played it smart I think considering what they would have been on the hook for. It is time to see what the young guys can do, and if you can get Nate Washington or Laverneas Coles as a stop gap for cheaper than you win.
And the Steelers? Let me remind you of reasons you should NEVER be a Steelers fan:
1. Terrible Towl, is there anything more annoying?
2. Bill Cowher, remember the spit that would form at the corners of his mouth?
3. Kimo Von Olhofen, I know Carson's knee doesn't forget.
4. Ben like to head but cars.
5. Hines Wards smugness.
There are 5 good reasons to hate the Steelers. I am not telling you to love the Bengals, in all likely hood they will break your heart, thankfully I am a glutton for punishment, but for the love of God don't become a Steelers fan. Be a Browns fan, be a Baltimore fan before you become a Steelers fan.
Of course you can disregard this and hop on the Steeler bandwagon. But don't get angry when Chris Crocker hit Ben so hard that Ben wishes he was in a car accident again. And you can still come over to the house, but don't you dare wear any of that Steeler bullshit, or you can deal with my wife.
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