Commentary: Bengals need Mike Brown to step aside

The Cincinnati Bengals have a nice little run of playoff appearances going with three since 2005, but they haven’t won a postseason game in 21 years, the longest streak in the NFL. And I don’t see them turning that around without a change at the top.

Owner Mike Brown is going to do what he pleases with his franchise, of course. But you’d think he’d look at his record of futility and come to the realization that while he may be good at making a buck (although that’s no great accomplishment with NFL riches tumbling his way), he doesn’t know diddly about building a title contender.

Don’t tell me about this year’s great draft class of receiver A.J. Green and quarterback Andy Dalton. Green was an obvious pick at the No. 4 spot, and Dalton, to the Bengals’ great surprise, fell to them early in the second round.

And that shrewd deal they made with the Raiders for Carson Palmer? The Bengals were just flat lucky Oakland lost its QB to a season-ending injury right before the trade deadline and made a desperate offer of two high draft picks. If Brown had his way, he would have let Palmer wallow in early retirement just to prove a point.

The Bengals need a general manager to compete in the AFC North. The Steelers and Ravens, two model organizations, aren’t going away, and the Browns have the football people in place to eventually build a winner.

The Cowboys are in the same mess with Jerry Jones insisting on having control.

Owners who hire great minds hold up championship trophies. Owners who treat their franchises like personal fantasy football teams don’t.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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