Those Bungals

This season has been so discouraging, even one of the best Bengals players of the last 25 years had to voice his frustration.

Willie Anderson has some sharp criticism on Twitter, which was quickly picked up by the Cincinnati Enquirer. His biggest complaint? That there is no real 'system' in place to mold young players or to allow for those players to fill leadership positions.

And he's quite right. Until Mike Brown retires or dies (or both), things will never change. Even Mike's own father, the legendary Paul Brown, would have fired his own son for such ineptitude (the quickest team to reach 200 losses, a vast majority of those under old Mikey's watch).

The system or culture in Cincy is one designed to lose. Their owner is so removed - and able to make such a profit even if the team continues to lose - and so stubborn that things will not change.

Thus, two winning seasons under Mikey's control. TWO. For the Steelers or Ravens, teams that have solid systems in place, winning is their culture. They will have the odd losing season. However, with the Bungals, losing is their culture. They will have the odd winning season every decade or so.

Here is what will happen after this season -

1. Lewis will walk. Mikey will let him.

2. Our offensive line, runningback, and defensive coordinators will be retained.

3. Hue Jackson will be hired as our new head coach (he was our former wide receiver coach and is now leading the resurgent Raiders offense back to life).

4. They will draft Ryan Mallett, the qb out of Arkansas, in the top three of next year's draft.

5. Carson will play one more year and then be either dealt or released.

Here is what I would love to happen (if Mikey wasn't in control).

1. Lewis will walk.

2. Our offensive line, runningback, and defensive coordinator retained.

3. Hire Bryan Billick as coach and GM.

4. Pray for the Panthers to win another two games. Pray for the lions to win another two games too (and they still play the Vikes so there's a chance). And earn the first pick. Draft Andrew Luck out of Stanford to be the qb of the future. Sit him his entire rookie year - just like with Carson Palmer - and then let him have the job the following year.