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Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2009 > July > 03 > Entry
Bengals don’t want ‘Hard Knocks,’ but they sure need it to improve their poor image
MARVIN LEWIS BELIEVES BENGALS
ARE MATURE ENOUGH TO HANDLE
‘HARD KNOCKS’ PUBLICITY, EXPOSURE
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer unleashed a sigh, rolled his eyes and turned his head.
I had just asked him how he feels about the Bengals becoming HBO’s latest stars this summer when “Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals” unfolds from Georgetown (Ky.) College.
He didn’t utter a word. His body language said it all. Palmer will relish the scrutiny of NFL Films’ cameras and microphones about as much as he enjoyed rehabilitating his right elbow injury from a year ago when the tendon and ligament were detached from the bone.
As Associated Press reporter Joe Kay wrote: “The cable channel and NFL Films chose one of the least successful and most dysfunctional teams of the past 18 years” for the series.
And the Bengals agreed to it. Not because they want the national exposure. But they definitely need it — for two reasons.
The series should enhance their poor image. They’re viewed as losers and perceived as criminals. They’ve had one winning season in 18 years and went through a stretch where 10 players were arrested in 15 incidents in a 19-month span from December 2006 to June 2007.
That stigma lingers. Maybe HBO’s spin will knock it out.
And let’s not forget that season tickets are available for the first time in three years. Paul Brown Stadium is nowhere near being sold out.
The Bengals don’t get any money from “Hard Knocks.” However, with 30 million HBO subscribers in 50 states, the team is bound to win some fans eager to cough up cash for tickets.
Remember: Team owner/president Mike Brown is a very smart businessman.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Bengals
Comments
By ironmyke
July 4, 2009 10:49 PM | Link to this
A more compelling storyline might have been about the diehard bordering on masochistic fans who have bought tickets, sat in cold and rainy weather, paid $7 for weak beer, to watch this club had one winning season in 18 years and that sued some of its season ticket holders who had enough.