No sellout, no TV for 1-12 Bengals: TV ruling means (mercifully) no will have to watch. $$$

The Cincinnati Enquirer ^ | 21 Dec 02 | Mark Curnutte

[xzins]

No sellout, no TV for Bengals

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bengals notebook

By Mark Curnutte The Cincinnati Enquirer

Sunday's Bengals home game against the New Orleans Saints hadn't sold out by Thursday and will not be shown on live television in the Cincinnati market.

In three full seasons at taxpayer-funded Paul Brown Stadium, the Bengals have sold out just eight games.

The past two Bengals home games have had the fewest tickets distributed in the past 23 games. The announced crowd was 44,878 on Dec. 1 against the Baltimore Ravens. The crowd was announced at 42,092 on Dec. 15 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, although there were far fewer people in the stadium for both games than the number of tickets distributed.

Sunday's game against the Saints could draw even fewer people than the Aug. 24 preseason game played between the teams in Cincinnati. That game had 41,636 tickets distributed.

INJURY UPDATE: Defensive linemen Vaughn Booker (rib cage) and Bernard Whittington (groin) didn't practice Thursday. Wide receiver Peter Warrick (bruised lungs) and cornerback Artrell Hawkins (thigh) did practice.

E-mail mcurnutte

[xzins]

A recent article in the Cincy Enquirer points out that the Bengals management is PROMISED a share of NFL TV receipts no matter what their record.

Mike Brown, team owner, has figured this out and intends NOT to field a team with a significant payroll BECAUSE he doesn't have to. He'll get paid his guaranteed amount anyway.

This is a classic case of "guaranteed" income resulting in the least possible productivity -- Be it socialist state, welfare state.....or NFL teams.

How long before other NFL owners figure out that Brown is playing them for fools?

NFL Welfare. Now I've seen everything.

[gcruse]

Sad if true. But even the desire to win doesn't guarantee a thing. As the ESPN crew said truthfully of the Dallas offense tonight, "This is a bad team." I don't see the Cowboys getting any better next year, even.

[dfwgator]

Cincinnati is lucky, if only we were spared here in Dallas from having to watch the Cowboys.

[BADROTOFINGER]

A shame too, since the Saints seem to fall behind by double digits in every game this season, this could be a decent game...JFK