The Cincinnati Bengals lost to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 15, but that game was much more than a simple late-season loss. Cincinnati was eliminated from playoff contention, and there was so much more to the loss.
It eliminated the Bengals in embarrassing 24-0 fashion and coincided with criticism on the organization from fans, former players, and opposing players. To say Week 15 was a bad one for the Bengals would be an understatement.
Amid such a rough week, calls for the director of player personnel, Duke Tobin, to be fired are rampant. But, as Paul Dehner Jr. Of The Athletic reports, the job status update for Tobin will frustrate those Bengals fans calling for Tobin to be fired.
Bengals' Duke Tobin plan will frustrate fans after
While others in the position Tobin has found himself in would face more heat from ownership, Dehner reports that isn't the case with Tobin.
"There are cracks in the foundation, absolutely," Dehner writes, "There's no way around the results and outrage currently directed at Tobin by the fan base. He's never seen his role challenged or exposed to this level externally. Internally, however, it's just not happening."
While Tobin is facing heavy criticism from outside of the Bengals organization, inside, things are drastically different. Not only is Tobin not facing the same level of criticism, but he's also actually receiving a lot of support.
"Tobin is viewed as family in nearly the same regard as the actual Browns and Blackburns." Dehner writes. "There is zero thought that his job is in jeopardy. He will have to lead the Bengals out of this draught, and ownership trusts him to do so."
This past week's loss made it three straight seasons that the Bengals have missed the playoffs. With Ja'Marr Chase, Joe Burrow, and Tee Higgins under contract, missing the playoffs this consistently is an unfathomable situation.
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While there are some injury issues, especially with Burrow, the Bengals should still be way better than they are. Two of the main issues present are the offensive line and the defense as a whole.
Those two units aren't good enough, and that's partially Tobin's fault. While not every draft pick or signing will be a hit, the Bengals have more often than not missed on the top additions over the last few years.
Tobin's misses have led him to draw the ire of the fanbase, and while the struggles aren't solely on his shoulders, he is to blame for some of the problems that have emerged for Cincinnati over the years.
But, despite the poor situation, Tobin's job is safe, much to the chagrin of the Bengals fanbase. Unfortunately for the Bengals fan base, no major changes are expected at this time, meaning Tobin will be in charge of getting the team out of their current funk.
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