Bengals Backlash Spawns Angry Web Sites

'MikeBrownSucks' And 'SaveTheBengals' Gain Popularity

CINCINNATI -- As another season of futility drags on for Cincinnati Bengals fans, more tiger-stripe faithful are taking their rants to another level.

They are forming Web sites devoted to the man who is perceived as "Public Enemy No. 1" in this town, Bengals owner Mike Brown (pictured left).

After posting an NFL-worst record of 52-108 in the 1990's, the Bengals are off to an 0-6 start this season. They have scored only four touchdowns and have been shut out three times.

Fans have taken to the Internet to declare that enough is enough.

One of the new sites goes right for the jugular with its name alone. MikeBrownSucks.com is a fan's Web site designed for digusted Bengals fans to vent their frustrations with the team.

Longtime Bengals fan and e-commerce consultant Dave Young launched MikeBrownSucks.com in September. In addition to seeking Brown's removal from the club's football operations via petition, Young has gone a step further.

Young is marketing his Web site with merchandise where people can buy "Mike Brown Sucks" T-shirts and bumper stickers. He has a mascot called "Fraidy Cat".

He is also using the site to promote a game boycott for the Dec. 3 game against the Arizona Cardinals, which he has renamed the "MikeBrownSucks.com Bowl."

Young isn't trying to take down the Bengals' players or insult other fans. As far as he's concerned, Brown is the source of all the trouble.

"We will keep calling out owner Mike Brown until he steps up and accounts for his actions," Young said. "This man must be held accountable for what he's done."

The site also includes play-calling suggestions and a fantasy football news section. Besides the message boards, fans with a journalistic flair are invited to submit guest columns to voice their opinions.

Another Web site, called SaveTheBengals.com, is looking to hurt Brown in his wallet.

"Save The Bengals" founder David Frey established two goals when he created his site in early October. First, to campaign for Brown to seek outside assistance with running the team's football matters.

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Second, Frey believes that if enough season ticket holders stop payment on their personal seat licenses at Paul Brown Stadium, Brown will take notice and make improvements.

He estimates that if 10,000 license holders with 2-4 seats stop paying for next year's tickets, the fans' financial leverage could choke the team into submission.

"The hope is, everyone will join and not pay anymore money to the Bengals," said Frey, 34, a sales engineer from Loveland, Ohio.

Frey is also hoping that the team's corporate sponsors will end its partnerships with the club.

"Once we get the numbers, there's some kind of organized way to show this isn't just on paper," he said.

Fans and companies who pledge to join the group are not legally obligated to actually stop spending their money on the Bengals. The agreement is simply in good faith. However, if enough fans don't follow the pledge, there is a risk of losing the seats and seat licenses.

Frey believes that Brown broke promises to Hamilton County taxpayers who approved the funding of the $453 million stadium.

"Mike Brown promised things would be different with the new stadium," he said. "He said we will be competitive. He made all these promises and now said things won't be different. Things are going to stay status-quo, even with the new stadium."

Since he's already paid for the remainder of this season, Frey will continue to attend Bengals games. He doesn't think that putting together a winning team is out of the question.

"All we have to do is hire somebody competent to do it," he said.

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