The Cincinnati Bengals proved me wrong in the best way | Letter

I submitted a letter to the editor in November about how, in a moment of clarity and after years of frustration, I canceled my Bengals season tickets.

I meant every word. I wasn't venting. I wasn't bluffing.

I was done.

Opinion: Dexter Lawrence deal proves Bengals are finally serious

No more subsidizing a Bengals front office that has spent years asking fans to be patient while underperforming. I had no evidence that anything would change. I was a frustrated fan who made a rational financial decision based on years of observable behavior. The Brown family had earned my skepticism.

They've spent the past several months dismantling it.

This offseason hit different

Newly signed Cincinnati Bengals defense tackle Dexter Lawrence speaks in a press conference for the first time since joining the team at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Monday, April 20, 2026.

This Bengals offseason has been different. Not "we're trying" different. Meaningfully different.

They've addressed the defense at every level. Made aggressive moves in free agency. And the capper: A blockbuster trade for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence that would have been unthinkable for the Bengals even a few days ago. It was the kind of move that makes you do a double-take when you see the alert on your phone.