Why am I not surprised? Johnathan Joseph, the rookie CB of the Cincinnati Bengals was arrested early this morning and charged with possession of marijuana. From 1990 until Marvin Lewis arrived in the Queen City the Bengals were the Bungles. The franchise was abysmal from top to bottom. The team couldn’t win on the field or on draft day, even though they routinely selected at or near the top. It was embarrassing to watch them play. A sure way to ruin your Sunday afternoon was to watch the Bungles find a way to lose.

Then Marvin Lewis came to town. In his inaugral season of 2003 he coached a team that had posted a 2-14 record the previous year to an 8-8 record, and he did this with an unproven back (Rudi Johnson) and without the team’s best defensive player (Takeo Spikes signed a free agent contract with the Bills before the ‘03 season). He led the team to another 8-8 season in 2004. In other footbal cities this would not be cause for celebration, but the city of Cincinnati was ecstatic. Back to back .500 seasons had not happened since the glory days of the ’80s. In the 2005 season Marvin took the next step. He lead the team to an 11-5 record, the AFC North crown, and a home playoff game. Had Carson Palmer’s knee not been mangled on the first drive of the game who knows how 2005 would have ended.

That brings us to this year and the disappointing 8-8 finish. Now, you now that Cincinnati has come a long way when 8-8 is considered underachieving, but that is what the Bengals did this year. But that is not the worst part of this story. The Bengals are no longer the Bungles on the field, but they have become the Bungles off the field. Joseph is the ninth Bengal arrest this year. Chris Henry has been arrested five times, and he is still on the team.

What a shame that the team has finally come together on the field and no longer embarrasses the city as a football club. What a shame that the team is undisciplined away from the field and embarrasses the city because of a complete disregard for the law.