Bill Maher instigated an obnoxious little meme highlighting the irony that America’s favorite sport, professional football, could be labeled socialist. He's isn’t necessarily wrong, both Green Bay and Dallas share billions in television revenue that is supposed to give each team a chance at winning championships.
However, the league-mandated salary cap applies only to rosters, not to the total spending of each franchise. As evidenced in Hard Knocks, unlike New York's lavish indoor facilities, the Bengals practice outside in southern Ohio.
Cincy’s lack of an indoor facility has been a sore spot for me all season. Forbes ranks the Bengals as the 27th valued franchise in the league, relegating them to gamble on cheaper players and practicing in sub-par facilities. Even Ohio State University has a $20-million practice building.
The Bengals' best player almost blew his knee on the first day of practice, stopping himself from running into the street.
I wouldn’t say having professional football players shuffle off to practice in a basketball gymnasium is particularly socialist.
The Bengals look smart gambling on Estonian goliath Margus Hunt. Hunt has the physical tools, living off a diet of human growth hormone. (I kid!)
Hunt's skills are being honed as he's tutored to mix quarterbacks into his diet.
Not to besmirch the Bengals, but the other 31 NFL teams all take chances on players. Teams prepare for puzzling turf-caused injuries.
The teams that overcome adversity mix savvy personal moves with solid coaching. Paul Guenther, the Bengals' linebacker coach, sicced alpha dog James Harrison to settle a inner-squad squabble.
Marvin Lewis knows what motivates, quoting songs from "Top Gun."
In spite of Lewis's speech, for the first time in Hard Knocks, the Bengals revert back to the Cincinnati Bungles in their third preseason game, this time against the Cowboys.
The game's sole bright spot was Andy Dalton reverting to routine and throwing exclusively to a healthy AJ Green.
Green's return meant that his temporary replacement was unable stave off the next round of cuts.
Calling football socialist because it redistributes money among billionaire owners neglects the untold hours that players train and coaches strategize. If anything, football personifies the mix of hard work, luck, and yes slight amount of redistribution that is the American mixed but mostly free economy. It remains to be seen if all of the Bengals' preparation will lead a championship opportunity to present itself.