If you haven’t been following, I’ve been writing pointless letters to Bengals President Mike Brown because he refuses to trade Carson Palmer (Brown’s response with my response).  I know they are pointless because Mike Brown is as stubborn as the universe is vast.

This all started because Mike Brown doesn’t see any value in trading Carson Palmer.  In his most recent letter, Brown feels that there is a fifty (50!) percent chance of Carson Palmer coming back.  Fifty!  Five.  Zero.  Hell, he even says that there’s “a strong possibility, even probability… that Carson will change his mind and return.”

I, what, where, how, the, what?  I can’t articulate how depressing it is to be a Bengals fan.  I don’t know if I can even muster the strength to write another letter to Brown.  All I can envision saying is, “Thanks for your reponse, I hope you’re right about Palmer, even though you won’t be.”

How would you respond?

Cincinnati columnist Paul Daugherty said it best when he said that he won’t get excited about the NFL draft unless teams can draft new owners.  Amen, brother.

Mike Brown also believes that a second or third-round draft pick would produce only a back-up corner back or back-up wide receiver.  My response to that: What about Chad Ochocinco, Chris Henry, T.J. Whosyourmama, Rey Maualuga?  All drafted in the second round or after.

Sigh….

I don’t believe Brown’s refusal to trade Palmer will be the “end” of the Bengals.  But it sure as hell is not a beginning.  Not by a long shot.