Mr. Redlegs Eekeez Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Mr. Redlegs Eekeez. 

Who Day Eekeez Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Who Dey Eekez. 

Paul Derringer Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum Paul Derringer bobblehead. 

Peter Warrick Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Bengals bobblehead of Peter Warrick. 

Justin Vaive Riding the Beast Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Cyclones bobblehead of Justin Vaive riding the Beast. 

WWE Extreme Rules 2020

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE Extreme Rules 2020. 

Bobby the Bobblehead Hall of Fame Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a National Bobblehead Hall of Fame Bobby bobblehead. 

Buddy the Elf Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds Buddy the Elf bobblehead. 

Batman Puckchop Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Cyclones Batman Puckchop bobblehead. 

WWE Backlash 2020 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE Backlash 2020. 

Derek Dietrich Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds Derek Dietrich bobblehead. 

Welcome to FC Cincinnati, Jaap Stam!

FC Cincinnati’s fifth season may currently be on hold, but that did not stop the team from naming a new head coach before play resumed. Jaap Stam was officially introduced as the club’s new manager, the team’s fifth in as many years. Stam takes over as head coach following the dismissal of Ron Jans earlier this year. 

Stam comes to FC Cincinnati with some coaching experience under his belt. He was the head coach of Reading from June 2016 to March 2018 and PEC Zwolle from December 2018 to May 2019. Stam looks to right the FCC ship after the team started the season with an 0-2-0 record. Assuming the season restarts and star player Jurgen Locadia is still with the orange and blue, Stam might have the greatest chance to succeed in MLS compared to the team’s previous head coaches. The 2020 FCC roster is unquestionably better than the inaugural team of last season and with proper guidance, could be a good squad.

As I write this, MLS and the Major League Soccer Players Association are reportedly working on a new collective bargaining agreement which could lead to the resumption of the sport in America. Early reports say that the MLS might conduct the rest of the 2020 season in Orlando, Florida via a tournament. Should that tournament come to fruition, Stam will have the opportunity to endear himself to FCC fans everywhere by leading the team to a tournament title. 

Richmond Webb Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Bengals bobblehead of Richmond Webb. 

Joe Mixon Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Bengals Joe Mixon bobblehead. 

AEW Double or Nothing 2020 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on AEW Double or Nothing 2020. 

Jesse Winker Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Reds Jesse Winker bobblehead. 

Yasiel Puig Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a FOCO Cincinnati Reds bobblehead of Yasiel Puig. 

WWE Money in the Bank 2020 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE Money in the Bank 2020. 

Man Cave Tour

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone gives a tour of his man cave. 

Thank You, Andy

Last week, the Cincinnati Bengals officially released Andy Dalton making the Red Rile an NFL free agent for the first time since he entered the league in 2011. Dalton was the starting quarterback for the Bengals ever since the team drafted him out of Texas Christian University. Even though Bengals fans knew this day was coming ever since the “Bungle for Burrow” mantra took over Cincinnati last season, it was still a bit of shock as Dalton had been with the team for nearly a decade. 

As a lifelong Bengals fan, I can honestly say I have never had more fun watching this team than during Dalton’s nine years behind center. In 2011, he and fellow rookie draft pick A.J. Green gave fans hope after Chad Johnson wound up with the New England Patriots and Carson Palmer threatened to retire if the Bengals did not trade him. In his first season, Dalton helped lead the team to a 9-7 record and a playoff appearance as a wildcard team when everybody thought the Bengals would finish last in the league. This playoff appearance was the first of five consecutive seasons in which the Bengals would qualify for the postseason.

The Bengals would earn wildcard berths again in 2012 and 2014 and would win the AFC North Division in 2013 and in 2015. During that stretch, Dalton and the Bengals had some of the most exciting wins in franchise history. In 2012, they marched into Pittsburgh and won on a late field goal that knocked the Steelers out of playoff contention while clinching a playoff spot for the Bengals. During their 8-0 home record season of 2013, the Bengals beat the Green Bay Packers in comeback fashion. In 2014, the Bengals beat the Denver Broncos in a Monday night thriller that clinched a postseason spot. In 2015, Dalton helped lead a furious late game come from behind victory over the Seattle Seahawks in overtime which I still consider to be my all-time favorite Bengals game. 

Despite Dalton’s regular season success, the one knock on his career with the Bengals is the lack of postseason victories. The Bengals were 0-5 in the playoffs during that five year stretch, and Dalton was often blamed for the team’s postseason losses. However, Dalton will still go down in Bengals history as one of the franchise’s best quarterbacks. He set a few franchise records and is more than deserving of a Bengals Hall of Fame election (if the Bengals ever create a team Hall of Fame).

If I could say one thing to Andy Dalton, it would be thank you. Thank you for coming to the Bengals when the team was in turmoil and helping establish a culture of winning. Thank you for all your work in the community and helping make the city of Cincinnati a better place. Thank you for being an excellent representation of the Bengals franchise for nearly a decade. Thank you, Andy.