Duke Tobin’s frustration doesn’t mean anything if the Bengals continue to hope instead of change
Cincinnati appears to be staying the course with Duke Tobin leading its “collaborative approach.”
Duke Tobin made it clear he does not like to see the Cincinnati Bengals lose by not finishing games. Nothing was more evident in his first-ever end-of-season press conference as the club’s director of player personnel that went on for over an hour.
“It irritates me, it really irritates me,” Tobin said. “You have to find ways to close games, and that has been our No. 1 problem is when it comes time to close the game, we haven’t closed it.”
No other topic elicited a stronger reaction from the person in the middle of every personnel decision Cincinnati makes. The Bengals are 7-12 in one-score games over the past two seasons. Having a winning record in such games could’ve been the difference in making the playoffs both years, and sitting at home like they are now.
If there was one thing an observer could easily discern from Tobin’s time behind the microphone, it was his frustration behind this very problem.
“It’s very frustrating that we’ve lost so many close games, incredibly frustrating,” Tobin said. “Had we just won our share of those, not more than our share, we’d be talking about at least having opportunities in the playoffs, which is where we feel we should be.”
Tobin is aware of Cincinnati’s problems. The ingredients behind losing tight contests includes lacking talent and, in some cases, leadership. Whiffing on draft picks hurts even more than whiffing on veteran free agent signings.
The results from Tobin’s side of the operation haven’t been good enough, and it’s led to the results being what they’ve been on the field. It’s why if Tobin wants to be frustrated with where the team has found itself in each of the last three years, he needs to be someone who facilitates change to produce different outcomes.
But it doesn’t sound like any change is coming anytime soon.
Duke Tobin seeks a change in results, not a change in process
Tobins said it himself. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow told reporters “something’s got to change” leading up to the regular season finale in regards to players improving, or new players being brought in to avoid another losing season. When asked what needs to change, Tobin offered a blunt response.
“Our record,” Tobin said.
Tobin went on to clarify players and schematics will naturally change, as they do every offseason, but this answer really summed up a lot of things.
In his opening statement, Tobin affirmed his belief in the people in the building due to the winning seasons at the start of the decade.
“This offseason, it’s going to be all about the who’s doing it, the what they’re doing, and how they’re doing it,” Tobin said. “That’s the focus. I really believe in the group that we have here. Why do I believe in them? Because they have shown that they can do it. They’re a collaborative group. They’re a smart group. They’ve been there before.”
When asked why certain contract negotiations in recent years have dragged out, i.e. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, his response pointed to the fact that not all have been like that.
“We’ve done it from time to time with with players,” Tobin said. “I don’t know that it’s not been able to be done.”
Even when asked about Burrow’s input, Tobin made sure to reference that recent success has not left his mind.
“I enjoy hearing [Burrow’s] opinions in terms of, you know, when we were in L.A. at the Super Bowl, everyone was happy,” Tobin said. “Guess who else wasn’t happy this year? Me, I wasn’t happy. Nobody’s happy when it’s not going well. You know, I think Zac [Taylor] mentioned it. It’s Paul Brown’s famous quote, ‘Winning makes believers of us all.’
“Winning makes believers of us all. We want to get back to the happiness we had out in L.A. at the Super Bowl, and we feel like we can, but we’re not there yet.”
Friday afternoon was not about Tobin proclaiming organizational change was forthcoming in the front office, nor a change in how the organization approaches solving its common problems.
Tobin took accountability for his part in the failures, but instead of promising a needed shift in how to get better, he said “trust the process” without saying those exact words.
That’s not good enough for fans who can clearly see the process isn’t good enough.
Without a clear plan to improve, the Bengals are still banking on hope
There was never a reality in which Tobin was going to outline plans to improve the roster or specific players to fill holes, but if he wants to earn trust as someone who’s frustrated with how the last three years have unfolded, he needs to provide evidence that the club will seek different ways to produce better results.
He did no such thing for 63 minutes. Tobin assured everyone listening the plan for 2026 will involve the same annual tweaks, with the hope of it all working out better than last year. And the year before. And the year before.
Tobin’s frustration and resolve were evident, and the whole reason he was even talking Friday was to give clarity to the fans. Ironically, it’s the fans that remain unconvinced Tobin leading the “collaborative approach,” a phrase used four times by Tobin, is the right way for Cincinnati winning its first Super Bowl.
“It was important for me to talk to the fans,” Tobin said. “I guess I’ve come around. I can change and if this is something that you guys feel is important, I’m happy to do that.”
Tobin says he can change, but nothing indicates the Bengals will change how they approach this offseason.
The only change may be found if their way actually works instead of failing.
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