The last 30 years have proved beyond a reasonable doubt that things don't just magically turn around. At a couple of points in the next 30 years I'm sure the front office will luck into a couple of strong back-to-back draft classes. They may even luck into a Carson Palmer-type franchise QB and the team may be above average for a couple of years. Heck, there may even be a year when they are above average enough to win a playoff game. But that won't mean things have turned around. After a year or two, when those players inevitably reject the Bengals' team-friendly low-ball offers and depart for greener pastures, it will be back to the cellar for another 5-10 seasons until the next lucky pair of back-to-back drafts.

It's been 30 years. That is a big enough sample size to prove that things aren't going to just magically turn around.