Quote:You can't even compare the eras though. With the salary cap being what it is, and how wild teams can go in free agency, it's hard to build dynasties, but that also means that it's hard to stay THIS BAD for an extended period of time.

 

Add that to your [BAD WORD REMOVED] research.

 

  I agree with you that the salary cap/ FA era makes it more difficult to stay bad for a long time.   Yet,  the Bengals,  Lions,  Rams,  and Jaguars all had long stretches of losing since the beginning of the salary cap/ FA era.    The Browns probably could be put in that category as well.   Though sometimes change is needed,  instability contributed to all of these franchises having long losing periods in the last 20+ years.   

 

  As for the Steelers,   even though there wasn't a salary cap or liberalized FA during the first 39 seasons of their NFL history,  that's an extraordinary long period in not even getting to the playoffs.   Even with a much lower % of teams qualifying for the playoffs.   The Steelers fans that stayed with the team through their first 39 years and were fortunate enough to be alive and healthy to appreciate their dynasty in the 1970's were rewarded for their fan loyalty.  

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