Boomer Esiason has played only one season for the Bengals in the last eight years. He lives in New York. But he remains one of Cincinnati's most popular and well-known athletes. Esiason answered five questions for the Enquirer's John Fay. The answers show the Bengals and Mike Brown have a special place in Boomer's heart — and former “Monday Night Football” partner Al Michaels doesn't:

        1. If you were general manager of the Bengals for a day, what would you do?

        Probably grant myself another year. ... Shoot, that's a tough one. I don't know where to begin ... Let me think about that one ...

        2. Would you do what your radio partner, Matt Millen, did and actually become a GM?

        If the right offer came along as president and general manager, I'd consider it. I can't imagine me ever coaching, but I could see myself as a general manager. That day will never come in Cincinnati, because Mike Brown will never give up the job.

        3. Who's your favorite Bengals teammate?

        I've got two: Dave Rimington and Anthony Munoz. You'd have to put Stanford Jennings on there, too. So three. Now, I'm dissing Cris Collinsworth by not putting him on there.

        4. Did you ever patch things up with Al Michaels?

        Why would I want to do something stupid like that? No.

        5. True or false? The long slide of the Bengals began when they drafted David Klingler to back you up?

        I think they drafted him to replace me. But I think the slide began when Paul Brown died. Was it David Klingler? Akili Smith? They've had a tough time finding quarterbacks.

        Boomer wants another shot at the GM question, but he can't bring himself to be flip about it.

        I have such an affinity for the Bengals and Mike Brown — I like Mike as a person so much — that I don't want to take shots at them. There's enough people doing that. He was so good to me, it hurts me to hear it.

Boomer back in the booth

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