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This is an original watercolor painting of the 2004 Cincinnati Bengals uniform.
Click on image to enlarge$450.00 (includes shipping in North America)
This original, one-of-a-kind watercolor painting of the 2004 Cincinnati Bengals uniform is the original artwork that was used in the creation of this Cincinnati Bengals uniform evolution print and tens of thousands of other Cincinnati Bengals products that have been sold across North America. This original piece of art was painted by artist Nola McConnan for Maple Leaf Productions Ltd.
Some History
After bottoming-out with a 2-14 record in 2002 under the tutelage of head coach Dick Le Beau, the 2003 Bengals looked for change and respectability and enlisted Marvin Lewis as the teams new sideline boss.2003 also saw them release QB Akili Smith (who had been with the squad since 1999) and draft Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer with the first overall pick. And with third-year WR Chad Johnson rounding into form, the Bengals were able to go 8-8 in 2003. They didn't make the playoffs, but at least they were in the hunt for a spot.
In 2004 the trio of Lewis, Palmer and Johnson again led the team to a respectable record of 8-8, finishing 3rd in the new four-team AFC North division Pittsburgh and Baltimore. Again the team failed to make the postseason, but this team, now playing in the state-of the-art Paul Brown Stadium which opened in 2000, managed to bring back big-time excitement to Cincinnati football fans.
In 2004 the Bengals uniform underwent some radical changes. The most noticeable of which was the addition of a third orange jersey to accompany their home black and road white jerseys.
A third jersey is a concept that became commonplace in baseball and hockey in the 1990's, and in the 2000s in the NFL. Most 3rd jerseys are worn occasionally at home as well as on the road, giving a team a third option as to what uniform to wear. And of course, the addition of a third jersey adds to the options fans can buy, thereby increasing apparel revenues and ultimately benefiting the team. More recently, baseball and hockey teams have begun adding 4th and even 5th jerseys to their roster of uniform possibilities, but this trend has not started in the NFL, nor is it likely to if for no other reason than the fact that the NFL season consists of only 16 regular season games vs baseball's 162 and hockey's 82.
This third jersey displays a new tiger-stripe pattern on the shoulders, has black sleeves, with black sleeve and collar trim. The sleeves have white undersides with a band of white going down to the waist.
More rounded style numerals replace the block letter style numeral adopted in 1981. On this jersey the numbers are outlined in black trim. And for the first time in franchise history black pants are officially adopted as part of the Bengal uniform. And once again, the orange helmets with black tiger stripes; first used in 1981, remain a part of the official team look.
