Per PFT This is surprising, as the Bengals have finally achieved a modicum of competitiveness, Cinci is sort of like the Tampa Bay Rays of the NFL terminally cheap and possibly ill managed, but somehow the Skipper finds a way to win games and occasionally compete at a high level. Lewis is a fine Head Coach especially when Ownership brings in problem children type players, to Marvin Lewis's credit once they go to Cinci the off the field problems tend to stop and if anyone can get anything out of Andre Smith they not only deserve an extension, they possibly deserve a medal. Ditto: Pacman Jones TO Ocho Cinco Lamarcus Coker Brian Leonard etc. I suspect Mike Brown has calculated that with a potential lockout looming, Lewis will be unwilling to risk the open market and will take their lowball offer. If he does walk, I simply hope the Bills don't wise up and hire him and can Gailey as the man has been successful with ownership that is even crappier than the Bills current Owner. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/10/08/marvin-lewis-inches-toward-free-agency/ http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...ints-at-things-holding-up-contract-extension/
I think Marvin Lewis is no better than average. Cincy could play it safe by keeping him, or they could flip the coin by letting him walk. They’ll probably try to find someone cheaper, and Lewis will be free to fill one of the coaching vacancies next season. Oakland? Carolina? Jacksonville? San Francisco?
Should be pointed out that the two Head Coaches who are lame ducks, Lewis and Fox, are a collective 3-9 this season. As for Lewis the coach, if he can make a go of it in Cinci, he can succeed elsewhere, the Brown's are taking for granted the job he did and seem to have forgotten how terrible they were before he arrived.
He seems like a guy that can build a team and put together a solid atmosphere. However, he doesn't seem like he can win the big one, fair or not - a poor mans Tampa version of Tony Dungy maybe. He may be best off going to a different team, though I don't see one that could turn into a Colts type beast, though the Cowboys might be interesting, maybe San Fran. The Bills will likely stick with Gailey unless they go winless - that regime is quite cheap and I doubt they will shell out for a top coach. Lots of potential hot seats this year though. I can
That’s more or less what he is. Decidedly average without a good enough team to make him look better. He’s not that far off from Jim Caldwell. I can really see Lewis in San Francisco next year. Lewis isn’t a top coach. In fact, Gailey might be back next year. You never know…
Haha I didn't actually mean to imply Lewis was a top notch coach, rather referring that the Bills probably wouldn't pay top dollar if Gruden came back - they seem to be mired in guys like Jauron and Gailey. Lewis to San Fran seems a good fit. Dallas will be interesting though, Phillips won't be back and you know Jerrah is going to push for a big name this time. Cowher has to be high on his wish list. Tons of coaches I see on the hot seat or as lame ducks this year. Mangini is almost certainly gone, Del Rio is feeling some fire, Kubiak in Houston if they miss the playoffs, McDaniels if the Broncos fall flat the rest of the year, Cable in Oakland, Turner in San Diego, Lewis and Phillips as noted, Lovie Smith, Schwartz in Detroit if they can't win more than a game or two, Fox is a duck and Singletary is struggling. A good few will make it through, but that's a rather big list, there will definitely be some upheaval this offseason.
Cowher to Dallas is unlikely, IMO. Cowher wants full control, and Jerruh’s ego won’t let him concede that other people are better at building the Cowboys than he is. The last time that happened, Bill Parcells packed up and took half the team with him. Schwartz isn’t on the hot seat. That team is playing better, though it’s not showing up in the win column. Next year they’ll be 8-8. McDaniels also gets another year unless the Broncos go 2-12. You forgot John Fox, too. Though Jerry Richardson seems content to let Fox and Hurney’s contracts expire because he expects a lockout.
What makes Lewis interesting to me is his ability to take on the most problematic personalities and screw ups and manage to get performance out of them. He'd be a good fit in Oakland as he has dealt with dysfunctional ownership, has developed a Qb, but Cable is going much better this season than his last season and a half. Jacksonville would also make sense as I think Del Rio is a goner.
I can't remember where it is, but I saw an article noting that while Schwartz is putting in some good pieces, he will be in trouble unless that starts translating to wins. The success the Rams are having will double that pressure. I doubt he gets fired after this year, but if he wins 1-2 games this year and next? McD has taken a buzz saw to the Broncos and while they sometimes play well, their record overall is not great. The fans are lukewarm on him and unless he can put more Ws on the board, they will grow restless. Personally I like the guy and think he just needs some time. I mentioned Fox, he's pretty much the ultimate lame duck at this point heh. The Dallas situation will be interesting imo, I doubt Jerrah goes for another lukewarm pick like he did with Phillips. Either he goes hard after someone like Gruden or Cowher, or he goes young and relatively unknown. Or hell, maybe he dips back into the college ranks like he did with Jimmy and Barry. The fact that Lewis HAS worked in that situation would indicate to me he would rather have a more stable team lol. JVille, Carolina, San Fran all seem like potentially good spots.
