The Marvin Watch Day #1

If Mike Brown decides to give Marvin Lewis what he wants, a beefed up personnel department, inflatable bubble over a practice field, the ability to hire his own coaches and not accept hand me downs, is Brown admitting that the way he's conducted business over the last 20 years is wrong?

Mike Brown doesn't need Marvin Lewis to tell him that. All Brown has to look at is the won-loss record since he took the control of the franchise in 1991. But Marvin calling out Mike publicly makes it less likely that Lewis will get what he wants to stay here. Mike Brown hates, let me re iterate this HATES to have his negotiating aired publicly. He also seldom, if ever, loses a negotiation, public or private. So my guess is, Brown doesn't budge on any of this and Marvin leaves. Maybe the next guy in will get some of these things that Lewis wants. But when Marvin's agenda began leaking to the national media over the weekend, that might have been the final straw for Brown.

Factor in a fragile economy, suites and club seats that must be sold and the uncertainty of a collective bargaining negotiation the NFL is conducting with it's players union, and the economic landscape for Mike Brown doesn't look so good. He has to re-invigorate his fan base. And Marvin Lewis my have unwittingly played into Brown's hands. Now, Mike can let Marvin go, citing irreconcilable differences. He can then begin selling 2011 as a fresh start with a new head coach and a new direction. He might be able to convince that new head coach (particularly if the guy has never had that lofty a gig before) to take some of the assistant coaches who've been passed on from regime to regime over the last 25 years. Brown would view that as a win-win for himself. He wins by not caving into Lewis, who's made this fight public. And he wins by being able to say "See, Marvin didn't really want to stay here. But look at this new guy. Wait 'til you see what he's going to do."

As for Lewis, leaving Bengal-dom isn't all that bad. He's made his millions here. He can either contend for some of the other NFL jobs that have and will open up, or park himself in a TV studio until the right deal comes along.

The more I think about this, the more I see it playing out this way. I could be wrong. It wouldn't be the first time. But I think I'm right.

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Marvin Lewis coach of the year in the NFL? I've always been a big fan of Marvin's. But I think he's smart enough to know he got the award this year from the Associated Press football writers in large part for what his team did defensively. And for that, he should thank defensive coordinator, Mike Zimmer. Marvin did a nice job holding together the team through the death of Zimmer's wife and Chris Henry. But the performance of the Bengals defense under Zimmer was just terrific.

I've said, the one thing Marvin needs to do is improve his public image. His foundation's work is exemplary. Every football coach should try to emulate what he does. But the personna he puts on display at his weekly news conferences needs a lot of work. Marvin comes off as distrustful of the media. Whether or not he is, isn't the point. The point is, he comes off that way. Bengals fans never hear the questions, whether good or bad. They only hear his answers. And too often, he comes off as curt. Marvin needs to take a page out of the Bill Cowher or Rex Ryan book of how to handle the media. It's about the only thing I can think of that he needs to work on.

I love the fact that the Reds have signed Cuban pitcher Ardolis Chapman. It's a bold move for a team not known for those kind of things. But I think selling the future is a tough sell for the Reds. They really need some sizzle for 2010. Good luck selling tickets with a short stop who hit .211 last season and a left field situation that got worse with the departure of Jonny Gomes. Mix in the loss of pitching ace, Edinson Volquez, for most of the season, and the prospects of a 70 win season don't look so hot. Have you seen the commercial the Reds are running right now? It's not about 'come see our young players take on the the goliath Cardinals". It's not about the youth and enthusiasm of players like Jay Bruce, Joey Votto and Drew Stubbs. The Reds first big ad campaign of 2010 is for a ticket package that includes four hat give-aways, hardly the stuff that will energy the casual fan to buy a ticket, let alone your ticket base.

UC did well in beating Notre Dame Saturday. But what the Bearcats desperately need now to feather their nest before Selection Sunday is a win over a nationally ranked team. They'll get plenty of opportunity for that in the Big East. Most of their higher profile games remain. But with the way the Bearcats shoot the ball (not particularly good) and with the way they seem to crumble at crunch time (the win over ND excluded), how can you realistically expect them to beat Syracuse, West Virginia or Villanova, teams they need to beat to climb into the top six in the Big East standings.

Xavier has a different problem. Right now, the Muskies are 4-0 heading into Wednesday night's game at #16 Temple. The Muskies may well win the Atlantic 10 Tournament and gain the conference's automatic bid. But failing that, they'll have to follow up their win over Dayton this past Saturday with another win at UD Arena later this year. Right now Xavier's RPI is strong and its schedule has been deemed 3rd toughest in all of Division I basketball. But the Atlantic 10, past Dayton and Temple, isn't very strong. Xavier will gain nothing from games against Rhode Island, Fordham and St. Bonaventure. If it can't win the A-10 Tournament, I think Xavier will have to all but 'win out' to get one of the two bids the conference will be limited to.

I think I'm starting to see something I haven't seen in awhile. I watched the Bengals news conference today, the one where they trotted out wide receiver Laveranues Coles. I heard all the stuff you usually hear at these things. He's happy to be here, wants to mentor the younger Bengals wide receivers, says Carson Palmer will be fantastic to play with. But here's something else I heard and saw.

Marvin Lewis, circa 2003.

Lewis came in here breathing fire and spitting gasoline. He shook up a franchise that at disintegrated into the worst in the NFL and maybe all of professional sports.

The Bengals had become the moral equivalent of Soviet Union agriculture. Full disclosure, the terrifically talented George Will used that line 20 years ago to describe the Chicago Cubs. I always wanted to use it. Thanks George.

When Lewis arrived, things changed in a hurry. In 2003, the Bengals went 8-8, which would have been cause for a parade around Fountain Square in most seasons. Within three years, the Bengals were a legitimate contender and a playoff team.

Then, the artist formally known as Chad Johnson had his celebrated halftime meltdown in the Bengals playoff game in January, 2006 and the rest is a matter of history, and police blotter.

Worse, Marvin Lewis seemed to go 'soft'. He' d certainly lost his bite. And when Mike Brown tossed him totally under the bus last summer by bringing back Cincinnati's favorite clown, Chris Henry, Marvin was toothless.

But here's what I saw today: the Marvin of 2003. I have nothing to base this on, other than what's always been a keen eye for body language. But Lewis looks like his old self. He talked about how Coles can take the wide receiver corp to a new height. Wednesday, in welcoming back running back Cedric Benson, he talked about retooling the offense. He had a flash in his eyes that was there in 2003-2005, until he became Dead Coach Walking.

Maybe it's not so dramatic as I think. Lewis' greatest weakness as an NFL head coach, I believe, is his inability to deal with the media without coming off condescending. That in itself is amazing, considering that two of the head coaches he's worked under, Brian Billick and Bill Cowher, were excellent in dealing with some of the fools who work in my business. Marvin's problem is that he seems to think we're all fools. Maybe we are, at different times, but so too can be an NFL head coach.

But I think I saw something today that's leading me to believe that owner, or knuckle head players, or media be damned. I think I saw a coach who has seized control again. I'll admit it was subtle; a couple of looks, voice inflection, a quiet confidence. But they were the things I saw six years ago when he was first hired.

I could be wrong. But I think I'm right. Welcome back Marvin. Where the hell have you been?

Can you feel the heat building under UK's Billy Gillispie? No? The read this from foxsports.com and get back to me.

Look, I had a lot of trouble this off season with all of the 'blue skies, unicorns and rainbows' BS about the Reds and how competitive they were going to be in 2009. The team lost 100 RBI when it traded away Adam Dunn and were going to have us believe that a career minor leaguer (Chris Dickerson) was a viable option for left field. After eight losing seasons in the last nine and no playoffs since 1995, it was flat out Reds propaganda. But...

I've got to admit when I've seen what the Reds pitching has been like so far this spring, I AM impressed. And Dickerson, Lance Nix and Jonny Gomes have all had their moments. It's a long way from now until April 6th. But I'm not as cynical about the Reds as I was, even two weeks ago.

Maybe I'm getting soft.

See you tonight at 11p or tomorrow night at 6p on WLWT Channel 5. Or both.

Just posted the latest Bengals Report Podcast! Mark Hardin and I review the Bengals loss last Sunday to the Jets. And you'll hear comments from Marvin Lewis, Carson Palmer, Dhani Jones and Chinedum Ndukwe, who had that sweet fumble recovery for a touchdown. You can find the Bengals Report Podcast on my web site: www.kenbroo.com. If you're in a hurry, you can download it here.

The reaction is coming in fast and furious from the Bengals latest loss, this time in Dallas. From the Dallas Morning News, this on how the Bengals played it.

Clark Judge of cbssports.com is here, and check out number 14 on his list of judgements this week.

And of course, what would a Monday be without the highly reccomended Monday Morning Quarterback column by si.com's Peter King? Have to dig deep to see his thoughts on Marvin Lewis and the Bengals.

0-5 and with a road game in New Jersey up next against the Jets, then home against the Steelers and back on the road to play at Houston. It could be an 0-8 start for the Bengals.

It's posted and ready for your dowload. Bengals Report Podcast. In this episode, Bengals Report executive editor, Mark Hardin and I preview Sunday's Bengals vs Browns match-up. You'll get the inside scouting report and hear comments from Marvin Lewis, Carson Palmer and Chris Perry.

It's on the front page of my web site: www.kenbroo.com. But, if you're on the fly, you can download the podcast here.

For yet another time: Marvin Lewis is not suffering from 'job jeopardy'. It came up again in the Bengals news conference today. Lewis was asked if he felt pressure to win this Sunday, with the Bengals 0-3. In a nutshell he said 'no', and if he was under pressure to win, he wouldn't let it affect him. We won't know if that last statement is true because Lewis is under no pressure from managment to 'win or else'.

Two things to remember about Marvin Lewis. 1: He won' t quit, not if he wants to work as a head coach in the NFL again. 2: his boss, Mike Brown isn't in the business of paying people not to work.

But this season appears to be another lost one. No team since 1998, and only three since 1990, have started a season 0-3 and made the playoffs. Now, you could argue, that if 9-7 will win the AFC North, all the Bengals (or the Browns for that matter) have to do is go 9-4 in their final 13 games. But look at their schedule. Do you think the Bengals can win at Dallas, or at Pittsburgh? Do you think they can sweep the Steelers? And games with the Ravens, Houston and Indianapolis await them, as well. I'm still sticking with five to seven wins, but no more than that.

So after three weeks in the 2008 season, who are the best teams in the NFL? Our buddy, Mike Florio from profootballtalk.com weighs in with this video report.

Biggest surprise for me? Buffalo. Didn't see that one coming.

Tony Grossi, the longtime Cleveland sports writer has an interesting 'take' on this upcoming game between the Bengals and Browns in this Plain-Dealer article.

First thing Thursday morning, on my web site www.kenbroo.com, I'll have the latest edition of Bengals Report Podcast posted. Mark Hardin and I preview the upcoming "Battle Of Ohio" and you'll hear comments from your favorite players.

Just posted to my website, www.kenbroo.com is the latest Broo View Podcast. It's on the front page. But just in case you're 'on the fly', here's a link to the mp3. It's a look ahead to the upcoming Bengals training camp, complete with interviews with Marvin Lewis and Bengals defensive coordinator, Mike Zimmer.

Well, there's always Al Davis and Wayne Weaver. yahoosports.com doesn't think too highly of Bengals owner, Mike Brown.

And then, there's everybody's favorite odd couple, Marvin and Chad. Our man Chick Ludwig checks in today with this, from the Dayton Daily News.

I give it five games....

Brett Favre rumors continue to boil. Now we hear the the commish is involved. Apparently, Roger Goodell is monitoring the situation closely. Where could Favre end up? For that, we turn to our pal Mike Florio, at profootballtalk.com.

I'd love to see him in Tampa. But if you're Baltimore and you've had trouble developing a quarterback since...oh, Johnny Unitas, why wouldn't you leap on this, for a season. Then, you've got Joe Flacco.

Just askin'.

As the Reds play on, the speculation builds as to who stays and who goes. My guest this past Sunday on 700 WLW's Sports Talk was foxsports.com's Ken Rosenthal, who has an interesting angle on the Reds' ability to trade Adam Dunn.

Hate to say 'I told you so'...but...weeks ago, I said Ken Griffey, Jr wouldn't be going back to Seattle anytime soon. And today, in this Washington paper, further proof.

And the Bengals offensive line gets the spotlight today from our pal Chick Ludwig of the Dayton Daily News in this latest installment of "Ludwig At Large".

And our other pal, Mike Florio of profootballtalk.com, who also happens to moonlight for thesportingnews.com, says Marvin Lewis is #4 on the list of 'coaches on the hotseat' this season.
And the first three guys on the list are as good as gone right now.

You wonder why Marvin Lewis doesn't trust the media. He worked for Brian Billick and Bill Cowher, two head coaches who have a solid working relationship with the media in their towns. Lewis, apparently, didn't go to the same school.

We got another example of that today, when Lewis gathered the media to talk about the upcoming draft. But he had to know that questions were coming about Chad Johnson's status with the Bengals. Johnson, I'm sure you know, has been yapping since January that he wants out of Cincinnati. For whatever reason, he feels he's been mistreated. At least three times since the end of this season, Lewis has said, flatly, that Johnson wouldn't be traded and that he expected Chad to honor the terms of his contract, which runs through the 2011 season.

But Tuesday, ESPN's Chris Mortenson reported that the Washington Redskins had offered the Bengals their #1 pick in Saturday's draft and a conditional third round pick in 2009, that could become a first rounder, depending on how Johnson would perform this season.

At his news conference, Lewis was asked by a reporter if the Redskins had offered the Bengals two first round picks, in exchange for Johnson, a technical misquote as the trade offer was for a first rounder and third rounder that could become a first. Lewis said that Mortenson's reporting was 'errant' and then said that Mike Brown, the Bengals owner, hasn't entertained any trade offers for Johnson. And, by the way Marvin said, Johnson isn't available.

Later in the day, Marvin had to eat his words and apologize to Mortenson, whose report was confirmed in the DC media. Lewis has taken on some water for this, his credibility with the local media remains shaky.

But lost in that is this: Mike Brown will not trade Johnson until Brown wants to. If it took three years of moaning and complaining by Corey Dillon, it'll take at least that by Johnson. Brown is a man of principle. A deal is a deal, with Mike. Besides, this Bengals team needs Johnson performing at his peak to have any chance of making the playoffs this season. The other memorable quote from Lewis today was that if Chad doesn't want to play for the Bengals then he should retire. "He has a contract through 2011. He's stated without an opportunity to go to a different team and a new contract, he wasn't going to play. I think he's a man of his word and says not going to play, so don't play."

Don't be surprised if the whole thing wasn't leaked by Johnson's agent, Drew Rosenhaus. Reportedly, the Redskins were set to offer Chad a new contract with $21 million in bonus money.
But, also, don't be surprised by this: Mike Brown doesn't have a history of caving into anyone. Don't look for Johnson to go anywhere, soon.

My buddy, Mike Florio, of profootballtalk.com is talking about offensive linemen in his weekly video podcast. Check it out.

Now, if the Bengals believe that Rudi Johnson is finished and that last year's second round pick, Kenny Irons isn't fully recovered from his knee surgery, they have an option. The Seattle Seahawks have released veteran running back, Shaun Alexander. And Alexander calls greater Cincinnati home. He was a big time high school running back at Boone County HS, where he rushed for over 100 touchdowns in his career.

I'm talking sports again this Sunday on Cincinnati's 50,000 flame thrower, 700 WLW. I'm on from 9am-Noon AND we have a toll free number, if you want to talk sports.

Sunday night at 11:35pm on Cincinnati's NBC affiliate, WLWT, it's the last best word on the NFL draft and the rest of the week in sports. Join us for Sports Rock!

And you can check out my web site: www.kenbroo.com. The latest edition of the Broo View Podcast is ready for download!

A child will test a parent. He will push a parent as far as he can, just to see how much he can get away with. Every parent knows this. And every kid knows it too. Chad Johnson is playing child these days to Marvin Lewis' parent. And Johnson has been testing his coach. His behavior on radio row during the Super Bowl and his rants since then on national stages have embarrassed his head coach.

Johnson has said, to anyone who'll listen, that he wants to be traded. He's threatened to sit out this season if the Bengals held onto him. The fact that he signed a five year deal just a couple of years ago for over $30 million is apparently insignificant to Johnson. He's not happy in Cincinnati. God knows why, as the fan base here will tolerate anything from the Bengals. Just look around Paul Brown Stadium any given Sunday and see the number 15 Chris Henry jerseys.

But the parent has grown tired of the child's antics. And today, at the NFL meetings in Florida, Marvin Lewis, very gently told the assembled media that Chad basically has two choices: play for the Bengals in 2008 and beyond, or retire. He can sit out the season too. But if Johnson chooses to do that, his contract will automatically extended an extra season, through 2012.

Lewis told bengals.com today "We've been dealing with this inside for over a year and we'll be prepared to move on. He has a contract through 2011. If he plays NFL football, it will be in Cincinnati, or he has to do what he says and that's retire. That would be a shame. We'll do everthing we can to help him out of this and try to restore his image."

For a coach who rarely scolds his players publicly, this spoke volumes. I'd have put it a different way. I'd have said "We've had one winning season with him, since he joined the team in 2001. We were, for the most part, a bad team with him. We can be a bad team without him."

But maybe that's why I didn't go into the coaching profession.

Chad Johnson just lost his safety net. Enjoy the fall.

It sounds so bizzarre, it could have some truth to it. A columnist for the Baltimore Sun today suggests that the Ravens try to pry Marvin Lewis away from the Cincinnati Bengals. In his story, columnist Mike Preston says bringing Lewis back to the team he helped to a Super Bowl win in 2000, this time as head coach, is a no brainer. Of course to accomplish that, the Bengals would have to a: be willing to lose their coach b: trade him within their own division and c: require draft picks in return.

The Bucs and Raiders did this six years ago, when the Bucs sent four picks (two #1's and two #2's) to the Raiders in exchange for head coach Jon Gruden moving to Tampa. Sounds to me like that'd be too steep of a price for the Ravens, needing to rebuild their offense. And remember, the Bengals owner, Mike Brown, once turned down an offer from the New Orleans Saints that would've netted the Bengals every one of the Saints' picks in the 1999 draft in exchange for only the Bengals first rounder.

Today, the Bengals said this is "simply the musings of a reporter" and that the team would have no further comment. I don't see it happening. But it sure made for interesting reading on what otherwises was a boring Wednesday.

First, let me wish you and yours nothing but the best in 2008. Happy New Year! Whatever it is that you want in this new year, I hope you find it.

I apologize for being a little laxed in postings. I was off last week, and tending to a variety of things. But I'm back now. And what a story I walked into today. I was in the Bengals locker room at Paul Brown Stadium this morning, watching the players pack up after another disappointing season. Not many of the star players were there. But Carson Palmer was and he agreed to an impromptu give and take session with several members of the Cincinnati media. I was the only television reporter present, but helping out our 'brothers in arms' at the other stations in town by holding their microphones.

The conversation with Palmer turned to 2008, and what needs to happen to make the Bengals better, realize their true level of talent. After what appeared to be a standard answer of getting more serious, playing harder and focusing, the follow up question went something like this: "Marvin has said he's looking for a new start, fresh beginning in 2008. Do you (Palmer) think this coaching staff is capable of that? Palmers answer: I don't think so. The follow up question: so do you see changes in the coaching staff coming. Palmer's answer: Yes, I do.

Whoa! In the 'put on a happy face and I'll let you know what I'm going to do when I do it" world of Marvin Lewis, this was a major tremor. Here you had the franchise player, the focal point of your team telling the media he doesn't think the current coaching staff has what it takes to get done what the head coach says must get done before next season.

Lewis raised the whole mission for 2008 in a question and answer session with the Columbus Dispatch. The headline in the article was "It's Time To Blow The Whole Thing Up", which was a direct quote taken from Lewis interview with the Dispatch. Lewis tried to spin that as changing the atmosphere at PBS, invigorating the staff and changing the playbook. Sorry Marvin. When somebody talks about blowing things up, it's not cosmetic changes.

Be that as it may, it's very clear from what I witnessed today that there is a rift inside the merry land of Bengal-dom. The star player, one of the top five quarterbacks in the game, isn't happy. Palmer says 2007 was the worst season in any sport in any time of his life. Losing is one thing. But the way the Bengals lost, with their internal bickering and in game meltdowns is another.

I agree with Lewis, it's time to blow the whole thing up. Some players need to go (and how about some 'name' players to get everyone's attention) and the coaching staff needs to be gutted.

I don't know if his boss will let him do it, but for his own career Lewis should push for it. The Bengals don't need a fresh coat of paint. They need serious work on the structure of their organization. Don't take my word for it. Ask the quarterback.

As you get ready to, or if you've just completed, slip-sliding to work in the greater Cincinnati area, here's something to chew on. Could Marvin Lewis be the next head football coach at Michigan? Stop laughing and start looking at this latest video from profootballtalk.com

Mike Florio runs profootballtalk.com and has been a guest of mine on 700 WLW Sunday Morning Sports Talk. Mike is the guy on the right.

Honestly, I don't think Marvin is moving on, for two reasons. One, he'd never get a release from the Brown family. He's under contract through 2011. Two, Marvin is so far removed from his college coaching days (and he was only a low level assistant) that recruiting would be something he'd have to learn all over again. My guess is, Marvin stays and tries to repair the Bengals, while repairing his resume. If he leaves here, my guess is he leaves here after 2011 for another NFL head coach's job...if he fixes the Bengals.

Redsfest 2007 begins today and continues through tomorrow (Saturday). The Reds might have some news soon, if you believe what the Toronto Sun is saying in this story.

And Dusty Baker, guest of honor at a reception Friday night at the Freedom Center in Cincinnati is talking up his first ever Reds team to the Chicago Tribune.

Me? I think the Reds are still one, good starter away from contending. And his name is not Jon Leiber, rumored to be on the Reds short list. Seems like the only team Leiber ever defeats, is the Reds.

Look for the latest "Bengals Report Podcast" on the front page of my web site www.kenbroo.com later today. Marc Hardin, the executive editor of "Bengals Report", and I have a preview of the Bengals vs Rams game this Sunday.

I'm talking sports a lot, on the radio this weekend. I'll be on 700 WLW from 6pm-7:30pm EST Saturday. Then back on Sunday for my regular "Sunday Morning Sports Talk" shift from 9am-11:30am EDT on both 700 WLW and 1530 Homer WCKY. The shows will be streamed on both station's web sites, as well as on XM Channel 173.

And after the Bengals game, I'll be back on both stations for "Bengals Feedback".

Sunday night, after the NFL On NBC, join George Vogel, Dave Lapham, David Fulcher and me on WLWT Channel 5's Sports Rock! It's always the last, best word on the Bengals.

With the 2007 season sinking quickly into an abyss, don't expect to see any drastic changes with your Cincinnati Bengals. Let's take it from the top....



MIKE BROWN:

Not selling the team anytime soon, in good health and believes he has the right formula for running a franchise. He says he's got a three headed GM: His, his daughter and his son in law. No changes coming here.



MARVIN LEWIS:

He will not be fired. Get that notion out of your head. For one, he provides a great service off the field to Mike Brown. Lewis takes most of the heat when things are going poorly, and are they ever now. Two, the Bengals would never, NEVER pay a head coach to NOT to work. Another scenario floating around is that Marvin may leave on his own. Don't bet on that, either. Why would he walk away from guaranteed money through 2011? And if he did, the Bengals would NEVER allow Lewis to coach for another team without deal breaking compensation in return. And, Lewis needs to repair his reputation as being a 'defensive guhru'. Besides, what team would look at him seriously as a head coach, after this mess this season?



ASSISTANT COACHES:

Here may be where the real change occurs. My guess is, the entire defensive staff is out at the end of the year. It's been an unmitigated disaster for this bunch this season. There is no way I see coordinator Chuck Bresnahan returning. A new coordinator will want to bring his own staff with him. On the offensive side of the ball, Bob Bratkowski is probably safe, but his stock as a potential head coach is taking a severe hit this season. I wouldn't look for many changes on the offensive staff.



PLAYERS:

For the second time in five years, Lewis will have to purge his locker room. He did a massive purge when he first arrived, weeding out the players left behind from years of losing. Now, he'll have to rid the team of some of the players he's responsible for. This team has a lot of terrific players on both sides of the ball. But it's been crippled by injuries and by players who've simply been poor acquisitions or susceptible to criminal behavior.



In the NFL, nothing is non-fixable. But the Bengals have a long history of not being able to fix pronounced problems. It can be fixed. But it won't be a quick fix.

Marvin Lewis is all over the map explaining his decision to kick a field goal on fourth and one from the Steelers two yard line Sunday. He kicked and took three, got booed and second guessed for the rest of the game, then said in his post game news conference he made the wrong decision. Today, Lewis said he'd though about it over night and that his initial decision to take the '3' was the right call.

Let me help him out. I understand why he kicked the field goal. Think about it and you might agree too. Most of the Bengals-Steelers games have been tight, particularly in the last five years. Last year's game at Paul Brown Stadium went to overtime, before the Steelers won. So with just over 2:30 to play in the first half Sunday, Lewis figured take the '3', it'll probably be that close again. I understand how he thought that way. But it was the wrong call. Lewis placed his faith on the wrong side of the ball. He said Monday he believed his defense would stop the Steelers ensuing drive and the Bengals would go to the locker room down only eight, geting the ball to start the second half.

I don't know what defense Lewis has been watching this season. But if he was watching his, he'd have known his Bengals defense hasn't stopped ANYONE this season. It was a bad call. Lewis got it right immediately after the game. He should've stuck with that story. Tonight, he appears to be someone indecisive

And are the Bengals now officially dead in 2007? They're 2-5 and only three teams since 1990 have started 2-5 and made the playoffs. The national media is piling on. Check out what the very fine writer from cbssportsline.com Clark Judge has to say:

Black The Right Color For Bengals
cbssportsline.com

Now come two very lose-able games. Buffalo could very well be 5-2 instead of 3-4. Dallas needed a field goal, at home, at the gun to beat the Bills. And Buffalo has beaten Baltimore, the team the Bengals will face in Maryland in two weeks.

Bad times in Bengal-dom, to say the least.

Marvin Lewis has time, but not much. He's got 12 days to fix his team. While the physical hurdles are finding enough healthy bodies to field a defensive side of the ball, the mental hurdles will be the toughes to negotiate.

Monday night's loss to the Patriots left the Bengals looking like bickering, clueless fools. Chad Johnson's behavior was nothing more than childish. Before dissing his quarterback, the best the Bengals have ever had at that position, Chad went through pantomine agony over not being able to negotiate one final yard for a touchdown. It didn't matter to Chad that his team eventually scored. What bothered him was it denied him a chance to deliver another side show.

This part of Johnson is becoming tedious. This week, as the Bengals were preparing for a national showcase and trying to snap a two game losing streak, I received two separate emails from one of Chads PR people, wanting me to remind you that if Chad scored a touchdown, his celebratory 'dance' would include throwing his arms in the air to raise awareness for human hunger. Not four hours before kickoff Monday, I received a voice mail from another one of Chad's PR people, asking me to ask you to log onto his web site, because Chad wasn't happy with the traffic it was generating.

I've got nothing again any one working for a charity. If we have the ability to do that, we all should. I have nothing against someone having their own web site (you're on mine, right?). But first things first: you have to take care of business. No one will care what dance you do for what charity and no one will gravitate to your web site UNLESS you do what you get paid to do.

There has long been a belief, among the media, that Lewis has a double standard: one for Chad, one for the rest of the team. Lewis is in danger of losing the locker room, unless he puts an end to dances, lists and whatever else his star receiver dreams up. Chad Johnson is paid to score touchdowns.

Johnson's behavior is one thing that needs to be corrected. Another is poor tackling and another is the Bengals inability to establish any kind of a running game. Marvin Lewis has a bye week and 12 days to fix an under achieving 1-3 football team. The season can be salavaged. But right now, it's all on the head coach's plate.

Marvin Lewis appeared to have learned a lesson. We'll know for sure Saturday. But at his pre-NFL draft news conference today, Lewis said the Bengals won't be drafting players who are in need of reshaping their lives.

Apparently, he's been Frostee Rucker-ed and Odell Thurman-ed and Chris Henry-ed to death. Marvin can't blame anyone else for his troubles with troubled players. He brought most of them here through free agent signings and the draft.

Lewis is convinced he'll get a solid citizen and an impact player, when the Bengals pick 18th in round one. Most projections have the Bengals getting a corner back, either Darrelle Revis from Pitt or Aaron Ross from Texas. Either could come in and start a 'nickel'. But with the secondary as sparse as it is today, either may have to start.

The Reds open a ten day, nine game road trip tonight. They're in St. Louis, where they handled the defending World Series champs very well last season. They went 5-4 in Missouri, 4-2 at Great American Ball Park. It's not a stretch to say that the NL Central is baseball's most competitive division (competitive another word for weakest). Each team does a pretty good job of beating up the other. But what kept the Reds in the race until the last weekend of 2006 was their record against the Cardinals. If they want the same kind of ride this year, they'll need to do the same thing.

Just posted on my web site www.kenbroo.com is the latest Broo v. Broo podcast. We've got some of the hottest opionins in cyberspace. This week, we're all over the NFL draft, the NBA and NFL playoffs and Barry Bonds. Check it out, in the 'podcast and more' section.

Check back soon...