Lewis vs. Brown

It's hard to believe that the Bengals have not extended Marvin Lewis' contract. He has done something no coach since Sam Wyche (hello '80's) has done - gotten the Bengals to the playoffs twice.

He was voted AP coach of the year.

Yet, no contract extension.

The problem seems to be that Marvin is trying to wrestle more personal control from Brown. We all know Brown is a notorious penny pincher. That means knock-down, drag out contract negotiations with players (one reason TJ never resigned and one reason we rarely sign a first round pick on time) and bargain basement bin bargains (such as signing troubled players - such as Cedric Benson a couple years ago (okay, that one worked out for them) or bringing in Pacman Jones for a trying out or signing Matt Jones, who was suspended last year for drug possession).

Two years ago when they finally had enough of Chris Henry's off the field troubles, they released him. A reporter asked later when Henry was cleared of charges if they'd bring him back, Marvin assuredly stated 'no.'

Yet, a few weeks later, Henry is resigned. That smacks of Mike Brown.

I sure wish he'd learn something from the Steelers.

I was hoping Mike had learned his lesson after the horrendous 90's when he totally drove the franchise into the ground. Things seemed to take a turn for the better when he hired Marvin Lewis as coach.

Suddenly, the Bengals spent a boat load of cash to sign some solid free agents (something that just doesn't happen often enough in Cincy). Then he allows his best player (Takeo Spikes) to hit the open market. That rarely happened in the past (remember the holdouts of Carl Pickens and Corey Dillon?).

Next, came the draft. The Bengals held the #1 choice. Marvin stated that they'd take the player they really wanted and they'd sign him prior to the draft.

Yeah right, I thought. But true to his word - two days before the draft the Bengals signed Carson Palmer to a huge contract.

Then Marvin had the gall to let Carson sit on the bench the entire year and nearly get the Bengals into the playoffs, falling just short.

The next year he inserted Carson into the line up and let him take his lumps. The following year, they had one of the best offenses in football and would have advanced in the playoffs had not Kim Von Olhoffen shredded Palmer's knee.

Things were in limbo until this season when Marvin got the Bengals totally turned around and they had one of the best defenses in football, though they imploded late in the season and exited in the first round of the playoffs.

Marvin clearly wants to call more of the shots. Plus, I imagine he'd like to beef up the Bengals scouting departments and personnel front office.

But Mike Brown changing is like a mountain changing its mind. If he lets Marvin walk, he will again be one of the most hated men in Cincy.

We can only hope that he soon retires and passes the reigns to his daughter, Katie Blackburn. I hope she has some pioneer vision like her grandfather, the legendary Paul Brown, rather than the stubborn refusal to adapt or change like her father.