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Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2009 > April > 03 > Entry
Lewis doesn’t deserve contract extension …
… AT LEAST NOT YET;
NOT UNTIL HE GETS
TEAM IN PLAYOFFS
Inquiring minds would like to know …
Should the Cincinnati Bengals extend head coach Marvin Lewis’ contract?
Some will argue “yes.” Others will argue “no.”
Here’s the deal:
Lewis won’t get an extension — and doesn’t deserve one — unless and until the Bengals make the playoffs before his current deal expires after the 2010 season.
Lewis has two years to get it done.
If the Bengals reach the postseason in 2009, he’ll get an extension.
If the Bengals make the playoffs in 2010, he’ll get an extension.
If the Bengals don’t crash the postseason party in 2009 or 2010, Marvin’s gone.
He’s already incredibly fortunate to still be employed as head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Thirty-one other owners would have sent him packing after a 4-11-1 season.
Bengals owner Mike Brown kept him for two reasons:
Mike didn’t want to pay two salaries (one for Marvin; the other for a new coach). And Mike has total empathy for his head coaches because he knows the pain and suffering his father, Paul, went through when Art Modell fired him in Cleveland.
FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW
• Lewis was named the Bengals’ ninth head coach on Jan. 14, 2003.
• Lewis’ six-year record is 46-50-1 (46-49-1 in regular season; 0-1 in the playoffs).
• Lewis has had one winning season (11-5 in 2005) in six years as head coach.
• Lewis turned Dick LeBeau’s 2-14 team (in 2002) into an 8-8 club his first season in 2003.
• On Feb. 16, 2006, Lewis was awarded a contract extension through 2010.
• The new deal marked the third contract extension in as many years for Lewis, who previously had been signed through 2008.
• At the time of his extension, Lewis’ record was 27-22.
• Since then, his record is 19-28-1 (8-8 in 2006; 7-9 in 2007; and 4-11-1 in 2008).
BOTTOM LINE
No, Lewis doesn’t deserve a contract extension until he guides the Bengals to the playoffs, where they’ve been only once in 18 seasons.
Permalink | Comments (24) | Post your comment | Categories: Bengals
Comments
By DB
April 3, 2009 11:03 AM | Link to this
Who says Lewis wants a contract extension? Wasen’t it Peter King who reported Lewis begged to get out of his contract for X amount of dollars?By OneManCrimeWave
April 3, 2009 12:09 PM | Link to this
Chick, this article certainly isn’t going to help mend the relationship between you and Marvin….and I love it!By OneManCrimeWave
April 3, 2009 12:10 PM | Link to this
Chick, this article certainly isn’t going to help mend the relationship between you and Marvin….and I love it!By Chick Ludwig
April 3, 2009 12:31 PM | Link to this
Dear One-Man-C-Dub: Thanks…just doing my job. ChickBy Pharm63
April 3, 2009 12:37 PM | Link to this
Very nice site!By Antwan Odom in your face
April 3, 2009 1:58 PM | Link to this
Chickster…what’s your take on Tank Johnson? personally, i’d like to see “The Tank” next to Pat Sims smashing some faces in…. look forward to your thoughts. cheersBy I_C_Deadpeople
April 3, 2009 2:02 PM | Link to this
Most owners who know little about football would also hire a GM and good scouts. Mike Brown is more to blame for the teams dismal record than Marvin Lewis. Lewis is not blameless but Mikey is the true culprit.By RacerX
April 3, 2009 3:03 PM | Link to this
Consider the alternative. If Marvin does not get an extension, that means Mike Brown has to find another coach. It’s likely he’ll go the cheap route.By R Young
April 3, 2009 3:09 PM | Link to this
First I agree w/ DB, not sure Chuckles Lewis would take an extension. And let’s be honest; as long as Clueless Redeeming Mikey is pulling the puppet strings does it really matter who is the head coach?By Brian
April 3, 2009 4:38 PM | Link to this
I’d be willing to bet Marvin regularly wakes up screaming like a girl after nightmares in which he signs another contract extension. He then speed dials Jay Glazer, who comforts Marvin until he cries himself back to sleep, “There, there, Marv. Remember, Coach Cowher’s gonna need a defensive coordinator and he remembers you before you were Bengalized. So everythings gonna be okay!”By richardb
April 3, 2009 5:03 PM | Link to this
The reason Marvin Lewis has tanked since 2005 is lousy drafting in 2004 and 2005. He’s on the mend with better drafts(but not great) but then Carson got killed due to lousy lines assembled by Marvin. If the Bengals have a really good 2009 draft and the kids from 2008 come thru this year, I think Marvin will get his extension. Doesn’t mean they make the playoffs, just that he gets an extension.By Derrick
April 3, 2009 5:17 PM | Link to this
I don’t think a possible 8-8 season in 2009 warrants an extension. I require a winning record to pay millions to a HC. Unless some other changes are offered such as Mike Brown goes off-shore fishing in an undersized boat;scouting club hires real scouts, etc.By jon
April 3, 2009 5:59 PM | Link to this
I agree with Chick that Marvin doesn’t deserve an extension. What you must remember that by letting Marvin go, you have to replace him and theres a good chance that the replacement will not be as good. Marvin has had withstand a lot a problems and still got something positive out of last year in the defense. Marvins past problems are 1.) legal issues with players 2.) draft picks that didnt pan out due to legal issues and permanent disablity(that could happen to any coach)3.) Carson getting hurt 4.) Mike Brown. Also I would like to note all those years we went 8-8, 11-5 we got pretty crappy draft spots, we were picking right ahead of the playoff teams, but didnt go to the playoffs. So when you’re picking in the 20’s youre still getting a decent player in theory but not a cream of the crop player.By psychostats
April 4, 2009 12:35 AM | Link to this
To heck with the playoffs. If Marvin Lewis merely finishes above .500 in either of the next two seasons, Mike Brown will likely offer a 6-year contract extension. If that rarefied Bengals achievement is not attained, poor old Marvin will only sniff a 3-year deal. I hope for his sake he walks away, whichever it is.By photoman
April 4, 2009 3:43 AM | Link to this
ML will not be fired until the stadium seats are empty on game day. Wins and losses do not matter to MB, as long as the stadium is full on game day. ML will have to resign, or be like us and outwait MB in order to leave Cincinnati. We look to team record on the field, MB looks to the status of the seats on game day. We would still have DS as head coach if he could have kept the stadium seats full on game day.By DALE 78
April 4, 2009 5:49 AM | Link to this
Hey Chich you forgot one more reason .What good coach in his right ming would want to work for Mike Brown .Mr Brown doesnt care about winning to him its all about the money .By ShockMonkey
April 4, 2009 11:30 AM | Link to this
Most dysfunctional organization in all of sports. Okay, close call with the Clippers but we’re such a mess. You just shake your head at the incompetence which begins, at the top.By Mr.DadSir
April 4, 2009 3:12 PM | Link to this
I am not a particular fan of Mr.Brown but it does seem funny that no one who really matters has that much bad to say about him……Just saying.By photoman
April 4, 2009 5:05 PM | Link to this
Contract extensions are something like a vote of confidence. Being fired sometimes (usually)comes next! In ML’s case, unless the fans stay away from the stadium on game day, he can probably stay in Cincinnati as long as ML wants to.By makemyday
April 5, 2009 9:42 AM | Link to this
Urgent Note to Bengal Fans: You have to get Mike Brown and his franchise to leave town. There is absolutely no chance this franchise will ever achieve any consistent level of winning. Don’t buy season tickets, merchandise, don’t even go to any games. Boycott anything Bengal. Contact radio stations to sponsor a “De-Bengalize” day where you bring all your bengals stuff and it is burned in a big bonfire, decals are scrapped off for free. The city of Cincinnati deserves more than Mike Brown WANTS to offer.By BnOPanther
April 5, 2009 12:34 PM | Link to this
What does everyone think of the trade that will go down tomorrow. Chad to the Raiders for Michael Bush and their 2nd round pick. I love it for many reasons. 1-You get rid of a guy who does not want to be here. 2-You get a big physical back in maybe the most physical division if football. 3-It takes out all posibilities the Bengals take Chris Wells. 4-It gives them the freedom to go OT in round one, Center with the original pick in round 2 and take the best DE on the board with pick the Raiders give them.By Jack Wilson
April 5, 2009 7:37 PM | Link to this
Marvin is not the sole source of the Bengals problems. Ya gotta say Mike Brown needs to consider letting his coach coach, his players play, while he (Brown) learns golf or table tennis and keeps his hand out of draft day. THe talent in cincy would get any coach fired, but you can’t fire a stupid owner.By ironmyke
April 6, 2009 8:50 AM | Link to this
Can’t argue with your analysis, Chick, but I can’t keep from thinking Marvin is quite well aware of how much better his predecessor’s career has gone since he left the Bengals. Why would any competitive and competent coach settle for head coach of the Bengals?By Fred
April 10, 2009 12:16 AM | Link to this
The problem isn’t Marvin Lewis. The problem is the owner, Mike Brown. Please sell the team to someone who knows football!