(12-30-2015, 04:18 PM)J24 Wrote: Second Question- How important is Duke Tobin to this team and how much of a say does he get in the making of the roster?

(12-30-2015, 05:22 PM)XenoMorph Wrote: More important are any teams looking @ Duke for a GM position?

(12-31-2015, 06:16 PM)StLucieBengal Wrote: He was mentioned as someone Haslam wanted to talk with about the clowns opening.  

I can't see him leaving the stability here.  Maybe if Marvin was gone he would consider other jobs but he seems happy in their groove at PBS.

(12-31-2015, 01:05 AM)EatonFan Wrote: It's almost a foregone conclusion that Hue will be offered a HC position.  Has management discussed any replacements or is Hue giving tips to any current asst. coach to groom him for the OC position?

(12-31-2015, 06:19 PM)Bengal Dude Wrote: I could see Tobin leaving. Him getting hired as GM is a promotion for him and increased pay. I could see him jumping on the Indy GM job if it becomes available. Then he could try to bring Hue in and basically create the Indianapolis Bengals.

(01-04-2016, 02:13 AM)jowczarski Wrote: Sorry for going AWOL the last couple weeks. As we hit the holiday crunch and two west coast games it’s been pretty crazy.

Here we go:


OK this isn't a Bengal question or NFL question per say but a question about the game of Football all together. What steps can and should be taken to make the game safer especially when it comes to head trauma? I know its a heavy question just curious on your thoughts on the matter.

I have no idea. I think at the NFL level, all they can do is what they’ve started to do – heavily penalize and fine helmet-to-helmet contact and reducing the number of padded practices. NFLPA president Eric Winston is in the locker room, and he feels that is working. But, to take it a step further, he feels teams should be fined when the coaches/trainers/doctors don’t pull a guy they see has having issues (i.e. Case Keenum). I agree that step should be taken.

Honestly, the best thing is to eliminate pee wee tackle football. Kids probably shouldn’t tackle until they’re juniors or seniors in high school, but small steps. No hitting until high school.


What did the bengals organization get you for christmas?

Being closed to the media on Christmas day. I was able to get home to see my wife and family before shooting off to Denver. They didn’t do it for “us” in the media, but I appreciated it.

How much interaction is there between head coaches and refs?

They talk quite a bit during the game on the sidelines, but it’s exactly what you see on NFL Films – a lot of one-way yelling.

Also, how in shape do these refs have to be? Is there a physical to take? Eye test? (Just had to throw that in)

Heh. I’m sure there is a physical they have to pass.

are the media aware of the term "Marvinball" and the tendency he has to stop attacking once we have a lead? If so, what are your thoughts on this?

I’ve never heard of that, but I don’t know. I do know Marvin pulled the reins in in San Francisco when they got the lead, but it was also McCarron’s first start. Hue Jackson is a former head coach – I think this year (which is all I can speak of) Hue has had complete control of that group.


How important is Duke Tobin to this team and how much of a say does he get in the making of the roster? More important are any teams looking @ Duke for a GM position?

Very. Very important. And yes, other teams will come sniffing around to see if he will be their GM. He’s that good, and believe it or not the Bengals organization is a model other franchises around the league will want to copy. But, Duke likes it in Cincy. The team likes him and values him. I wouldn’t be shocked if he is given a new title and a pay raise to stay here.

Has management discussed any replacements or is Hue giving tips to any current asst. coach to groom him for the OC position?

Hue was hired to eventually leave. He was a former HC who was dumped too soon. Marvin did him a solid by bringing him in a few years back. As for who will replace him, great question and the No. 1 offseason question IMO. Do you try to keep some continuity considering Dalton’s leap this year with longtime QB coach Ken Zampese? Or do you go outside like Gruden and have the QB learn a new offense again? Tough call.

do you really believe this team as it stands today is going to win a playoff game this year?

Against Pittsburgh, yes. The team is that good. I know, I know. We’re talking just football – the 53 man is better than theirs. My prediction will be out Friday at Cincinnati.com ☺

Has there been any reasoning to starting Vinnie over Maul in the Raven's game?

We assume a discipline issue. We were told it was for non-injury reasons, and he stood with his helmet on next to Guenther the entire first quarter and then came in on the first play of the second. Looked an awful like Jeremy Hill’s situation in Frisco.

(01-07-2016, 04:38 PM)ShowMeUrTDs Wrote: Jim,

Thank you for taking the time to participate in our message board in your role as a beat writer for the Bengals at the Cincinnati Enquirer!

First question:

I just read your article on the Enquirer titled, "Steelers week does not feel like a playoff." Interesting you would write that, one of the frequent debates regarding the Marvin Lewis coached 0-6 Bengals in the playoffs is he does not elevate the environment, tempo, and motivation for the playoffs leading to his teams coming out flat. Could this be the reason you feel this way that led you to write that article? How would you compare the atmosphere to that of the Green Bay playoff teams you were around in the same capacity?

Second question:

Marvin Lewis's record in the playoffs (0-6) and Pittsburgh Steelers (2-12 @ home, 8-19 overall) are abysmal results that would lead to heavy scrutiny by the organization, media, and fans in most NFL markets. Many coaches are terminated for much less, yet Marvin Lewis is still in Cincinnati and I never hear local reporters question him regarding these results and hold him to the fire.

Such as, "Given your record coach Lewis, what will be different this time? Why should anyone believe in your team? Is this why you are an underdog at home as a higher seed?"

Are local reporters threatened with lack of access by the Bengals organization if they ask "negative" questions?

I feel these are fair and relevant questions for local reporters to be true to their community. Cincinnati fans funded the stadium through local taxes, they buy tickets, and merchandise even through the many years of failures. Us, fans, do not have access to ask these questions directly, but reporters do and I am extremely curious as to why they do not?

Thank you again so much for your participation!!

(01-07-2016, 04:38 PM)ShowMeUrTDs Wrote: Jim,

Thank you for taking the time to participate in our message board in your role as a beat writer for the Bengals at the Cincinnati Enquirer!

First question:

I just read your article on the Enquirer titled, "Steelers week does not feel like a playoff." Interesting you would write that, one of the frequent debates regarding the Marvin Lewis coached 0-6 Bengals in the playoffs is he does not elevate the environment, tempo, and motivation for the playoffs leading to his teams coming out flat. Could this be the reason you feel this way that led you to write that article? How would you compare the atmosphere to that of the Green Bay playoff teams you were around in the same capacity?

Second question:

Marvin Lewis's record in the playoffs (0-6) and Pittsburgh Steelers (2-12 @ home, 8-19 overall) are abysmal results that would lead to heavy scrutiny by the organization, media, and fans in most NFL markets. Many coaches are terminated for much less, yet Marvin Lewis is still in Cincinnati and I never hear local reporters question him regarding these results and hold him to the fire.

Such as, "Given your record coach Lewis, what will be different this time? Why should anyone believe in your team? Is this why you are an underdog at home as a higher seed?"

Are local reporters threatened with lack of access by the Bengals organization if they ask "negative" questions?

I feel these are fair and relevant questions for local reporters to be true to their community. Cincinnati fans funded the stadium through local taxes, they buy tickets, and merchandise even through the many years of failures. Us, fans, do not have access to ask these questions directly, but reporters do and I am extremely curious as to why they do not?

Thank you again so much for your participation!!

(01-08-2016, 11:01 AM)XenoMorph Wrote: Because marvin simply would ask for the next question...  The media has learned how to talk to marvin or they wont ever get their questions answered.

(01-08-2016, 04:21 PM)ShowMeUrTDs Wrote: All coaches do that, but that doesn't stop media in all other markets from putting the coach on the hot seat.

There are two reasons for that: First, the media are the voice of the community and it is incumbent upon them to raise legitimate concerns from the community. 

Second, it is not about how the coach answers the questions, it is about making public the failures which should be known, addressed, and create pressure surrounding those failures.

The reporters in Cincinnati do not do that in their capacity as Cincinnati Bengals media, even with the existence of ample relevant evidence, and I wan't to know why?

(01-08-2016, 04:21 PM)ShowMeUrTDs Wrote: Second, it is not about how the coach answers the questions, it is about making public the failures which should be known, addressed, and create pressure surrounding those failures.

(01-09-2016, 01:08 PM)fredtoast Wrote: Not in this case.  All Bengal fans know about the problems.

Real reporters know these type questions are meaningless, the only ones who ask them are just putting on a show for the fans that love to hate.  

(01-10-2016, 05:29 AM)wolfkaosaun Wrote: Yep. Jim is very good at his job and isn't afraid to ask certain questions and hurt a cord. Nor is Paul Dehner.