ML Article

[Benton]

(03-27-2018, 03:08 PM)fredtoast Wrote: Sorry, but I just can not imagine a guy being motivated enough to become an NFL head coach and then not give a shit about his reputation.

His check clear? 

Quote:There are a few things to criticize Marvin for, but I don't see lack of effort being one.  You think you get upset because your favorite team has a losing record, just imagine how you would feel if you were a huge public persona and your entire identity was defined by that teams record.  It has to kill Marvin that he can't win these big games.  The fact that he doesn't pitch a fit like a child does not mean he does not care.


Marvin was not handed a coaching job because of his family name or because he was a famous NFL player.  He had to work his ass off to get where he is.  And I believe he has too much pride in his reputation to just half ass do his job.

To the bold, is it? Does it?

My experience with coaches (college, not pro) is they're pretty damn insulated. They don't read a lot of the media stuff, they don't hear a lot of the criticism. And most coaches I know don't define success the same way many fans do: with championships. To a large chunk of fans, Marvin is a giant failure. 16 years, no (in their measurement) success. To him? According to his statements and interviews, it's something the team is working on. We might define his identity by wins — especially the big games — but Marvin hasn't given any indication that he defines it the same. I've never heard an interview where he said "Yeah, I'm pretty bummed about being historically bad. Man, if I was Mike, I'd have canned my butt years ago."

And as far as being handed a job, he did. Mike Brown and the team saw a Super Bowl team in Baltimore that was a juggernaut. They saw a chance to grab a piece of that, and thanks to a handful of HoF players — that were still playing at that level long after their coordinator left for the Bengals — Marvin Lewis became a head coach.

But I will say I don't think Marvin half asses his job. I think he gives it 100%. That in no way means he's good at it, or that he has any incentive to change being bad. In other words, no motivation. He can get by being 8-8, third in the North or 9-6 and a first round flop every year. Or, sub .500. It doesn't matter, he knows there's still a desk for him.