Ask Jim Owczarski

[BengalChris]

(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!!

Mike Brown will never fire Marvin Lewis, even if the team were to go 4-12 next year. Marv might quit, but he won't be fired.

Why? Because the team is so much better off than it was when Mike Brown were making all the decisions and overruling the coaches, and Mike Brown will reward that improvement with loyalty. To Mike Brown, Marv is the guy who came in and made up for all those Mike Brown front office fumbles of the 90s.