(01-19-2022, 01:43 PM)BengalRed Wrote: It isn't just the longevity, it's the number of playoffs. A few of them were out of his control, a fumble by Hill, a meltdown by Burfict and Pacman, fumbles by Andy and Gio, a playoff game in which playmakers were out with injury. Plus he had to deal with Mike Brown's stubbornness over taking on players who were always in trouble, and his refusal to spend money on free agents. I think he will get in but not anytime soon. People tend to forget the bad stuff over time. I just hope it isn't posthumous.

(01-19-2022, 02:49 PM)TecmoBengals Wrote: Different angle for looking at Lewis' career that might sway my "No" vote for Marvin for a "maybe or Yes" argument:

- Only 28 more NFL head coaches have won more career games than him.
- Only 43 coaches have won 100+ career games as a head coach; this includes Lewis.
- Among the coaches with 100+ wins other names who hover around the .500, average W/L mark are Dan Reeves (.535), Chuck Knox (.558), Jeff Fisher (.512), Tom Coughlin (.531), Mike Shanahan (.552), John Fox (.520), John Gruden (.511), and Norv Tuenr (.483).

Another "No" reason: Only 16 NFL coaches have lost more games than Marvin Lewis.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/

(01-19-2022, 03:07 PM)Bengalholic Wrote: See, this is where I run into issues. I would love to see Sam in the ring, but if Marvin is a definite no...then I don't see how Sam gets in. He only had 3 winning seasons in 8 years and a losing record overall. Forrest may be the most qualified (having a winning record and a SB appearance) but was only here 4 years...so I'm not sure you could put him in either.

Hell, even Paul didn't get in for his coaching with the Bengals, but for his overall impact on the game and bringing pro football to Cincinnati. 

(01-19-2022, 04:51 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: Lots of excuses here. Any time you lose, it's easy to find some valid looking excuses.

In the end, he had 7 (!) cracks at it and couldn't get it done.


Most of those guys (all?) have Super Bowls on their resumes though.


The strike year hurt Sam's overall record. He was playing with scabs and didn't even bother installing his sugar huddle or most of his offense.

Take away that year and he was over .500 (57-55 with a Super Bowl and several playoff wins on his resume. That's worthy.

I don't see anyone else as worthy other than Paul Brown, and that's simply because he's the founder.

(01-19-2022, 04:51 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: Most of those guys (all?) have Super Bowls on their resumes though.

(01-19-2022, 04:51 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: Lots of excuses here. Any time you lose, it's easy to find some valid looking excuses.

In the end, he had 7 (!) cracks at it and couldn't get it done.


Most of those guys (all?) have Super Bowls on their resumes though.


The strike year hurt Sam's overall record. He was playing with scabs and didn't even bother installing his sugar huddle or most of his offense.

Take away that year and he was over .500 (57-55 with a Super Bowl and several playoff wins on his resume. That's worthy.

I don't see anyone else as worthy other than Paul Brown, and that's simply because he's the founder.

(01-19-2022, 05:17 PM)BengalFanInNJ Wrote: Yes.

Let’s not overlook the fact that he took what was considered the worst franchise IN ALL SPORTS, and made them contenders and respectable. Did he make mistakes? Yes. Was he here probably a year or two too long? Yes. But, what he helped with getting this franchise out if the dark ages is huge and I will always attribute that to him.

(01-19-2022, 03:10 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: We are in agreement there. No coach currently deserves to be in, other than PB. 

(01-19-2022, 01:52 AM)JaggedJimmyJay Wrote: Who y'all got for two votes next year?

My first thoughts are Willie Anderson (HOF level player) and Dave Lapham (Super Bowl lineman and essential broadcast legend). I voted Willie the first time so he's kind of a lock.

(01-19-2022, 05:03 PM)jason Wrote: I wonder how many coaches are in other teams' Rings of Honor for just making a Super Bowl... I'm definitely a Sam Wyche fan, and I think I think more highly of Marvin than many, but I wouldn't put either of them in. Honestly I wouldn't put but a few more guys in in the near future... Boomer, Dillon, Chad, Curtis. I'm sure there's an obvious ommission on my part, but I'd keep it pretty exclusive.

(01-19-2022, 05:11 PM)Bengalholic Wrote: Yeah, but if we play 'if's and but's' then you have to take away Marvin's year without Carson...which means his record is actually 127-111-2. You would also have to discount the 2005 and 2015 playoff games because he didn't have his starting QB. It doesn't work like that though, at least IMO. Your final numbers are what they are. 

I love Sam, I respect Marvin...but Forrest may be more qualified than both...and I don't know that he gets in either. 

Until a Bengals HC wins a SB, I don't really see a coach in the ring, outside of Paul of course.

(01-19-2022, 07:14 PM)leonardfan40 Wrote: This turned out to be a very good poll. When I read it the first time I expected a blowout for “no”….I am genuinely shocked by these poll results. I gave Marvin a lot more credit and leash than a lot of people and even I don’t see how you could put him in a ring of honor.

I don’t agree one bit with anyone who voted yes but very interesting that it’s still neck and neck.

Maybe if we were actually in charge of the whole ring of honor there would be some different results here. If people had to cut it down to a top 15-20 that were allowed in max I doubt Marvin has much chance of beating out a lot of the players he’d be competing against.

(01-19-2022, 07:03 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: Injuries are part of the game though, holic.

Coaching a bunch of plumbers and mechanics against some teams that have actual players is not. It wasn't even actual NFL football for much of that year.

Even if you count that, his resume is still better than Marv's. We'll always remember 1988 and even 1990. What is Marv's iconic moment or year? What was his crowning achievement?

I'll agree that - maybe - no coach is worthy, but I'd certainly throw Sam in before Marv.

(01-19-2022, 07:18 PM)Bengalholic Wrote: Yeah brother, but every coach had to deal with 'plumbers and mechanics' to different extents for 3 games. Only 15% crossed the picket line, and he only went 3-9 with regular players. Not sure how Sam can get a special exemption for that.

(01-19-2022, 07:52 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: They played the first 2 games, then played with scabs for a month, then tried to come back like nothing happened. 

Just look at Boomer's yearly stats, and it's easy to see when the strike year happened:

1985: 7-7 record - 93.2 passer rating
1986: 10-6 record - 87.7 passer rating
1987: 3-9 record - 73.2 passer rating
1988: 12-4 record - 97.4 passer rating
1989: 7-8 record - 92.1 passer rating
1990: 9-7 record - 77.0 passer rating

If you want to say Sam didn't handle the strike well, fine. I agree with that. But all I'm saying is those weren't normal circumstances like an injury or something.


Guess we'll just have to agree to disagree here.