09-12-2017, 11:46 AM
(09-12-2017, 11:23 AM)Wyche Wrote: .....the day Son of Paul took over.....and the Christmas Eve Massacre.....oh, wait.
Gotta be the extension after 2010 for me.
Same.
Specifically, the press conference after Marvin was inked to a new deal in January, 2011.
At the time, Marvin had a 60-67-1 record in 8 seasons. In the previous 4 seasons before getting the new deal, he was just 25-38. And of course, his starting QB was threatening to retire rather than play another game for the Bengals.
The negotiations between Mike and Marvin had not exactly gone smoothly. In fact, Marvin walked away from the table and seemed to be done at one point. It took Katie getting more involved, a few concessions from Mike and a heart-to-heart call from Sam Wyche to finally get a deal done. It wasn't Marvin's losing record, or any on-field failures, that had hung up the deal...it was about the amount of control each man wanted. Both 'settled' to get it the new deal finished.
The press conference that followed the most awkward, uncomfortable and depressing 'signing announcement' presser that I've ever witnessed. Neither Mike or Marvin seemed like they wanted to be there, and definitely not sitting next to each other. To me, it was an owner giving up a little more control than he was comfortable with, and a HC not getting the amount of control he felt he needed. Yet, they begrudgingly agreed to a new deal.
Some will argue that re-signing Lewis was a good thing because of the regular season success that followed (2011-2015). I would argue that the deal, an each extension since, has simply rewarded the failures of not only Lewis, but the entire organization.
That press conference was indicative of the mindset of this franchise...which is settling for mediocrity.
