09-12-2017, 02:22 PM
(09-12-2017, 11:46 AM)Bengalholic Wrote: 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-filed 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.
Yeah the resigning was ridiculous considering Marvins coaching record. To the bold I feel that argument is kind of a BS defense for Marvin Lewis. I completely agree that the resigning of him was rewarding his failures as a Head Coach.
In my mind, we did better as a team because we got better players, not because Marvin Lewis became a better coach. Let's be honest here, part of the reason the Bengals did so bad before the resigning is because Carson Palmer had clearly checked out of this team mentally and because Lewis was ultra conservariety as a coach.. People would always use the excuse that Marvin should stay because he was able to get the Bengals to the playoffs but I personally feel a lot of coaches would have gotten the Bengals to the playoffs with the talent we've had over the years.
I think one of the things that bothers me most is that when we resigned Marvin Lewis we effectively allowed him to waste precious time of the talent we've had. I mean players like AJ Green and Dalton started in their early twenties and are now about to be 30. It makes me wonder what athletic talent we've wasted under these Marvin Lewis years.
I mean we can even go back to the Chad Johnson days. Chad Johnson could torch anyone out there. The fact that he never won a playoff game with the Bengals is crazy.
