ArmyBengal Posted July 19, 2006 Report Share Posted July 19, 2006 Hobson's Choice: Coping with character July 19, 2006Q: Marvin Lewis has backed every player they have drafted with background issues. He has made each players incidents from college seem as if they werent that bad. Now, these players with background issues are making the organization look really bad, including Marvin Lewis. Is he losing his integrity with the community? Are we turning into the East Coast Raiders? --NICK NICK: No question the club is going to have to re-think how it deals with acquiring players red-flagged with character problems. You can have only so many case-by-case picks. The offseason has truly been miserable that way, but the ensuing anger shouldnt escalate into rhetoric that erases the extraordinary good works Marvin Lewis has done for this community in three years or blurs how the Bengals make decisions. Frankly, Lewis hasnt said much of anything about the character issue so its a little unfair to say that he has blown it off. Obviously he and Bengals president Mike Brown have to address the problem in some fashion at the July 26 training camp news conference, but dont put words in his mouth just yet. As for Lewis losing integrity or standing with the community? Come on. Can we get a grip amid the hysteria? Heres a guy whose foundation in the past six months raised $450,000 at the Marvin Lewis Golf Classic, awarded four scholarships to college-bound students for $20,000 each, honored more than 250 youth football players for academic excellence, and ran a clinic for 250 youth and high school coaches. And thats just in the past six months. Multiply all the money and all the goodwill he has personally generated for the good and the right things here since 2003, and its going to take a lot more than questionable draft picks to reduce the guy to the Al Davis of the Ohio River Valley. Sure, Lewis is at a critical point in his coaching career. Certainly it appears he has to be harder on those questionable kids, the Chris Henrys and Odell Thurmans. If hes going to take them, he has to make sure he has them for the long haul. Either change his approach with those guys to make them reliable and responsible, or dont take them. But Lewis isnt a Belichickian dictator, although he certainly has far-reaching Parcellian power and influence in the halls of Bengaldom. Much like what Bill Cowher exerts in Pittsburgh. Even Bill Parcells shares power in Dallas. The Bengals made the playoffs, but they are still run by consensus. You cant just praise or bang Lewis for acquisitions; you have to praise or bang everybody who has input. From coaches and scouts all the way up to Lewis and Brown. One of the myths of the Bengals 27-21 turnaround since Lewis arrived is that Brown has been bound and gagged and thrown into the trunk of his Chevy. Lewis has close to carte blanche on player moves and the football operations, not much different than what previous Bengals coaches have had under Brown. You could make the argument that Lewis has a clearer vision, a firmer grasp of personnel, and a better quarterback than his predecessors, and hes got more say because hes had more success. Plus, Lewis had the very big advantage previous coaches didnt when he came in after a 2-14 season. Changes werent only needed, but welcomed. Brown still has the final say in the draft room and on player moves. If Lewis adroitly brought along Carson Palmer, it was Browns front office that extended Palmer to 2014. If Lewis success and charisma lured attractive free agents like Tory James, Sam Adams, and Dexter Jackson, it was Browns money that signed them. If bench sitters T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Rudi Johnson flourished under Lewis staff, Browns front office kept them. If you want to excoriate Brown for the 90s, you must also tip your hat to him at the turn of the century. So if they felt Thurman and Henry were good value picks in the draft, or someone did, we can assume those picks also werent made in a one-man Lewis vacuum. Much has been written on various web sites about who made the call on last weeks selection of Virginia linebacker Ahmad Brooks in the supplemental draft. Its been published that Brown made the call over Lewis, but when they are asked next week they will no doubt say they made the call as a team. Thats the way Lewis said he wanted it when he arrived. Not a Marvin Guy, or a Mike Guy, but a Bengals Guy. Now they have to deal with the character issue, and these two have a track record tough to argue with so far. A division title. Five Pro Bowlers. A top 10 offense. Lewis has a new five-year deal and Brown has a streak of 19 straight sellouts soon to be 27. Together, they changed the culture of losing. Now they have to deal with the culture of winning.http://bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=5333I love Hobson's repsonse, but I'm sure some of you will want to cry and b*tch about it !!!WHODEY !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMC Posted July 19, 2006 Report Share Posted July 19, 2006 Hobs hit the nail on the head.The best part was when he suggested Marvin may have to change his tactics concerning how he deals with "problem" players.But he drives the point home that everything about the organization is a team effort. Like they always say, too much credit for the good stuff, too much heat for the bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kazkal Posted July 19, 2006 Report Share Posted July 19, 2006 I was gonna make this post myself good job hobson I been waiting for good read for a few weeks now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bengalboomer7 Posted July 19, 2006 Report Share Posted July 19, 2006 I was gonna make this post myself good job hobson I been waiting for good read for a few weeks now...Me too. Nice wrie up Hobson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ox Posted July 19, 2006 Report Share Posted July 19, 2006 If you want to excoriate Brown for the 90s, you must also tip your hat to him at the turn of the century.Best point of the article, in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArmyBengal Posted July 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2006 A lot of the points we have been trying to drive home around here !!!WHODEY !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stripes Posted July 20, 2006 Report Share Posted July 20, 2006 Who says Hobson is a homer slave being whipped about by Mike Brown's minions?Great read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kazkal Posted July 20, 2006 Report Share Posted July 20, 2006 These are days I love hobson a enjoyable hobsons choice + article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jditty47 Posted July 20, 2006 Report Share Posted July 20, 2006 they changed the culture of losing. Now they have to deal with the culture of winninglast line summed it up for me pretty well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Defender Posted July 20, 2006 Report Share Posted July 20, 2006 You cant just praise or bang Lewis for acquisitions; you have to praise or bang everybody who has input. From coaches and scouts all the way up to Lewis and Brown. Hehe, he said you have to bang everybody Sorry, had a high school flashback moment... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArmyBengal Posted July 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2006 Im so glad the light is finally coming on for some people here !!!WHODEY !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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