Marvin Fires Back

[HairOnFire]

Wow.

Asked about the Kentucky Prosecutors:

"They jumped the gun."

"I don't know what their excuse is."

"It's consistent with the way they've treated our players."

Asked if police were guilty of profiling Bengal players:

"I think there's profiling. No question."

"When you get pulled over for not putting on your turn signal...there's something wrong there."

Asked about how much responsibility he shares:

"It's not my team. I'm the coach."

"Roger Goodell doesn't ask me questions about this."

Asked about Goodell's new policy:

"People in the NFL don't understand his plan."

"We tell our players not to put themselves in a position to be used as an example."

Asked about the Bengals reputation:

"The track record over the last four years is very good."

"People have to be judged on more than one year."

Asked if he's tired of discussing off field issues:

"It's not a tough subject to deal with. It really isn't."

[derekshank]

I don't disagree with much, if any of what Marvin said... but I felt like he came across sort of angry and what many might call an "enabling" attitiude. It's really just standard Marvin, because it's clear that he hates the part of his job that answers to the media.

I'm glad he did the interview and showed that he's not afraid to answer these questions publicly - but as is generally the case with media interviews, I don't think he came across all that great.

This feeling came across more in actually listening to the interview rather than anything Hair actually posted though.

[The PatternMaster]

Asked about how much responsibility he shares:

"It's not my team. I'm the coach."

"Roger Goodell doesn't ask me questions about this."

wow, indeed

End of story, maybe ESPN should run a pic of Mike Brown everytime a Bengal gets arrested.

[HairOnFire]

I don't disagree with much, if any of what Marvin said... but I felt like he came across sort of angry and what many might call an "enabling" attitiude. It's really just standard Marvin, because it's clear that he hates the part of his job that answers to the media.

I wouldn't exactly call it angry, but yeah....deadly serious. But I most certainly wouldn't call it standard Marvin stuff. For example, how many times have we fans reacted to a Marvin interview by laughing about how evasive he can be? So I was suprised, stunned, and maybe even a little shocked to hear him answer every hard question in the point blank manner he used.

Again, deadly freaking serious.

As for whether or not his attitude might be considered enabling, I guess that depends on how you feel about the question of if Bengal players are actually being profiled, or targeted unfairly. Personally I think there's plenty of material to suggest that they have been, though I'm sure it falls far short of being actual proof. But again, feeling as I do I was very happy and amazed that Lewis actually said that there was "No question" that Bengal players were being profiled. And I flat out loved the broadsides directed at the Kentucky prosecutors.

I'm tired of this team pulling it's punches.

Bottom Line: The Bengals have been taking more than their fair share of crap for far too long, and I for one was very pleased to hear Lewis drop the nice guy act.

[membengal]

No f**kin' doubt, Hair.

And, good for Marvin.

[Stripes]

Rock n' roll, Marvin. Rock n' roll.

[J24]

the media will destoy him if their is another arrest.

[BlainThePain]

Asked about how much responsibility he shares:

"It's not my team. I'm the coach."

"Roger Goodell doesn't ask me questions about this."

The only part of the interview I didn't like.

[HairOnFire]

the media will destoy him if their is another arrest.

The media has been greedily destroying the Bengals reputation for quite some time now, and in my opinion they've been doing it unfairly. So I'm more than happy to see Lewis fight back, and I'll support him each time he feels compelled to. (And it'll probably take more than once.)

That said, I felt Lewis DID show restraint in the interview. It may have suprised me that he actually pointed a damning finger at the Kentucky prosecutors, but under the circumstances I think he could have done far worse. In fact, he volunteered his opinion that Chris Henry had put himself in a position where others could wrong him in the manner that just occured. And his claim that Bengal players are being profiled by the police wasn't centered on race, as it very easily could have been, but instead was framed around Bengal players being highly visible fish in Cincy's small town pond. Last, Lewis took absolutely no shots at the media.

And he very easily could have.

For example, several hours before Lewis was interviewed Dan Patrick and Keith Olberman were discussing a Tampa Bay Devil Ray player who had threatened to kill his wife and children. Within a minute or two they somehow managed to morph into discussion about what punishment was suitable for a crime like that, to a series of Bengal jokes about justice being handed out by bulk-rate and the need for a direct & seperate phone line to Goodell's office.

Olbermann finally seemed to realize how stupid things had gotten by ending the bit with..."Right or wrong, fair on unfair, there's one rule for the Bengals, and one rule for everyone else."

And he was right.

That said, f@ck him.

[MacD BengalFan]

Asked about how much responsibility he shares:

"It's not my team. I'm the coach."

"Roger Goodell doesn't ask me questions about this."

The only part of the interview I didn't like.

Marvin is actually right in this statement. It is not his team, it is actually Mike Brown's. He is the owner, Marvin does not "own" the team. He is the "coach". Roger will ask Mike Brown these kind of questions as Mikey is top dog in the organization, not Marvin. Marvin is an employee of Mike Browns and thus, questions like this will not be asked to him.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

So driving around in the middle of the day in the poorest, most crime ridden, drug infested neighborhood in town, in a big old $50k Escalade, is not asking for trouble? That's "profiling?"

Give me a break Marv. He contradicts himself, when he sticks up for the players one second with the profiling comment, then takes the commish's side the next, and says players don't understand "his plan."

"The plan" is not doing things that will get you arrested.

It's not that difficult for them to "understand."

[mjm47]

So driving around in the middle of the day in the poorest, most crime ridden, drug infested neighborhood in town, in a big old $50k Escalade, is not asking for trouble? That's "profiling?"

Yes - that's pretty much the definition of profiling - extrapolating from readily discernible characteristics and inferring less evident truths based on the immediately apparent.

[HairOnFire]

So driving around in the middle of the day in the poorest, most crime ridden, drug infested neighborhood in town, in a big old $50k Escalade, is not asking for trouble? That's "profiling?"

Yes - that's pretty much the definition of profiling - extrapolating from readily discernible characteristics and inferring less evident truths based on the immediately apparent.

It might be a good idea to try explaining that to Shula again. He rarely grasps things the first time...even when they're obvious.

[derekshank]

As for whether or not his attitude might be considered enabling, I guess that depends on how you feel about the question of if Bengal players are actually being profiled, or targeted unfairly.

Just for the record, I don't think Marvin is an "enabler." The opposite actually. He's shown his willingness to hand down discipline in ways that effect his job personally (he's given suspensions to Henry, as well as reduced playing time to Rudi, and more than was required of him in the Odell situation). I was just pointing out that his answers might have come across that way to non-Bengal fans.

[GapControl]

The problem with Bengals players in Cincy is their salary makes them an easy target. If you took a look at the players cars, most of them identify them as one of a few things: a pro athlete, an MTV influenced, popculture hip rich kid, a businessperson with interesting tastes in gangsta popculture, or a person who stole the said, luxury car in question.

Since most of the players in Cincy have been arrested in or around their cars, it is easy to suggest profiling of their car and subsequently ownership is taking place.

The team could easily address this. To be a member of the team, you must refrain from advertising yourself in a "questionable" manner. For example, having tatoos on your arms and neck, or piercing in your ears may make you a "questionable looking" salesman for a major company.

This can be extended to the cars the players drive.

If such an extension were made, it ends the profiling. That`s because the cops aren`t targeting these guys while they are simply walking down the street or sitting in their homes. It is when they leave the clubs or etc.

[The PatternMaster]

The problem with Bengals players in Cincy is their salary makes them an easy target. If you took a look at the players cars, most of them identify them as one of a few things: a pro athlete, an MTV influenced, popculture hip rich kid, a businessperson with interesting tastes in gangsta popculture, or a person who stole the said, luxury car in question.

Since most of the players in Cincy have been arrested in or around their cars, it is easy to suggest profiling of their car and subsequently ownership is taking place.

The team could easily address this. To be a member of the team, you must refrain from advertising yourself in a "questionable" manner. For example, having tatoos on your arms and neck, or piercing in your ears may make you a "questionable looking" salesman for a major company.

This can be extended to the cars the players drive.

If such an extension were made, it ends the profiling. That`s because the cops aren`t targeting these guys while they are simply walking down the street or sitting in their homes. It is when they leave the clubs or etc.

You can't be serious, maybe the problem is with people doing the profiling, not the victims. If a guy wants to get whatever car he wants, shouldn't he be allowed too? Just because some half-wit cop is only making 30 grand a year doesn't mean the NFL player can't buy whatever car he pleases.

[agreen_112]

So driving around in the middle of the day in the poorest, most crime ridden, drug infested neighborhood in town, in a big old $50k Escalade, is not asking for trouble? That's "profiling?"

Yes - that's pretty much the definition of profiling - extrapolating from readily discernible characteristics and inferring less evident truths based on the immediately apparent.

I'm glad you got to him first. Shula get a clue man... It's 100% profiling, like I've been saying all along. I'm white and I know that!

Way to go Marv, It's about time you addressed this issue.

[Edogger]

Asked about how much responsibility he shares:

"It's not my team. I'm the coach."

"Roger Goodell doesn't ask me questions about this."

The only part of the interview I didn't like.

Still...he has some responsibility. He is the coach. I know he has way less than Mike Brown but still you have to set an example. Hence giving you responsibility. IMHO...

[Jet23]

I don't know if they are 'targeting' Bengals, but it doesn't appear as if they are cutting them any slack. I definitely believe that professional athletes in Cincinnati are scrutinized differently than professional athletes in other cities. Everyone here wants to get a name by 'bagging' the big name coach or athlete. Put the same team in Chicago, and you probably have less than half of the arrests. For example, what other city has a damn road block every 4 feet?

Here's the big question, do professional athletes deserve preferential treatment? For the big stuff (robbery, rape, murder, pointing a gun while wearing game jersey, passing out on a bridge..) absolutley not. But, for the ticky tack crap, would it hurt to give them a bit of a break?

[The PatternMaster]

Asked about how much responsibility he shares:

"It's not my team. I'm the coach."

"Roger Goodell doesn't ask me questions about this."

The only part of the interview I didn't like.

Still...he has some responsibility. He is the coach. I know he has way less than Mike Brown but still you have to set an example. Hence giving you responsibility. IMHO...

I think your taking his comments the wrong way;he never I said" I have no responsibility", he said that Mike is the one who has to answer to Goodell, not him. This team has no GM, Mike Brown is a very hands on owner who oversees the football operations on a day to day basis so Brown is responsible for bringing in some of the guys who have caused the trouble. One could argue that Katie Blackburn or Eric Ball has as much to do with players arrest as Marvin does.

In the end Mike Brown is responsible for the Cincy Bengals as he could fire Marvin tomorrow and would still have to deal with the same issues. Maybe if this team had a GM or a more traditional structure similar to other teams Mike Brown wouldn't have to take Goodell's phone calls which have to be like getting a root canal and a prostate exam at the same.

[HoosierCat]

I don't know if they are 'targeting' Bengals, but it doesn't appear as if they are cutting them any slack. I definitely believe that professional athletes in Cincinnati are scrutinized differently than professional athletes in other cities.

Maybe so, but you're right that it does go on everywhere. It's part of what you sign on for if you're a professional athlete, a celebrity, a politician, even the head of a big corporation. Busting you is a feather for the cap of any cop or prosecuter; getting dirt on you sells newspapers and magazines and puts eyeballs on TV screens and web sites. Stupid crap 99% of the population would get away with becomes front-page news for you. Not only that, but that crap splatters on the organization and the people around you. No matter what their past history, every Bengal now gets 10X the scrutiny they got before thanks to the antics of guys like Henry and Odell.

In short, there's a price tag attached to becoming larger than life, something I think (or at least hope) Henry and Odell have learned.

[Jet23]

I don't know if they are 'targeting' Bengals, but it doesn't appear as if they are cutting them any slack. I definitely believe that professional athletes in Cincinnati are scrutinized differently than professional athletes in other cities.

Maybe so, but you're right that it does go on everywhere. It's part of what you sign on for if you're a professional athlete, a celebrity, a politician, even the head of a big corporation. Busting you is a feather for the cap of any cop or prosecuter; getting dirt on you sells newspapers and magazines and puts eyeballs on TV screens and web sites. Stupid crap 99% of the population would get away with becomes front-page news for you. Not only that, but that crap splatters on the organization and the people around you. No matter what their past history, every Bengal now gets 10X the scrutiny they got before thanks to the antics of guys like Henry and Odell.

In short, there's a price tag attached to becoming larger than life, something I think (or at least hope) Henry and Odell have learned.

There is a price tage for being famous, but there are also perks, at least everywhere else. It's hard enough to attract athletes to this market, without the perception that the city does not value the players.

Come to Cincinnati. We have great schools, quiet neighborhoods.....and by the way, I hope you like sobriety checkpoints...

[HairOnFire]

I think your taking his comments the wrong way;he never I said" I have no responsibility", he said that Mike is the one who has to answer to Goodell, not him.

For whatever it might be worth, I was reading a recap of the interview on GoBengals and someone there had posted a weblink for those who missed the interview. Frankly, I did the best note taking that my time at work allowed, but let's face it....I only posted the highlites. Not only was there stuff in the interview that I didn't find worthy of passing along, but if you listen for yourself you can hear the actual questions being asked as well as better judge Marvin's attitue.

[HairOnFire]

I don't know if they are 'targeting' Bengals, but it doesn't appear as if they are cutting them any slack. I definitely believe that professional athletes in Cincinnati are scrutinized differently than professional athletes in other cities. Everyone here wants to get a name by 'bagging' the big name coach or athlete. Put the same team in Chicago, and you probably have less than half of the arrests. For example, what other city has a damn road block every 4 feet?

Great points. Obviously professional athletes are high profile personalities no matter where you go, but depending on where you happen to live that status doesn't automatically make them targets. Some cities embrace them and willingly engage in covering up their misdeeds while other cities make a point of holding them to a higher standard due to the belief that role models deserve greater scrutiny than the Average Joe. But there's the rub because however you may feel about whether or not they deserve to be viewed as role models...we're still talking about football players.

[HoosierCat]

There is a price tage for being famous, but there are also perks, at least everywhere else. It's hard enough to attract athletes to this market, without the perception that the city does not value the players.

Come to Cincinnati. We have great schools, quiet neighborhoods.....and by the way, I hope you like sobriety checkpoints...

Oh, I'm sure many Bengals have enjoyed their fair share of free dinners, drinks and lap dances. And how would we know whether some guys have been let off the hook by non-d**khead cops? I'll bet you it's happened, but by definition you don't hear about it. And the biggest perk of all, of course, is the money. Not just what they make as players, but also the ability to make money just for being themselves. No one is going to pay either of us to look like we're deep-throating a footlong on camera, but they'll pay Carson plenty.

As for discouraging players to come here, well, I would argue that the Bengals' approach to outside free agents is a far, far, far, far bigger barrier than the Kenton Kounty Kops.