The three amigos?

[HairOnFire]

http://espn.go.com/b...other-assistant

The Cincinnati Bengals are moving quickly to retain their coaching staff.

Just one day after retaining defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, ESPN's John Clayton reports the Bengals also re-signed longtime offensive line coach Paul Alexander to a three-year deal. Alexander has been with the Bengals since 2002.

Coming off 10 wins, a playoff appearance and division title, Cincinnati's coaches have garnered some attention this offseason. Clayton reports Alexander received interest from the Washington Redskins, who also were reportedly interested in Zimmer.

In addition, Bengals quarterback coach Ken Zampese is considered a hot candidate for Chicago Bears' opening at offensive coordinator.

[HairOnFire]

Marvin. Coach of the Year? Fire him?

More fully raked muck from Lance.......

Extending Marvin?

Marvin Lewis will get strong consideration for NFL Coach of the Year.

This was his best coaching job since he's been here.

He navigated this team through circumstances you'd wish on no other coach and manged to lead the Bengals to their 2nd playoff appearance in five years.

He has one year remaining on his contract. The Bengals have a couple of ways to play this.

A. Reward him now and offer a multi-year contract extension.

B. Do nothing and allow him to coach out his contract during the 2010 season and then decide.

Now, if he wins again in 2010 there is no doubt he will be a wanted commodity. The Bengals would have to bid vs other teams. Maybe his dedication to the Marvin Lewis Community Fund keeps him here. Maybe not.

I'd roll the dice and let him coach out his current contract. Why?

I'm not locking him up for three more years when I believe the Bengals have their next coach already lined up.

Whether Marvin wins in '10 and leaves, or he loses, I'd have no problem moving on and handing the job to Mike Zimmer.

This is about expectations. And the need to raise the expectations beyond the comparison to the history of this franchise.

Marvin's the second winningest coach (56) in franchise history (Sam Wyche 64).

His winning percentage is 3rd best in frachise history, and better than Paul Brown.

Not bad.

Not bad when compared to the history of the franchise.

In reality, Marvin is a below .500 coach....56-57-1 overall in 7 years. (56-55-1 regular season/0-2 postseason). . He's produced a winning season just twice in seven years. Add to that his continuing difficulties with game and clock management and replay challenges and my jury is still out on him as a head coach.

How many sub .500 coaches with only two winning seasons are getting contract extensions after seven years on the job? Would the Steelers extend him? How about the Cowboys? Colts?

If the Bengals can't take the next step under Marvin Lewis in 2010 and actually win a playoff game then what exactly are the goals of this franchise? And what would be the use of continuing the relationship?

I would not find two winning seasons in eight years, and 0 playoff wins acceptable. Would you?

I'll happily take a complete game from Marvin in 2010. But Zimmer is warming up in the bullpen.

/>http://1530homer.com...sday-January-13

[ArmyBengal]

Well, at least the organization isn't wasting time doing what they feel needs to be done.

Marvin ?? Well, he said prior to the season starting that he felt this team was full of "his type of guys" and I felt he put himself out there to produce. Going 10-6 while sweeping the division and making another playoff appearance was enough for me to continue supporting Marvin. Do I wish we would have done better at the end of the season ?? Sure, but I am good with things right now and look forward to this teams future success.

[HoosierCat]

7 years...my jury is still out on him as a head coach.

Wow...way to step up there, Lance.

(hint: I think the jury can go home now because the statute of limitations has expired.)

[ShulaSteakhouse]

More of the same. So expect more of the same next year - no playoff wins. Zzzzz....

[Jet23]

Compared to the rest of his coaching career, Alexander has had a pretty good year. But he still sucks! I will drive him to Washington.

[COB]

7 years...my jury is still out on him as a head coach.

Wow...way to step up there, Lance.

(hint: I think the jury can go home now because the statute of limitations has expired.)

Yea, maybe after Marvin has coached over 200 games or something, Lance can decide. I'll take Marvin, he's got them moving in the right direction. We had a young and inexperienced team that overachieved this year. Such teams fade at the end of the season. Jacksonville had a really young team this year, they didn't do as well as the Bengals, and I think they also faded.

[COB]

More of the same. So expect more of the same next year - no playoff wins. Zzzzz....

What exactly is it you disagree with?

Surely you wanted Alexander retained, you were singing his praises last year when everyone else was bashing him.

I'll assume you wanted Zimmer re-upped.

So are you wishing Marvin would get fired? I wish they'd try to find a new OC, if they find a good one, hire him. If not, keep Brat. Though I wonder exactly how bad the offense has to get before Brat is held accountable. These last two seasons aren't exactly a ringing endorsement of his abilities.

[Stripes]

There was a time when Steakhouse praised Paul Alexander, and perhaps even frequently? How did I miss that?

[Kazkal]

Compared to the rest of his coaching career, Alexander has had a pretty good year. But he still sucks! I will drive him to Washington.

I'd say a AVG year Run Blocking was Nice (mainly left Side Right was hot & Cold)....Pass Blocking few games we would have Solid Few we would have horrid.

[walzav29]

I am happy Alexander was re-signed as well. He did an excellent job with the line, and it will be alot better next season. Cook is great and what he did with getting the right tackle position in order was a miracle. I know people don't find Smith physically attractive, but it shouldn't really matter. Wait until he get's a proper off-season under his belt. We do need a new OC though.

[Ickey44]

The line performed well most of the season, but they still had way too many false starts and holding penalties. So many positive steps were taken along with a few negative ones. Paul needs to figure out how to get his guys out of that habit.

[membengal]

There was a time when Steakhouse praised Paul Alexander, and perhaps even frequently? How did I miss that?

What TDB said, Central.

I don't recall ShulaSteak ever doing anything but bashing Alexander.

[HairOnFire]

IMHO nobody here writes about the offensive line more frequently or with more passion than Kid Steakhouse. Oddly enough, I'm also fairly certain nobody makes less sense.

NADS

[kevnz]

Damn I can't believe we resigned Alexanders sorry ass...What player has he ever developed that wasn't a high draft pick? How many penalties did the o-line get this year??? That's coaching right there, and that's the position coach who is to blame. Brat I can handle, but Alexander is just s**t.

[COB]

What TDB said, Central.

I don't recall ShulaSteak ever doing anything but bashing Alexander.

Last year I was part of a mob screaming for Alexander's head. I think I was the one with the pitchfork.

Anyway, I recall Shula jumping in on more than one occassion claiming Alexander was doing well, but that our personnel were so bad it was hard to tell. It dovetailed perfectly with his mantra that Mike Brown won't pay money or high draft picks on o-line except for tackles.

Anyone? Anyone? Buehler?

[kingwilly]

IMHO nobody here writes about the offensive line more frequently or with more passion than Kid Steakhouse. Oddly enough, I'm also fairly certain nobody makes less sense.

NADS

agree.

and to those who poo-poo Mathis, Livings and Roland....I have just one word: NADS

these guys played WAY over their heads and managed to get Cedric hole after hole....these guys might be the LOWEST drafted/acquired starting O-lineman in the NFL this year....

NADS

[cincyhokie]

IMHO nobody here writes about the offensive line more frequently or with more passion than Kid Steakhouse. Oddly enough, I'm also fairly certain nobody makes less sense.

NADS

agree.

and to those who poo-poo Mathis, Livings and Roland....I have just one word: NADS

these guys played WAY over their heads and managed to get Cedric hole after hole....these guys might be the LOWEST drafted/acquired starting O-lineman in the NFL this year....

NADS

NADS, indeed. NADS.

[derekshank]

Damn I can't believe we resigned Alexanders sorry ass...What player has he ever developed that wasn't a high draft pick?

Did you just wake up from being cryogenically frozen for the last 4 years?

I can see how you'd be confused. You wake up, jump on Bengalszone and everyone is talking about the Bengals playoff loss. That, and gay marriage is still illegal... so it would seem like no time had passed at all. But there is a black guy in the white house, there is a flu pandemic, the economy sucks, Tiger Woods is monogamously challenged, and Conan took Leno's spot for about 10 minutes (Just thought I'd try to bring you up to speed).

But most importantly... the O-Line cast of characters on the '09 Bengals is very different from the '05 version. This year's starting O-Line... Zero 1st rounders. Two 2nd rounders. One 3rd rounder. Two undrafted Free Agents. Not to mention the fact that three of the guys that played significant minutes started out on the Bengals practice squad.

So, to answer your question... high draft picks? Well... very few, if any, on an O-Line that ranked 9th in QB sacks and 9th in rushing yards.

I'll let you come to your own conclusions though. I wouldn't want to dampen your outrage with the obvious.

[HairOnFire]

Anyway, I recall Shula jumping in on more than one occassion claiming Alexander was doing well, but that our personnel were so bad it was hard to tell. It dovetailed perfectly with his mantra that Mike Brown won't pay money or high draft picks on o-line except for tackles.

Anyone? Anyone? Buehler?

Yeah, it rings a bell or two. But as I recall...his praise of Alexander was faint, backhanded, and almost certainly disingenuous. Furthermore, the only reason I think it was offered was to set up his companion rant about the substandard level of talent found on the offensive line.

Nutshelled, I think he wanted to gripe about something other than Alexander himself so he tossed the guy a few meatless bones while turning his withering gaze upon the guys upfront.

NADS

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Anyway, I recall Shula jumping in on more than one occassion claiming Alexander was doing well, but that our personnel were so bad it was hard to tell. It dovetailed perfectly with his mantra that Mike Brown won't pay money or high draft picks on o-line except for tackles.

Anyone? Anyone? Buehler?

Yeah, it rings a bell or two. But as I recall...his praise of Alexander was faint, backhanded, and almost certainly disingenuous. Furthermore, the only reason I think it was offered was to set up his companion rant about the substandard level of talent found on the offensive line.

Nutshelled, I think he wanted to gripe about something other than Alexander himself so he tossed the guy a few meatless bones while turning his withering gaze upon the guys upfront.

NADS

Alexander is junk and 4 out of his 5 lineman couldn't start for anyone else in the league.

Levi Jones had two good/acceptable years, and Andre Smith is a joke so far.

Not one player he's drafted in what, 15 years, has made a Pro Bowl?

He's a clown, always has been.

[redsbengalsbucks]

Anyway, I recall Shula jumping in on more than one occassion claiming Alexander was doing well, but that our personnel were so bad it was hard to tell. It dovetailed perfectly with his mantra that Mike Brown won't pay money or high draft picks on o-line except for tackles.

Anyone? Anyone? Buehler?

Yeah, it rings a bell or two. But as I recall...his praise of Alexander was faint, backhanded, and almost certainly disingenuous. Furthermore, the only reason I think it was offered was to set up his companion rant about the substandard level of talent found on the offensive line.

Nutshelled, I think he wanted to gripe about something other than Alexander himself so he tossed the guy a few meatless bones while turning his withering gaze upon the guys upfront.

NADS

Alexander is junk and 4 out of his 5 lineman couldn't start for anyone else in the league.

Levi Jones had two good/acceptable years, and Andre Smith is a joke so far.

Not one player he's drafted in what, 15 years, has made a Pro Bowl?

He's a clown, always has been.

From what I saw of Andre late in the season, he is going to be a beast at RT for a long time. Levi was one of the best linemen in the league until his injury and you forget that he salvaged a throw-away center and made him a solid starter for the second time since he has been here.

Pro-Bowls do not mean players are the best in the NFL, just the most recognized. As this season proves, with no Bengals being voted to the game.

There have been some players lost in the media shadow that is Cinci. Levi deserved 2 pro-bowls, Buckethead deserved at least 3, Big Willie deserved multiple years and Whit deserved one this season. Until Cinci wins some playoff games the snubbing of pro-bowl caliber players will continue.

I am sorry that Alexander plowed your girl, but it is time to let go of the hate.

[COB]

Alexander is junk and 4 out of his 5 lineman couldn't start for anyone else in the league.

I, uh, stand corrected.

If 4 out of 5 '09 linemen couldn't start anywhere else, how do you explain our pretty darn good running game? Someone was blocking. I'm not here to claim Alexander is a great coach, but something worked to well this year for both the players and the coach to be incompetent.

[derekshank]

Alexander is junk and 4 out of his 5 lineman couldn't start for anyone else in the league.

Levi Jones had two good/acceptable years, and Andre Smith is a joke so far.

Not one player he's drafted in what, 15 years, has made a Pro Bowl?

He's a clown, always has been.

Look... either Alexander sucks, or the players suck. You can't have it both ways. Only 8 teams had fewer sacks allowed, and only 8 teams had more rushing yards behind their O-Lines.

Either the players were a good unit in spite of Alexander, or they were a bunch of losers who came to together because of Alexander.

I'll let you choose which option fits your particular rant this week - but you can't have both.

Or... you can have both and be put in the Mamabearcat category... guys who like to bitch, regardless of whether there is any logic or reason involved.

[kevnz]

Look... either Alexander sucks, or the players suck. You can't have it both ways. Only 8 teams had fewer sacks allowed, and only 8 teams had more rushing yards behind their O-Lines.

Either the players were a good unit in spite of Alexander, or they were a bunch of losers who came to together because of Alexander.

I'll let you choose which option fits your particular rant this week - but you can't have both.

Or... you can have both and be put in the Mamabearcat category... guys who like to bitch, regardless of whether there is any logic or reason involved.

Yes you can have both.

How were the players good this year? Whit and Cook were good but the online sucked as a whole, and even those guys had issues, how many penalties did the line get? That's coaching. Yeah, the talent was low as well in places but the line got worse as the year went on, not better.

Alexander sucks, and we need some better players on the line as well. If they quality of players increase I say we will still have the coaching penalties until we get rid of Alexander as well.