Lewis sets the record straight

[oldschooler]

Lewis sets the record straight

Coach addresses past week, Johnson and Roethlisberger

Marvin Lewis called Enquirer Bengals beat writer Mark Curnutte Saturday and wanted to talk about the events of the past week and also look ahead.

For the first time, the Bengals coach discussed the alleged altercation involving wide receiver Chad Johnson, apparent conflicting comments by Carson Palmer's surgeon on the condition of the quarterback's knee, and Lewis' own comments about Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Lewis wanted first to talk directly to Bengals fans.

"I guess my feeling is since the loss to Pittsburgh, it seems as though a dark cloud has tried to drop on our franchise," Lewis told The Enquirer. "I want to apologize to our fans that this has occurred.

"They should be excited about our future. I thank them for their support ... Our direction is not going to change. We have built a strong foundation. We had 24 guys with three years or less experience."

"With the practice-squad guys who have a chance to make the team, that's 30 guys," Lewis continued. "That's a good thing. Those guys will keep improving.

"The optimism that was there after 2003 should be 10 times greater after the 2005 season. We are not going to lose sight of what we've done."

Lewis looked back at the 2005 season, when the team finished 11-5 and put the franchise in the playoffs for the first time since the 1990 season.

"The 2005 season was a great learning experience for our franchise, our team and for me," said Lewis, 27-21 in three seasons as Bengals coach. "We've established an evaluation process of free agents and college prospects. All we're going to do is get better and better at this."

The contracts of all five of the Bengals' starting offensive linemen are due to expire after the 2006 season.

"We're in great shape salary-cap wise, and we're going to make every effort to extend our guys. We're going to get some new guys. They will be held to the same standard. We're going to be better in '06 than we were in '05.

"I was criticized for how I reacted (in a low-key manner) when we clinched at Detroit. I was thankful and grateful for what happened. But we weren't finished. There were bigger fish to fry."

A report was published on a rumor-mill Web site Monday that Johnson and wide receivers coach Hue Jackson were involved in a physical altercation at halftime of the Bengals' 27-13 loss.

"Chad's a very integral part of what we do," Lewis said. "There was no physical altercation. Chad was upset. He wanted to help us win the football game. He was frustrated. It happens all the time.

"When you lose a good player (such as Palmer), we needed people to step up and make plays. Chad wanted to do that. But Chad's not going to get in a fight with somebody. There are not two sets of rules. If Chad had hit somebody, he wouldn't have played in the second half."

After the game, Lewis was asked several questions about the injury to Palmer, who tore his anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments on his first pass play. Steelers defensive end Kimo von Oelhoffen hit Palmer in the knee. Lewis said he was not going to "baby and cry" like Roethlisberger did following the Bengals-Steelers game Dec. 4.

"I shouldn't have said anything I said that night," Lewis said. "I shouldn't have said what I did about Ben. Ben has been outstanding.

"Kimo is not a dirty player. (Steelers coach) Bill (Cowher) would never tell a player to try to injure somebody. What I said I said out of frustration."

Palmer underwent surgery Tuesday in Houston to repair two ligaments. In two interviews Wednesday, the surgeon, Dr. Lonnie Paulos, initially said Palmer's injury was more severe than originally thought.

Palmer had signed a six-year contract extension Dec. 29 - essentially a new nine-year deal worth $118.75 million - that keeps him with the Bengals through the 2014 season.

"In talking with Carson's family and representation, what (Paulos) said was somewhat taken out of context," Lewis said. "Every indication he's given to us, the analysis of the injury, yes, it's a bad injury. But he's going to be fine. It's a shame he suffered the injury. But we know he will work very hard to come back.

"I found out in the second quarter he wasn't coming back. He was not going to come out on a white horse. At that point, it's up to everybody to step up. But it's the luck of the draw. Carson's well-being and health are very important to us.

"His contract will help us in the future. He sets the direction for us."

Before last season, Lewis worked to get two-year contract extensions for all of his assistant coaches. He anticipates having little, if any, turnover.

"I'm pleased with the work our coaches have done. I'm pleased we've had just two changes in our coaching staff in three years. After three years, they are not burned out. They are excited about going forward. After three years in Baltimore (1996-98, when Lewis was the Ravens' defensive coordinator), we needed to be fired. We were all burned out.

"But our guys here are not burned out. They have kept their eyes focused on the prize."

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art.../601150335/1066

[skyline]

Good stuff.

I love being right

[AMC]

Amazing how things clarify when the dust settles.

I am pumped up for all things off-season. Cannot wait for free agency and the draft. Even with Carson's rehab I think it will be a VERY positive off-season.

Marvin knows how to calm the masses and improve the football team.

Bring on 2006 baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ArmyBengal]

How many times can I say how much I love Marvin Lewis being the coach of this team ?? I sincerely hope everyone will get off of his D*CK in regards to Chad and how things were handled toward the end of the season now. OK, lets hear from all the haters who think this is some BS to increase ticket sales or some other conspiracy theory... To all of you, I will say, you are part of the problem with the fan base here and need to move to Pittsburgh !!!

WHODEY !!!

[AMC]

How many times can I say how much I love Marvin Lewis being the coach of this team ?? I sincerely hope everyone will get off of his D*CK in regards to Chad and how things were handled toward the end of the season now. OK, lets hear from all the haters who think this is some BS to increase ticket sales or some other conspiracy theory... To all of you, I will say, you are part of the problem with the fan base here and need to move to Pittsburgh !!!

WHODEY !!!

Right on Army!!!!!!!

[Ox]

Hell yeah. Can't wait for '06.

Man I hate Pittsburgh.

[bengalindian]

That was refreshing.

[BengalszoneBilly]

First of all I gotta say that this was one rumor I wouldn't consider worthy of it's own thread strictly on the fact that Marvin was allegedly there when it occured, and he would have known all about it and the reasons behind why it occurred. In short, he's got it handled. Just like Army said. Quit worrying and let the man do his job!

What rumor would have been "thread-worthy" IMO would have been one where Chad's attitude was the opposite of what this rumor purported it to be last Sunday where he was allegedly incensed that he wasn't being thrown to enough. (besides...that much I find very believable!) Unlike Terrell Owens, Chad Johnson wanted more ball's thrown to him for one reason, and one reason only. He was convinced it was the Bengals best chance to WIN THE GAME AND ADVANCE IN THE PLAYOFFS!

In fact I bet Bob Bratkowski could have made a quite a few bucks off his play calling because #85 wanted the ball so bad he would have PAID some serious dinero for every play called his way in the second half! Now, take that whole mental image, and drop Terrell in that same scenario. I can't see Owens reaching for his wallet either!

[USMC203]

Did anyone notice that Coach Marvin did not share the news with our wounderful Bengals.com reporter, Hobson. . Can we get a FA reporter to take over that job next year.

[jjakq27]

Did anyone notice that Coach Marvin did not share the news with our wonderful Bengals.com reporter, Hobson. . Can we get a FA reporter to take over that job next year.

I agree with you about Hobson, but in all fairness, the Enquirer is one of the major media outlets in town besides radio and TV. bengals.com is not.

[LB51]

Time to move forward....................And Hobson should have been the one that Marvin went to. May be some kind of rift there.

[Bengalbob]

Time to move forward....................And Hobson should have been the one that Marvin went to. May be some kind of rift there.

If he goes to Hobson then many on this board as well as elsewhere would have skeptically seen it as Marvin spewing the company line through the company channel. At least this way it went through an independent outlet.

[NJ29]

We're desperate for conflict, aren't we? We're trying to dig up a rift between Marvin and Hobson. We sound like Fox News.

[andybren]

I'm glad Marvin gave this interview. He's a smart man to see a little damage control was needed.

Hobson is basically the team's propaganda guy, he's not a reporter in the sense that he investigates and digs for details that are not readily available. And that's not a knock on him --- he has a job and he does it.

Marvin basically called up Mike Wallace instead of Jay Leno. He credits the Bengals fans for knowing the difference.

[WhoDey42]

"I guess my feeling is since the loss to Pittsburgh, it seems as though a dark cloud has tried to drop on our franchise," Lewis told The Enquirer. "I want to apologize to our fans that this has occurred.

"They should be excited about our future. I thank them for their support ... Our direction is not going to change. We have built a strong foundation. We had 24 guys with three years or less experience."

This is exactly what I was thinking. Whenever I talked to someone about the Bengals they acted like I should be sad and worried about the future. I don't know about you, but I'm pumped for this offseason and the beginning of next year. Carson's gonna be back, we'll be even better next year.

I can't say how thankful I am to have Marvin as coach of our team. By the way he acts you would think he has been coaching for 30 years. I can't wait to see what he does this offseason.

One thing I really like about Marvin is that it seems like he has a pulse on the city. He knows what people are saying and he knows when he needs to say something. Most coaches probably tune everything out and don't care what people are saying.

Thank you Marvin!

[Kazkal]

all those people who wanted to send chad packing should now get pineapples shoved up their &(*&(* 's

[NJ29]

all those people who wanted to send chad packing should now get pineapples shoved up their &(*&(* 's

We'll let you do the honors Kaz.

[membengal]

all those people who wanted to send chad packing should now get pineapples shoved up their &(*&(* 's

yup, waiting on the apologies for walzav among others.

but, hey, why believe Marvin Lewis when you have a fine source like the rumors section at profootballtalk.com?

[schweinhart]

I'm glad Marvin gave this interview. He's a smart man to see a little damage control was needed.

Hobson is basically the team's propaganda guy, he's not a reporter in the sense that he investigates and digs for details that are not readily available. And that's not a knock on him --- he has a job and he does it.

Marvin basically called up Mike Wallace instead of Jay Leno. He credits the Bengals fans for knowing the difference.

No doubt something had to be said.

But the bit about little if any changes in the coaching staff had me wondering....Last time Marvin said that, the DC got fired. The D-line and TE coaches might look like the most likely "if any".

As far as the decision to go to Curnutte at the Enquirer, obviously the Gannett influence and its hold in Cincinnati. But I'd rather seen him go to Kevin Goheen or City Beat

The Mike Wallace-Jay Leno comparison was a difference in media outlets but the idea of extending that to compare Mike Wallace to Curnutte made me laugh.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

Gee, didn't I say the rumor couldn't be true because Marvin wouldn't have let Chad get away with it?

Hey Walzav the gay stalker, are you going to come out with an interview saying you aren't really stalking Chad to have his lovechild or are you going ot continue to let the lies continue?

[walzav29]

Yeah. The gay stalker here. OK great, I'm glad it wasn't as bad as what was made out. You guys were acting like NOTHING happend. Just say there was an argument and don't let the fans wonder what happend. As long as Chad doesn't become a TO or Moss, I'll love having him. I don't want to see him freaking out on the sidelines or crying to the media. Great news. It's not like I wanted Chad punching Marvin in the face. Great news!

[andybren]

Marvin basically called up Mike Wallace instead of Jay Leno. He credits the Bengals fans for knowing the difference.

The Mike Wallace-Jay Leno comparison was a difference in media outlets but the idea of extending that to compare Mike Wallace to Curnutte made me laugh.

Okay, Curnette is no Mike Wallace. That's fair.

How about I say that instead of calling up Jay Leno, Marvin called up....Charlie Rose? Larry King? No...Geraldo Rivera?

Anyway, I'm glad we have Marvin. He understands that the fans want the same thing he wants. It'd be a smart thing to do a "State of the Team" interview every year, regardless of how the year ended. Keep us in the loop.

And by the way, doubters, was there anything in the behavior of Chad Johnson in the past 5 years, that would indicate that this supposed "physical altercation" was even feasible? Am I wrong to suggest that Chad is basically an open book and that a lockerroom fight would be a 180 degree change in his personality?

[walzav29]

The Bengals should be extatic that us fans even care this much. There was a time that the season was over in October. It is January, and we are pissed that we didn't go to the Super Bowl! Think about that. We were going crazy when the Bengals were 8-8! We dreamed of 10 win seasons. Now we're pissed because 1 of our many superstars might have gotten out of line. I for 1 am happy I can talk about this, instead of hoping that Akili Smith will develope into the type of player that was worth passing up the Saints entire draft for! God bless Marvin!!

[HairOnFire]

"Chad's a very integral part of what we do," Lewis said. "There was no physical altercation. Chad was upset. He wanted to help us win the football game. He was frustrated. It happens all the time.

"When you lose a good player (such as Palmer), we needed people to step up and make plays. Chad wanted to do that. But Chad's not going to get in a fight with somebody. There are not two sets of rules. If Chad had hit somebody, he wouldn't have played in the second half."