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Sports TwitterBengals need to lose some baggage before '07 kickoff
Saturday, January 27, 2007
From his glass house — disguised as a Los Angeles studio — nationally syndicated Fox Sports Radio talk-show host J.T. the Brick (real name John Tournour) unleashed a barrage of rocks at the Cincinnati Bengals and head coach Marvin Lewis this week.
Calling the Bengals a national embarrassment because of nine player arrests in 12 law-breaking incidents since December 2005, J.T. the Brick blames Lewis for all the nastiness in Cincinnati, saying Lewis should be fired.
Extras
Lewis deserves plenty of criticism for drafting players with character issues, such as middle linebacker Odell Thurman and wide receiver Chris Henry, who gets out of the clink today after serving 48 hours behind bars. But Lewis' detractors have forgotten the monumental task he faced when he inherited a 2-14 squad in 2003.
Four straight nonlosing seasons (8-8, 8-8, 11-5 and 8-8) is proof he's changed the culture of losing. His challenge now is to pull the team's soiled image out of the gutter with some addition by subtraction.
Lewis should consider showing some of the team's law-breakers the door. How can you be a good player and teammate when you break the law?
Cornerback Johnathan Joseph, who was busted for possession of marijuana this week, is worth saving. He followed veterans Tory James and Deltha O'Neal around like a puppy dog his rookie season — only to discover they weren't stellar role models. Instead of eating lunch at team headquarters, where they could bond with teammates, O'Neal and James bolted "off campus." Later in the season, they started taking Joseph with them.
Big mistake.
Lewis plans a get-tough policy on player conduct, similar to the philosophy he displayed four years ago. Going back won't be easy. Just ask any parent. It's difficult to pull the reins with a shorter, tighter leash when you've given up too much slack.
Before the 2007 season starts, Lewis needs to take out the garbage. The thing is, he can still win, and he'll be doing it the right way. And he'll keep his job in the process.
Quick hitters
• Look for contract talks between the Bengals and Eric Steinbach to heat up. Keeping the veteran left guard — who becomes a free agent in March — is the club's top priority. If Steinbach tests the open market, he's sure to visit Chicago and Cleveland.
• Bengals legend Ken Anderson, the longest tenured player in club history (1971-86), is the new quarterbacks coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
• From Jay Leno's monologue Tuesday night, after noting the Bengals had their ninth player arrested: "Know what players on the Cincinnati Bengals call signing bonuses? Bail money."
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253
or cludwig@DaytonDailyNews.com.
